Kennedy to headline new summer event
Dodge County native Cori Kennedy, who starred on the Voice last year, will perform at the Spring into Summer later this month.
As Steele County Fair officials put the finishing touches on the inaugural Spring into Summer festival, Dodge County native and Voice participant Cori Kennedy will be performing on Friday night. Spring into Summer will take place May 29-30 at the fairgrounds in Owatonna.
Kennedy, a country singer-songwriter originally from West Concord, will be performing at 8:30 p.m. on Friday. She is the daughter of Matt and Tammy Kennedy and a 2015 graduate of Kasson-Mantorville High School and a 2019 graduate of Mankato State University.
At Kasson-Mantorville High School, she lettered in three sports and at Mankato State she played softball for the Mavericks.
She competed last season on NBC’s popular singing competition, The Voice, advancing through the blind auditions and battles before being eliminated in the knockout round in November.
In addition to performing at Spring into Summer, she will be back in Owatonna in August for the Steele County Free Fair. She will perform on the Friday night prior to country music star Randy Houser.
Also providing musical entertainment at Spring into Summer will be Soulfire at 6 p.m. on Friday. Saturday’s entertainment will include the Mark Cameron Band at 12:30 p.m., Whiskey Grace at 2:30 p.m., Skar at 5 p.m. and Mason Dixon Line at 7:30 p.m.
Besides the big entertainment announcement, fair officials also named United Way of Steele County as the charity partner.
This new early-summer event builds on the legacy of the former Smokin’ in Steele while expanding into a broader community celebration. Partnering with United Way reinforces that mission of giving back.
United Way of Steele County has a long-standing relationship with the Steele County Free Fair, collaborating on initiatives that strengthen the local community and support those in need. Their involvement in Spring into Summer continues that tradition, creating new opportunities to connect, give, and make a meaningful impact, said fair manager Scott Kozelka.
“United Way has been an incredible partner over the years, and we’re excited to deepen that relationship through Spring into Summer,” said Kozelka. “Their work reaches far beyond a single organization. They help uplift dozens of nonprofits across our region.”
Spring Into Summer will feature a full slate of activities for all ages, including a backyard BBQ competition, live music, a softball tournament, food trucks, a flea market, and more making it both a kickoff to summer and a celebration of community spirit.