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Council approves marketing support for local festivals and fair
Summary
The council approved tourism board recommendations: up to $4,000 (tier 2) for Fall into the Arts, up to $6,500 (tier 1) for the Stevens County Fair, and up to $1,500 (tier 3) each for September Fest and Morris Open Mic Night.
The Morris City Council approved tourism board funding recommendations during its June 9 meeting to support four local events.
City Manager Johnson outlined the tourism board’s recommendations: tier 2 marketing support (up to $4,000) for the Fall into the Arts Festival scheduled Sept. 12, 2026; tier 1 marketing support (up to $6,500) for the Stevens County Fair, Aug. 11–16; and tier 3 marketing support (up to $1,500 each) for September Fest (Sept. 20) and Morris Open Mic Night (monthly, last Saturday through Sept. 26). The tourism board offered lower tiers for first‑time requests to limit city lodging‑tax exposure while still enabling event marketing.
Council members discussed scale and tourism draw; Johnson said the Stevens County Fair is the largest free fair in west‑central Minnesota and that the Fall into the Arts festival will emphasize local artists with a prairie theme. A motion to approve the tourism board recommendations passed by voice vote.
Staff noted that marketing tiers reflect anticipated lodging‑tax impacts and that the board intends to monitor outcomes of supported events before future funding adjustments.
