River Arts Alliance

Artist Ellen McDonah Opening at The Blue Heron Coffeehouse
2026-06-19 17:00 - 19:00 (America/Chicago) | Blue Heron Coffeehouse, 162 W 2nd St, Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Ellen McDonah Art Show Opening
Join local artist and author Ellen McDonah for the opening reception of her new art exhibition at the Blue Heron Coffeehouse, located at 162 W. 2nd Street, Winona, Minnesota, on Friday, June 19, 2026, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. On display through August 10, 2026, you may view her website at ellenmcdonah.com

Patina at Elmaro Vineyard on Sunday, June 21 at 1:00pm
2026-06-21 13:00 - 16:00 | Elmaro Vineyard, N14756 Delaney Rd., Trempealeau, WI, 54661, United States
Come out to Elmaro Vineyard on Sunday, June 21st at 1:00pm to hear the band, Patina. We play a mix of traditional and contemporary Celtic, folk, and original instrumentals and vocals. Patina is a three-member Celtic band. Kara Mae plays fiddle and sings vocals, Sue Lee plays guitar, banjo, and sings vocals. Greg plays Bodhran, whistles, accordion and guitar to round out the band.

Forecast Webinar Series 2026
2026-06-25 12:00 - 13:30 | MN
Register Now—Creative Power, Civic Purpose: How Artists Strengthen Democracy

We’re excited to launch Creative Power, Civic Purpose: How Artists Strengthen Democracy, a six-part virtual series supported by the Educational Foundation of America (EFA).
The series explores how artists and culture bearers strengthen civic health, deepen democratic participation, and help renew the civic fabric of communities across the country.

SHIFT~ performance salon: Wayfind-ing (for one) with Sharon Mansur
2026-06-27 16:00 - 19:00 | Prairie Island Campground, 1120 Prairie Island Rd. N, Winona, MN, United States
SHIFT~ a performance salon, in partnership with The Cedar Tree Project presents:  ”Wayfind-ing (for one),” a solo dance performance with Winona based artist Sharon Mansur by the Mississippi River on Saturday, June 27 at 4:00pm at Prairie Island Campground, 1120 Prairie Island Road, Winona, on Dakota homelands. SHIFT~ is an informal and intimate interdisciplinary experimental series that has invited artists to collaborate and engage audiences in creative conversations since 2016. Admission is free and reservations are requested. Please email smansurdancer@gmail.com to reserve your spot, and for accessibility requests. Bring your favorite camp chair or blanket for seating. www.mansurdance.com/shift.

Sugarloaf Community Theatre Summer Musical Auditions
2026-06-27 18:45 - 21:45 | Wesley United Methodist Church, 114 W Broadway St., Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Sugarloaf Community Theatre is thrilled to announce auditions for our 5th annual summer musical, Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience! All adults and youth ages 12+ are invited to audition, regardless of experience level. The show is based on a book by popular children’s author Mo Willems and follows Wilbur the Naked Mole Rat, who decides to break out of the boring world of being an unfashionable Mole Rat and, for the first time in Naked Mole Rat history, dress in style!! Auditions will be held in two large group time slots on June 27th, 6:45-8:15 pm

“Dying Man Suite,” by Tom Driscoll at the Historic Chateau Theater
2026-06-30 19:00 - 21:00 | Historic Chateau Theatre, 15 1st St. SW, Rochester, MN, 55902
“Dying Man Suite,” will roll out at the Historic Chateau Theater—nearby the Mayo Clinic downtown Rochester campus—on June 30, 2026, 7-9 p.m. in a conversation/Q&A curated by the multiple-award-winning author of more than a dozen books, former Winona Poet Laureate, Ken McCullough. Joining Ken and I will be the sensational Rochester Poet Laureate, Jean Prokett, and Registered Nurse & poet, Ariel Boswell, who since 2023, has worked as a writer at the bedside with the Dolores Jean Lavins Center for the Humanities where she writes with patients and facilitates workshops with staff and learners. The public is welcome.

Bellhouse Band at Two Fathoms Brewery
2026-07-03 18:00 - 21:00 | Two Fathoms Brewing, 65 E Front St., Winona, MN, 55987, United States
The Bell House Band plays Americana, folk and original music on guitar, bass and mandolin. Band members are Connie Dretske, Bob Stuber and Jim Armstrong.

Playwriting Workshops | Theatre du Mississippi
2026-07-08 19:30 - 20:30, 2026-07-30 19:30 - 20:30, 2026-08-02 14:00 - 17:00 | MN
Zoom & In-Person Workshops starting July 8th
Our playwriting workshops provide a supportive and engaging environment for writers of all experience levels to explore storytelling for the stage. Participants develop skills in character creation, dramatic structure, creative process, and collaborative theatre-making while gaining practical tools to bring their ideas to life.
Find more details about each workshop and register here: https://tdmwinona.org/calendar

Improv at the Garten!
2026-07-09 18:30 - 19:30 | Peter’s Biergarten, 54 E 3rd St., Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Join Theatre du Mississippi for a night of improv and laughs!
Second Thursday of each month (May–October)
Hosts Tristan Miller and Rae Peter will guide you through an array of games and challenges. Whether you want to get up and play or sit back and watch the hilarity ensue!
No preparation needed! Just show up and have a good time!
Free and open to the public
Tasty food and cold drinks are available for purchase

The Spitfire Grill - preview
2026-07-11 19:30 - 22:00, 2026-07-12 13:30 - 16:30, 2026-07-16 19:30 - 22:00, 2026-07-17 19:30 - 22:00 | Commonweal Theatre, 208 Parkway Ave. N, Lanesboro, MN, United States
Percy, a troubled young woman on parole, yearns for a fresh start and heads to the small Wisconsin town of Gilead. She finds work at the dried-up town’s only eatery, The Spitfire Grill. As Percy discovers her own path to redemption, she awakens the town’s capacity for healing and hope. With soaring melodies and Midwestern charm, this folk musical is a celebration of kindness and community.

Wide Angle Winona: A Panoramic View
2026-07-12 - 2026-09-13 | Winona County History Center, 160 Johnson St, Winona, MN, 55987, United States
“Wide Angle Winona: A Panoramic View,“ will be on exhibit from July 12- September 13 at the Winona County History Center’s Slaggie Family Lobby and Art Gallery. Local photographer, Mary Farrell, received a Winona Foundation grant to take panoramic photographs of Winona that feature landscapes, river and lake views and landmarks. Farrell has captured Winona through the lens of her camera for several years and this opportunity helped her create new work that explored a broader perspective. An opening reception will be on July 12 from 1-3 p.m.

Opening Reception | Wide Angle Winona: A Panoramic View
2026-07-12 13:00 - 15:00 | Winona County History Center, 160 Johnson St, Winona, MN, 55987, United States

Makerspace Open House!
2026-07-13 15:30 - 19:00 | Winona Creators Collective, 850 W 3rd St, WINONA, MN, 55987, United States
After a year of volunteer construction, the nonprofit makerspace is opening its doors! There will be demos, tours, a ribbon cutting, and more. See what this space dedicated to arts and STEM can do for you and Winona.

The Spitfire Grill | Commonweal Theatre Company
2026-07-18 - 2026-10-24 | Commonweal Theatre, 208 Parkway Ave. N, Lanesboro, MN, United States
Multiple events. Click here for tickets, dates and times.

Weaving Class | Winona Arts Center
2026-07-25 10:00 - 12:00 | Winona Arts Center, 228 E 5th St., Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Join Lisa Douglas at the Winona Art Center on Saturday July 25 from 10am to 12pm to learn the weaving technique – Clasped Weft and create a Mug Rug.

2026 Maria W. Faust Sonnet Contest Celebration
2026-07-25 11:00 - 13:00 | The ARC, 255 Main St., Winona, MN, 55987, United States
The Maria W. Faust Sonnet Contest will announce the winners of the 2026 contest in a fun celebration hosted in person and online. The public is invited to attend on Saturday, July 25 th at 11:00am at the ARC, in partnership with the Great River Shakespeare Festival. (The event can also be viewed online on the Maria W. Faust Sonnet Contest’s Facebook page.)

Grant Deadline: Project Support for Individual Artists and Culture Bearer Grant
2026-07-29 | MN
Deadline: Wednesday, July 29
Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council (SEMAC) invites individual artists and culture bearers in their 11-county region to apply for the Project Support for Individual Artists and Culture Bearers grant. Applications open June 28 with a submission deadline of July 28, 2026. These grants provide funding ranging from $2,000 to $6,000 to encourage artists to take the next step in their creative pursuits. Read more.

Free Professional Headshot @ Winona Creators Collective
2026-07-30 15:00 - 17:00 | Winona Creators Collective, 850 W 3rd St, WINONA, MN, 55987, United States
Whether you need one for your business, your art, or your LinkedIn, it’s always great to have a current professional headshot. Rebecca from Rebecca Snyder Photography will be at Winona Creators Collective’s Business Innovation Center taking professional headshots for free. Pictures will be sent after the event.

Participation Deadline: Goodview Days
2026-07-31 | MN
Contact (507) 452-1262 or email Class@winonapost.com to apply.

MATT CASHION TO READ FROM HIS FICTION AT THE BLUE HERON
2026-08-04 19:00 - 21:00 | Blue Heron Coffeehouse, 162 W 2nd St, Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Matt Cashion, a fiction writer who teaches creative writing at UW-LaCrosse, will read from hi work atr the Blue Heron on Tuesday August 4th at 7 p.m. as art of the continuing Laureate Writers Series. Cashion’s reading will be followed by a Q&A, book signing, and an Open Mic to which any writers, veterans or first-timers, may read their work.

From Great to Grand | Colleen Shore
2026-08-05 - 2026-09-27 | Blue Heron Coffeehouse, 162 W 2nd St, Winona, MN, 55987, United States
From Great to Grand is a display of oil paintings by Colleen Shore, inspired by the Great River Road and Grand Marais. During August 5 through September 27 at Blue Heron Coffeehouse, 162 W. 2nd Street in Winona. Join her for a public reception on Friday, August 14 from 5-7. During the reception Colleen will have an additional 100 unframed oil paintings for sale from $50-$150, cash and checks accepted. Plus register for a chance to win an 8×10 commissioned oil painting during the opening reception. More at cshoreartwork.blogspot.com

Drypoint Etching Workshop | Winona Arts Center
2026-08-05 17:30 - 19:30 | Winona Arts Center, 228 E 5th St., Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Ready to explore printmaking? Join Preston Lawing for “Drypoint Etching: Small But Mighty” from 5:30 to 7:30, August 5, 12 and 19 at the Winona Arts Center!

Sugarloaf Community Theatre Presents: Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience
2026-08-07 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-08-08 10:00 - 12:00 | Wesley United Methodist Church, 114 W Broadway St., Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Sugarloaf Community Theatre is excited to present our 5th annual summer musical, Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience. Performances will be on August 7th at 6pm and August 8th at 10am and 2pm.

Sugarloaf Community Theatre Presents: Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience
2026-08-07 18:00 - 20:00 | MN
https://linktr.ee/sugarloaftheatre
Performances will be on August 7th at 6pm and August 8th at 10am and 2pm at Wesley United Methodist Church, 114 W Broadway St, Winona, MN 55987.
Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience is presented through a special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com
