A closer look at flyover land

May festivals

As we move toward the prime festival months of summer, spring ushers in many festivals, including lots of outdoor activities. As usual, don’t forget to look through the myriad opportunities offered at the Minnesota Historical Society, which has plenty of its own events to offer.

Duluth
Duluth Homegrown Music Festival
Now through May 6
This is one serious music festival: over 100 bands, all over the city. Surely there’s something to satisfy every musical taste here.

St. Paul
Festival of Nations
May 3-6
Back for its 79th year, the Festival of Nations celebrates the diversity in Minnesota’s heritage, with 90 different ethnic groups providing music, dance, crafts, and food.

Red Wing to Winona (and into Wisconsin)
The 100-Mile Garage Sale
May 4-6
Bargain hunters and Antique Roadshow dreamers, take note—this annual event is a treasure-hunter’s joy.

Gunflint Trail
Gunflint Green-Up
May 4-6
Help keep the Gunflint Trail full of nature and wonder—and bring your loppers and nippers.

St. Paul
Cinco de Mayo
May 5
St. Paul’s District del Sol has plenty to entertain you with a couple of days earlier. A lowrider car show, fiesta parade, live music, salsa tasting contest, kids’ activities, and plenty of fabulous, authentic Mexican food.

Frontenac
Warbler Weekend
May 11-13
Join the St. Paul Audubon Society for a weekend full of informal bird watching and guided bird walks. This is a productive time for bird watchers—it’s not unusual to spot 130+ types of birds over this weekend.

Lake Elmo
Shepherd’s Harvest Sheep and Wool Festival
May 12-13
Sheep. Llamas. Angora bunnies. Woolen goodies, pre-made or ready to knit/crochet. Food, music, sheepherder dog demonstrations, knitting classes, and plenty of food.

Detroit Lakes
Festival of Birds
May 17-20
Serious birders, take note—this festival offers the possibility of seeing any of more than 250 species of birds that live in the Detroit Lakes area. There will be guided tours, educational events, and field trips.

Minneapolis
Art-a-Whirl
May 18-20
Prowl around NE Minneapolis and explore its growing arts community in this varied collection of local and national artists’ exhibitions.

Whalan
The Stand-Still Parade
May 19
Food, music, games—and a parade that doesn’t move.

Farmington
Minnesota Scottish Fair & Highland Games
May 19
Traditional Scottish games and competitions (both heavy and light), as well as music, dancing, and food.

Afton
Afton May Fair
May 19-20
Live music, art shows, hot air balloons, kids’ activities, and plenty of food.

Stillwater
Rivertown Art Festival
May 19-20
Stroll along the banks of the St. Croix River and enjoy artwork from local and national artists.

Hibbing
Dylan Days
May 24-27
Don’t go expecting Dylan himself to be there, but enjoy a Dylan bus tour, enter a creative writing or songwriting contest, literary showcases, and live music.

Sad winter

It's a strange, strange winter when Nisswa tries to prepare for its winter festival and can barely scrape together enough snow for a few sculptures.

And dirty snow too. Sigh.

February Festivals

Oops--a little late. Mea culpa. It's been that kind of winter already. It hasn’t been much of a winter, has it? Even some of the beloved winter events have either been cancelled or altered to cope with the lack of snow and cold. But never fear; here are some fun things to do.

Ely 
Winter Festival
Now through Feb. 12
If you can’t find something to do at this festival, you’re a curmudgeon indeed. Learn how to sculpt snow, take a dog sled ride, attend a dance, enjoy live music, visit the Dorothy Molter Museum, go snowshoeing or skiing, and attend the Mukluk Ball.

Grand Marais
Winter Tracks Festival
Now through Feb. 12
View outdoor art, including snow sculptures, and watch hardy artists painting in the elements; take a guided snowshoe hike; take the kids to the family festival; go downhill or cross-country skiing or ice skating; or take in a variety of live entertainment and dining options in the Lutsen area.

Waseca
Sleigh and Cutter Festival
Now through Feb. 25
Waseca celebrates its heritage with some fun old-time activities. A kickball tournament (yes, outdoors), vintage snowmobile ride, old-fashioned ice harvest, a golf tournament, and snowmobile races. 

Apple Valley
The Love Tour
Feb. 14
Leave the kids at home—this one is for the 21 and older crowd. Because it involves—ahem—mating rituals.

St. Paul
Mondo Juggling and Unicyle Festival
Feb. 17-19
Your chance to try juggling or unicycling—or just attend the Spectacular and see what the pros can do—and music and magic too.

A Scottish Ramble
Feb. 18
Stop by the Landmark Center and enjoy bagpipes, dancing, shopping, traditional foods, and, of course, kilts.

Apple Valley
Tropical Beach Party
Feb. 18-20
If you’ve had about enough of what little winter we've had, then head out to the Minnesota Zoo over President’s Day weekend. It’s beach time. Yes, really—there’ll be plenty of sand for everyone to play with.

January festivals

Things settle down after the holidays, but only slightly. Minnesotans tend to celebrate winter. You know how it is--if you can't fight it...

St. Paul
Wells Fargo WinterSkate in Rice Park
Daily through Feb. 5; check the website for hours and weather cancellations
Enjoy one of winter’s most charming rituals in one of the Twin Cities’ most charming locations. Ice skate rental available for $2 on a first-come, first-served basis (free for Wells Fargo customers).
 
Pine City
Winter Frolic
Jan. 14
Dogsled rides, games of snow snake, snowshoeing, curling, and hot cocoa by a warm fire at the North West Company Fur Post.

Minneapolis
Winter Kite Festival
Jan. 14 (or Jan. 21, if weather/ice aren’t favorable on the 14th)
The Minnesota Kite Society struts its stuff at this annual tradition on Lake Harriet. Beautiful, elaborate kites are flown, but newbies can get tips from the experts and buy inexpensive kits on the spot. Or bring your own. Or just watch the others while enjoying toasted marshmallows and ice-fishing demos.

International Falls
Icebox Days
Jan. 18-22
It was Icebox Days, then it was Blast on the Border, and now it’s—Icebox Days. Whatever you call it, the good people up on the Canadian border show that they have extreme stamina for the cold with this festival, including the “Freeze Yer Gizzard Blizzard” 5k and 10k runs, snow creations, poker, bridge, and darts tournaments, a chili cook-off, snowmobile races, and lighted snowshoe hikes in Voyageurs National Park. 

Bemidji
Brrrrmidji Polar Daze
Jan. 20-28
Broomball, sled derbies, jumping in the lake (definitely not for the faint of heart), a 5k run/walk, even a lighted night trail cross-country ski race. Oh, and lots and lots of food.
  
Brainerd
Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza
Jan. 21The prizes? $150k worth, including a truck and an ATV. The goal? The biggest fish. The best part? Proceeds go to more than 50 local charities, with this year’s primary charity the Confidence Learning Center. Oh—and no, they don’t sell beer on the ice. Just so you know. There’s also a Youth Ice Olympics that day.

Winona
Frozen River Film Festival
Jan. 25-29
Independent and foreign films abound in this annual festival. Besides an extensive film list, enjoy live music performances and programs lead by leading environmentalists and locavores.

St. Paul
St. Paul Winter Carnival
Jan. 26-Feb. 5
Take that, you stupid New York reporters of the late 1800’s; Minnesota is not “another Siberia, unfit for human habitation in the winter.” And with that, a cherished annual festival was created. Coronations, ice-carving contests, snow-block building, snow sculptures, a lavish torchlight parade, hockey tournaments, a 5k and half-marathon, maybe even snow soccer. Don’t be a wimp.
 
Duluth
Robert Burns’ Night Dinner
Jan. 28
The Duluth Scottish Heritage Association sponsors this annual event, this year falling on the 250th anniversary of the Scottish poet’s birth. Dinner, poetic revelry, traditional music and dancing. No mention of whether or not haggis is on the menu. Reservations required.

Duluth
John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon
Jan. 27-Feb. 2
The 29th running of this race commemorates, as always, the life of John Beargrease, Chippewa native who delivered mail by dog sled along the frozen North Shore in the late 1800s. It’s the longest race in the lower 48, and acts as a qualifying run for Alaska’s Iditarod. Several days of events surround the actual race, which starts on Jan. 29.

December festivals, part 3

We're coming down the home stretch, but there's still plenty to do.

St. Paul
The Homecoming: A Victorian Christmas at the Ramsey House
Wed.-Sun. through Jan. 1
How did the Ramseys celebrate Christmas? This is the time to find out. And hey—your tour includes cookies baked in the home’s wood-fired stove.

Minneapolis
Holidazzle
Dec. 15-18
Truly a parade of lights, with life-size fairy tale characters decked out in splendid lit-up costumes. Allow extra time for traffic and parking, and if you’re planning on dining before or after, make reservations.

Scandia
Annie’s Swedish Jul Coffee Party
Dec. 17
A three-course Swedish coffee party, with the opportunity to learn about Swedish Christmas traditions, at the Gammelgarden Museum. 

St. Paul
Hill House Holidays
Dec. 17-18
Costumed actors portray servants at the lavish James J. Hill House, giving living history tours from both “upstairs/downstairs” perspectives. The house alone is well worth a visit, but when you add in holiday ambience, you’ve got an extra special tour.

Duluth
Holiday Brunch at Glensheen
Dec. 17-18  
Enhance a tour of the gorgeous Glensheen estate with a festive brunch, complete with wassail toast.

Mankato
Christmas at the Hubbard House
Dec. 17-18
Tour the fully decorated 1905 Hubbard House to really get in the holiday spirit.

St. Paul
Victorian Christmas Stories
Dec. 18
Experience the ambiance of the fully decorated James J. Hill House while enjoying costumed actors doing holiday readings from Mark Twain, O. Henry, Willa Cather, and of course, Charles Dickens. 

December festivals, part 2

The holiday jollity continues for the week of Dec. 8-14.

St. Paul
A Victorian Christmas at the Ramsey House
Dec. 8-11, 14
How did the Ramseys celebrate Christmas? This is the time to find out. And hey—your tour includes cookies baked in the home’s wood-fired stove.

Stillwater
Holiday Lights Tour
Dec. 8
Take a guided limo tour of the best-dressed homes and B&Bs in Stillwater, followed by dinner. Reservations recommended.

St. Paul
A Christmas Memory
Dec. 8-9
Visit the James J. Hill House and witness the beloved Truman Capote story performed by a reader’s theater, including music and a tour of the house. Reservations recommended.

Minneapolis
Holidazzle
Dec. 9-12
Truly a parade of lights, with life-size fairy tale characters decked out in splendid lit-up costumes. Allow extra time for traffic and parking, and if you’re planning on dining before or after, make reservations.

St. Cloud
9th Annual Winter Nights & Lights Parade
Dec. 10
Bring your camp chairs and a thermos of cocoa, and usher in the holiday season with Santa and the Grinch. Stores open for your shopping pleasure.

Sandstone
Sandstone Ice Festival
Dec. 9-11
Chili cook-off, nature walks, winter camping, fireworks, lighted ice climbing in the quarry (training provided), gear swap, and skijoring. These people know how to make the best of winter.

Red Wing
Holiday Celebration of the Arts
Dec. 10
Check out Red Wing’s Anderson Center for this 10th anniversary of this celebration, showcasing more than 60 artists with studio tours, demonstrations, and readings. 

Scandia
Annie’s Swedish Jul Coffee Party 
Dec. 10
A three-course Swedish coffee party, with the opportunity to learn about Swedish Christmas traditions, at the Gammelgarden Museum. Reservations required.

Lucia Dagen
Dec. 11
Celebrate St. Lucia Day the Scandinavian way at the Gammelgarden Museum. Arrive early for church, followed by a Swedish breakfast bord and St. Lucia Day program.

Duluth
Holiday Brunch at Glensheen
Dec. 10-11    
Enhance a tour of the gorgeous Glensheen estate with a festive brunch, complete with wassail toast. Reservations recommended.

Hastings
Victorian Holidays
Dec. 10-11
Take in a holiday-themed tour of the beautiful and historic LeDuc House.

Elk River
Christmas on the Farm
Dec. 10-11
Explore the historic Kelley Farm with a 75-minute guided tour with hike and horse- or oxen-drawn bobsled or wagon ride. Reservations required.

St. Paul
Hill House Holidays
Dec. 10-11
Enjoy a tour of the James J. Hill House, provided by actors portraying servants of the period, telling stories gleaned from actual Hill House documents.

Duluth
Historic Bed and Breakfast Inns of Duluth Holiday Tour
Dec. 11
Take a tour of seven historical inns of Duluth, all lavishly decked out for the season. Contact the Thomson House for tickets.

December festivals, part 1

The month of December is an exceptionally busy one for this festival-fond state. To try and get as much coverage as possible without making a web page that's a mile long, I'm going to report weekly this month. Today's installment will include events through Wednesday, Dec. 7. Check back next Thursday for the following week.

St. Paul
A Victorian Christmas at the Ramsey House
Dec. 1-4
The beautiful Alexander Ramsey House will be decorated to the hilt in period decorations—and there just might be cookies coming out of the wood-fired stove. Reservations recommended.

Minneapolis
Holidazzle
Dec. 1-4
Truly a parade of lights, with life-size fairy tale characters decked out in splendid lit-up costumes. Allow extra time for traffic and parking, and if you're planning on dining before or after, make reservations ahead or be prepared to wait.

Northfield
St. Olaf Christmas Festival
Dec. 1-4
This popular annual event is already sold out, but you can hear it on MPR, or check local TV listings—many stations nationally will carry it.

Bemidji
Lefse Cook-off Festival
Dec. 2
Boy, if there was one festival I could attend this season, I'd be tempted to choose this one. A lefse contest? Can I judge? Please?

Crookston
Winter Wonderland
Dec. 2
Sleigh rides, bonfires, luminary-lined streets.

Owatonna
Christmas in the Village
Dec. 2-3
Stop by the Steele County Historical Society and enjoy horse-drawn sleigh rides, a lavish cookie sale, true wassail, and visit Santa. On Saturday, tour highly decorated historic homes.

Minneapolis
No Coast Craft-o-Rama
Independent crafters make the most of the wonderful Midtown Global Market to display and sell their wares. You'll find fun items here that are often unlike most of what you'd see at other craft shows.

Le Sueur
W.W. Mayo House Candle Light Tour
Dec. 2-3
Tour the tiny home once inhabited by one of the founders of the Mayo Clinic. 

Caledonia
Winter Wonderland
Dec. 2-4
Parades, barn quilt tours, balloon launches, and the Historical Society's Old-Fashioned Christmas. And—a hot air balloon rally!

St. Paul
Grand Meander
Dec. 3
Kick off the holiday shopping and noshing with a stroll down Grand Avenue's 30-some blocks of independent (mostly) retailers and restaurants.

Annandale
Pioneer Christmas
Dec. 3
Visit the Pioneer Park and see it dressed for Christmas long ago. Enjoy live music, shopping, and fry bread and stew.

Grand Rapids
Christmas in the Logging Camp
Dec. 3
Dress warmly—you'll be walking outdoors at the Forest History Center while observing lumberjacks in action and horses pulling carriages, before visiting the cook's shack to see how lumberjacks celebrated decades ago.

Wabasha
Old-Fashioned Christmas
Dec. 3
Christmas caroling, cookie walks, artists' studio tours, horse-drawn wagon rides, Santa, and cookie decorating, all in one of the lovely river towns of southeast Minnesota.

Biwabik
Weihnachtsfest
Dec. 3
Horse-drawn trolley rides, children's musical, ethnic foods, Christmas carols all reflect the town's ethnic heritage.

St. Paul
Hill House Holidays
Dec. 3-4
Costumed actors portray servants at the lavish James J. Hill House, giving living history tours.

November festivals

What this month’s list doesn’t reflect is the vast number of tree lighting, welcome to winter, get ready for the holidays festivals and craft fairs. Check your local community chamber for local information. Don’t forget to check the Minnesota Historical Society’s event page; they’ve always got something interesting going on.

Minneapolis

Art Attack

Nov. 4-6

A warehouse full of art and artists, all in time for the holidays.

 

 Lutsen

Annual Masters’ Bluegrass Weekend

Nov. 4-6

The 19^th annual celebration of bluegrass in a beautiful locale.

 

Rochester

Mayowood Mansion Christmas Tours

Tues., Wed., Fri.-Sun., Nov. 4-27

Advance registration required. Visit the home of the Mayo Clinic founder and see it decorated for the holidays, with guided tours to explain the historical significance of the home, which celebrates its centennial in 2011.

 

St. Paul

Hmong New Year

Nov. 5-6

A change in venue this year, from St. Paul to the Metrodome in Minneapolis. Visit to learn more about the Twin Cities’ Hmong community, and enjoy live music, dancing, a beauty contest, and food.

 

Two Harbors

Annual Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Beacon Lighting

Nov. 10

The anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald is commemorated with special tours that allow visitors to see the lighthouse beacon lit from inside the lighthouse, the only time each year that this privilege is available. Bring warm clothes.

 

Madison

Norsefest

Nov. 10-12

Ludefisk eating contests. You don’t want to eat? Go to watch. Also—other kinds of food. And art shows, and a talent show, and Norsky bingo.

 

Blue Earth

The Scarfing of the Jolly Green Giant

Nov. 12

Be there by 10:30 a.m., or you’ll miss the spectacle of Santa being lifted by machine to wrap a warm scarf around the Giant’s neck.

 

Grand Marais

Winterer’s Gathering & Arctic Film Festival

Nov. 17-20

The North House Folk School outdoes itself with this festival, including all manner of winter skill courses (building a wood stove, snowshoe construction, build a traditional toboggan), ski and gear swap, winter camping, and movies about all aspects of life in the frozen regions.

 

Minneapolis

MCAD Annual Art Sale

Nov. 17-19

This is your chance to find that “artist on the verge.” MCAD students create and sell artworks. Go early.

 

Minneapolis

Harvest Jamboree

Nov. 18-20

The Minnesota Bluegrass Old-Time Music Association began this festival just a few years ago, combining old-time bluegrass with live concerts, workshops, contests, and a banquet.

 

Aitkin

Fish House Parade

Nov. 25

Wild and crazy ice fishers decorate their  fish houses and take them on parade prior to settling them on the frozen lake for the season.

 

Minneapolis

Holidazzle

Thurs-Sun, Nov. 25-Dec. 18

2011 marks the 20^th year Holidazzle has brightened Nicollet Mall. Truly a parade of lights, with life-size fairy tale characters decked out in splendid lit-up costumes. Allow extra time for traffic and parking, and if you’re planning on dining before or after, make reservations ahead or be prepared to wait.

 

 

 

Friday food

As I mentioned earlier this week, I went to the State Fair last weekend. I don't know if it's because I'm getting older, but some of the old favorites just didn't rouse me this time. I bought some cheese curds, but didn't eat them all; walked by the fried green tomato stand several times, but was never inspired to stop; I did seek out the fried pickle stand, but was deterred by the long lines. Trust me--long lines have never deterred me from the goodness of a hot-out-of-the-oil fried pickle before.

In general, I wasn't planning on trying anything new. (Hello, chocolate-covered raw jalapenos? No, thanks. Not even remotely tempted.) However, I read a lot of buzz about this item, and broke down and tried it:

Kushuri, from Holy Land Deli. This is apparently a popular Egyptian street food. Frankly, it's not the most attractive thing I've ever eaten--it looks an awful lot like when I have "clean out the fridge night" in my household. It's rice, lentils, and macaroni, covered with fried shallots and a mildly spicy tomato sauce. But you know what? It was delicious. The sauce makes it--I talked to someone else who tried it and got very little sauce and found it bland. Well, yeah--rice, macaroni and lentils on their own aren't terribly exciting. But with the sauce? Hugely satisfying, and a great counter to all the fried foods.

It was especially good with this.

Summit Brewing's beer on a stick. Quite possibly the best thing ever stuck on a stick and sold at the Fair.

But some traditions can't be ignored.

Sweet Martha's chocolate chip cookies. By the bucket, natch.

Oh, I do love the Fair.

September festivals

Just because Labor Day is right around the corner doesn’t mean Minnesota has shut down for winter. There may not be quite as many festivals—but there are still enough to keep anyone from getting bored. And besides, soon the harvest and Halloween festivals will pop up. Be sure to check the Minnesota Historical Society’s event page; they’ve always got something interesting going on.

St. Paul
Minnesota State Fair
Through Sept. 5
C’mon—you can’t possibly have had your fill of fried cheese curds and beer on a stick yet, have you??

Shakopee
Minnesota Renaissance Fest
Weekends through Oct. 2; also open Labor Day and Friday, Sept. 30
Rowdy jousting, roasted turkey legs, raucous and libidinous comedy, people in costumes—really, what more do you need?

Northfield
Defeat of Jesse James Days
Sept. 7-11
The infamous Jesse James met his match when he tried to rob the Northfield bank on Sept. 7, 1876. Today his defeat is boisterously remembered with a bank raid re-enactment, hog roast, square dance, steak fry, vintage base ball, and a parade.

St. Paul
Concrete and Grass Music Festival
Sept. 9-11
Lowertown St. Paul hosts this festival with a diverse range of free music: Dessa, Suicide Commandos, the Minnesota Opera, Salsa del Soul, and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, among others.

Ely
Harvest Moon Festival
Sept. 9-11
Lumberjack shows, live music, food, and demonstrations of old-time arts (blacksmithing, birch bark basketry, wool spinning, and fire starting, among others), all in this scenic Boundary Waters gateway community.

Moorhead
Greater Moorhead Days
Sept. 9-12
Parades, bocce ball tournaments, live music, food—a full week of fun on the border of North Dakota.

Stillwater
Grape Stomp 2011
Sept.10-11
Seriously—it’s a grape stomp at a winery (St. Croix Vineyards, to be specific).

St. Paul
St. Paul Classic Bike Tour
Sept. 11
Once the RNC is done, it’ll be safe to go back to St. Paul. This is not a race—it’s just a really well thought-out ride through some of the most scenic parts of the Capitol city.

Worthington
King Turkey Days
Sept. 16-17
All the usual fun stuff (food, music) plus: turkey races.

Mankato
Mahkato Traditional Pow Wow
Sept. 16-18
Thousands of Native Americans gather here each year for a traditional pow wow, with ceremonial costumes, foods, and crafts.

North Shore
North Shore Inline Marathon/Half-Marathon
Sept. 17
Feeling competitive? Like your inline skates? This one’s for you. Can’t beat the scenery.

Shakopee
Severs Corn Maze
Sat.-Sun., Sept. 17-Oct.30 (also open MEA)
The name says it all: a maze built in a corn field. This year’s maze is a tribute to the recently concluded space shuttle program. Don’t let your kids find the way out faster than you do.

Hastings
Fall Raptor Release
Sept. 24
Visit the Raptor Center in Hastings and see a variety of raptors released back into the wild.