About an hour drive from the Twin Cities, the city of Cokato emits a suburban feel. Cokato is derived from the Dakota word Cokaya, meaning "in the middle of", as Cokato is in the center of a region dubbed The Big Woods.
Discover the community
Retail and Dining
In addition to a handful of fast food options, Cokato has local restaurants as well. Three popular options include Lucky Kitchen, Double Shot coffee, and Bait n Hook seafood bar. Click here for a full list of restaurants in Cokato.
There are a variety of locally owned businesses and shops in Cokato, including Cowgirl Tuff clothing company, Chuck's Floral and Gifts, and the Save and Spare Thrift Shop. Click here for a full list from the center of commerce.
Nature and Parks
In addition to eight parks, Cokato has three baseball fields, two tennis courts, a basketball court and a municipal swimming pool.
Click here for a map of Cokato that includes parks, recreation, and points of interest.
Community, Events and Tourism
Cokato is perhaps best known for is corn carnival. Since 1950, free corn on the cob is given to community members at this fun, family-friendly event. In addition to raffle tickets, there is a Miss Cokato Coronation and a grand parade through town. Click here to learn more about the corn carnival.
The Cokato museum has collected and preserved the history of the town and the surrounding area since the 1920's. Donated to the museum in 1984, the Gus Akerlund photo studio was put on the national registry of historic places in 1977. Click here to learn more about Gus Akerlund.
