SCENE MAY 2025

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YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.

COUNTERTOPS

Incredible selection of materials: • Cambria • Porcelain

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W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M | M AY 2 0 2 5

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CONTENTS MAY 2025 / VOLUME 13 / ISSUE 5

FEATURES: 6 Shopping

SOUTHERN MINN

Shop ‘til you drop in Waseca’s historic downtown

+ 50

8 Breweries, Wineries,

Cideries & Distilleries

New breweries open in St. Peter, Le Sueur County and Mineral Springs find new home.

25 Develope a

11 Family Friendly Activities

Green Thumb

Lonsdale Skate Park opens after yearslong wait.

Gardening can offer a

wealth of physical and mental benefits.

13 Camping, Trails,

26 Stay Sharp with

Lakes & Outdoors

Brain Games

Southern Minnesota has ample ‘day trip’ opportunities.

As we age maintaining

cognitive health becomes just as important as physical well-being.

15 Local Attractions

Beyond the highway: Owatonna’s Hidden Gems.

27 Comfort, Safety

17 Garden Center, Nurseries

on the Road

& Fruit Picking

As we get older physical

changes can make driving more challenging.

Northfield area berry farms prep for fruitful season.

20 Art, History & Music

28 Tracing

Finding history while out & about in Southern Minnesota.

Family Roots

Delving into family history

can be a rewarding journey.

COLUMNS: 38 SoMinn THE BOOKWORM SEZ

- I Am Made of Death - No Fault - Warbody - Make Sure You Die Screaming

CALENDAR: 31 SCENE MONTHLY EVENTS

PLACES TO GO and THINGS TO DO

29 Intergenerational

Friendships

Age is just a number, when

it comes to friendships.

30 Start a Business

or Side Hustle

Retirement doesn’t mean

you have to slow down.

Nominate your favorites now through May 5th Southern minn

Scene

HAVE A STORY IDEA OR CALENDAR EVENT?

Reach EDITOR Philip Weyhe at editor@southernminnscene.com, 507-931-8579 or follow him on Twitter @EditorPhilipWeyhe

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WANT TO ADVERTISE? Deanna Boland - 507-340-5806 deanna.boland@apgsomn.com

DESIGNER Kate Townsend-Noet

YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.

It’s Here!

There are 100 categories to choose from in the 2025 SoMINN BEST OF. In addition to the regional SoMINN BEST OF awards there will also be four local BEST OF contests for Faribault, Northfield, Owatonna and St. Peter. Be sure to nominate your favorites for those local contests as well because there are 25 different categories for those contests that are not in the regional SoMINN BEST OF contest.

So show your local and regional businesses some

support and recognize them for providing you with an awesome service, place to go, etc.

Nominating ends May 9, voting will commence May 21 and your final vote can be submitted on June 9. Everyone is allowed to vote on each of the categories once per day, per email address.

We leave this in the hands of you, SoMinn. Get in the nooks and crannies and give our businesses some love.

Nominate! April 16-May 5 Vote! May 21 -June 9 Winners Announced! July 30-31 in August edition of Southern minn

Scene SCAN THIS CODE TO NOMINATE & VOTE! CHECK OUT THE SCENE CALENDAR ONLINE FOR SOMINN HAPPENINGS!

W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M | M AY 2 0 2 5

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Monica Wendland is the owner of Waseca’s Glitter and Grace. (Andrew Deziel — WasecaCountyNews.com)

Shopping Shop ‘til you drop in Waseca’s historic downtown Pic A Dilly

S

By JANE TURPIN MOORE Guest Contributor

hop ‘til you drop in Waseca’s historic downtown If shopping is your goal, consider spending the day in Waseca.

This community of just over 9,000 souls is rich in hometown pride and entrepreneurial spirit. And many of the town’s only-found-here specialty shops are woman-owned — meaning they know exactly what you’re looking for.

Shopping options abound throughout this region and Waseca’s bevy of retail choices, all located within a relatively short distance, make it one smart stop for a day trip.

Consider these featured sites, but keep in mind they’re a mere sampling of the shopping delights on tap in Bluejay territory.

Glitter and Grace

1800 N. State St., Waseca. 507-521-1965; Facebook.

May marks the eighth anniversary of Monica Wendland’s home decor and gift shop, dubbed Glitter and Grace in tribute to her two daughters.

“Eighty percent of my inventory is home decor,” Wendland estimated.

“I work with eight local people who make handmade items sold at Glitter and Grace; for instance, one is crazy good at making wreaths that are just gorgeous and another one sews runners.

“We have a multitude of fun, unique stuff in this shop.”

Seventy-five to 80 is also the percentage of Glitter and Grace’s out-of-town and online shoppers, Wendland estimates.

“I offer shipping and share [frequent] live videos on our Facebook site, which people really like because they can see what the items look like in real time,” said Wendland.

Glitter and Grace

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YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.

Artwork, pictures, decorative shelving, vases, lanterns (with candles or angels), a variety of candles (including the 1803 Candles brand), key chains, coin bags, crosses for confirmation or first communion and a baby section—that’s a short list of Glitter and Grace’s stock.

As spring unfolds, Wendland says garden flags, garden stones for gravesites and cute nature picks (think frogs, dragonflies and caterpillars) will be plentiful in the store. Such decor is more enduring throughout the summer months than 4th of July-specific merchandise— though one can certainly find that at Glitter and Grace, too.

With Mother’s Day and graduation season approaching, Wendland reminds that gift cards—whether for moms, or for young people heading to college or striking out on their own—are always on point.

“College girls love our twinkle lights for their dorm rooms, and new graduates appreciate help with decorating their new apartments,” she said, adding, “The bulk of our clientele is women but we welcome men and like helping with their shopping needs.”

Appropriately, florals are ever popular at Glitter and Grace; fittingly, Wendland’s demeanor is as cheerful as a bright bouquet.

Confirmed Pic A Dilly Wendland, “I love to decorate and that’s where my passion lies.”

Pic A Dilly Boutique

106 N. State St., Waseca. 651-343-4962; Facebook; picadillymn@gmail.com.

Everyone feels welcome at Pic A Dilly Boutique, whose tag line is “We specialize in all things gorgeous,” because owner Jill Strauss’s abiding philosophy is that everyone deserves to feel beautiful.

“This is supposed to be a safe environment for all women,” said Strauss, who opened Pic A Dilly early in 2020.

“Some boutiques are made mostly for those who wear tiny sizes, but I wanted women to come in and feel immediately comfortable, not to think, ‘I’ll buy that when I lose 20 pounds.’”

“I’ve tried to create an environment that emphasizes we’re all beautiful, amazing creatures who can feel comfortable and cared for.”

Therefore, Pic A Dilly carries a broad range of clothing sizes and styles. Strauss mentions versatile brands like Charlie B (“They’ve figured out how to work with a [real] woman’s body,” she said) and Judy Blue Jean Co. “There are a lot of cute, sassy styles women can feel good about wearing,” said Strauss. “I go to market and search out companies that share my passion.”

Pic A Dilly also carries essential oils, Carpe Diem CBD products and body essential items from With Love & Company.

“There’s so much value in essential oils and other natural products without additives,” said

Strauss.

Strauss is enthusiastic about the cooperative energy that prevails in Waseca’s retail community.

“If someone walks into our store, we share a map with them of other local shops,” she said.

At Pic A Dilly, staff like helping clients come up with great new outfits. And when shopping for a friend, wife, daughter or girlfriend, gift cards always fit the bill, Strauss asserts.

“We want everyone here to be comfortable,” stressed Strauss.

Waseca Floral

810 N. State St., Waseca. 507-835-3790; wasecafloral.com.

Drop in at Waseca Floral for some fresh flowers before leaving town with your shopping bags.

Owner Rick Morris, who’s operated the full-service floral Glitter and Grace shop for 53 years, stocks a cooler with by-the-stem blooms, priced from $1.50 to $6 apiece. Varieties include carnations, roses, daisies (yellow, white and lavender), sunflowers, Gerbera daisies, snapdragons and alstroemeria.

“With daisies and alstroemeria, there are more flowers on a single stem so you may get more flower for your money,” Morris hinted.

If you need to go big before going home, check out the display cooler with remade flower arrangements, all set Lush Cakes to go in attractive vases.

“Those cost anywhere from $12 up to the sky’s the limit,” said Morris. “You can brighten up a spot in your own home or make someone else’s day.”

Besides flowers and green plants, Waseca Floral sells wind chimes, plaques, and memorial lanterns.

“We also have a greenhouse so we do a lot of plantings for holiday and summer porch pots and spring Memorial Day planters,” said Morris.

Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day are the shop’s busiest holidays, but weddings, funerals and Memorial Day keep things hopping as well.

Morris’s wife Sheila maintains the business’s advertising and social media side, while he is the primary flower arranger and designer.

“We get almost 5% of our business between 5 and 6 p.m.,” he observed, noting the shop’s generous operating hours.

“It’s worth it to stay open a little later. Stop by and pick up something beautiful to take home.”

Sweets and treats Good to know: Restore the spring in your step with a stop at Lush Cakes, 930 State St. South, lushcakes.com.

Proprietress Jessica Freitag is a first-rate pastry chef whose cinnamon rolls, cookies, muffins, scones, croissants, sweet breads, brownies, macarons and cupcakes are worth every calorie.

Tasty soups and sandwiches are nourishing, plus delicious coffee adds the needed spark.

Waseca Floral If you’re in the mood for an adult beverage, visit Refinery 507 Kitchen + Cocktail Bar, 100 State St. North, thymeonmain.com/ refinery-507, for drinks and food (ranging from appetizers to salads to burgers).

Enjoy the sophisticated atmosphere

Wednesday through Friday, 4-9 p.m., and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.  Freelance writer/collaborative pianist Jane Turpin Moore grew up in the Mankato area and is now based in Northfield. She blogs at timeformoore566445504. wordpress.com and fields emails at jturpinmoore@gmail. com.

SHOPPING Downtown Le Sueur South Main Street, Le Sueur facebook.com/DowntownLeSueur Downtown Northfield Division Street, Northfield downtownnorthfield.org boutiques, gift shops, coffee shops, restaurants

Downtown Owatonna Cedar Avenue, Owatonna visitowatonna.org/historicdowntown boutiques, gift shops, coffee shops, restaurants

Downtown Red Wing Bush Street, Red Wing downtownredwing.org Downtown Rochester Broadway Avenue South, Rochester downtownrochestermn.com

Downtown St. Peter Minnesota Avenue, St. Peter boutiques, gift shops, coffee shops, restaurants

Faribault Main Street Central Avenue, Faribault visitfaribault.com/historicdowntown

Downtown Waseca State Street, Waseca discoverwaseca.com

Old Town Mankato 300-800 Riverfront Dr., Mankato facebook.com/oldtownmankato

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River Hills Mall 1850 Adams St, Mankato riverhillsmall.com Ultra Outlets 6750 W. Frontage Road, Medford ultraoutlets.com

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Union Trail Head Brewer Jared Woods pours a glass of the brewery’s Stairway to Helles German lager. (Carson Hughes — LeSueurCountyNews.com)

Breweries, wineries, cideries & distilleries New breweries open in St. Peter, Le Sueur County; Mineral Springs grows

W

By PHILIP WEYHE Southern Minn Scene Editor

Union Trail Brewing owner Chad Nesbit of Le Sueur and Head Brewer Jared Woods lift up glasses of beer underneath the sign outside the building. (Carson Hughes - LeSueurCountyNews.com)

hile some recent brewery closures in southern Minnesota, including Mankato Brewery and Owatonna’s Foremost, have put a dent in the area craft brewing industry, some new openings and expansions are keeping things churning.

In St. Peter, after decades without a local brewery, a second has been added in Tremendous Brewing. Not too far north, a closed brewery location has reopened under a new owner and with a new name: Union Trail Brewing Co. And in Owatonna, after the loss of Foremost, Mineral Springs Brewing aims to carry the load; it moved into a much larger space in the community.

Tremendous Brewing With a built-in library, entertainment stage and eight hand-

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crafted brews on tap, Tremendous Brewing promises to have something for bookworms, music buffs and beer lovers alike.

The old fire hall-turned-drinking establishment at 227 Mulberry Ave. in St. Peter officially opened its doors to customers in November, giving St. Peter residents a new place to unwind and kick back with beers made specially for the tastes of the local area. Its opening came on the heels of Paddlefish Brewing’s opening in St. Peter just eight months earlier.

Brewmaster Kurt Stoel, who opened the business alongside co-owners Benjamin Findley and Greg Melchior, aimed to create a menu that’s accessible to both fans of traditional beers and customers looking to branch out into more experimental tastes.

For those who enjoy a light beer or are new to the brewery scene, Stoel recommends the Spotted Dog. A cheeky nod to the establishment’s firehouse heritage, this cream ale is designed to refresh the taste buds of those who enjoy a good light beer.

One of Stoel’s personal favorites is the Mouse and Half, the brew that he says “made Tremendous famous.” It was a recipe Stoel chased for years as a homebrewer — he has 30 years of

YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.

Tremendous Brewmaster Kurt Stoel examines a kettle in the brewhouse. (Carson Hughes/southernminn.com) experience under his belt — and now he has an Irish stout that he considers “a notch above” the rest.

For customers more into the brewery scene, Stoel has crafted concoctions like the JLB (Juicy Little Beer), an IPA for people who don’t like IPAs. While it keeps the hoppy character and sweetness of a standard IPA it removes the bitterness that turns away some beer drinkers.

The Beauregarde, a mouth-puckering blueberry sour is another one of Stoel’s more unique brews, which he says can be the perfect foil when paired with the right meal.

Some Tremendous’ other debut items include a fresh and modern take on the pale ale, the Derailment, the Real Good Seltzer Then, a specialty seltzer which comes in a variety of flavors including Italian Soda, and the Ambassador Ale — an Irish Red named in tribute to the St. Peter Ambassadors, which helped the business get off the ground with a $5,000 grant this summer.

While no food is served on site, customers are free to bring in or order their own meals while downing one of Tremendous’ specialty brews, or consider ordering from the St. Peter Co-op through a QR code that can be found at any table throughout the establishments. Through the online ordering system, customers can order brewery favorites, like chips and guacamole, pretzels, a meat cheese tray, or access the Coop’s full deli menu. Staff from the Co-op will bring the food over.

Keep up to date with hours, events, beer rotations and more at tremendousbrewing.com.

Tremendous Brewing’s outdoor patio space has yet to be fully realized, but the owner have plans for the area come next spring. (Carson Hughes/southernminn.com)

Patrons drink Tremendous Brewing’s hand-crafted beers on the first day of the establishment’s opening. (Carson Hughes/ southernminn.com)

u4ic Brewing, Inc., local residents and visitors from around the region were quick to welcome the new brewery during its two-day grand opening March 14 and March 15. Nesbit estimated the brewery poured around 1,500 glasses of beer for some 700 customers during the establishment’s premiere and patrons have continued to come back for more over the Union Trail Brewing following weeks.

From the grain distilled into their selection A homebrewer of many years, Union Trail is of 10 handcrafted brews to the beef patties in a passion project for Nesbit. The longtime beer their signature aficionado smashburgers, didn’t know Union Trail much about Brewing Co. industrial is all about brewing when keeping the building at things local.

23436 Union It’s not Trail went on just the the market ingredients after U4ic served at the Brewing made Blakely-based a move to brewpub that Mankato, but are sourced he decided from the to make the local area. leap recruiting Everything Jared Woods from the A mural of the Union Pacific rail line is featured to serve as the taproom prominently on the walls of Union Trail Brewing, a establishment’s mural of trubute to the local landscape. (Carson Hughes — head brewer. the Union LeSueurCountyNews.com) With six Pacific line years of passing by a brewing experience working at Finnegans feed mill to the name of the brewpub itself is a Brewery in Minneapolis and 3rd Act Craft tribute to the Blakely community just 15 miles Brewery in Woodbury, Woods specializes in north of Le Sueur. making clean, straightforward styles of beer Just as owner Chad Nesbit of Le Sueur which suit the tastes of the region. has embraced the Blakely community in his Light beers are far and away the most popular renovation of the taphouse formerly home to items on Union Trail’s menu so far, with drinks

These fermentation vessels house the different varietes of beer crafted at Union Trail.

(Carson Hughes - LeSueurCountyNews.com) like the U Beer Light American Lager outselling the rest of the menu two-to-one. The Flooded Rail cream ale, Annie’s Crazy Hazy IPA and Skeeter Pee seltzer have also proved popular choices, though one of Woods’ personal favorites is the Stairway to Helles German lager.

Union Trail’s extensive roster of light and medium beers, with a dark stout Sandbar for those who enjoy notes of chocolate, caramel and chocolate in their drink, reflect Nesbit’s philosophy of keeping it simple. As Union Trail establishes its footing, the brewery aims to gauge local tastes and craft a menu that sticks to what’s popular in the area.

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With easy-to-drink beers and a kitchen serving bar favorites like smash burgers, chicken sandwiches, nachos, wings, chili and more, plus a roster of board games for visitors to choose from — Union Trail aims to provide a comfortable experience and atmosphere for the whole family.

See more at uniontrailbrewing.com.

Mineral Springs expansion In 2018, a group of men pulled the trigger on a longtime goal for Owatonna.

CONTINUED page 10

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Scott Mohs, co-owner of Redline Development Group and owner of Mohs Contracting, the two companies spearheading the ASCEND project, purchases the first beer poured inside the new Mineral Springs Brewery location. (Photo courtesy of MSB)

CONTINUED from page 9 Though the doors to Mineral Springs Brewery’s taproom didn’t open until more than a year later, the day the partners signed the lease for 111 N. Walnut Ave. was the start of a now developing legacy. Since opening to the

public on Nov. 8, 2019, the past five years have included ownership changes, a global pandemic, and 2,200 barrels of beer inside that small space.

Owners Bill Cronin, Rod Baker and Mark Sebring said goodbye to the brewery’s

Mineral Springs Brewery officially opened the doors to its new, expanded taproom on Friday, Jan. 24. The new space, a part of the ASCEND project, tripled the space for the local brewery. (Photo courtesy MSB)

birthplace and moved a few feet over into a new home.

As the ASCEND riverfront project took shape, the men at MSB moved into the ground level facing the river, where the taproom and patio was able to triple in size. This includes a brew

area that “exactly doubles” the capacity Sebring — MSB’s head brewmaster — is able to brew at one time, moving from 25 barrels at a time to 50.

With the “2.0” version of MSB, the men said the priority is still being “Owatonna’s family room.” Baker said that contributed to their decisions to keep much of the new space relatively similar to the original.

The food truck model remains the same, but the added private space outside of the taproom allows it to expand. In the previous location, MSB could only host one food truck at a time without getting a conditional use permit from the city to occupy part of the city parking or roadway. Being they are now on completely private property, Cronin said they won’t have an issue hosting multiple food trucks at a time, and even has dreams of one day hosting a food truck festival.

In addition to the food trucks, MSB will be partnering with Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm out of Waseca as the pizzeria’s first foray into the world of frozen pizza. On Dec. 28, they hosted a test run of the frozen pies to allow both businesses to learn as they go. Baker said it went over well; they both learned a lot, and they believe the venture will be successful for both parties.

The new building also includes a separate event space, separated by a garage door for when a private event is being hosted. Cronin said this will not only enhance events like Oktoberfest, but allow them to better support local nonprofits in a way they hadn’t been able to do in the past.

The owners also hope to eventually see the brewery open seven days a week. And the same great lineup of beers will continue to be on offer. See more at mineralspringsbrewery.com.  Carson Hughes and Annie Harman contributed to this article.

Bill Cronin meets with representatives from the Steele County Humane Society to discuss details of the Chili Cook-Off to be hosted inside the new Mineral Springs Brewery event space in February. (Annie Harman/southernminn.com)

BREWERIES, WINERIES, CIDERIES & DISTILLERIES 10,000 Drops 28 Fourth St. NE, Faribault 10000drops.com Availability: Bottles Taproom: Yes

Chapel Brewing 15 Hester St., Dundas chapelbrewing.com Availability: Draft, growlers Taproom: Yes

Keepsake Cidery 4609 135th St. E, Dundas mncider.com Availability: Draft, bottles Taproom: Yes

Mineral Springs Brewery 210 N Oak Ave Suite 1, Owatonna Mineralspringsbrewery.com Availability: Draft, crowlers, growlers Taproom: Yes

Angry Hog Brewery 500 23rd Ave. NW, Austin angryhogbrewery.com Availability: Draft Taproom: Yes

Giesenbrau Bier Co. 1306 1st St. NE, New Prague giesenbraubierco.com Availability: Draft Taproom: Yes

Kinney Creek Brewery 1016 7th St NW, Rochester Kinneycreekbrewery.com Availability: Draft, crowlers, growlers Taproom: Yes

Montgomery Brewing Co. 306 2nd St. NW, Montgomery montgomerybrewing.com Availability: Draft, growlers Taproom: Yes

August Schell’s Brewing Co. 1860 Schell Rd., New Ulm schellsbrewery.com Availability: Draft, bottles, cans Taproom: See website

Gravity Storm Brewer 309 Main Street N, Austin facebook.com/ GravityStormBrewery Availability: Draft Taproom: Yes

LocAle Brewing Company 228 Poplar St., Mankato localebrew.com Availability: Draft, cans, growlers Taproom: Yes

Mousse Sparkling Wine Company 115 1st St E, Jordan moussewinery.com

Black Frost Distilling 201 1st N. St., New Ulm blackfrostdistilling.com Availability: Bottles Taproom: Yes

Half Pint Brewing Company 40099 150th St., Waseca www.halfpintbrew.com Availability: Draft, Growlers Taproom: Yes

Cannon River Winery 421 Mill St. W., Cannon Falls facebook.com/Cannon.River.Winery

Imminent Brewing 519 Division St. S, Northfield imminentbrewing.com Availability: Draft Taproom: Yes

Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery and Distillery 1179 E. Pearl St., Kasota 507-931-0089 chankaskawines.com

Loon Liquors in Northfield 1325 Armstrong Rd., Northfield loonliquors.com Availability: Bottles Taproom: Yes Mankato Brewery 1119 Center St., Mankato, MN mankatobrewery.com Availability: Draft, cans, bottles, growlers Taproom: Yes

Indian Island Winery 18018 631st Ave., Janesville indianislandwindery.com

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Next Chapter Winery 16945 320th St., New Prague nextchapterwinery.com Paddlefish Brewing 108 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter paddlefishbrewing.com Availability: Draft, crowlers Taproom: Yes Roets Jordan Brewery 230 Broadway St., Jordan roetsjordanbrewery.com Availability: Draft Taproom: Yes

Schell’s Brewery 1860 Schell’s Rd, New Ulm Schellsbrewery.com Availability: Draft, cans, bottles, growlers Taproom: Yes South x Southeast Minnesota Brewing Company 51146 US-52, Pine Island Sxsebrewingmn.com Availability: Draft, cans Taproom: Yes Tanzenwald Brewing Co. 103 Water St. N, Northfield tanzenwald.com Availability: Draft, growlers Taproom: Yes Three Oaks Vineyard and Winery 73505 225th St., Albert Lea threeoakwines.com Tilion Brewing Company 432 Mill St. W, Cannon Falls tilionbrewing.com Availability: Draft, growlers Taproom: Yes

Tremendous Brewing Company 227 W. Mulberry St., St. Peter tremendousbrewing.com Availability: Draft, crowlers Taproom: Yes Union Trail Brewing 23436 Union Trail, Belle Plaine uniontrailbrewing.com Availability: Draft Taproom: Yes Vintage Escapes Winery 8950 Dodd Rd., Kilkenny vintageescapeswinery.com Ward House 308 S. State St., Waseca wardhousebrewing.com Availability: Draft, growlers Taproom: Yes Whitewater Wines 10832 Fischer Hill Dr, Plainview Whitewaterwines.com

YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.

Jackson Schmitz, 9, does a trick off a side ramp at the new Lonsdale Skate Park in Sticha Park. (File photo - LonsdaleNewsReview.com)

Family friendly activities Lonsdale Skate Park opens after yearslong wait

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By COLTON KEMP Guest Contributor

Wade Gilbertson, 14, spins his scooter during a jump at the new skate park in Sticha Park in Lonsdale Tuesday evening. (Colton Kemp/southernminn.com)

hen Shakopee got rid of its old skate park, former Lonsdale Mayor Tim Rud said it disappointed youths, including Miles and his brother Meeko, who used to live there.

Imagine their shock when the exact skate park showed up a few blocks from their family’s new house in Lonsdale.

The long-awaited skate park in Lonsdale finally arrived in August 2023, more than a decade since it was first petitioned by residents. The new amenity is located in Sticha Park and demonstrates that new amenities don’t always need to cost a lot of money.

Although the exact date is difficult to pin down, it was likely around 2010 that the idea for a new skate park in Lonsdale first came up, Rud recalled. That vision finally

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came to fruition last Tuesday, as the ribbon was cut at Sticha Park’s newest skate park.

“This is really quite an accomplishment,” Rud said.

“You know, like I mentioned, over the years there’s been everything from petitions to planning grants to help get this park off the ground.”

The park comes from the city of Shakopee, which sold their skate park to Lonsdale earlier this year. This allowed Lonsdale to get the new park at half the cost as usual, Rud pointed out.

Most the money to pay for the skate park was funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, or “COVID dollars” as the mayor calls it, which was pandemicrelief funds intended to be used to better communities’ infrastructure and amenities around the nation.

“It really is remarkable what you’ve all accomplished,” Rud said to Lonsdale City council and members of Public Works. “… And it just goes to show what you can accomplish without having a real big impact on the taxpayer.”

CONTINUED page 12

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Lonsdale Mayor Tim Rud turns to face the crowd while laughing during the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new skate park in Sticha Park. (Colton Kemp/ southernminn.com)

James Schmitz, 12, lands his scooter on the last in a stretch of ramps at the new skate park in Lonsdale’s Sticha Park Tuesday evening. (Colton Kemp/southernminn.com)

CONTINUED from page 11

had, and they had three concrete amenities in this open area.”

The skate park had probably two dozen kids on bikes, skateboards, scooters and rollerblades on opening evening. The older kids helped up

Lonsdale Public Works spent a few months working to restore the ramps and other pieces.

Public Works Director Joe Dornfeld said the park

still had some finishing touches left.

“We’re talking about throwing a basketball hoop or two in here,” he said, gesturing to the bare concrete on the side of the skate park. “…

This concrete is bigger than what Shakopee

any younger kids who fell. They all took turns using the ramps and encouraged each other to do tricks.

Dornfeld said the park continues to be well used. 

FAMILY FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES Adventure Bound Camping Resorts 21943 630th Ave., Austin 507-607-0620 abcamping.com/beavertrails Air Insanity Indoor Trampoline Park 1607 US-14, Rochester 507-322-6197 airinsanity.com Bent River Outfitter 530 N Riverfront Dr B, Mankato 507-388-2368 bentriveroutfitter.com Bounce Town 1860 Adams St., Mankato 507-345-7737 bouncetownmankato.com Bounce World 4430 19th St NW, Rochester 507-316-0788 bounceworldmn.com Broken Paddle Guiding Co. 213 Main St. W, Wabasha 651-955-5222 brokenpaddleguiding.com kayak and stand up paddleboard tours & rentals

Cannon Falls Canoe and Bike Rental 615 N 5th St, Cannon Falls 507-407-4111 cannonfallscanoeand bike.com Chesley Skate Park 161 Jaycee Ct., Mankato 507-387-8222 mankatoymca.org Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota 224 Lamm St, Mankato 507-386-0279 cmsouthernmn.org Escape Challenge 6301 Bandel Rd NW, Rochester 507-722-2728 theescapechallenge.com Escape MSP 20730 Holyoke Ave SUITE 150, Lakeville 612-424-3845 escapelkv.com Flaherty’s Northfield Lanes 1700 Highway 3 S #CO, Northfield 507-645-8322 flahertysnorthfieldlanes.com

International Owl Center 126 E Cedar St,, Houston 507-896-6957 internationalowlcenter.org Jack McGowans Farm 20001 Hawkeye Ln., Mankato 507-625-2257 facebook.com/McgowanFarm J-Mo’s Bowl 1802 4th St, Faribault 507-323-8228 jmobowl.com bowling, volleyball Kato Escape 619 S Front St, Mankato 507-327-4045 katoescape.com Kerfoot Canopy Tour 30200 Scenic Byway Road, Henderson 952-873-3901 kerfootcanopytour.com zipline, aerial adventure park, sightseeing tours Lake Area Clubhouse 117 E Main St, Elysian 507-267-4611 Lonsdale Skatepark Sticha Park at Industrial and Willow Creek drives, Lonsdale Skating ramps and bowls, equipment rental

Mineral Springs Park 1025 Mineral Springs Pkwy., Owatonna ci.owatonna.mn.us disc golf, horseshoes, paved trails Minnesota’s Largest Candy Store 20430 Johnson Memorial Dr., Jordan facebook.com/MinnesotasLargest CandyStor Motokazie Supercross 7000-7462 W 195th St., Jordan 952-601-1169 motokazie.com National Eagle Center 50 Pembroke Ave, Wabasha 651-565-4989 nationaleaglecenter.org Northfield Skatepark 801 Seventh St., Northfield Owatonna Archery Range 711 N Elm St., Owatonna ci.owatonna.mn.uc 2 acres, 10 shooting lanes Owatonna Bike/ Skate Park 350 School St., Owatonna Helmets required River Rock Disc Golf Course 1025 Mineral Springs Pkwy., Owatonna 9-hole course

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119 W Bridge St,| 507-214-3131 Owatonna | 507-214-3131 119 W Bridge St, Owatonna | www.mizukifusion.com 12 M AY 2 0 2 5 | W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M

River Springs Water Park 3065 St Paul Rd, Owatonna owatonna.gov/306/River-SpringsWater-Park Sand Creek Adventures 3101 220th St W, Jordan 952.492.5333 sandcreekadventures.com Sibley Park Petting Zoo 900 Mound Ave, Mankato mankatomn.gov/city-services-a-z SkyDive Northstar 35493 110th St., Waseca 507-291-5867 skydivenorthstar.com SPAM Museum 101 3rd Ave NE, Austin spam.com/museum Sparetime 333 18th St. SE, Owatonna 507-451-2524 bowling, laser tag, arcades St. Peter Disc Golf Course Riverside Park, St. Peter Near the intersection of Hwy. 22 & Hwy. 169 18 holes The 300 Club 504 North Main St., Le Sueur 507-665-6015 bowling, restaurant, bar

Toners Lake Karting 8747 415th Ave., Janesville 507-835-1413 tonerslakekarting.org dirt oval karting Waseca Skatepark 527 6th Ave. SE, Waseca ci.waseca.mn.us Winona Marine Art Museum 800 Riverview Dr, Winona mmam.org Art galleries, youth and adult programs Waseca Disc Golf Course Waseca County Courthouse Park, 31831 120th St., Waseca wasecacounty.gov/facilities/facility/ details/Courthouse-Park-11 18 holes Waseca Water Park 200 26th Ave NE, Waseca ci.waseca.mn.us/waseca-waterpark WOW! Zone 2030 Adams St., Mankato 507-625-26952030 wowzonefec.com bowling, mini golf, arcade, laser tag

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YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.

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By ASHLEY HANLEY Guest Contributor

Camping, trails, lakes & outdoors

Southern Minnesota has ample “day trip” opportunities

h, summer is almost here. Maybe you have a summer vacation planned. Or maybe you are just looking for ideas to do so you don’t hear the kids say, “I’m bored” over and over again. Or maybe you’re like me and have three kids ages seven, five and almost three, and the idea of going somewhere warm and tropical and planning non-stop ideas for days and days sounds like a literal nightmare.

But, I still want to be the “cool” mom and make lasting memories. That is why we do these things, right? It’s all about the children.

Thankfully, we are so blessed here in Southern Minnesota with ample opportunities for “day trips” or even weekend getaways that can be done on a tank of gas, or even on a budget.

One of our family’s favorites is to head over to Minneopa State Park in Mankato. (Pro tip, several libraries in the area have State Park Passes you can check out for free. These are for all State Parks, not just Minneopa).

What I love about Minneopa, is of course the bison. Seeing the large animals up close, the thrill of finding them, and if you’re really lucky, you might even find them right in the path of your vehicle. It is terrifying at first because you think they will run into your car, but the thrill and shouts of excitement from the kids make it all worth it.

Of course, this is a hit or miss, because you aren’t guaranteed to see any bison, and that has happened before. But, in my opinion, it just gives you a reason to go back.

However, you don’t just go to Minneopa for the bison. Across the way is the park part of the park with gorgeous waterfalls. My kids love running across the bridge to get a closer view as you see the smaller falls, and then the big one around the way.

It also offers ample space to plan a picnic, take a walk and just enjoy a beautiful Sunday afternoon.

Other fun day or afternoon things we like to do as a family include seeing the Goofy Goats in Madison Lake. A kind family has literally opened their farm for the public to come and play with the dozen of goats. You drive right up and can enter the gate and get right in the enclosed area with the big goats, and of course the favorite, the babies that can be gently picked up and held. They offer food you can give to the goats, or you can bring your own. They’ve even added a playground for kids to play on. If you’ve ever wanted to hold a baby goat, this would be your chance.

They are open seven days a week during daylight hours. They have a Facebook page called the Goofy Goat Farm. The address for the farm is 23888 610 Ave., Madison Lake. Scroll through their page to find dozens of adorable photos full of joy.

So yes, planning your summer is a daunting task. A busy and fun summer awaits, but it doesn’t have to be expensive or a major headache. And who knows, you may be able to find beauty, magic and memories right in your own backyard.  Audrey Kletscher Helbling explores southern Minnesota via day trips that take her along backroads, into small towns and to other places showcasing history, art and so much more. She documents her finds on her blog, mnprairieroots.com. Reach her at audrey@ mnprairieroots.com.

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RIVERS+LAKES Clear Lake, Waseca Boat launches: Off Clear Lake Drive across from Kieslers. Handicapped accessible fishing pier.

North side of lake along Clear Lake Drive and adjacent to Lakeside Golf Course.

GEM Sailing MN 201 S Franklin St., Lake City 507-261-7473 GEMSailingMN.com Sail the boat or enjoy the ride.

Henderson Station River Access & Park 29030 River St., Le Sueur Lake Jefferson Fishing Pier 28211 470th Street, Madison Lake

Roberds Lake, Faribault Roberds Lake Boulevard Campgrounds and boat launches all around Straight River Canoe Landing 5218 N Co Road 45, Medford

Loon Lake, Waseca Hwy. 14 DNR-assisted boat ramp 10th St. NW motor boats only

Tetonka Lake, Waterville City-owned access off First Street Campgrounds and boat launches all around

Lake Washington Regional Park & Campground 47102 Washington Park Road, Kasota 507-357-8201 co.le-sueur.mn.us camping, fishing, canoe launch, playgrounds

Kieslers Campground & RV resort 14360 U.S. Hwy. 14, Waseca 507-835-3179 kieslers.com boat rentals, mini golf

CAMPING Camp Faribo 21851 Bagley Ave., Faribault 507-332-8453 www.campfaribo.com Clear Lake Park & Campground 35194 Clear Lake Lane, Le Center primitive campsites, first come-first served Flandrau State Park 1300 Summit Ave., New Ulm 507-233-1260 dnr.state.mn.us camping, swimming, hiking Frontenac State Park 29223 County 28 Blvd., Frontenac 651-345-3401 dnr.state.mn.us camping, hiking trails

Land of Memories Campground 100 Amos Owen Lane, Mankato mankatomn.gov fishing, canoeing, boat landing Kamp Dells 14842 Sakatah Lake Road, Waterville 507-362-8616 www.kampdels.com

Mill Pond/Riverside Park & Campground 227 S Front St., St. Peter Boat launch, fishing pond, playground Sakatah Lake State Park 50499 Sakatah Lake State Park Road, Waterville 507-698-7851 dnr.state.mn.us hiking, biking, camping

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TRAILS+BIKING+HIKING Cannon Valley Trail 19.7-miles trail from Cannon Falls to Red Wing cannonvalleytrail.com

City of Owatonna trails 17 miles of trails, including Buxton and Muckle ci.owatonna.mn.us/304/Trails

Cannon Wilderness Park 3471 151st St. E, Faribault co.rice.mn.us canoe launch, hiking and horseback trails

Courthouse Park Wilton Brideg Road, Waseca camping, walking, cross-country skiing and horseback riding trails

City of Faribault trails 8.4 miles of trails Map: bit.ly/319fqsT City of Northfield trails 22 miles of trails Map: bit.ly/3g4b7nd

Falls Creek Park 20506 Carr Ave., Faribault 507-332-6112 Goodhue-Pioneer State Trail When finished, the 47-mile trail will connect the Cannon Valley Regional and the Douglas State trails

High Island Creek Park 26428 341 Lane, Henderson co.sibley.mn.us Lebanon Hills Regional Park 860 Cliff Road, Eagan, 651-554-6530 Mountain biking trails Kaplan’s Woods Park, Kaplan’s Woods Parkway 1205 SW 18th St., Owatonna ci.owatonna.mn.us paved trails, boat access, swimming

Rasmussen Woods 555 Stoltzman Road, Mankato mankatomn.gov hiking, wildlife Sakatah Singing Hills Trail 39-mile trail runs from Faribault to Mankato dnr.state.mn.us/state_trails/ sakatah Traverse des Sioux Trails 1851 N. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter facebook.com/TraverseTrails

Mill Towns Trail 3-mile multi-use trail currently links Dundas and Northfield Plans to run from Faribault to Cannon Falls

OUTDOORS Beaver Lake County Park Steele County Road 28, Ellendale co.steele.mn.us hiking trails, boat dock, fishing pier Byllesby Park (Goodhue County) Hwy. 19, 1 mile west of Cannon Falls boat launch, picnic area Cannon Wilderness Park 3471 151st St. E, Faribault co.rice.mn.us Canoe launch, hiking and horseback trails Carleton College Cowling Arboretum One North College St., Northfield 507-222-4543 apps.carleton.edu/campus/arb Cedar Lake Regional Park 25875 Juniper Ave., New Prague 763-694-777 fishing, trails, picnic areas Courthouse Park Wilton Brideg Road, Waseca co.waseca.mn.us/Facilities Camping, walking, cross-country skiing and horseback riding trails

Covill Park 507 Nymphara Ln, Red Wing red-wing.org/facilities/facility/ details/Colvill-Park-9 Boat launch, tennis courts, volleyball, walking paths

Lake Byllesby Regional Park 8150 295th St. E., Cannon Falls co.dakota.mn.us/parks/parksTrails/ LakeByllesby Campground, boating, trailhead

Falls Creek Park 20506 Carr Avenue, Faribault ricecountymn.gov/facilities/facility/ details/Falls-Creek-Park-6 61 acres, mainly wooded, with about 3,000 feet of creek frontage

Lake Kohlmeir Beach 1550 Mosher Drive, Owatonna 507-774-7372 ci.owatonna.mn.us swimming, acquatic and trail equipment rentals

Flandrau State Park 1300 Summit Ave., New Ulm Dnr.state.mn.us Camping, swimming, hiking

Lake Washington Regional Park & Campground 47102 Washington Park Road, Kasota co.le-sueur.mn.us Camping, fishing, canoe launch, playgrounds

Frontenac State Park 29223 County 28 Blvd., Frontenac Dnr.state.mn.us Camping, hiking trails Harmony Park 79503 298th St, Clarks Grove 507-402-8733 harmonypark.com Kaplan’s Woods Park 1205 SW 18th St., Owatonna ci.owatonna.mn.us Paved trails, boat access, swimming

Linnaes Arboretum 800 W. College Ave., St. Peter gustavus.edu/arboretum interpretive center, gardens, prairie Minneopa State Park 54497 Gadwall Road, Mankato 507-386-3910 dnr.state.mn.us camping, fishing, bison herd

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Myre-Big Island State Park 19499 780th Ave., Albert Lea 507-668-7060 dnr.state.mn.us camping, hiking, canoeing

Reconciliation Park 100 N Riverfront Dr, Mankato mankatomn.gov Flower gardens, Dakota art, access to regional trail

Nerstrand Big Woods State Park 9700 170th St. E, Nerstrand 507-384-6140 dnr.state.mn.us self-guided interpretive trail, Hidden Falls waterfall

Rice Lake State Park 8485 Rose St., Owatonna 507-414-6191 dnr.state.mn.us canoeing, nature observation

Ney Nature Center 28238 Nature Center Lane, Henderson 507-357-8580 neycenter.org historic farm site, trails, wildlife

Richter Woods Park 35674 173rd Ave., Montgomery co.le-sueur.mn.us/Facilities/ Facility/Details/Richter-WoodsPark-10 wildlife, picnic shelters, firepits, basketball, volleyball, more

Okaman Park E. Elysian Lake Road, Janesville co.waseca.mn.us boat launch, walking trail

River Bend Nature Center 1000 Rustad Road, Faribault 507-32-7151 rbnc.org trails, interpretive center, picnicking

Rasmussen Woods 555 Stoltzman Road, Mankato mankatomn.gov Hiking, wildlife

Sibley Park & Farm 900 Park Lane, Mankato mankatomn.gov farm animals, playground

Rush River Park 33503 Rush River Park Road, Henderson Co.sibley.mn.us Horseback & hiking trails, swimming, camping Sakatah Lake State Park 50499 Sakatah Lake State Park Road, Waterville Dnr.state.mn.us Hiking, biking, camping Seven Mile Creek County Park Hwy. 169 south of St. Peter co.nicollet.mn.us multiuse trails with equestrian parking, boat landing Traverse Des Sioux Park 1851 N Minnesota Ave, St. Peter mnhs.org/traversedessioux Walking trails, biking trails, scenic views

YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.

Local attractions

Beyond the highway: Owatonna’s Hidden Gems

By GLENDA SMITH Owatonna Chamber

O

watonna offers a unique experience that often goes unnoticed by those who pass through on I-35 or Highway 14.

Rich in history and community spirit, Owatonna invites visitors to explore its intriguing blend of past and present beyond what is seen from the highway.

Owatonna’s unique history can be explored at the State School Orphanage Museum.

Here, you won’t just observe exhibits; you’ll step into a chapter of Minnesota’s past. The museum reflects on and offers deep human connection to the stories of those who lived in the orphanage.

The preserved buildings and carefully curated displays invite reflection, allowing you to contemplate a challenging period of history and connect with the resilience of the human spirit.

Adjacent to the Museum, the Owatonna Arts Center provides a vibrant contrast, celebrating the community’s commitment to creative expression. You’ll find a variety of local talent displayed throughout the center in addition to the monthly exhibit. It’s a space where you can connect with the artistic heart of Owatonna.

For architectural enthusiasts, the National Farmers Bank is a must-see. Designed by Louis Sullivan, this isn’t just a bank; it’s an architectural masterpiece that will leave you

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in awe. The building’s intricate details and design speak to Owatonna’s appreciation for beauty and its place in architectural history. You’ll find yourself marveling at the craftsmanship and artistry that went into creating this iconic landmark.

To truly step back in time, a visit to the Village of Yesteryear and the Steele County History Center is essential. These aren’t just collections of artifacts; they tell the story of another era. As you wander through the meticulously preserved buildings and explore the current exhibit, you’ll gain a glimpse into the lives of those who shaped this community, forging a tangible connection to Owatonna’s heritage.

Owatonna offers more than just history. The city is also a haven for those seeking natural beauty and outdoor adventure. Its parks and trails invite you to immerse yourself in the scenic landscapes of southern Minnesota.

Whether you’re hiking, biking, or simply looking for a leisurely stroll, you’ll find ample opportunities to connect with nature and appreciate the tranquility of the surroundings.

No visit to Owatonna is complete without experiencing the Steele County Free Fair. This annual tradition is more than just an event; it’s a celebration of community spirit. As you participate in the time-honored festivities, you’ll witness local pride firsthand and create lasting memories.

Owatonna offers more than just attractions; it provides an opportunity for reflection, connection, and an appreciation of what shaped the community. It’s a town that invites you to slow down, explore, and discover its hidden treasures beyond the highway. 

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National Farmers’ Bank of Owatonna opened to the public in 1908.

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LOCAL ATTRACTIONS Ahlmans Guns/shooting range 9525 2. 230th St., Morristown 507-685-4243 ahlmans.com

Cannon Valley Farmers Market 1814 2nd Ave NW, Faribault Thursdays 4-7 p.m. (June through September)

Arlington Raceway 801 W Chandler St., Arlington 507-380-6998 arlingtonraceway.com

Caribou Gun Club 30649 380th St., Le Sueur 507-665-3796 caribougunclub.com gun club, hunting preserve

Berne Wood-Fired Pizza & Concert Series 23148 County Rd 24, West Concord 507-356-4340 Concert nights Wednesday 5-9 p.m.

(June through August) Betsy-Tacy Houses 332 and 333 Center St., Mankato 507-345-9777 Book a tour at betsy-tacysociety.org

Drive a Tank 550 Cherry St. W, Kasota 507-931-7385 driveatank.com Faribault Family Aquatic Center 1830 Alexander Dr, Faribault ci.faribault.mn.us/404/FaribaultFamily-Aquatics-Center

Faribault Farmers Market Central Park, Faribault Saturdays 7am-noon (June through October) Wednesdays 1:30-5:30 pm (July through September) Farmamerica 7367 360th Ave., Waseca 507-835-2052 farmamerica.org Inside Swing 685 W Bridge St., Suite 5, Owatonna insideswinggolf.com Indoor golf simulators Kasota Prairie Scenic & Natural Area 367th Ave., Kasota Park on road shoulder dnr.state.mn.us

Kenyon Farmers Market First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Kenyon Third Thursday of the month 4-7 p.m. (May through October) Le Sueur Community Center 821 E. Ferry St., Le Sueur cityoflesueur.com/155/RecreationCommunity-Center Ice rink, gym, racquetball courts, golf simulator Le Sueur Farmers Market 101 N 2nd Street, Le Sueur Saturdays 8 a.m.-noon (May through October) Minnesota Zoo 13000 Zoo Blvd., Apple Valley mnzoo.org

Minnesota Sculpture Prayer Garden Off Interstate 35, Owatonna Near Cabela’s

River Ridge Shooting Club 47028 547th Lane, Courtland Archery and crossbow, pistol ranges, shotgun course, indoor simulator

Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm 41142 160th St, Waseca 715-523-0857 pleasantgrovepizzafarm.com music, pizza, farm

St. Olaf Natural Lands 1520 St. Olaf Ave., Northfield wp.stolaf.edu/naturallands forest, prairie, wetlands, bluebird trail

Owatonna Farmers Market Central Park, Owatonna 7 a.m.-noon (May through October)

St. Peter Farmers Market Corner of Mulberry Street & Minnesota Avenue, St. Peter facebook.com/stpFarmersMarket Saturdays 8:30-12:30 (May through October)

Riverwalk Farmers Market 419 8th St. W, Northfield 847-441-1848 Saturdays 7:30 am-12:30 pm Red Barn Farm 10063 110th St E, Northfield facebook.com/RedBarnFarmPizza

Traxler’s Hunting Preserve 37699 Hunting Preserve Lane, Le Center 507-357-6940 traxlers.com

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YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.

Garden Center, Nurseries & Fruit Picking Northfield area berry farms prep for fruitful season Little Hill Berry Farm

A

By JANE TURPIN MOORE Guest Contributor

5561 115th St. East, Northfield. 507-645-4158; paul@ silkeygardens.com; Facebook.

access, low-fuss approach and high quality produce.

“We try to be customer-centric and accommodating, and our customers love our fruit,” said Silkey, who started the site 20 years ago.

“I happen to have a lucky piece of ground with good soil.”

Silkey’s acre and a quarter of strawberries typically ripen around mid-June.

“It’s been trending more like June 15 in the last few years, but if there’s a cold spring, they come late and in a hot spring, they’re earlier,” he said.

Raspberries nip at the strawberries’ heels and usually stretch into late July, while Silkey’s quarter acre of blueberries also hit the July sweet spot.

In late August, Zestar apples are ready to roll— though Silkey observes that customers don’t always think apples until September— followed by the Honey Crisp variety in early September.

“People like that we’re family-friendly,” said Silkey.

“But we’re not agri-tourism; you can spend a little time in nature, but you won’t find corn mazes here.”

Still, Silkey always welcomes — even encourages —

Silkey Gardens is easily the smallest of this berry farm trio, yet devotees of Paul Silkey’s fruit swear by the quick

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merry berry summer is within your grasp—even right at your fingertips.

The Northfield area bursts into berry season each summer, with three customerminded U-pick farms within close range. Old and young alike converge on the fruitful patches at Silkey Gardens, Little Hill Berry Farm and Lorence’s Berry Farm.

And why say no to something so healthy? Choose fresh-off-the-vine berries (strawberries, raspberries or blueberries) or, if you prefer, buy some packages of pre-picked produce.

Sure, there’s a small price to pay for the fruit you harvest, but the sunshine, fresh air and benefits of mild exercise you’ll reap along the way? That’s all free.

Take your pick; three seasonally robust locations await you.

Silkey Gardens

Silkey Gardens

Silkey Gardens

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CONTINUED from page 17 customers to sample fruit while they pick.

“The best part is seeing a little kid smash a big ol’ strawberry into his mouth, leaving his face dripping in strawberry juice,” chuckled Silkey, who draws berry lovers from Northfield and the Twin Cities and formerly sold his fruit wholesale to area co-ops.

“I look at that as developing clientele; a kid will remember how much fun they had picking and push to pick again in the future.”

Little Hill Berry Farm

4339 320th St. West, Northfield. 507301-7183; info@ littlehillberryfarm.com; littlehillberryfarm.com.

Since Aaron and Molly Wills established Little Hill Berry Farm in Silkey Gardens 2011, time has flown and their two children have grown.

And so has their loyal following of customers, who flock to their acreage just two miles northwest of Northfield each summer to reap the fruity rewards of their labors.

“Blueberries are our largest crop,” said Aaron, mentioning the blueberry season lasts from early July into early August.

“Some people don’t even know our name; they just call us ‘The Blueberry Farm,’” he laughed.

With five acres and 5,000 plants dedicated to blueberry production, that’s not a surprise.

Pluck them fresh yourself, or purchase from Little Hill Berry Farm’s store, where you can also find items from other area producers (like eggs, maple syrup, meat and additional seasonal produce).

U-pick raspberries are available at Little Hill, and in an interesting twist, the Hills switched up their strawberries to a later season variety—meaning strawberry-lovers can find their favorite fruit during August and September.

“We’re a good source for later season strawberries,” said Aaron. “We fill a different niche.”

And check out Little Hill Berry Farm’s spring plant sale, which Little Hill Berry Farm encompasses berries, fruit trees, native plants and garden transplants (like tomatoes and cucumbers).

How satisfying is it to work in berry and plant production?

“Berries are so healthy, with blueberries in particular known as a super food,” said Aaron.

“And berries are something we really like to eat so it’s fun to share that with other people.”

Lorence’s Berry Farm

28556 Foliage Ave., Northfield. 507-6452528; lorencesberryfarm.com.

To find a family-run farm that’s been around for decades, try Lorence’s Berry Farm, located a few miles north of Northfield.

Little Hill Berry Farm

Scan now to nominate your favorite local businesses!

Shawn Lorence, a second-generation owner, is enthusiastic each spring.

“When you see plants start peeking out around your house, our asparagus is coming up and we’re removing the strawberries,” he said.

Because….asparagus is a popular product at Lorence’s, despite obviously not being a berry.

“My family planted asparagus for the first time in 1995 and we have eight acres of it now,” said Lorence. “It’s a good vegetable and we pick it for you.”

Yet strawberries remain the biggest part of Lorence’s Berry Farm business in every way.

Lorence said they have 20 acres of strawberries (they rotate out four or five acres annually).

“We’re almost always open for U-pick strawberries by Father’s Day,” said Lorence— great intel for dads who savor fresh strawberry

GARDEN CENTERS & NURSERIES Donahue’s Greenhouses 420 10th St. SW, Faribault donahuesclematis.com Greenhouse, outdoor area, clematis specialists, more

Paisley Gardens 600 Division St. S., Northfield paisley-gardens.com Seeds, plants, pots, bagged products, landscaping, more

Drummer’s Garden Center 281 St Andrews Dr #8584, Mankato drummersgardencenter.com Greenhouse, outdoor area, landscape design, more

Sargent’s Nursery 3352 N Service Dr, Red Wing Sargentsnursery.com Greenhouse, garden center, outdoor area, more

Houston’s Greenhouse 914 Mantorville Ave N, Kasson houstonsgreenhouse.com Greenhouse, gift shop Knecht’s Nurseries and Landscaping 1601 Hwy 19 West, Northfield Knechts.net Garden center, trees, landscaping, bagged products, more

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pies or shortcakes.

To accommodate those with a taste for strawberry-rhubarb pie and/or jam, Lorence’s also plants and sells rhubarb.

“And our Everbearing raspberries start in August and go through the month of September,” said Lorence.

“Everyone in our family really loves the flavor of the fall raspberries.”

Strawberry U-pick hours are liberal during high season, with seven-day-a-week options that extend to Tuesday through Thursday evenings.

Lorence’s message?

“Give us a call,” he said. “Hours vary depending on weather, so if berry-picking is your goal, keep checking in with the farm.”

One of the berry best parts of their work is relationship-building, both with returning

Souba Greenhouse 4003 Crane Creek Rd, Owatonna soubagreenhouse.com Greenhouse, outdoor area, wholesale, hay, more

Turtle Creek Nursery & Landscaping 2449 Rose St, Owatonna tcnursery.com Greenhouse, outdoor area, nursery, landscaping, more Thomas Gardens 917 St Paul Ave, Faribault thomasgardensmn.com Greenhouse, vegetables, bird seed, more

Traverse des Sioux 1702 US-169, St Peter tdsgardencenter.com Greenhouse, nursery, outdoor area, more

YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.

customers and the several dozen high school and college students they hire annually as part-time staff.

“That part is really fun,” said Lorence. “We’re always working to keep up with the plants and looking forward to the next season.” 

Lorence’s Berry Farm

Lorence’s Berry Farm

FRUIT PICKING Alternative Roots Farm 11197 130th St., Madelia alternativerootsfarm.blogspot.com Apples, berries, vegetables Aronia Acres 15470 355th Ave., Waseca facebook.com/purplepowersus Aronia berries

Emma Krumbee’s 311 E Enterprise Dr., Belle Plaine emmakrumbees.com/appleorchard Apples, raspberries, summer vegetables Firefly Berries 5542 23rd St. NE, Rochester fireflyberries.com Strawberries, blackberries, grapes

Fireside Orchard & Gardens 2225 Lonsdale Blvd E, Northfield Firesideorchard.com Apples, donuts

Lorence’s Berry Farm 28625 Foliage Ave., Northfield Lorencesberryfarm.com Strawberries, raspberries, asparagus

Montgomery Orchard 15953 MN-99, Montgomery montgomeryorchard.com Apples

Trumps Orchard 1020 St Paul Ave., Faribault trumpsorchard.com Apples, plums

Irish Mountain Orchard 24214 480th Street Elysian Irishmountainorchard.com Apples, pears

Minnesota Harvest Orchard 8251 Old Hwy. 169 Blvd., Jordan Minnesotaharvest.net Apples

Silkey Gardens 5561 115th St. E, Northfield Silkeygardens.com Apples, raspberries, blueberries

Little Hill Berry Farm 4339 320th St. W., Northfield Littlehillberryfarm.com Blueberries, strawberries

Miracle Strawberry Farm 60687 T-41, Dodge Center Miraclestrawberryfarm.com Strawberries

Straight River Farm 3733 220th St. E, Faribault Straightriverfarm.com Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, apples

Welsh Heritage Farms 20758 528th Ave Building 2, Lake Crystal welshheritagefarm.com Apples, jams, cheese and pie

Day Trips To

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Art, History & Music Finding history while out & about in southern Minnesota

H

CLOCKWISE STARTING TOP LEFT: Benches along Central Avenue in downtown Faribault highlight local history, here the Tilt-A-Whirl amusement ride invented in Faribault by Herbert Sellner; Panels on Waterville’s historic city hall focus on local history, this one profiling Waterville native Anna Dickie Oleson, the first woman to run for the US Senate as a major political party candidate in 1922; Vintage signage remains on the building which once housed a Chevrolet sales and service business in Elysian run by brothers Peter and Frank Pribyl. The building was constructed in the 1910s, originally home to Northwestern Garage, selling and servicing Studebakers; Markers tell the life stories of select individuals buried at Oak Ridge Cemetery, Faribault.

By AUDREY KLETSCHER HELBLING Minnesota Prairie Roots istory surrounds us. Not only in the many museums, history centers and historic villages throughout our region, but also in everyday life, in everyday places.

In my wanderings around southern Minnesota, I’ve discovered history in country churches and cemeteries, parks, small town Main Street, in central business districts of larger communities, at flea markets, garage sales and car cruises, and in endless other places. And, yes, that includes our history centers. I’ve visited many, appreciating the collections and exhibits therein honoring our past.

The history I’m referencing, though, is just “there,” mostly outdoors and easily-accessible. It’s simply a matter of hopping in a vehicle for a day trip or a short drive, then a walk-about upon reaching your destination. Or it’s staying in your own community and intentionally viewing your home place through an historic lens.

Here in southern Minnesota, there’s a deep appreciation for preserving historic buildings. Across numerous cities in our region, I’ve walked and stopped to take in the remarkable, detailed architecture of buildings constructed years ago, many from brick and limestone. Each building has a story, just like every vintage sign, every fading ghost sign holds a story.

Sometimes these bits of history remain unnoticed as they fade

into the background of our vision. It can take targeted focus to see these markers of yesteryear. I encourage you to take the time to really look.

I’ve found cemeteries, especially, to be like a history book of information with new chapters added. Inscriptions on tombstones reveal basics of life and death, and sometimes more. I’m fascinated by the clues these gravestone words, dates and art hold. At Oak Ridge Cemetery in Faribault, the cemetery association has placed brief biographical markers, including a photo of the deceased, at a few select gravesites, adding to the historical interest.

Photos and markers. Monuments. Art. I’ve found history in all of these. Perhaps the most unusual history-themed art I’ve discovered is in the heart of downtown New Ulm, a city rich in German culture and Minnesota history and worth a full day trip. A mural, “Life Sketches: New Ulm in the 1850s,” stretches along an alleyway wall.

But this is not your typical mural. This artwork, crafted by Gordon Dingman in 1972, is made of brick from a brickyard in neighboring Springfield. The scenes depict early settlers and Native Americans who called the area home. I’ve never seen anything like this.

New Ulm is also home to “The smallest MUSEUM in Minnesota,” a free-standing box style museum measuring not even three feet high and wide and only 7.5 inches deep. It stands outside The Grand Center for Arts and Culture and features a rotating display from local and regional artists, collectors, makers and more. What a creative public way to share art and history on a mini scale.

I encourage all of you to view the history and art of southern

Finding new ways to awe & inspire since 2014

110 W. Broadway, Owatonna • 507-451-3460 • centralparkframingmn.com 20 M AY 2 0 2 5 | W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M

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TOP ROW: The handcrafted archway to historic Budejovice Cemetery, a Czech cemetery established in 1914 west of Montgomery; The 1904 First National Bank building is one of many beautiful historic buildings in New Prague.

SECOND ROW: A restored Tilt-A-Whirl offers a photo opp outside third-generation family-owned Burkhartzmeyer Shoes in downtown Faribault. The ride originated in Faribault in 1926 and was built here for decades; Costas Candies, one of Owatonna’s oldest businesses, has been in operation since 1919, specializing in handcrafted candies; Vintage toys are among the many goods sold at the Rice County Steam & Gas Engines Flea Market held in May and again in September near Dundas. THIRD ROW: A child’s gravestone at Holy Trinity Litomysl Cemetery, rural Steele County; Against a backdrop of an historic school and church on the Rice County Historical Society grounds in Faribault, vendors sell their goods during a twice-yearly (spring and fall) flea market; Near the horseshoe pits at Memorial Park in Montgomery, a handcrafted sign lists some history about the Horseshoe Club.

LOWER RIGHT: An alleyway mural crafted from bricks depicts the 1850s history of New Ulm, including that of a settler breaking the land; This fading ghost sign covers the side of a building in downtown Owatonna.

Minnesota in an everyday sort of way. Get out there. Explore.

Pop into an antique shop. Meander among tombstones. Step inside an aged church. Stop to study old buildings. Appreciate signage of yesteryear. And remember that with each passing day we are writing history for future generations.

Upcoming ways to experience history in our area: - Riverside Rendezvous & History Festival, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Saturday, May 10, and Sunday, May 11, North Alexander Park, Faribault. Features living history from the 18th and 19th centuries with blacksmithing, candlemaking, cane pole fishing, tomahawk throwing, music and more. A hands-on Rice County Historical Society family-geared event.

- Rice County Historical Society Spring Flea Market, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, May 17, at the RCHS grounds in Faribault.

- Syttende Mai Celebrations honor Norway’s Constitution Day at two area historic Norwegian churches on Sunday, May 18. Valley Grove Church, rural Nerstrand, is featuring “The Art

of Valley Grove” art exhibit from 1-3 p.m. with refreshments served. Historic Trondhjem Church near Lonsdale offers a special musical program at 1 p.m. followed by serving of Scandinavian treats.

- Car cruises/shows kick off in May/June: Faribault, every third Friday evening May-September in the downtown; Waterville, every fourth Thursday evening, May-August; Henderson, every Tuesday evening, beginning May 27-September; and Owatonna, every Thursday evening, JuneAugust at the Eagles.

- Rice County Steam & Gas Engines Flea Market/Swap Meet opens at 8 a.m. Saturday, May 24, and Sunday, May 25, at the showgrounds along Minnesota State Highway 3 near Dundas.

Features a flea market, live auction, tractor pull, mini train rides, food and more.  Audrey Kletscher Helbling of Faribault captures people, places and events via her detail-rich writing and photography. Find more of her work at mnprairieroots.com. She also writes award-winning poetry, short stories

CONTINUED page 22

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TOP ROW: A 1930s settler’s cabin, restored in 2020, sits in Montgomery’s Memorial Park; “The smallest MUSEUM in Minnesota” is placed streetside outside the arts center in downtown New Ulm. LEFT: The restored Budejovice Church, built in 1868, and adjacent cemetry near Montgomery. LOWER LEFT: In Morristown, an old Standard Oil sign still stands. ABOVE: Vintage vehicles line Central Avenue during Faribault’s Car Cruise Night.

CONTINUED from page 21

ART, HISTORY & MUSIC CENTERS Alexander Faribault House 12 First Ave. NE, Faribault Call for tours: 507-332-2121 rchistory.org

Harkin Store 66250 County Road 21, New Ulm mnhs.org/harkinstore 507-628-5591

Arts & Heritage Center 206 1st St N # 2, Montgomery sites.google.com/site/ montgomeryartsandheritage

Kenyon Area Historical Society at The Gunderson House 107 Gunderson Blvd, Kenyon 507-298-1127

Arts Center of Saint Peter 315 S Minnesota Ave., St Peter 507-931-3630 artscentersp.org

Le Sueur County Historical Society, Museum and Genealogy Center 301 Second St. NE, Elysian Phone: 507-267-4091 lesueurcountyhistory.org

Blue Earth County Historical Society 424 Warren Street, Mankato 507-345-5566 blueearthcountyhistory.com E. St. Julien Cox House 500 N Washington Ave, St. Peter nchsmn.org/visit/e-st-julien-cox-house 507-934-2160

Little Prairie School 2980 130th St E, Dundas 507-332-2121 rchistory.org Mayo Civic Center 30 Civic Center Dr SE, Rochester mayociviccenter.com

Farmamerica 7367 360th Ave., Waseca 507-835-2052 farmamerica.org

Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center 1 Civic Center Plaza, Mankato mayoclinichealthsystemeventcenter.com

Geldner Saw Mill & Park 46542 Beaver Dam Road, Cleveland co.le-sueur.mn.us

Millersburg Schoolhouse Museum 3300 Millersburg Blvd, Faribault 952-270-8764

22 M AY 2 0 2 5 | W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M

Minnesota State Public School Orphanage Museum 540 West Hills Circle, Owatonna Orphanagemuseum.com 507-774-7369 Nicollet County Historical Society/ Treaty Site History Center 1851 N. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter 507-934-2160 mnhs.org/traversedessioux Northfield Arts Guild 304 Division Street, Northfield info@northfieldartsguild.org 507-645-8877 Northfield Historical Society Museum 408 Division St. S, Northfield 507-645-9268 northfieldhistory.org Paradise Center for the Arts 321 Central Ave. N, Faribault paradisecenterforthearts.org 507-332-7372 Owatonna Arts Center 435 Garden View Ln, Owatonna oacarts.org Owatonna Farmers Market Central Park, Owatonna Saturdays 7am-3pm

Ottawa Stone Church 39024 Whittier St., Le Sueur 507-267-4091

Village of Yesteryear 1431 Austin Rd, Owatonna schsmn.org/village-of-yesteryear

Red Wing Marine Museum 935 Levee Road, Red Wing 651-442-7661 RedWingMarineMuseum.com

Waseca Art Center 200 State St. N, Waseca 507-835-1701 wasecaartscouncil.org

Rice County Historical Society Museum 1814 NW Second Ave., Faribault 507-332-2121 rchistory.org

Waseca County Historical Society Museum 315 2nd Ave. NE, Waseca 507-835-7700 historical.waseca.mn.us

Sheldon Theatre 443 W 3rd St., Red Wing sheldontheatre.org

West Concord Historical Society Museum 600 W 1st St, West Concord 507-527-2628 westconcordhistoricalsociety.org

Sibley County Historical Museum 700 Main St., Henderson 507-248-3434 sibleycountyhistoricalsociety.com Steele County Historical Society Museum and Village of Yesteryear 1700 Austin Road, Owatonna 507-451-1420 steelehistorymuseum.org

W.W. Mayo House 118 N. Main St., Le Sueur 507-665-3250 mayohouse@mnhs.org

Vetter Stone Amphitheater 309 W Rock St., Mankato vetterstoneamphitheater.com

YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.

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SOUTHERN MINN

+ 50

localmatters

STAYING SHARP

Cognitive health is just as important as physical well-being PAGE 26

COMFORT, SAFETY ON THE ROAD

Safety advice for older drivers.

PAGE 27

INTERGENERATIONAL FRIENDSHIPS

Age is just a number when it comes to friendships PAGE 29

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YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.

MAKING GARDENING MORE ACCESSIBLE For those with limited mobility, adaptive tools and modified gardening setups make it possible to enjoy the benefits of horticulture without excessive strain. Raised garden beds, lightweight tools and ergonomic designs cater to seniors with arthritis or other physical limitations, ensuring that gardening remains accessible.

All Seniors Care offers several other suggestions including using containers on castors to make movable and elevated garden beds and using vertical planting such as wall and trellis spaces. They also recommend making sure any chairs or tables used are stable and comfortable. Follow sun-safe practices by wearing sunscreen, hat and gloves and providing shaded areas to work in.

Barb Kreski, director of horticulture services at the Chicago Botanic Garden said that gardening can be complicated by physical limitations but, “We accommodate these changes by adding some helpful tools or altering how we go about tasks.”

The Chicago Botanic Garden has a Buehler Enabling Garden that encourages people with physical limitations and older adults to garden. They use such things as hanging baskets that are rigged on pulley systems. Gates and faucets have levers rather than knobs. They choose plants that are low-maintenance. Some tools that Kreski recommends include soaker hoses and drip-irrigation systems. A good garden cart can help an older gardener haul tools and supplies. n

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Develope a Green Thumb

Gardening is more than just a pastime.

It offers a wealth of physical and mental benefits, especially for seniors.

T

ending to plants provides gentle exercise, encourages time outdoors and fosters a sense of accomplishment, making it an ideal activity for retirees looking to stay active and engaged.

BENEFITS TO GARDENING

All Seniors Care Living Centers promotes gardening, citing the following benefits: it’s a heart-healthy hobby that is considered a moderate form of cardiovascular exercise, it boosts confidence, it promotes relaxation, it grows a sense of community, it contributes to healthy eating habits and it is a form of therapy for those experiencing cognitive decline.

Digging, planting and watering help improve mobility and strength, reducing the risk of osteoporosis and arthritis-related stiffness.

Regular movement promotes cardiovascular health, and exposure to sunlight increases vitamin D levels, which support bone strength and immune function. Even small-scale garden-

ing, such as tending to potted plants or raised beds, offers these advantages while minimizing strain.

Beyond physical health, gardening provides therapeutic benefits for mental well-being.

Engaging with nature has been shown to reduce stress, anxiety and depression. The act of nurturing plants and watching them grow fosters a sense of purpose, which is particularly beneficial for seniors seeking fulfillment in retirement. Additionally, the rhythmic, repetitive nature of gardening can have a calming effect, similar to meditation, helping to improve focus and mood.

Gardening is a great way to stay socially connected. Many communities offer gardening clubs, allowing seniors to share tips, swap plants and form friendships. Working in a community garden or volunteering at a local botanical center provides additional opportunities for interaction, reinforcing a sense of belonging.

Gardening can be financially rewarding.

Growing fruits, vegetables and herbs can help reduce grocery bills while ensuring access to fresh, organic produce. Many seniors find joy in sharing their harvest with family and friends, creating an added layer of satisfaction.

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SOUTHERN MINN

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Stay Sharp with Brain Games

As people age, maintaining cognitive health becomes just as important as physical well-being.

E

ngaging in brain stimulating activities can help seniors enhance memory, improve critical thinking and support overall mental fitness.

From puzzles to digital games, there are countless ways to keep the brain active and engaged.

Research has shown that regularly engaging in cognitive activities can slow cognitive decline and may reduce the risk of dementia.

Activities that challenge the brain encourage neural connections, keeping the mind sharp.

Games that require strategy, memory recall and problem-solving can help seniors stay mentally agile.

The World Health Organization in 2021 estimated more than 55 million people are living with dementia and they predict that will rise to 78 million in 2030 and 139 million in 2050.

The National Institutes of Health published a study showing that engaging in cognitive and social activities protected against age-related changes in mental functioning.

However, that same study found that age and education are major factors in cognitive performance. Other studies from Rush University in Chicago for that engaging in cognitive activities can help fend off the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

POPULAR BRAINBOOSTING ACTIVITIES

• Crossword puzzles and sudoku. These classic games challenge vocabulary and numerical skills while keeping the brain engaged.

• Board games and card games. Strategybased games like chess, Scrabble and bridge stimulate cognitive processes and enhance social interaction.

• Jigsaw puzzles. Completing puzzles helps with problem-solving skills, spatial awareness and patience.

• Brain-training apps. Digital platforms like Lumosity and Elevate offer exercises targeting memory, attention and processing speed.

• Learning a new skill. Picking up a new language, musical instrument or hobby can create new neural pathways, keeping the brain

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flexible.

Texas A&M School of Public Health researchers recommend engaging in these sort of brain activities at least three to four times a week. They found that people who engage in high levels of these activities have better memory, working memory, attention and processing speed than those who do not.

STAYING SOCIALLY AND MENTALLY ACTIVE

Seniors can benefit from group activities such as trivia nights, book clubs and discussion groups that stimulate thought and encourage social connections. Regular interaction with peers can reduce stress and contribute to emotional well-being, further supporting cognitive fitness.

Ways to incorporate these activities into daily life include: • Set aside time each day for brain exercises.

• Play games with family or friends to enhance social engagement.

• Try new challenges to keep the mind adaptable and curious.

• Combine mental exercises with physical activity, such as learning dance routines or playing interactive video games.

Maintaining cognitive fitness doesn’t have to be a chore — brain games can be enjoyable, social and rewarding. By incorporating mental exercises into daily routines, seniors can enhance their memory, boost problem-solving skills and support overall well-being. Keeping the mind engaged is a vital step in promoting a fulfilling and healthy lifestyle in later years. n

From Our House to Your House Always here to help you.

Bethany Whittier, D.D.S. Kyle J. Rasmussen, D.D.S.

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We are your one-stop-shop for all your insurance needs and as life progresses our experienced agents can mold your insurance policies to progress with it.

• Disability Insurance • Individual & Group Health Insurance • Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA) • Life Insurance • Long Term Care Insurance

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22 S. Lexington Ave • Le Center, MN | 507-357-2221 103 Oak Ave SE • Montgomery, MN | 507-364-5511 701 Ash St. NE • Lonsdale MN | 507-744-4090 YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.

PEOPLE CARING FOR AS is JUST PEOPLE IMPORTANT as the PEOPLE

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Comfort, Safety on the Road

For many seniors, driving represents independence and mobility.

However, as we age, physical changes can make driving more challenging.

F

ortunately, there are numerous ways older adults can adapt their vehicles and driving habits to stay safe and comfortable on the road.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that in 2022, about 9,100 older adults were killed in traffic crashes and more than 270,000 were treated in emergency rooms for crash injuries. Drivers aged 70 and over have higher crash death rates per 1,000 crashes than middle-aged drivers (aged 35-54). Causes, they say, include age-related changes in vision, physical functioning and the ability to reason and remember. Diseases and medications can also affect the driving abilities of older adults.

On the flip side, the CDC said that older adults are more likely to have safer driving behaviors than other groups.

ADAPTING VEHICLES FOR A BETTER FIT

Simple modifications can make a significant difference in driving comfort and safety.

Seniors may find that adding seat cushions or lumbar supports improves posture and reduces strain. Steering wheel covers can enhance grip strength and larger rearview mirrors improve visibility. Pedal extenders can help those with limited reach maintain better control over braking and acceleration. Additionally, swivel seat cushions make getting in and out of the vehicle easier, reducing strain on joints and muscles.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends talking to an auto dealer about how to fit a car with new adaptive technologies. Alternatively, they say, seniors can consult with a driver rehabilitation specialist, especially after a stroke or the onset of a disability. A specialist can help explain what equipment might be needed now or in the

future and point you in the direction of public and private financial assistance.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT VEHICLE

Selecting the right car can greatly affect ease of driving for older adults. Vehicles with higher seats, such as SUVs or crossovers, often provide easier entry and exit than lower sedans. Cars with wide door openings and adjustable seating options can make a big difference in comfort and accessibility.

Models with advanced safety features like backup cameras, blind-spot monitoring and automatic emergency braking can provide added security and safer driving.

THE WAY YOU TREATMENT ARE TREATED WAY YOU YOU THE RECEIVE. is JUST AS ARE TREATED THE WAY YOU IMPORTANT as the JUST AS is ARE TREATED TREATMENT as AS the IMPORTANT At River’s Edge isHospital, JUST YOU RECEIVE. youIMPORTANT are more than as a the TREATMENT patient. Every person who YOU RECEIVE. TREATMENT receives care is treated with compassion and RECEIVE. At YOU River’s Edge Hospital,

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You’ll receive expectations. with compassion and a level of attention respect. You’ll receivethat goes of well beyondthat your a level attention expectations. goes well beyond your expectations.

1900 North Sunrise Drive | 507-931-2200 www.REHC.org

SAFETY ADVICE FOR OLDER DRIVERS

Regular health checkups are essential to ensure vision, hearing and reflexes are up to par.

The AARP recommends that seniors consider taking refresher driving courses, which can help update skills and build confidence.

Avoiding driving in bad weather, heavy traffic or at night can reduce risks. Planning routes ahead of time and using GPS systems can minimize stress and confusion. Additionally, staying active and maintaining flexibility through exercise can help with reaction times and overall mobility while driving.

Other recommendations from the CDC include always wearing a seatbelt, driving when conditions are safest, never drinking and driving, reviewing how medications can interact with driving, leaving large distances between you and other cars and avoiding distractions.

For seniors who find driving increasingly difficult, alternative transportation options such as ride-sharing services, community shuttles and public transit can help maintain independence without the stress of driving. n

1900 North Sunrise Drive | 507-931-2200 www.REHC.org

1900 North Sunrise Drive | 507-931-2200 www.REHC.org 1900 North Sunrise Drive | 507-931-2200 www.REHC.org

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modern, active 55+ homes coming soon to northfield!

Thrive in an Active Adult Community! Age is restricted to 55+, but this isn’t your typical retirement setting. Here, you’ll find vibrant residents enjoying life to the fullest. Our stunning homes boast amazing amenities designed for active lifestyles, fostering a strong sense of community, security, and effortless living – all without the burden of home maintenance.

Fitness Center, Pickleball Court, Hobby Rooms, Gardening & More!

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• Home Ownership with Earned Equity • Spacious Floor Plans • Upgraded Modern Finishes

• Indoor/Outdoor Amenities • Maintenance-Free • Flexible Payment Options • Pet Friendly

BONUS! Members who reserve their home prior to construction start will be able to choose unit finishes including cabinetry, counters, flooring, and more!

Join us to learn more at an upcoming informational meeting: Location

Date(s)

2018 Jefferson Road, Suite I Northfield, MN 55057

• April 23 at 3pm • June 12 at 1pm

Edina Senior Center 5280 Grandview Square Edina, MN 55436

• May 13 at 3pm

Buckham West 19 West Division Street Faribault, MN 55021

• June 11 at 10am

Register at www.gracewinliving.com/events.

(507) 222-8960 (local) (855) 472-2396 (toll free)

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Tracing Family Roots Delving into family history can be a rewarding journey, especially for seniors looking to reconnect with their past and preserve their legacy for future generations.

E

xploring ancestry and genealogy is more accessible than ever, thanks to online databases, historical records and DNA testing services.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that in 2022, about 9,100 older adults were killed in traffic crashes and more than 270,000 were treated in emergency rooms for crash injuries. Drivers aged 70 and over have higher crash death rates per 1,000 crashes than middle-aged drivers (aged 35-54). Causes, they say, include age-related changes in vision, physical functioning and the ability to reason and remember. Diseases and medications can also affect the driving abilities of older adults.

On the flip side, the CDC said that older adults are more likely to have safer driving behaviors than other groups.

WHY GENEALOGY MATTERS

Genealogy is more than just names and dates — it’s about understanding where you come from and the events that shaped your family’s journey. Learning about ancestors’ lives, struggles and triumphs can provide a greater sense of identity and connection. For many seniors, tracing family roots can be an opportunity to pass down meaningful stories, traditions and values to children and grandchildren.

Starting your ancestry research doesn’t require expert knowledge. Here are some simple steps to begin: • Gather family records. Talk to relatives and collect old photos, letters and documents such as birth and marriage certificates.

• Create a family tree. Use a simple chart or an online tool to map out known family connections.

• Use online resources. Websites like Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org and MyHeritage offer vast collections of historical records.

• Explore public archives. Local libraries, historical societies and government records provide valuable insights.

DNA testing has revolutionized genealogy, allowing individuals to uncover genetic connections, confirm heritage, and even discover unknown relatives. Services like 23andMe and AncestryDNA can provide ethnicity estimates and link users with distant family members.

While exciting, it’s important to research the privacy policies of these companies before submitting DNA samples.

PRESERVING YOUR LEGACY

Once you’ve uncovered your family history, consider ways to document and share it: • Write a family history book. Compile research findings, personal stories and photographs into a book for future generations.

• Record oral histories. Use a smartphone or recording device to capture family members’ stories in their own words.

• Create a digital archive. Store and organize family documents and photos online to ensure preservation.

• Engage younger generations. Encourage grandchildren and younger relatives to take an interest in their heritage through storytelling and interactive projects.

A JOURNEY WORTH TAKING

Exploring ancestry and genealogy can bring families closer together, spark meaningful conversations and provide a sense of fulfillment.

Whether uncovering fascinating historical connections or simply preserving everyday family moments, the journey of tracing one’s roots is a gift that can last for generations. n

YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.

In today’s fast-paced, digital world, younger generations often interact differently than their older counterparts, but the value of human connection remains universal. By forging relationships with younger individuals, seniors can experience a renewed sense of purpose, mental stimulation and emotional fulfillment.

THE BENEFITS OF INTERGENERATIONAL FRIENDSHIPS

Research shows that intergenerational friendships can help combat loneliness and social isolation, both of which are common concerns for older adults. In 2023, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthey released a report talking about the healing effects of social connection. It cited several physical benefits, including living longer and a lower incidence of such diseases as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, infectious diseases, reduced cognitive function, depression and anxiety and suicide or © ADOBE STOCK self-harm.

In an outgoing prescription at the end of SOUTHERN MINN his term, Murthey said, “Community is a place where we have relationships, help each other, and where we find purpose in each other. Those three elements are the core pillars of community. Community is also a place fueled by a core virtue: that’s love, which manifests in generosity, kindnesses and courage. When you put these together, then you have a place where people find a sense of belonging and meaning.”

Engaging with younger friends introduces fresh perspectives, new experiences and a sense of belonging. These relationships can provide cognitive benefits, as discussions with younger individuals often encourage seniors to stay mentally active and engaged.

For younger generations, these friendships generations. ge is just a number, and offer invaluable wisdom and life lessons. Seniors bring experience, patience and historical Intergenerational friendships — relationwhen it comes to friendknowledge, providing guidance that younger ships between people of different age groups — ships, meaningful conindividuals may not find elsewhere. These offer numerous benefits for seniors, enriching nections can transcend their lives in ways they may not have imagined. bonds foster mutual respect and understand-

50+

Intergenerational Friendships

Age is just a number, and when it comes to friendships, meaningful connections can transcend generations.

A

ing, helping to bridge the generation gap and strengthen community ties.

The University of Florida lists five benefits of intergenerational relationships that apply to all ages. They are establishing emotional support, gaining practical knowledge, building community ties, experiencing personal growth and preserving family traditions.

HOW TO BUILD INTERGENERATIONAL CONNECTIONS

Seniors looking to expand their social circles can take advantage of several opportunities to connect with younger generations: • Community programs. Many local organizations, libraries and senior centers offer intergenerational programs that pair seniors with young adults or children for shared activities such as reading, storytelling or mentoring.

• Volunteering. Getting involved with volunteer work can provide an opportunity to collaborate with younger volunteers on meaningful projects.

• Technology and social media. Learning to use social media platforms or joining online groups can help seniors engage with younger individuals who share similar interests.

• Faith-based groups. Many churches and religious organizations encourage multigenerational participation in activities and community service projects.

• Shared hobbies and classes. Taking part in hobby groups, exercise classes or educational courses can introduce seniors to younger people who share their passions.

By embracing friendships that cross generational boundaries, seniors can enhance their emotional well-being, reduce feelings of isolation and find new ways to stay active and engaged. Building these relationships enriches individual lives and fosters a more inclusive and connected society. n

IMAGINE, DREAM, CREATE YOUR STORY

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• Independent Living 55 + • Assisted Living • Therapy Services • On Site Access to Hospital and Clinics

For information or to schedule a tour call: (507) 931-8545 or www.blcstpeter.org

Serving Steele, Rice and Waseca Counties

Leon and Lori Bohlman

Leon’s cell: 507-456-7864 • Lori’s cell: 507-456-3735 email: landlbo@gmail.com

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W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M | M AY 2 0 2 5

29

SOUTHERN MINN

50+

Start a Business or Side Hustle

I

Retirement marks a new chapter in life, but for many seniors, it doesn’t mean slowing down.

nstead, an increasing number of retirees are embracing entrepreneurship, starting businesses or side hustles that provide financial benefits, personal fulfillment and an opportunity to stay engaged.

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There are many reasons why seniors choose to start a business or side hustle after retiring.

Some do it for extra income, especially if they want to supplement their retirement savings.

Others enjoy staying active, using their experience and skills in new ways. Entrepreneurship can turn lifelong passions into profit, whether it’s crafting, consulting or writing.

For many people, staying in the work force after retirement isn’t just about money. According to Luke Pittaway at Ohio University’s College of Business, retired people are looking for a sense of purpose and the chance to engage in meaningful and fulfilling activities. He said that retirees “tend to bring more financial wealth, experience and personal networks to their startup efforts.”

In 2019, 65% of Americans responding to an Inside Small Business survey said they want to open a business when they retire. More recently, a Fidelity Investments 2024 study found that nearly two-thirds of Americans are planning to work for pleasure during their retirement.

FINDING THE RIGHT BUSINESS IDEA

The best business ideas for seniors align with their skills, interests and lifestyle. Some popular options include: • Consulting or coaching. Retired professionals can use their industry knowledge to advise businesses or mentor younger professionals.

• E-commerce and online sales. Selling handmade crafts, vintage items or specialty goods on platforms like Etsy or eBay is a flexible way to earn money.

• Freelancing. Writing, graphic design or

bookkeeping are just a few skills that can be monetized through freelance work.

• Pet services. Pet sitting, dog walking or grooming can be fulfilling for animal lovers.

• Teaching or tutoring. Sharing knowledge through online or in-person tutoring, music lessons or educational workshops can be rewarding.

STEPS TO GET STARTED

Before launching a business, research your industry, identify your target audience and create a simple business plan.

Assess your finances to develop a deep understanding of start-up costs and potential earnings. Many businesses can be started with minimal investment, but financial planning ensures a stable foundation.

Research legal considerations. You may need to register your business, set up a tax identification number, obtain necessary licenses and explore tax implications.

Leveraging social media, word-of-mouth and local advertising helps attract customers. Connecting with other entrepreneurs can provide support and insight. This can be done through local business groups or national associations.

Manage work-life balance carefully. Retirement should be enjoyable and a time to reap the rewards of a long life of working. Unlike traditional jobs, a side hustle or business allows for flexibility. Set boundaries to ensure you maintain a healthy balance between work and leisure.

THE REWARDS OF SENIOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Starting a business in retirement provides financial independence, mental stimulation and social interaction. Whether it’s a small side hustle or a full-time endeavor, entrepreneurship can make retirement more fulfilling and rewarding. With the right approach, seniors can turn their experience and passions into successful ventures that enhance their golden years. n

Did you know?

The benefits of exercise for seniors are innumerable. In order to get the physical activity they need, many older adults are turning to pickleball. Pickleball combines elements of tennis, wiffle ball and ping-pong into an activity that is drawing new enthusiasts every day. Fans often say that pickleball is the most fun racket sport they have played. With a smaller court than tennis and a lighter ball, pickleball is ideal for seniors who won’t have to worry about the sport being too highintensity. The Medical University of South Carolina says pickleball is the fastest-growing sport today, particularly among seniors. The 2023 Sports & Fitness Industry Association Report on Pickleball says pickleball has attracted 8.9 million U.S. players of all ages and fitness levels. The SFIA report notes that the 65+ age group accounts for the second highest number of participants.

YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.

SOUTHERN MINN

YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO. CHECK OUT THE SCENE CALENDAR ONLINE FOR ADDITIONAL HAPPENINGS!

SEE MORE @ SouthernMinnSCENE.com Calendar events compiled by Philip Weyhe.

FRIDAY, APR 25 Emma Josephine - Owatonna-5-7 p.m., Grapeful Wine Bar, 306 N. Cedar Ave., Suite 2, Owatonna.

A voice that echoes generations of singer/songwriters with resonant stories and an acoustic guitar. Her lyrics are brought to life with the melodies of an old soul and the nostalgia of growing up.

Hollywood Night at the Museum - Owatonna-- 5 p.m., Steele County Historical Society, 1700 Austin Rd., Owatonna. The evening begins with a social hour at 5 p.m. featuring a cash bar and live music played on an Edison Amberola. Dinner will be served; this year’s meal is provided by the Historic Hubbell House. Get cost info and reserve tickets by calling 507-451-1420.

Travis Thamert - Owatonna-- 5:30-7:30 p.m., Mineral Springs Brewery, 210 N. Oak Ave., Suite 1, Owatonna. Country music. Travis was nominated as New Artist of the year in 2020 at the MWCMO’s.

He’s also climbed through a few key audition rounds on NBC The Voice back in 2014.

St., Kasota. See the latest spring trends walking the runway in the fashion show, featuring looks from Winton + Co and Mainstream Boutique. Accessorize your looks with permanent jewelry from Bonita.

Take advantage of botox specials from Giddie Skin and create your own floral bouquet to liven up your living space with Sweet Alice Florals. Free and open to the public.

Rhino - Faribault-- 9 p.m., Boxers Grill & Bar, 429 Central Ave. N, Faribault. Rhino is a next-level, four-piece band that redefines what a live show should be. Based in the Twin Cities, they effortlessly blend genres — from alt-rock and ‘80s nostalgia to today’s hottest hits, with some unexpected country and surprises thrown in for good measure.

Rock of Ages - St. Peter-- 6-9 p.m., Flame Bar and Grill, 225 Nassau St., St. Peter. Listen to some rock and blues.

Scott Maas - Janesville-- 6-8:30 p.m., Indian Island Winery, 18010 631st Ave, Janesville. Enjoy live music this evening by Scott Maas performing all your favorites from the 70s up to the 2000s.

Adult Comedy Show - Dundas-- 7 p.m., Dawn’s Corner Bar, Dundas. Headliner is ComedyTrapper, seen on VH1’s Tool Academy, Tyra Banks, Last Comic Standing, TMZ, Shaq’s Comedy All-Stars.

SATURDAY, APR 26

Pioneer Power Swap Meet - Le Sueur County-- 6 a.m.-6 p.m., Free admission. 100 acres of indoor/outdoor shopping with 900 vendors. Tools, crafts, antiques, farm equipment, furniture, tractor & car parts, food, clothing, garden implements & art, tires, tractors, honey, jewelry, toys, western wear, etc. Show runs 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 25-27.

Spring Celebration - Owatonna-- 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Souba’s Greenhouse, 4003 Crane Creek Rd, Owatonna. Pizza rom Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm for sale. Beers and seltzers from Mineral Springs Brewing. Hard scoop ice cream from Old Town bagels.

Learn from the experts on planting, watering and more. Visit the farm animals, including horses, cattle and Holly the cow. Hay rides around the farm from 10-1.

Send details to editor@ southernminnscene.com

Barnyard Babies - Waseca-- 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Farmamerica, 7367 360th Ave, Waseca. Chicks, lambs, piglets, calves, and more. Trams will be giving rides to the 1930s barnyard. Concessions will be available for purchase. Celebrate the day with face painting. Takes place Saturday and Sunday.

Tickets online.

Reading and Poetry Writing Event - Northfield-- 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Northfield Public Library, 210 Washington St., Northfield. Poet Laureate of Northfield Russ Paladin and Minnesota Poet Laureate Gwen Nell Westerman come together for an interactive event that includes poetry readings, a conversation on craft and inspiration, and writing with a focus on the poetic form of tanka.

Tree Jamboree - Henderson-- 12:30-3:30 p.m., Ney Nature Center, 28238 Nature Center Ln, Henderson. Celebrate the beauty of nature at this family-friendly event featuring community organization tables, live music performance from The Bazillions, and an up-close experience with guests from The Raptor Center. Participate in a story walk, earth crafts, tree-planting, and more.

Blossom - Kasota-- 5:30-9 p.m., Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery and Distillery, 1179 E. Pearl

Do you want to submit an event to this calendar?

Earth Day Celebration - Northfield-- 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Armory Square Event Center, 519 Division St., Northfield. Family friendly workshops include compost planting, rain barrels, nesting platforms, indigo dying and arb tree planting. An eco-fair will include live music, a local market, eco-exhibitors, kids activities, and pizza specials. An afternoon panel is titled “Let’s Adapt: Flooding and Resiliency in Northfield.” The festivities kick off 7-10 p.m.

Friday night with a contra dance at Armory Square.

Mick Sterling’s Memphis & The Meantimes - Faribault-- 7:30 p.m., Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault. This band is a celebration of the music that changed the world from Sun Records and the Grand Ole Opry. This is not new Country, this is the stuff new Country can only dream of being. Featuring songs from Cash,.

Haggard, Lewis, Orbison, Elvis and many others.

Tickets online.

NintenTones - St. Peter-- 10 a.m., St. Peter Community Center, 600 S. Fifth St., St. peter. The NintenTones Video Game Jazz Orchestra will perform jazz-arranged video game music interspersed with live drawing tutorials of video game characters from Mankato-area artists ARK, Kat Baumann and Joshua Ehlke. Drawing supplies will be provided and people of all ages are invited to join us for this free event.

CHECK OUT THE SCENE CALENDAR ONLINE FOR SOMINN HAPPENINGS!

Do you want to submit an event to this calendar?

Send details to editor@ southernminnscene.com

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The Mac & Cheese Band - Kilkenny-- 2-5 p.m., Vintage Escapes Winery & Vineyard, 8950 Dodd Rd., Kilkenny. Enjoy contemporary takes on Celtic, bluegrass, folk, and classic rock, along with original songs that will have you tapping your toes and sipping your wine in perfect harmony.

SUNDAY, APR 27 Mother’s Day Makers Market - St. Peter-- 12-3 p.m., Paddlefish Brewing, 108 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter. A chance to get some early shopping in for Mother’s Day or to spend some quality time with her.

sheep. Greensfelder is a freelance writer focusing on medicine, biology, and agriculture.

FRIDAY, MAY 02

Cinco de Mayo Celebration - Northfield-- 5-7 p.m., Northfield Middle School. Come celebrate with others in your community as you enjoy a night of authentic Mexican food, dancing, and activities for all ages. Money raised at the event will go toward scholarships for Northfield Latine students.

The Love and Marriage Game Show - Le Sueur County-- 5-7 p.m., Next Chapter Winery, 16945 320th St., New Prague. Watch (or volunteer to be one of our contestants) as couples put their relationships to the test in this hilarious spin on the classic game show. Whether you’re newlyweds, seasoned partners, or just here for the fun, this event is sure to bring plenty of memorable moments and romantic laughs. Free to attend, but registration requested online.

Designer Purse Bingo - Le Sueur-- 1 p.m., The Bar & Grill, 130 S. Main St., Le Sueur. Enjoy some special Bingo and help raise funds for the Le SueurHenderson wrestling program.

Ben Scruggs - St. Peter-- 6-9 p.m., Paddlefish Brewing, 108 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter. An original folk/blues/americana musician from Mankato.

He accompanies himself with acoustic guitar and blues harmonica, weaving tales of folk-spun humor and hard luck times throughout his sets of alloriginal music.

Russ Franek and the Biscuits - Northfield-7-10 p.m., Flaherty’s Northfield Lanes, 1700 Highway 3 S. Kick butt cover band that’s got something for everyone.

Singalong Nation - St. Peter-- 4 p.m., Arts Center of Saint Peter, 315 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter. A group of singers have been practicing their performance art and vocals to present a one-nightonly show, featuring music from Stevie Nicks and Stevie Wonder. Tickets online.

Noises Off - Owatonna-- 7:30-10 p.m., Little Theatre of Owatonna, 560 Dunnell Dr # A, Owatonna.

“Noises Off “ is a play within a play. It is about an ambitious director and his troupe of mediocre actors. The cast and crew are putting together a silly sex comedy titled “Nothing On,” a single-set farce in which lovers frolic, doors slam, clothes are tossed away, and embarrassing hijinks ensue. Shows April 25-26 and May 2-3 from 7:30-10 p.m., plus April 27 and May 4 from 2-3:30 p.m. Tickets online.

Charlie Doesn’t Surf and Super Deluxe Bastards - St. Peter-- 8 p.m., Tremendous Brewing Co., 228 W. Mulberry St., St. Peter. The cat is out of the bag, Team Cryptid is going to bring the stalwart indie/melo-punk gentlemen of Charlie Doesn’t Surf to St. Peter’s new brewery. The Super Deluxe Bastards (two members of New Variant and Grum from Quantum Mechanics) will also be playing. Knock back a few and get some riffs chucked atchya.

Do you want to submit an event to this calendar?

Send details to editor@ southernminnscene.com

Key City Quartet - St. Peter-4-7 p.m., Patrick’s on Third, 125 S. Third St., St. Peter.

A musical evening of the genius songwriting of Bob Dylan and John Prine.

Manitou Singers and Viking Chorus - Northfield-- 7:30-9 p.m., Boe Memorial Chapel, 1500 St Olaf Ave., Northfield. Manitou Singers, conducted

by Therees Hibbard, and Viking Chorus, conducted

by Paolo Debuque, present a joint Spring concert.

THURSDAY, MAY 01 Liese Greensfelder Author Talk - Northfield-7 p.m., The author will share about her book, “Accidental Shepherd”: a summer job turns serious when a young woman takes the reins on a remote farm — and learns far more than how to herd

32 M AY 2 0 2 5 | W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M

del Norte. There will be food vendors and beer from Mineral Spring Brewery. Activities for all include train rides, a bounce house, a car show, and more.

Whiskey Whiskers - Janesville-- 5:30-8:30 p.m., Indian Island Winery, 18010 631st Ave, Janesville.

Southern Minnesota band playing music you love.

Mark Mraz - Kasota-- 6-9 p.m., Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery and Distillery, 1179 E. Pearl St., Kasota. Mark has been a public school music teacher and working musician since the early 1980s. His major influences include: Billy Joel, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Steely Dan, Michael McDonald, Dave Brubeck, Ben Folds, James Taylor, and Frank Sinatra.

SATURDAY, MAY 03

Shenani-versary - Le Sueur County-- 6-9 p.m., Next Chapter Winery, 16945 320th St., New Prague. Celebrate the anniversary of the band Shenanigans with a night of live music and great drinks. Shenanigans bringing the best tunes and good vibes.

Festival of Nations - St. Peter-- 12 p.m., Johnson Hall, Nicollet County Fairgrounds, 400 W. Union St., St. Peter. Music, art, dance food. Artists, creatives, culture-bearers, chefs, vendors, youth, and volunteers.

Melissa Schulz Owatonna-1-4 p.m., Owatonna Eagles 1791, 141 E. Rose St., Owatonna. A classically-trained pianist and singer based in southern Minnesota.

Performing over 250 shows each year, Melissa showcases her musical talents at venues that range from rowdy bars to chill breweries to upscale restaurants, fairs, and private events.

Cinco de Mayo Community Festival - Owatonna-- 2-8 p.m., Central Park Owatonna, 100 E. Main St, Owatonna. Live music will be provided by Nieves

In a Bind - Kasota-- 6-9 p.m., Westwood Marina Bar & Grill, 1400 Lake Washington Access Rd., Kasota. Playing a variety of hit music.

The Foragers - Owatonna-- 6:30-8:30 p.m., Mineral Springs Brewery, 210 N. Oak Ave., Suite 1, Owatonna. Two singer/songwriters, four friends,

YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.

and a gazillion instruments from St. Paul, serving up Americana originals and covers that stick to your soul not your ribs.

atre of Owatonna, 560 Dunnell Dr # A, Owatonna.

“Noises Off “ is a play within a play. It is about an ambitious director and his troupe of mediocre actors. The cast and crew are putting together a silly sex comedy titled “Nothing On,” a single-set farce in which lovers frolic, doors slam, clothes are tossed away, and embarrassing hijinks ensue. Shows May 2-3 from 7:30-10 p.m., plus May 4 from 2-3:30 p.m. Tickets online.

was 4 years old. Orchestral playing is the focus of her career but Aja has also performed with 2 Cellos, Foreigner, Harry Connick, Jr., Kygo, the Transiberian Orchestra and the Latin jazz group Charanga Tropical.

neighbors unite. Indulge in delicious foods and desserts from local food vendors, groove to lively beats, and revel in a youth group’s performance, and support local entrepreneurs.

Headlight - St. Peter-- 7-10 p.m., Tremendous Brewing Co., 228 W. Mulberry St., St. Peter. Come by to hear some live music from recent Gustavus alumni and drink some great beer the night before graduation.

KillinTime - Kasota-- 8 p.m., The Blue Moon Bar & Grill, 300 S. Webster St., Kasota. Brad and Mark play country 50s and 60s variety.

SUNDAY, MAY 04

Summer Season Opener with Emma Josephine - Waseca-- 1-7 p.m., Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm, 41142 160th St, Waseca. Serving up pizza at the farm for another summer, things kick off with music from the Emma Josephine Duo.

The Looney Lutherans - Faribault-- 2 p.m., Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault. After hundreds of shows, thousands of audiences, and travels to a dozen different states, the Looney Lutherans are saddling up again with their “Country and Cowboy” themed show. Segments include “Cowboy Up” (practical tips for staying happy and healthy while living off the land); Lutheran Cowboy-ish wisdom; and hilarious parodies of classic country songs like “I’m Falling to Pieces” and “Achy Breaky Back.” Tickets online.

J-Mo On The Beat - Northfield-- 7-10 p.m., Flaherty’s Northfield Lanes, 1700 Highway 3 S. A Liberian singer-songwriter who dabbles in 50s rock n roll music with his group, The J-Lighters.

Steele County Art Exhibition - Owatonna-- 1-5 p.m., Owatonna Arts Center, 435 Garden View Ln, Owatonna. Showing works by established local artists and introducing first-time local exhibitors who want to share their creations, a celebration of Steele County art.

Noises Off - Owatonna-- 7:30-10 p.m., Little The-

Cinco de Mayo Evento Comunitario - Faribault-- 1-6 p.m., Central Park, 430 2nd Ave NW, Faribault. Embrace solidarity and empowerment as

Carson Rose Schneider and Aja Majkrzak Owatonna-- 2 p.m., Owatonna Arts Center, 435 Garden View Ln, Owatonna. Praised for her “excellent musicianship” (Talkin’ Broadway) and “stunning and emotionally evocative” playing (Cherry and Spoon), Carson Rose Schneider is a versatile pianist.

Aja Majkrzak has been playing the violin since she

young

Skarlett Woods - St. Peter-- 4-7 p.m., Patrick’s on Third, 125 S. Third St., St. Peter. Profoundly introspective, Skarlett Woods is an American singersongwriter who has never been one to follow what most people view as conventional.

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DIRECTOR ZACKERY KNAPTON

June 13, 2025 • Minnesota Square Park, st. peter, MN

TECH DIRECTOR KRISTI WESTERGAARD

fest

country roads

Dennis Curley Sings the Music of John Denver.

7:30pm

BY MICHAEL FRAYEN

presentation

Hear stories from individuals who personally knew John Denver.

crista bohlmann 6:00pm

stephen james 5:00pm

This is a free event!

Food Trucks & Beverages available for purchase.

Don’t forget to bring your lawn chairs!

CAST IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE

LINDA MCCOMAS-WOOD | ROBERT MCCOMAS-WOOD | BRANDON NOBLE MAGGIE JONES | EMMA OYLOE | PATRICK MCCOLLEY | DAWN JOHNSON ANDREW S HARRISON | RON HAGER SEASON SPONSOR

Performance Dates: April 25-26*, May 2-3 | 7:30pm April 27, May 4 | 2:00pm

F A M I L Y

*ASL Interpreted Performance on April 26

TICKETS

7:00pm

• Online & Tri M Box office open • LTO Box Office open On production days: Fri - Sat 6:00 - 7:30 and Sun 12:30 - 2

Noises off is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals. www.concordtheatricals.com. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts & cultural heritage fund.

Little Theatre of Owatonna • 560 Dunnell Drive

CHECK OUT THE SCENE CALENDAR ONLINE FOR SOMINN HAPPENINGS!

|

LittleTheatreofOwatonna.org

©2025 Little Theatre of Owatonna

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THURSDAY, MAY 08

Stripped of Citizenship - St. Peter-- 2 p.m., Treaty Site History Center, 1851 N. Minnesota Ave, St. Peter. As a result of federal legislation in 1907, American-born women lost their citizenship when they married alien men. In this presentation, Lori Ann Lahlum explores the expatriation of Americanborn women in Minnesota who married aliens and the ways in which we can reclaim their stories. $5 for non-members.

Farmer Josh - St. Peter-- 5-7 p.m., Patrick’s on Third, 125 S. Third St., St. Peter. An organic farmer, restoration carpenter and musician based in rural Le Sueur County, Farmer Josh will play some acoustic tunes.

Mark Mraz Northfield-- 6-9 p.m., Grand Event Center, 316 Washington St., Northfield.

Mark has been a public school music teacher and working musician since the early 1980s. His major influences include: Billy Joel, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Steely Dan, Michael McDonald, Dave Brubeck, Ben Folds, James Taylor, and Frank Sinatra.

Robert Thomas and The Sessionmen - Faribault-- 7:30 p.m., Shattuck-St. Mary’s, Faribault.

After a career writing for major artists, Thomas is touring the original versions of his songs, and new compositions, with a stellar band of his favourite co-writers. The Sessionmen: Ray Legere — fiddle/ mandolin, Jon Arsenault — guitar/percussion/backing vocals, and Maxime Forbes — keyboards/backing vocals.

FRIDAY, MAY 09 Chris Holm Kilkenny-- 5-8 p.m., An acoustic folk blues & country musician based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. A fingerstyle guitar picker and harmonica player, Chris channels the high-spirited liveliness of Charley Patton, thumping on his suitcase drum, attacking his guitar strings with abandon, and shouting along in a gravelly howl, later to channel the lonesome sounds of a weeping slide guitar and a blue yodel.

Community Education Carnival - Wanamingo-- 5-7:30 p.m., Kenyon-Wanamingo Elementary, 225 3rd Ave. S, Wanamingo. Games, food, prizes and more.

Crista Bohlman Janesville-- 6-8:30 p.m., Indian Island Winery, 18010 631st Ave, Janesville. A girl, a guitar, a fiddle, a ukulele and a song.

Enjoy an evening listening to the incredibly talented Just Crista.

Fishing Presentation with John Hoxmeier - St. Peter-- 6-7 p.m., Paddlefish Brewing, 108 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter. In honor of Minnesota’s Fishing Opener weekend, John will dive into the world of paddlefish, their habitat, and the fascinating local ecosystem. This event will be a great opportunity to learn from a local expert, followed by a Q&A session where you can ask all your burning questions.

The Enviro Show - Owatonna-- 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Steele County Fairgrounds, 18th St SE, Owatonna.

A fun, free, and educational event dedicated to promoting eco-friendly practices, sustainable living, and environmental awareness.

Sip & Shop Le Center-9:30 a.m.-1 p.m., St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 165 N Waterville Ave, Le Center.

Check out new, gently used and vintage designer purses, jewelry, scarves, sunglasses and accessories, while enjoying some drinks.

Mother’s Day Bouquet Making Class - Henderson-- 1-2 p.m., Ney Nature Center, 28238 Nature Center Ln, Henderson.

Learn how to craft the perfect bouquet, and give your loved ones something special this year, made just for them. All supplies are included in the class, and each registrant will leave with one medium-sized bouquet.

All ages are welcome, designed for teens & adults.

Tickets online.

Mother’s Day Purse Bingo - St. Peter-3 p.m., St. Peter American Legion. Come and play for your chance to win some fabulous purses.

Matt Herzog Band - Owatonna-- 6 p.m., Zamboni Event Center, 301 N. Cedar Ave., Owatonna.

The first live music event at the Zamboni Event Center. Matt Herzog artfully blends pure vocals, harmonic instrumental textures and overdriven guitar hooks. Folk, rock & roll, jazz, funk and soul influences combine for his diverse, but cohesive, sound. Drinks and appetizers provided by Grapeful Wine Bar.

Andrea Lynn Duo - Kasota-- 6-9 p.m., Westwood Marina Bar & Grill, 1400 Lake Washington Access Rd., Kasota. Award winning musician, singer and songwriter, Andrea Lyn shares captivating melodies and lyrics stemming from real life. She has shared the stage with legendary artists and performed her songs for thousands. Her passion and love for music shows in each song and every performance.

Designer Purse Bingo - Kasota-- 7 p.m., The Blue Moon Bar & Grill, 300 S. Webster St., Kasota.

Some special Bingo to celebrate Mother’s Day.

SUNDAY, MAY 11

Tim Howe - Northfield-- 7-10 p.m., Flaherty’s Northfield Lanes, 1700 Highway 3 S. Minneapolisbased musician Tim Howe is a versatile singer, guitarist, and looping artist known for his eclectic blend of acoustic hits, heartfelt originals, and crowdpleasing covers.

Frank Bures Author Talk - Northfield-- 7 p.m., Content Bookstore, 314 Division St. S, Northfield.

A reading and presentation from his new book “Pushing the River”: tales of ambition, terror, rivalry, adventure, endurance, friendship, and love on the waters of the Mississippi River and beyond. Frank Bures is an award-winning writer whose work has appeared in Harper’s, Outside, The Atlantic, and many other publications. He lives in Minneapolis.

tomahawk throwing contest and a cane pole fishing tournament. Activities include folk music, leatherworking, candle making, voyageur games and more.

Minnesota’s Jack Sparrow will also be on hand. Takes place May 10 and 11. Tickets online.

na. Having mastered the lost art of flatpicking old time fiddle tunes on the guitar, combined with no amplifiers and no microphones, Bruce and his friend Tim (who plays back up rhythm guitar and who has played folk and bluegrass for as long as Bruce has) are the duo (and sometimes singular) Senior Moment.

SATURDAY, MAY 10 Riverside Rendezvous & History Festival Faribault-- 9 a.m.-5 p.m., North Alexander Park, 1816 2nd Ave NW, Faribault. Food, fun and games for the whole family in a historic setting. Music

by Hannah Flower, Curtis and Loretta, Skally Line and Roe Family Singers. Special events include a

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Monstrosity, Bodies and Knowledge - St. Peter-3-4 p.m., Arts Center of Saint Peter, 315 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter.

In a talk that will cover everything from imagination to miracles, historian Whitney Dirks will discuss the trials and tribulations of pregnancy in England between 1450 and 1800. It’s the academic addition to your Mother’s Day weekend that you didn’t realize you needed. Speaker Dr. Whitney Dirks earned her PhD in history in 2013.

Senior Moment - Owatonna-- 4-6 p.m., Mineral Springs Brewery, 210 N. Oak Ave., Suite 1, Owaton-

Mother’s Day at the Pizza Farm - Waseca-- 1-7 p.m., Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm, 41142 160th St, Waseca. In a Bind will provide music from 1:30-3:30 p.m., followed by the Joyann Parker Duo from 5-7 p.m. Enjoy pizza and beverages with the music on the farm.

Mother’s Day Purse Bingo - Kasota-- 5-8 p.m., Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery and Distillery, 1179 E. Pearl St., Kasota. Sip on wines and spirits while playing for your chance to win authentic designer

YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.

bumpers, pinstripes, fender skirts, great music, and food. It’s time. Classic or new, pull your pride and joy out of the garage & bring it down to the car cruise night, or just enjoy what’s on show. Buffalo Alice will provide music.

THURSDAY, MAY 15

SATURDAY, MAY 17 Becky Boling and Susan Jaret McKinstry - Northfield-- 7 p.m., Content Bookstore, 314 Division St. S, Northfield. Boling reads from her new poetry collection, “Here Beyond Small Wonders,” and McKinstry reads from “Tumblehome.”

handbags from Coach, Michael Kors, and Kate Spade. Plus, enjoy additional chances to win mini purses, clutches, or wine carriers throughout the evening. Tickets online.

Ben Scruggs - St. Peter-- 5-7 p.m., Patrick’s on Third, 125 S. Third St., St. Peter. An original folk/ blues/americana musician from Mankato. He accompanies himself with acoustic guitar and blues harFRIDAY, MAY 16 MONDAY, MAY 12 monica, weaving tales of folk-spun humor and hard luck times throughout his sets of all-original music.

Matthew Aitch - Janesville-Ray + Curt 6-8:30 p.m., Indi- Northan Island Winery, field-- 6-9 18010 631st p.m., Grand Ave, Janesville.

Event Singer-songwriter Center, 316 whose music Washingexplores the ton St., themes of love Northfield. found, love lost, and the beauty Mom & Me Puzzle Contest - Le Sueur County-- A night of music, of the world 6 p.m., Next Chapter Winery, 16945 320th St., around us. With New Prague. Gather your team of two to six people featuring keys, guitar and vocals. a diverse musical and race against the clock to complete a 300-piece background, his jigsaw puzzle while enjoying the cozy winery atmoperformances offer a blend of heartfelt lyrics and sphere. Get cost info and sign up at nextchapterwincaptivating melodies. ery@gmail.com.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 14 Car Roll-In Kilkenny-- 5-8 p.m., Toy Box Saloon, 216 Kilkenny Rd., Kilkenny.

The first car roll-in of the year at the Saloon with Gary West providing the tunes.

Deuces Wild Dueling Pianos - Kasota-- 7-10 p.m., Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery and Distillery, 1179 E. Pearl St., Kasota. A high energy mix of comedy, music and extensive audience participation makes this a show unlike any other. Clap along, laugh along and sing along. Tickets online.

charm.

Downtown Car Cruise - Faribault-6-9 p.m., Downtown Faribault, Central Ave. The rumble of a souped-up motor, the shine of chrome

Farmers Markets - SoMinn Scene Region-- 7 a.m.-12 p.m., Southern Minn Scene Region. The Owatonna Farmers Market runs 7 a.m. to noon Saturdays in Central Park from May to October.The Riverwalk Market Fair in Northfield takes place 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays in Bridge Square from May 17 to Oct. 25.The Northfield Farmers Market takes place 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays, plus 9-11 a.m. Saturdays at Riverside Park from May to October.The Waseca County Farmers Market runs 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays at the Waseca County Fairgrounds from June through October.The Le Sueur Farmers Market runs 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays on N. Second Street from June through October.

The St. Peter Farmers Market runs 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturdays in the Co-op parking lot from June through October.The Faribault Farmers Market runs 7 a.m. to noon Saturdays in Central Park from June through October, plus 12-3 p.m. Wednesdays from July-September.The Kenyon Farmers Market runs 4-7 p.m. the first and third Thursday of each month in the First Lutheran Church parking lot from June through October.

4-H Garage Sale - Waseca-- 7 a.m.-2 p.m., Waseca County Fairgrounds. The largest garage sale during Waseca’s citywide garage sale event. Great deals on clothing, furniture, books, movies, and much more. Proceeds will help fund 4-H camps, scholarships and project-related learning opportuni-

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tradition.

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sically-trained pianist and singer based in southern Minnesota. Performing over 250 shows each year, Melissa showcases her musical talents at venues that range from rowdy bars to chill breweries to upscale restaurants, fairs, and private events.

“Only The Lonely,” this show is guaranteed to have audiences leave humming the tunes they know and love. Tickets online. ties for Waseca County youth. Takes place 3:30-8 p.m. Friday, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday.

Spring Flea Market - Faribailt-- 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Rice County Historical Society, 1814 NW 2nd Ave., Faribault. Tons of vendors and a great atmosphere Team Q Memorial Bike Run - Kasota-- 11 a.m., Prairie Saloon & Grill, 140 N. Webster St., Kasota. The ride starts at Prairie Saloon in Kasota, then to Toybox Saloon in Kilkenny, to Dawn’s Corner Bar in Dundas, to Country Prime Time in Lydia and finally to Lakefront in Lexington, where music from The Dakota Ramblers starts at 6 p.m.

Shakespeare in Love - Northfield-- 7:30 p.m., Northfield Arts Guild Theater, 411 Third Street West. Part mis-identity hilarity and part love story, this show has something for everyone. Several characters are based on historical figures, and many of the characters, lines, and plot devices allude to Shakespeare’s plays. Thanks to two clever authors, the show entertains with snappy and witty dialogue.

Shows 7:30 p.m. May 16-17 and 23-24, plus 2 p.m. May 18 and 25. Tickets online.

Comedy Under The Bridge - Faribault-8-10 p.m., A night of comedy for adults.

SUNDAY, MAY 18

LJR Band Kilkenny-- 2-5 p.m., Toy Box Saloon, 216 Kilkenny Rd., Kilkenny. Listen to Lacey Borneke sing her heart out with the LJR Band.

Angel Val - Kasota-- 4-7 p.m., Westwood Marina Bar & Grill, 1400 Lake Washington Access Rd., Kasota. Angel grew up listening to her mom sing in an 80s rock band. She has a strong background and love for rock music and has grown to love country as well. She took her two favorite genres and mixed them into a more rock country style. She began playing guitar in junior high where she found her passion for writing.

bottles of Chankaska wine, and a charcuterie board.

The first three teams to finish their puzzle and their wine and charcuterie will take home fun prizes. If no team completes all three within the 3-hour limit, winners will be decided by the number of puzzle pieces completed.

Squid City Slingers - St. Peter-- 7-9 p.m., Paddlefish Brewing, 108 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter.

A folk/bluegrass/gypsy jazz trio from the Twin Cities.

THURSDAY, MAY 22 Jeremy Jewell - St. Peter-- 5-7 p.m., Patrick’s on Third, 125 S. Third St., St. Peter. A happy guy who likes to sing sad songs. Pretty guitar chords, a weathered yet charming voice and honest lyrics are what you’ll see at one of his shows.

Paul Stewart - Kilkenny-- 7-10 p.m., Flaherty’s Northfield Lanes, 1700 Highway 3 S. Playing 50s and 60s country, rock & blues.

SATURDAY, MAY 24

Debbie Briggs - Waseca-- 1-7 p.m., Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm, 41142 160th St, Waseca. Shining a standard on the classic jazz standards of the 1920-1960s.

Songwriters in the Round - Northfield-- 7-9 p.m., Grand Event Center, 316 Washington St., Northfield. A variety of local artists showcasing their original work and sharing their stories in Nashville style rounds.

Whiskey Whiskers - Owatonna-- 6:30-8:30 p.m., Mineral Springs Brewery, 210 N. Oak Ave., Suite 1, Owatonna. Southern Minnesota Band playing music you love.

Rollin’ Into Vintage - Kilkenny-- 2-4 p.m., Vintage Escapes Winery & Vineyard, 8950 Dodd Rd., Kilkenny. Whether you’ve got a classic car that turns heads or you just love admiring timeless rides, Rollin’ Into Vintage is the perfect Sunday outing. Bring your beauty to show off, or bring your friends to sip wine and stroll through a stunning collection of vintage wheels. Live music by Jeff Sartor (2-5 p.m.).

Free, casual event.

Crimson Roots - Northfield-- 7-10 p.m., Flaherty’s Northfield Lanes, 1700 Highway 3 S. They offer a blend of tight harmonies, solid guitar skills and a truly unique ability to arrange music. Those that have heard them perform speak of the power of their vocals and the eclectic mix of music. From The Beatles to U2 and nearly everything in between, there is something for everybody.

Roy Orbison Tribute - Faribault-- 7:30 p.m., Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault. David K embodies Roy’s distinctive voice performing be-bop 50s, rockability, Roy’s complex song structure, and emotional ballads to bring you a tribute to a true legend. With familiar tunes like “Pretty Woman,” “Dream Baby,” “Blue Bayou,” and

Joe Stamm Band - Elko New Market-- 8 p.m., The Doublewide, 421 Saint Joseph St., Elko New Market. Ever since their inception in 2013, JSB has offered distinct storytelling mixed with their signature Black Dirt Country Rock sound. A sound that Stamm defines as “a nod to our Midwestern roots, as well as the Red Dirt music scene, which has had a big influence on our music.”

FRIDAY, MAY 23 Melissa Schulz - Le Sueur-- 2-5 p.m., Le Sueur Country Club, 36195 311th Ave., Le Sueur. A clas-

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Jigsaw Puzzle Competition - Kasota-- 6:30-9 p.m., Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery and Distillery, 1179 E. Pearl St., Kasota. A 500-piece puzzle, two

Rice County Steam & Gas Engine Show Dundas-- 8 a.m., Rice County Steam & Gas Engine showground, Hwy. 3 south, Dundas. Swap meet and flea market, tractor pull, consignment auction, displays and exhibits, food vendors, special events and tractor parade. Takes place Saturday and Sunday.

Rain Kings - Janesville-- 5:30-8:30 p.m., Indian Island Winery, 18010 631st Ave, Janesville. Live music from an acoustic and electric roots rock band.

Do you want to submit an event to this calendar?

Send details to editor@ southernminnscene.com

YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.

SUNDAY, MAY 25

Tanner Stark Band - Kasota-- 6-9 p.m., Westwood Marina Bar & Grill, 1400 Lake Washington Access Rd., Kasota. A unique blend of country sounds perfect for music lovers.

HoldFast - Owatonna-- 6:30-8:30 p.m., Mineral Springs Brewery, 210 N. Oak Ave., Suite 1, Owatonna. Enjoy live music this evening by Waterville’s own HoldFast playing a variety of country, pop, bluegrass, folk, Indie, and 80s.

Shakespeare in Love - Northfield-- 7:30 p.m., Northfield Arts Guild Theater, 411 Third Street West. Part mis-identity hilarity and part love story, this show has something for everyone. Several characters are based on historical figures, and many of the characters, lines, and plot devices allude to Shakespeare’s plays. Thanks to two clever authors, the show entertains with snappy and witty dialogue.

Shows 7:30 p.m. May 23-24, plus 2 p.m. May 25.

Tickets online.

Chris Brooks & The Silver City Boys - Waseca-8 p.m.-12 a.m., The Mill Event Center, 310 2nd Ave SW, Waseca.

A top Midwestbased country band. Only the good stuff.

MONDAY, MAY 26

The New Havoline Supremes - Northfield-- 6-9 p.m., Imminent Brewing, 519 Division Street South Unit 2. Mary Cutrufello and Dan Lowinger playing country rock and blues Americana.

TUESDAY, MAY 27 Good Night Gold Dust - Waseca-- 1-7 p.m., Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm, 41142 160th St, Waseca.

A an indie pop group known for energetic live performances.

Do you want to submit an event to this calendar?

Send details to editor@ southernminnscene.com

Classic Car RollIn - Henderson-5-8 p.m., Downtown Henderson.

One of the biggest roll-in’s across the region in a beautiful downtown.

Takes place every Tuesday from May 27 to Sept. 17.

The first theme is Back to the 50s Night.

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SoMinn THE BOOKWORM SEZ

TERRI SCHILCHENMEYER Terri Schlichenmeyer is a book reviewer based just across the river from SoMinn in LaCrosse, WI. She can be contacted at bookwormsez@gmail.com

‘I Am Made of Death,’ ‘No Fault,’ ‘Warbody,’ and ‘Make Sure You Die Screaming’ I Am Made of Death

by Kelly Andrew c.2025, Scholastic Press $19.99 368 pages

Oooooh, turn it up, you love that song!

You know all the words to it, every note, every beat, every pause, and you never miss a chance to hear it. Even if you can’t carry a tune in a proverbial bucket, singing along with it makes your day. It just makes you so very happy. – unless, as in the new book, “I Am Made of Death” by Kelly Andrew, hearing it makes you so very dead.

If Thomas Walsh hadn’t needed the job, he would’ve walked out of the interview in a heartbeat. But he didn’t.

No, because his mother was sick, his sister would soon attend college, and bills were stacked uncomfortably high on their kitchen counter, there he was. Sitting in a wellappointed office in a cavernous mansion, about to take a job as a sign language translator and glorified babysitter for an extremely spoiled but very beautiful young woman.

He didn’t want the job but at least he’d be well-paid.

As he eventually understood it, years ago, when she was very small, Vivienne Farrow fell into a crevasse while on holiday, and the trauma of it made her mute. She could hear, she could sign, but she would not speak. In days to come, she would also not let Thomas do his job. Escaping him seemed to be a game to her. She treated him with dark disdain. She seemed to be terrified of… something.

Vivienne wished she could scream at Thomas, at his earnestness and his persistence but she didn’t dare.

Because of the thing in the mirror and the monster inside her, her voice was deadly and she was tired of killing people, just so her stepfather could gain power.

Thomas was intriguing and she wanted him to kiss her but she couldn’t say it. Instead, she sang softly to another boy who was in her stepfather’s path, and then she was silent…

In a very big way, “I Am Made of Death” is a lot like an old-fashioned Gothic novel, complete with a half-empty mansion, edgy darkness, a dangerous stepparent, an elite private school, and a tentative romance. Author Kelly Andrew doesn’t leave things like that, though; with a modern twist that gives the story more relevance for today’s reader, she takes all those classic Gothic bits and adds an outpouring of pure, eyes-narrow malevolence that’s genuinely scary, even if you happen to be a bit of a scoffer.

Crack this book open, in fact, and you’ll have to admit that you just can’t argue with the shivers you’ll get, and that it’s impossible to stay stoic when the evil in the plot here does things you won’t expect. Yeah. You’ve been warned.

You may find this book in the YA section of your library or bookstore, even though it’s perfectly appropriate for any horror novel fan ages 14 and up. If that’s you and you think you’re immune to a good scare, go ahead and look for “I Am Made of Death.” You might just change your tune.

No Fault:

A Memoir of Romance and Divorce

by Haley Mlotek c.2025, Viking $28.00 293 pages You knew it was coming, but the sound of the gavel made you jump.

It was so final, BANG!, so different from the soft music that started it all. Somehow, the wood-on-wood sound was a fitting way to end a marriage, like a door slamming or a log splitting.

So how did you get to that point? As in the new memoir, “No Fault” by Haley Mlotek, is there anyone to catch the blame?

After thirteen years together, it seemed they were meant for each other.

And yet, there they were: Haley Mlotek and her husband were heading for divorce, after a year during which they “barely managed to stay married…”

In the untangling, she “cried, but only a little.”

Mlotek was no stranger to divorce. When she was ten years old, she advised her mother to leave her father – which didn’t happen, but because Mlotek’s mother was a divorce mediator, Mlotek possessed familiarity with the process.

“I understood,” says Mlotek, “That there were… far worse marriages than I ever saw or heard about.”

She knew she wasn’t alone. During the Age of Enlightenment, societies thought that living one’s whole live with the same one person “was inherently wrong, unnatural.” As for modern Western society, “there are many places to start” telling the story of divorce; it was, for instance, never as hard to get as some people think it was because attitudes changed from time to place. Once Americans began moving around the country and state and regional laws changed, too, it became even easier to dissolve a marriage.

It also became easier to forego marriage altogether.

Says Mlotek, since the 1950s, the rate of “couples living together but not married” has steadily exploded. Mlotek herself was part of one of those couples, until she wasn’t.

Still, she says she’d do it again, though “I regret spending the last months of my marriage saying I’m sorry

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more than I said I love you.”

In a very big way, it’s almost as if “No Fault” can’t quite decide what kind of book it wants to be. Is it a nonfiction history of the dissolution or marriage? Is it a memoir?

A series of short but emotional essays? Or perhaps it’s a mosh-pit of the three that kaleidoscopes wildly, which works sometimes.

Take your pick. Author Haley Mlotek tells a good story – several of them, in fact – but readers may find themselves pulled in many different directions here. Her timeline of divorce runs deep, it can seem rather scholarly, and it mostly appears detached from the emotion that comes in chapters to follow. Your mind will need to switch gears often, which can be a problem if you’re highly invested in the memoir parts of Mlotek’s story, something that absolutely can happen – especially if you’re divorcing, too.

This isn’t a bad book – far from it, but it’s going to need a special kind of mindset to finish. If you can handle the mixture of it, you’ll love “No Fault.” If you require lineal reading, though, jump aside.

Warbody: A Marine Sniper and the Hidden Violence of Modern Warfare

by Joshua Howe and Alexander Lemons c.2025, W. W. Norton $29.99 304 pages One hundred eleven crunches in two minutes.

That’s gut-busting, but it’s a good score for a Marine.

Your Uncle Sam will be happy; he wants you to be a physically fit specimen, a part of the machine that represents, serves, and protects, and you won’t let him down. That’s a soldier from head to toe, mind, soul and, as in the new book “Warbody” by Joshua Howe and Alexander Lemons, broken body.

The friendship between Joshua Howe and Alexander Lemons was, at first, a little bit onand-off. Howe was a professor at Reed College in Portland; Lemons took some of his classes in 2012, before abruptly disappearing. Six years later, while Howe was researching the role of toxic minerals in foreign policies, Lemons returned. Shortly afterward, Howe learned that Lemons, a veteran, had been diagnosed with heavy metal poisoning stemming from his tours in Iraq.

Howe proposed a collaboration.

The summer after the Twin Towers fell, Lemons – a boy raised by “three Mormon farmwomen” – enlisted in the Marines. He didn’t do it for 9/11, but because he learned that life was nothing but a trail of sacrifice. He had a college degree, but he didn’t go the “officer route” because he wanted to work his way up. In the end, he took leadership roles anyway.

And while he did, from boot camp to Iraq and back, Lemons was exposed to dozens of modern chemicals.

“In 2014 alone,” says Howe, “the United States used more than 85,000 metric tons of lead in military and civilian ammunition...” and Lemons absorbed some of it as lead dust, breathed in, swallowed, absorbed through his skin. He took in jet fuel fumes, molecules from burning garbage, pollutants carried by other soldiers, dust from Iraq’s soil, dead bodies, asbestos, and “toxic molds from leaky buildings.”

Stress caused Lemons to became anorexic. He repeatedly got food poisoning, and he struggled to find clean water. And after this, after all the toxins he took in, says Howe, “it would take Alex another fifteen years to begin to unravel its tangled knots.”

There are a dozen emotions to cycle through when you read “Warbody.” Anger is a big one. Fear, if you love a veteran. Curiosity. Pride. Trauma, if this book hits particularly close to home, so take that as a warning.

Authors Joshua Howe and Alexander Lemons take turns in telling this tale, Howe in the science side of it, Lemons in the war side. Each complements the other in making readers understand why we should know what they share, why it’s relevant today, why news reports may only tell half the story, and why things may be much worse than

we know. There’s no holding back on either side of this book, and Lemons’ experiences are real and matter-offact; candy-coating isn’t a feature here, either, so a strong stomach can be a good idea.

Again, beware that this tale may be triggering for some, so use caution. Conversely, however, readers who devour modern battle accounts will find “Warbody” is a good score.

Make Sure You Die Screaming

by Zee Carlstrom c.2025, Flatiron Books $26.99 224 pages Sometimes, you just want to shut the door and forget what’s on the other side.

You could just wipe it from your memory, like it didn’t occur. Or create an alternate universe where bad things never happen to you and where, as in the new novel “Make Sure You Die Screaming” by Zee Carlstromn, you can pretend not to care.

Their mother called them “Holden,” but they’d stopped using that name and they hadn’t decided what to use now.

What do you call an alcoholic, queer, pessimistic former ad executive who’s also “The World’s First Honest White Man,” although they no longer identify as a man? It’s a conundrum that they’ll have to figure out soon because a cop’s been following them almost since they left Chicago with Yivi, their psychic new best friend.

Until yesterday, they’d been sleeping on a futon in some lady’s basement, drinking whatever Yivi mixed, and trying not to think about Jenny. They killed Jenny, they’re sure of it. And that’s one reason why it’s prudent to freak out about the cop.

The other reason is that the car they’re driving was stolen from their ex-boyfriend who probably doesn’t know it’s gone yet.

This road trip wasn’t exactly well-planned. Their mother called, saying they were needed in Arkansas to find their father, who’d gone missing so, against their better judgment, they packed as much alcohol as Yivi could find and headed south. Their dad had always been unique, a cruel man, abusive, intractable; he suffered from PTSD, and probably another half-dozen acronyms, the doctors were never sure. They didn’t want to find him, but their mother called…

It was probably for the best; Yivi claimed that a drug dealer was chasing her, and leaving Chicago seemed like a good thing.

They wanted a drink more than anything. Except maybe not more than they wanted to escape thoughts of their old life, of Jenny and her death. And the more miles that passed, the closer they came to the end of the road.

If you think there’s a real possibility that “Make Sure You Die Screaming” might run off the rails a time or three, you’re right. It’s really out there, but not always in a bad way. Reading it, in fact, is like squatting down in a wet, stinky alley just after the trash collector has come: it’s filthy, dank, and profanity-filled. Then again, it’s also absurd and dark and philosophical, highly enjoyable but also satisfying and a little disturbing; Palahniuk-like but less metaphoric.

That’s a stew that works and author Zee Carlstrom stirs it well, with characters who are sardonic and witty while fighting the feeling that they’re unredeemable losers – which they’re not, and that becomes obvious.

You’ll see that all the way to one of the weirdest endings ever.

Readers who can withstand this book’s utter confusion by remembering that chaos is half the point will enjoy taking the road trip inside “Make Sure You Die Screaming.”

Just buckle up tight. Then shut the door, and read. 

YOUR GUIDE FOR PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.

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Create.

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For more information & tickets: For more information && tickets: For more information (507) 332-7372 •tickets: 507.332.7372 www.paradisecenterforthearts.org • 507.332.7372 www.paradisecenterforthearts.org CentralAvenue Avenue North, Faribault, MN • 507.332.7372 www.paradisecenterforthearts.org 321321 Central North Faribault.MN 321 Central Avenue North, Faribault, MN 321 Central Avenue North, Faribault, MN

For more information & tickets: www.paradisecenterforthearts.org

GALLERY EXHIBITS THROUGH MAY 10

THE LOONEY LUTHERANS PRESENT: HOTDISH ON THE RANGE: ALL HAT. NO CATTLE. Giddyup! After hundreds of shows, thousands of audiences, and travels to a dozen different states, the Looney Lutherans are saddling up again with their “Country and Cowboy” themed show. Segments include “Cowboy Up” (practical tips for staying happy and healthy while living off the land). Lutheran Cowboy-ish wisdom, and hilarious parodies of classic country songs like “I’m Falling to Pieces: and :Achy Breaky Back.” With loads of laughs and lots of audience interaction, the Looney Lutherans invite you to join them for this hilarious round-up & you don’t have to be Lutheran (or a cowboy) to love ‘em. Yee Haw!!!

Sunday, May 4 at 2:00 PM Member: $21.50 / Non-Member: $26.50 / Student: $16.50 (Includes a $1.50 Processing Fee).

ROY ORBISON TRIBUTE Improv 101: Improv Intro DAVID to 101: Improv with Ricker BY & BAND Improv 101: KBuddy (Agesto 16+) Intro Improv Buddy Saturday, May 17with at 7:30 PM Ricker

Intro Improv with Buddy (Ages 16+) to SATURDAYS JUNE in 22, 12:30-2PM After decades ofTHRU performing Minnesota, 5 years Ricker (Ages 16+) Member: $70THRU / Non-Member: $80 in LA, 4 years in Texas, Nashville to NYC, David K SATURDAYS JUNE 22, 12:30-2PM This course will focus on the fundamentals of improv acting is proud to offer his tribute to Roy Davidwith an emphasis on improv Member: $70 / Non-Member: SATURDAYS THRU$80 JUNE Orbison.

22, 12:30-2PM comedy. Through “hands on” exercises and performing laughter, we will bring out the creative improvK embodies Roy’s distinctive voice, This course will focus$70 on the fundamentals of $80 improv acting with an emphasis on improv Member: / Non-Member: comedy. Through “hands on” exercises and laughter, we will bring out the creative improvbebop, 50s,and rockability, song your family friends with Roy’s a coursecomplex ending show that showcases the improv artist in you. structure, and emotional ballads to bring you a your family and friends with a course ending show that showcases the improv artist in you. tribute to a true legend. With familiar tunes like “Pretty Woman,” “Dream Baby,” “Blue Bayou,” and “Only The Lonely,” this show is guaranteed to have audiences leave humming the June tunes they know and love. Join Opening Reception 7, 5pm-7pm David K as Roy Orbison a step back in time along the path of one Opening Reception June 7, 5pm-7pm man’s career, a man who had a tragic but resilient life.

GALLERY GALLERY

Carlander Family Gallery – Process Group Show: Karen Peters, Justin Peters, Clayton Huber Lois Vranesh Gallery – Gail Gaits K&M Gallery – Sushila Anderson Corey Lyn Creger Gallery - Bethlehem Academy Students

GALLERY OPENING MAY 16, 5PM-7PM

GALLERY

Opening Reception June 7, 5pm-7pm

Member: $21.50 / Non-Member: $26.50 / Student: $16.50 (Includes a $1.50 Processing Fee).

EDUCATION

ACTING FOR ANYONE OVER THE AGE OF 45 WITH JULIANNA SKLUZACEK ~ Tuesdays, May 6, 13, 20, Doug Clement Curt Lund and 27 -- 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM. Doug Clement Curt Lund

Carlander Gallery

Have you always wanted to act but MaiGallery Tran Carlander didn’t have the time? Maybe you were Mai Tran Doug Clement Curtby Lund intimidated the thought of it. Well, Vranesh Gallery this is the class for you! You won’t Paradise Members Show Carlander Gallery Vranesh Gallery be required to learn lines. We’ll use Tran Paradise MembersMai Show K&M Gallery warm-up exercises to get comfortable, Summer Pop Up Shop then explore the art of acting with K&M Gallery Vranesh Gallery already existing plays! Whether you’re SummerParadise Pop Up Shop Members Show experienced or just starting out, it will be great fun!Creger Gallery Warsame Rashid Creger Gallery Dan Crombie K&M Gallery Tuition: Member: $60, Non-Member:Warsame $72. Rashid Dan Crombie Summer Pop Up Shop Creger Gallery

Carlander Family Gallery - Kjellgren Alkire Lois Vranesh Gallery – Members Show K&M Gallery - EPIC Corey Lyn Creger Memorial Gallery - Breanna Adams

Exhibition Dates: May 12 – June 21.

40 M AY 2 0 2 5 | W W W. S O U T H E R N M I N N SCENE. C O M

This is made possible by Rashid These activity activities are madeWarsame possible by the Dan Crombie voters of Minnesota through a grant from the voters of Minnesota through a These activities are made possible by the the Minnesota StateState Artsthrough Board, a legislative voters of Minnesota grant to from the Minnesota Arts athanks Board Operating appropriation the thanks arts andtocultural fund.

Minnesota Stategrant, Artsfrom Board, legislative Support thanks to aalegislative appropriation from the arts andthe cultural appropriation from artsfund. and These activities are made possible by the cultural heritage fund. voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Follow Us on Social Media Follow Us on Social Media

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