Kick off Friendship Festival with a walking tour of historic downtown Pelican Rapids on Friday, June 23, 7 p.m. Cost is $8 per person, meet at the Pelican Rapids Public Library.

First person accounts of Pelican Rapids abound, thanks to scores of oral histories conducted by Marguerite Andrews, the grand dame of Pelican Rapids history. The evolution of Pelican Rapids from a town populated by old stock Americans and Scandinavian immigrants to an ethnically diverse community is the story of America itself. Regardless of language, religion or skin color the aspirations, challenges, triumphs and tragedies of generations of Pelican Rapids residents are remarkably similar. The June 23 walking tour weaves together hidden architectural treasures along with the stories of people and events that define Pelican Rapids.

For more information contact the Otter Tail County Historical Society at 218-736-6038 or find us on Facebook.