Visiting Pierz
Willkommen to Pierz
Welcome to Pierz — a hidden gem in Central Minnesota where rolling farmland meets adventure, and every friendly wave invites you to stay a little longer. Whether you’re just passing through or planning a weekend retreat, the historic town of Pierz, with it’s German roots, offers something for every kind of traveler: outdoor fun, cozy eats, local shopping, and that small-town magic you didn’t know you were missing.
Anytime is a good time to visit Pierz — but if you really want to experience the heart of our community, plan your trip around one of our festivals or local events. From summer celebrations to fall traditions, there’s always something happening that brings people together. Be sure to check out our calendar of events to find a weekend that fits your vibe and join in the fun!
Adventure-seekers, lace up your boots or gas up your ride — Pierz is a launchpad for the great outdoors.
Soo Line Trail – Bring your ATV or snowmobile for winter rides and ride for miles through forests, fields, and old railway routes. It’s one of the best-kept trail systems in the Midwest. Riders often stay overnight at the roadside Genola campground nearby for the weekend and ride from there. The Red Rooster Bar and Grill, Silver Bullet Bar offer a great place to start along the trail. The parking lot is often lined with all kinds of ATV, UTV type machines that have been on the trail. Evening entertainment as well as excellent food.
Pierz Golf Course – A scenic (almost) 18-hole course with views, wildlife, and a laid-back atmosphere that welcomes every skill level. Stop in at the club house for a bite to eat afterwards. The golf course is home to the local Pierz campground and park. You can stay for the weekend and enjoy food, drink, camping, playground, swimming in the river, basketball, pickleball (bring your own net), picnic shelters and golf all in the same weekend!
Fishing Lakes and Rivers – Drop a line at Pierz Fish Lake, explore Sullivan and Platte Lakes, a 20 minute drive NE, or drop your canoe in the rivers. The locals love their lakes and rivers and spend many weekends enjoying them. The fishing is excellent, they are perfect for kayaking, boating and soaking up the peace and quiet. Bring your own boat, swim at the boat launch (there is a small place to swim), or rent a cabin for the weekend.
Picnics – Pack a lunch and head to one of our peaceful parks. Let the kids run free and sit back and relax. The Pierz park, and Lions park are among the favorites. Pierz Park has the Skunk River for the kids to kick around in while mom watches from the grassy shore. There’s’ a slide and a small damn for kid-size fun. The Lions park is in the heart of the city, behind city hall, has a shelter, new playground equipment, grassy area, and big Lion water fountain in the summer months. Small but fun, especially when the kids get a good game of football going.
Ice Cream, Beef Sticks, and Cold Beer
Pierz is a place where you eat well, and nobody leaves hungry.
Grab a burger and shake at Sue’s Drive-In, a throwback to simpler times. Sues is historic. Try a juicy burger alongside their homemade onion rings, or just indulge in their soft serve ice cream options like shakes, malts, flurry’s, dipped cones and more.
Pick up world-famous smoked meats at Thielen Meats (yes, you’ll want extra). Also a place you must stop at. Known for their famous smoked bacon, but also, a personal favorite the beef sticks and smoked salmon.
Pop into Toni’s Tavern, excellent food and a GF pizza, Frosty’s Bar, broasted chicken, the Genola bars. A cluster of 3 bars in the town of Genola, each offering a different experience. Try an award winning Bloody Mary at The Red Rooster, and stay for bologna days on Wednesdays. The Silver Bullet has outdoor seating and lunch specials, pig wings, and unique burger options. Rudy’s Roadhouse has pool, darts, rail drink specials, and evening entertainment.
Events and Good Times
You haven’t experienced Pierz until you’ve been to one of our events. Year-round celebrations bring everyone together.
Freedom Fest – A summer celebration of live country music, family fun, vendors, and fireworks. This is the largest event that Pierz entertains us with. Freedom Fest began over 10 years ago and was hosted at the local Pierz ballfields, but has outgrown the space. They recently changed the location out of Pierz to the Little Falls Fairgrounds. Freedom Fest is a fun weekend event held annually in July. An event to reconnect with old friends, make a few new ones, and enjoy country music!
Oktoberfest – Beer steins, polka bands, brats, and Bavarian fun. This is an all-time (over 50 years) favorite event at the end of summer in Pierz. The parade is massive, with tons of candy. A few floats have even been known to hand out cold cans of beer during the (very hot, end of August) event for the 21 and older crowd. Oktoberfest Pierz brings the community together one last time before we all hunker down for the winter. We enjoy the parade, then walk (or take the yellow bus) to Pierz Park and indulge an afternoon of German foods, drinks, festivities, bingo and bouncy houses. Everyone has fun!
Walking Wings – Oktoberfest is fun, but don’t skip out on the day before Oktoberfest – a new event was added a few years ago called Walkin’ Wings. Which has absolutely nothing to do with the city’s German heritage of Oktoberfest but it’s still a nifty event to attend. Eat award winning chicken wings up and down main street, drink beer, let the kids bounce till their dizzy in the bouncy houses, dance to live local music, local conversations, old friends, and fireworks pretty much sums it up. Cant miss it.
Harding Days & Bazaars – Rodeos, raffles, and that good old-fashioned rural hospitality. Harding Days has really grabbed the attention of the local and beyond. A very fun 1 day event to bring the family out to. Kicking off with the parade and afternoon entertainment in Harding. Every year the event grows with the rodeo being the star of the event in the evening. Nationally known announcers and riders, local National Anthem vocals, mutton busting for the kids – this rodeo is a must see!
- Rock, Roll ‘n Stroll – The event that keeps us coming back for more. Another sucessful event for over 10 years, this event brings the community out every month. Hosted the first Thursday of each month, RRS is an excuse to either bring your antique or unique vehicle to main street and let event-goes gawk at it’s awesomeness. You can vote for your favorite. There’s a raffle for large prizes, food vendors, store specials, games, a lot of people, and happy faces.
Weekly Events – Meat raffles, bake sales, brat sales, mini donuts, bingo nights, horse racing, golf tournaments, and more at local hangouts. There is something to do just about every weekend, even if it’s just some local music or an opportunity to support a local sports team. Summer is when the city comes alive but out winter events keep up looking forward to things to do also.
Stay the Night
Trust us — you’re going to want to stay.
Hillbilly Haven Motel – Clean, convenient, and close to everything. Small but mighty! We like this motel because it’s super clean and friendly. Plus they own the bar next door where they serve really good food.
Nearby Cabins – Perfect for a peaceful stay with nature just outside your door. On Sullivan and Platte lakes, 20 minutes NE of Pierz, there are a few rental cabins. Nice places. These are a perfect place to stay if your in town for a weekend event or if you just want to enjoy lake views! Just search ‘Harding’ or ‘Hillman’ for your city name on VRBO and you can find a few cabins for rent on Platte and Sullivan Lake. FYI: Sullivan is sandy and Platte is weedy. Depends if your going for fishing or entertainment.
RV & Campgrounds – Roll in, set up, and unwind under the stars. Genola Campground is in Genola, a suburb of Pierz with the population of about 71. This campground is great for those who want to hit the Soo Line Trail for the weekend. But also for those who want an easy extended stay. RV dump on site. Pierz Campground is tucked away by the golf course. A quiet, easy place to stay. Showers, playground and beach on the river.