Every Tuesday from mid-May through mid-October, the Rushford Peterson Valley Farmers Market sets up alongside St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on Mill Street. Pick up locally grown produce, handmade goods, fresh baked items, and products from area farms and artisans. It’s the most reliable Tuesday tradition in town all summer long.

The market runs 3:30–6:00 PM weekly. Free to browse, cash and cards typically accepted by individual vendors.

The Rushford Aquatic Center kicks off its summer season in early June and runs through the end of August. The facility features a zero-depth entry pool, a children’s pool, and a larger pool with a diving board — great for all ages. Swim lessons run during morning hours, with open swim available in the afternoons and evenings.

Daily fees and seasonal passes are available. The center is also available for private party rentals — call the City of Rushford for details. Located at 209 Watt Street.

Ranked among Minnesota’s top 9-hole courses, Ferndale Golf Course sits at the base of the bluffs along Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway 16, between Rushford and Houston. The par-36 layout opened in 1931 and remains beautifully maintained, challenging, and scenic. Cart rentals, a putting green, driving range, locker rooms, and a full bar and grill are all on site.

2026 daily rates: 9 holes walking $18 / with cart $28. 18 holes walking $26 / with cart $38. All-day golf with cart $48. Junior (15 & under): $10/$20. Pull cart rental is free. Punch cards also available. Open to the public — no membership required.

The Root River running through Rushford is recognized as one of Minnesota’s top-10 trout waters. June brings prime conditions for brown trout, rainbow trout, and brook trout in the cold-water streams and main channel, along with excellent smallmouth bass, rock bass, channel catfish, sunfish, and crappie fishing throughout the warm-water stretches.

Rush Creek, which meanders through the city itself before merging with the Root, is a designated cold-water stream and worth exploring on foot. Fishing and hunting licenses are available at Kwik Trip (Hwy 16 & Hwy 43) and Pam’s Corner convenience stores in town. A valid Minnesota fishing license is required.

The Root River State Water Trail through Rushford and the surrounding valley is one of the most popular river recreation destinations in the Midwest. June is ideal for tubing, kayaking, and canoeing — the river is running well and temperatures are comfortable. Local outfitters offer tube, kayak, and canoe rentals with shuttle service so you can float downstream without worrying about your car.

The 16-mile stretch between Whalan and Rushford is popular and scenic. Rentals and shuttles are available in the area — check with local outfitters for current availability and water conditions before heading out. The restaurant at one local riverside operation opens Friday–Monday starting Memorial Day weekend.

One of Rushford’s most unique stops, Norsland Lefse at 210 W. Jessie Street is a working lefse factory and shop where you can watch this traditional Norwegian flatbread being rolled and baked, then take some home. Norsland ships lefse throughout North America and is a genuine local institution.

Stop in for fresh lefse, Norwegian-themed gifts, and a taste of Rushford’s Scandinavian heritage. The shop is inexpensive, welcoming, and one of those places that makes Rushford genuinely different from anywhere else on the trail.

Magelssen Bluff Park offers 1.5 miles of looping hiking trails accessible from Winona Street in Rushford — or you can drive to the top via Highway 30 West to Magelssen Drive for immediate access to stunning views over the Root River Valley. The bluff is at its most lush and green in June, making it one of the best hiking months of the year.

Free and open to the public. A Bluff Plant Scavenger Hunt guide is available from the Chamber — a fun option for families and naturalists. Dogs are welcome on leash.

The Rushford Public Library at 101 N. Mill Street runs its annual Summer Reading Program through June, July, and August, with programming for kids, teens, and adults. The library also participates in a BikeShare Program in partnership with the Root River Trail Towns — you can borrow a bicycle directly from the library to explore the trail.

The library offers thousands of fiction and non-fiction books, large print, audiobooks, magazines, DVDs, music CDs, and free public computer access. Inter-library loans and downloadable content through OverDrive are also available.

Vinegar Ridge Recreation Area sits along the 42-mile Root River State Trail and offers six miles of horseback riding trails, access to the Root River State Water Trail for canoeing and kayaking, and eight primitive campsites. It’s a quiet, natural alternative to the more developed campgrounds in the area — perfect for riders, paddlers, and anyone who wants to wake up in the bluffs.

The area is free to access. Camping is primitive — bring your own supplies. Campsites at Creekside Park in Rushford (8 RV sites) are another option for those needing hookups, reservable through Pam’s Corner Convenience.

Just outside Rushford in nearby Peterson, the Peterson State Fish Hatchery produces approximately 70,000 lake trout and 50,000 rainbow trout annually for Minnesota’s cold-water trout stocking program. Self-guided tours are available seasonally, and guided tours can be arranged by reservation.

It’s a fascinating stop for anglers, families with kids, and anyone curious about where all those trout in the Root River come from. The hatchery is part of the same valley ecosystem that makes this area one of the best trout fishing destinations in the upper Midwest.

This is the biggest event in Rushford this June. The Rushford Area Historical Society (RAHS) and the City of Rushford are celebrating the grand reopening of the historic 1867 Southern Milwaukee Railroad depot — now fully stabilized and restored after years of work funded by the Minnesota Historical Society, the Arlin Falck Foundation, Rushford State Bank, the Rushford EDA, and community donors.

The celebration runs Tuesday, June 9 from 5:00–9:00 PM (some sources indicate 4:00 PM start) at 401 S. Elm Street. Expect depot tours, historic displays, vendors, prize drawings, grab bags, and live music by the Darr Family Band. Local food trucks will be on site. Free to attend.

The 1867 depot is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is thought to be the last two-story depot still standing in its original location on the old Southern Minnesota Railroad line. It serves as the home of the Rushford Peterson Valley Chamber of Commerce and the official visitors center.

Following the June 9 grand reopening, the Rushford Area Historical Society’s Depot Museum at 401 S. Elm Street will be open with updated exhibits and restored displays. The RAHS collection includes genealogy resources, rural life exhibits, a restored one-room schoolhouse, Oliver tractor and agricultural equipment, and a Bernard Pietenpol aircraft exhibit. The Pietenpol is a local point of pride — Bernard Pietenpol was a Rushford-area native who became a pioneer of home-built aircraft in the 1920s and ’30s.

General hours are Tuesday–Saturday 9:00 AM–3:30 PM (closed holidays). Free or donation-based admission.

Nordic Lanes in Rushford offers open bowling, birthday party bookings, banquet and reception space, and their “Thunder Alley” option. It’s one of the go-to rain-day or evening activity options in the valley, and a longtime community gathering spot. The full bar lounge is open, and the Creamery next door has you covered for food.

Call ahead for open bowling availability as league schedules vary by season. Great option for families and groups looking for indoor fun on a cooler June evening.

A Rushford staple and one of the area’s most-reviewed restaurants, The Creamery is a go-to stop for pizza, American food, ice cream, and dessert after a day on the trail or the river. Located near Nordic Lanes, it draws trail riders, families, and locals alike. Casual atmosphere, good food, and a well-earned treat after a long ride.

Jessie Street Java is Rushford’s local coffee shop and one of the highest-rated quick-bite spots in the area. Perfect for a pre-trail espresso, a breakfast bite, or a mid-day pick-up. The café is known for its friendly service and is a natural gathering spot for trail visitors and locals starting their day downtown.

El Barco Mexican Restaurant brings authentic Mexican cuisine to downtown Rushford, blending traditional flavors with fresh seafood and classic American breakfasts. The cozy atmosphere makes it a comfortable option for lunch or dinner after a morning on the trail or river. One of the more distinctive dining options in the valley.

Rushford-Peterson Public Schools wraps up the 2025–2026 school year in early June. The R-P Trojans serve approximately 639 students across three schools at their modern facility at 1000 Pine Meadows Lane, built in 2017. End-of-year activities, spring sports concluding, and recognition events are typical for early June — check the district activity calendar for specific dates.

The district’s Community Education program launches summer programs including school-age care, summer activities (swimming, biking, field trips), and the Lille By Preschool wrap-around program. Families new to the area can connect with Community Ed for summer enrollment information.

St. Joseph’s Catholic Church at 103 N. Mill Street is a centerpiece of Rushford’s community life. The church grounds host the weekly Farmers Market on Tuesdays and are a gathering point for local events throughout the summer. Regular Sunday services continue throughout June.

Visitors are welcome. The church is part of the Rushford community fabric that dates back to the town’s Norwegian, German, and Irish immigrant founding generations.

Root River Community Church is a Christian and Missionary Alliance congregation in Rushford, welcoming all with a focus on loving God, sharing Jesus, and caring for people. Sunday services are held at 10:00 AM. The church community is active in local outreach and is part of Rushford’s broader faith community.

Featherstone Farm is a 250-acre certified organic farm located in the bluff country in and around Rushford, Minnesota. June is planting and early-season growth time on the farm. Featherstone products show up at farmers markets and natural food outlets throughout the region. The farm is a point of local pride for sustainable agriculture in the Root River Valley.

Check with the farm directly for any summer visiting, CSA, or pick-up options during June.

The Bluff Country ATV Club is a family-oriented group promoting safe ATV riding in the Rushford area. The club meets every third Saturday at the Rushford Fire Hall at 10:00 AM. That puts the June meeting around June 20th. Members explore local trails and organize rides throughout the season. The club actively supports ATV MN and holds DNR-sanctioned Youth ATV Safety Trainings.

If you’re visiting with ATVs and looking for a local connection, reaching out to the club is the best way to learn current trail conditions and access points in the bluffs.

The Rushford Peterson Valley Chamber of Commerce is headquartered at the historic depot (401 S. Elm Street) and serves as the official visitor’s center for the valley. Stop in for local event listings, maps, trail guides, restaurant recommendations, and area business directories. The Chamber is the best one-stop resource for what’s happening in Rushford any given week in June.

The Chamber also manages event signage and community programming throughout the summer leading up to the signature Rushford Days celebration in mid-July.