River Arts Alliance

Commonweal Theatre Presents King Lear
2025-10-04 19:30 - 22:00, 2025-10-05 13:30 - 16:00, 2025-10-09 19:30 - 22:00, 2025-10-11 19:30 - 22:00, 2025-10-12 13:30 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Commonweal Theatre, 208 Parkway Ave. N, Lanesboro, MN, United States
Preview Dates
Saturday, Sept 13 | 7:30-9:30 pm
Sunday, Sept 14 | 1:30-3:30 pm
Thurs-Fri, Sept 18, 19 | 7:30-9:30 pm
Full Run Dates Listed on RAA Event Page
Commonweal Theatre Company
208 Parkway Ave N, Lanesboro, MN
commonwealtheatre.org

Join the Commonweal Theatre Company for William Shakespeare’s legendary classic, King Lear. From one of the greatest writers of all time comes the ultimate family drama. As age overtakes Lear, he divides his kingdom amongst his daughters. Misjudging their loyalty, he finds himself stripped of all that defined him. Learn more.

Frozen River Film Festival Celebrates 20 Years with New Film Series
2025-10-05 - 2025-10-12, 2025-10-06 - 2025-10-13, 2025-10-07 - 2025-10-14, 2025-10-08 - 2025-10-15, 2025-10-09 - 2025-10-16, 2025-10-10 - 2025-10-17, 2025-10-11 - 2025-10-18, 2025-10-12 - 2025-10-19 and 2 more dates
frff.eventive.org
This year the Frozen River Film Festival (FRFF) will be celebrating 20 years of bringing documentary films and filmmakers to Winona. The festival begins Sunday, February 9, (You can still get home in time to watch the Super Bowl!) and runs through Sunday, February 16. This year’s event will feature the World Premiere of FRFF’s self-produced documentary, Beneath the Ice: The Frozen River Film Festival Story. Learn more.

Voices From the Past Cemetery Walk
2025-10-05 12:00 - 16:00
October 2 • 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Indoor Accessible Performance at History Center
October 4 & 5 • 12:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Cemetery Walk at Woodlawn Cemetery
Admission: $10 Adults, $5 Students,
$3 Youth 12-4 years old
The Winona County Historical Society autumn fundraiser event, The Voices From the Past Cemetery Walk is coming up the first weekend in October!
Enjoy performances by community members portraying people from Winona County’s past. Each year a new theme ties different storied lives together. For the 2025 Voices from the Past we will hear about those who experienced Disasters! From floods and fires to storms and illness, learn about the resiliency of Winona County communities. Sites will feature cyclones; the Armistice Day blizzard of 1940; rescue, recovery, & prevention; local life during the Great Depression; fires; floods; pandemics; and accidents.
Not all disasters in Winona County have had tragic outcomes. But some came close! Back in 1941, five-year-old Jack Gockley was on his first unsupervised trip away from home, proudly pulling his steel coaster wagon across the tracks at the Wilson Street crossing. Suddenly, a Milwaukee passenger train slammed into his little wagon, leaving it a twisted wreck and terrifying Jack. The train immediately stopped, and the trainmen picked up Jack’s wagon and took the time to comfort him. A picture of a sad but wiser Jack and his ruined wagon ended up in the newspaper.
In 1903, a tornado ripped through St. Charles in Winona County. Several houses were demolished – including the DeLaney home. Mrs D. had just taken a bath. She made her way to the cellar. The house was torn from its foundation. She was plastered with mud & drenched with rain. As a result, she suffered from a severe cold and needed another bath.
Come learn more about these stories and many more, including about a farmer who was saved by his unknowingly heroic Holsteins.
The Walk takes about 90 minutes and sites can be visited in any order. A map and information booklet is provided with admission at the gate. Acting begins at 12:00 and ends at 4:00 p.m. The sites will perform at the History Center if the weather is severe. Prepaid passes (no refunds) can be purchased online, otherwise admission is taken at the gate/door. Find more information at winonahistory.org or call 507-454-2723.
This event is proudly sponsored by Merchants Bank, celebrating 150 years!

Gate City Jazz Band Performs First Sunday Each Month
2025-10-05 17:00 - 19:00
First Sunday of Each Month | 5-7 pm
Westfield Golf Course | 1460 W 5th St
No Cover Charge
westfieldgolfclub.com
The Gate City Jazz Band is rising from the ashes of the Blackhorse restaurant where they regularly played, to once again perform in their new location at the Westfield Golf Course restaurant. Performances are the first Sunday of each month, 5-7 pm for your listening and toe-tapping pleasure. Come enjoy the cuisine and music at the same time. No cover charge. Learn more.

Commonweal Theatre Presents Lone Star Spirits
2025-10-06 19:30 - 22:00, 2025-10-10 19:30 - 22:00, 2025-10-11 13:30 - 16:00, 2025-10-13 19:30 - 22:00
Commonweal Theatre Company
208 Parkway Ave N, Lanesboro, MN
commonwealtheatre.org

Join the Commonweal Theatre Company for Josh Tobiessen’s small-town comedy, Lone Star Spirits. A trip home gets wildly out of hand when Marley introduces her fiancé to her estranged father. Learn more.

Audition Notice: Christmas Radio Show! "Sam Shovel, Private Eye. Twelve Days of Chaos
2025-10-07 17:00 - 19:00, 2025-10-08 17:00 - 19:00 | 251 Main Street Winona, MN 55987 The Historic Masonic Temple, 251 Main Street, Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Auditions: Tuesday & Wednesday, October 7th & 8th, 2025
5:00–7:00 PM
The ARC, 255 Main Street, Winona, MN 55987
Audition Notice: Christmas Radio Show!
“Sam Shovel, Private Eye. Twelve Days of Chaos!”
Written by Jim & Jane Jeffries
Directed by Michael Opiola
Theatre du Mississippi invites you to join us for auditions for this year’s Christmas Radio Show!
No preparation needed!
No memorization required for this show! Scripts will be in hand for the performances.
Performances: December 11th–14th, 2025
This is a fun, low-stakes way to be part of the holiday magic. Whether you’re a seasoned performer or brand new to the stage, we’d love to have you join us!

Sandbar Storytelling Festival announces 2025 storytellers and schedule
2025-10-07 17:30 - 2025-10-13 17:00
Oct 7 -13
See below for venues and times
For the fourth consecutive year, the Sandbar Storytelling Festival is excited to announce its lineup of storytellers. This year’s festival includes even more tellers and locations, and we had to lengthen the festival to fit in all the fun! Between Oct. 7-13, seven talented and renowned storytellers will present a variety of storytelling styles and topics in Winona schools, universities, churches, theaters, and local establishments. Passes and tickets went onsale Monday, Aug. 11, and some events are free or for a freewill offering.

The purpose of the festival is to present storytelling performances that celebrate and preserve the power and pleasure of our varied cultural traditions and human experiences and to promote the art of storytelling for all ages. Founding Artistic Director Taff Roberts reminds us that “through storytelling, we share our identities, and by active listening, we engage with people who are different than us.”
Again, the festival features a full slate of storytelling events by nationally and internationally known storytellers that are guaranteed to make you laugh, learn, and celebrate our shared humanity. Local food trucks are also featured.
The 2025 Storytellers
Bil Lepp – A returning headliner from Sandbar Storytelling Festival seasons 2022 and 2023, Lepp will continue to regale us with his unique antics, family-friendly tall tales, and stories that have earned the appreciation of listeners of all ages and from all walks of life. Though he is a five-time champion of the West Virginia Liars Contest, his stories often contain morsels of truth, which present universal themes in clever and witty ways. His amusing tales and insights into everyday life have delighted audiences across the country, from grade schools to corporate executives to Comedy Central’s Hudson stage.
Elizabeth Ellis – Designated an American Masterpiece Touring Artist by the NEA, Ellis grew up in the Appalachian Mountains hearing stories from her grandfather, a mountain minister. The “Divine Miss E” is a versatile and riveting teller of Appalachian and Texas tales and stories of heroic American women, though her personal stories are arguably her best. An award-winning author, she is a recipient of the John Henry Faulk Award from the Tejas Storytelling Association, and the National Storytelling Network ORACLE Circle of Excellence and Lifetime Achievement Awards.
The Rev. Robert B. Jones, Sr. – A returning storyteller from season 2022, the Rev. Jones of Detroit, Mich., has been a professional musician and storyteller for more than 40 years. He has been a pastor for more than 20 years and has been a nationally recognized storyteller for more than 15. His speaking and musical skills educate, entertain, and inspire. At the heart of his message is the belief that our cultural diversity tells a story that we should celebrate, not just tolerate. Truly authentic and one of a kind, the Rev. Jones is a talented songwriter, storyteller, and has the ability to play multiple instruments, combined with the fact he is an award-winning educator and has encyclopedic knowledge of the history of African American folk music, including blues, spiritual, and slave songs.
Josh Goforth – Growing up in Madison County, N.C., Goforth was surrounded by the music and stories of his ancestors. He is a highly accomplished storyteller and acoustic musician playing close to 20 different instruments. He has performed in all 50 states, throughout Europe, Asia, and Australia and graced such stages as the Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and The Grand Ole Opry. He was nominated for a Grammy for his 2009 release with David Holt, titled “Cutting Loose.” He currently is on faculty at the Academy for the Arts in Asheville and performs all over the world.
Don White – Bringing audiences to laughter and tears for 30 years, White has released nine CDs, three live DVDs, and a book, “Memoirs of a C Student.” His latest album is “Live from the Guthrie Center.” He has opened for Arlo Guthrie, Ritchie Havens, Louden Wainwright III, and Taj Mahal, shared a bill with David Bromberg, Janis Ian, and Lyle Lovett. He has been featured in storytelling festivals around the country. Since 2015, he has joined master storytellers Bil Lepp and Bill Harley in Father’s Daze, a hilarious three-man storytelling event about the triumphs and tribulations of fatherhood. He toured for nine years with folk songwriting legend Christine Lavin.
Dovie Thomason – Imagining herself as a river, fed by many streams: Lakota, Apache, and Scot Traveler ancestry, urban Chicago, rural Texas and international travels, the Internet and Indigenous elders, family teachings, kitchen table wisdom, and university classrooms — Thomason draws on those contrasts and cultures in her work. When she adds personal stories and untold histories, the result is a contemporary narrative of Indigenous history and identity in North America told with elegance, wit, and passion. She has been featured at the Kennedy Center, National Museum of the American Indian, the Smithsonian, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, and festivals around the world.
Katie Knutson – In Knutson’s 27 years as a storyteller and 20 years as a teaching artist, she has delivered arts-integrated residencies, performances, and classes to well over 35,000 kids. She has contributed to three books on storytelling and wrote/curated the New Voices column in Storytelling Magazine. She leads storytelling and arts integration workshops for adults, mentors, new storytellers and teaching artists, is a Minnesota State DEVELOP Guest Trainer, and has worked as a teaching artist for several theatre companies. Knutson has received several highly competitive Arts in Education grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board. She has also completed the ArtSage Arts in Aging Teaching Artist Training Program working with older adults across the aging spectrum.
Sandbar Storytelling Festival 2025 schedule:
Storytellers present different stories at each session throughout the festival, Oct. 7-13.
Tuesday, Oct. 7
5:30 p.m., “Pizza & Bil” featuring Bil Lepp at Blue Heron Coffeehouse, 162 W. 2nd St., Winona (Reserved ticket required; $50 general.)
Wednesday, Oct. 8
8 p.m., “Tales & Ales featuring Josh Goforth” at Two Fathoms Brewery, 65 E. Front St., Winona (free event, limited seating)
Thursday, Oct. 9
9 p.m., “Tales & Ales featuring Don White” at No Name Bar, 252 E. 3rd St., Winona (free event, limited seating)
Friday, Oct. 10
1 p.m., “Three Femme Fa-Tales” featuring Katie Knutson, Dovie Thomason, and Elizabeth Ellis at the Historic Masonic Theater of Winona, 251 Main St. (free event)
7 p.m., “TGIF: Tales for the End of the Week” featuring this year’s storytellers at Saint Mary’s University Page Theater, 700 Terrace Heights (Ticket or pass required; $25 general | $5 students.)
Saturday, Oct. 11
10 a.m., Bil Lepp and Josh Goforth at Saint Mary’s University Page Theater (Ticket or pass required; $10 general | $5 students.)
10 a.m., Storytelling featuring the Rev. Robert B. Jones, Sr. and the Winona’s Little Warriors Drumline at the Winona Public Library, 151 W. 5th St. (free event for families, suitable for children)
Noon, Lunch (boxed lunches available for purchase)
1 p.m., Elizabeth Ellis, Don White, Dovie Thomason, and the Rev. Robert B. Jones at Saint Mary’s University Page Theater, 700 Terrace Heights, Winona (Ticket or pass required; $20 general | $5 students.)
5 p.m., Dinner (food trucks by the tent)
7 p.m., “Tales Tall & True?” featuring this year’s storytellers at Saint Mary’s University Page Theater, 700 Terrace Heights, Winona (Ticket or pass required; $25 general | $5 students.)
Sunday, Oct. 12
10 a.m., Bil Lepp at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, located at Wesley United Methodist Church, 114 W. Broadway, Winona (free event)
2 p.m., Don White at the First Congregational Church of Winona, 161 W. Broadway, (free-will offering taken at the door)
Sunday, Oct. 12 – Monday, Oct. 13
Storytelling Intensive for intermediate and advanced storytellers at Alverna Center, 1175 W. Wabasha St., Winona (Application and registration fee required.)
Full-Day or Two-Day Passes
Saturday Full-Day Pass – Morning, afternoon, and night events are $50 general | $10 students*
Two-Day Festival Pass – Friday night and all-day Saturday events are $70 | $10 students*
*Student prices are for ages 11-18 and college students with a valid ID.
To learn more about this year’s storytellers, as well as the link to purchase festival tickets and passes, go to www.sandbarstorytellingfestival.org. For more information, email sandbarwinona@gmail.com or call 507-703-6001 or call 507-703-6001

Elizabeth Oness to present at Laureate Writers Series
2025-10-08 19:00 - 21:00 | Blue Heron Coffeehouse, 162 W 2nd St, Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Wednesday, October 8 | 7:00 pm
Blue Heron Coffeehouse
Free and open to the public
The Laureate Writers Series will feature local writer Elizabeth Oness as its October presenting artist. Her appearance will feature Oness’ latest novel, The Hopefuls. This Wednesday event at the Blue Heron departs from the usual first Tuesday scheduling for the program.
Oness’ creative writing life is deeply grounded in Winona experiences. While living on a biodynamic farm in Southeast Minnesota, she has been an active creative writer, mentor, and member of the English Department at Winona State University. She has published six books of fiction, and several of her works have achieved significant honors. Her stories have received an O’Henry Prize, a Nelson Algren Award, and the Crazyhorse Fiction Prize. Meanwhile, she directs marketing and development for Sutton Hoo Press, a literary fine press devoted to producing beautifully printed and illustrated small books. Beth also plays a mean fiddle with the Organic Music Cooperative at The Trempealeau Hotel every other Tuesday.
Maureen Aitken, author of The Patron Saint of Lost Girls, describes The Hopefuls as “a beautiful collection about what happens after the dreams of true love, elite instructors, and academic jobs clash against the ballast of dwindling economies and cheating partners. Oness writes about the surprising ways the vulnerable and misunderstood are taken down, or survive.”
Oness will read a selection from The Hopefuls, and then will respond to questions from the audience. An open mic session will follow, during which audience members are encouraged to read samples of their own creative works.
The Laureate Writer Series is co-sponsored by the Blue Heron Coffeehouse, by Chapter 2 Books of Winona, by Friends of the Winona Public Library, by Sara and Richard Ricker, and by Laurie Lucas.
Ken McCullough is a member of the River Arts Alliance. To learn more about the benefits of membership, please visit: riverartsalliance.org/membership/.

Theatre du Mississippi Presents Virtual Playwriting Workshop: Autobiographical Writing
2025-10-10 11:00 - 13:00
Virtual Workshop
June 20, July 18, Aug 15, Sept 12, Oct 10
Cost: Sliding Scale One-Time Payment of $15-75
theatredumiss.org
Discover the power of personal storytelling through the art of autobiographical writing with playwright Kelsey Rain. In this hands-on workshop, playwrights and actors will craft a rough draft of a monologue or script inspired by a significant event from their own lives or the lives of their family members. Learn more.

Moving Beyond Bars
2025-10-11
Rochester, MN – Rochester Art Center is proud to present Moving Beyond Bars, an immersive exhibition featuring monumental artworks and personal writings created by incarcerated women at the Florida Women’s Prison in Ocala, FL, and incarcerated men at the South Dakota State Penitentiary (Sioux Falls) and Mike Durfee State Prison (Springfield, SD).
Developed through residencies supported by the National Endowment for the Arts (2023–2024 and 2024–2025), the exhibition is led by Minneapolis-based dance/theater director Suzanne Costello and visual artist Ariadne Albright. At the request of incarcerated participants, this work has since toured to more than a dozen locations across tribal and rural South Dakota communities and most recently was presented at the Institute of Contemporary Art/ Miami in August.
Through large-scale murals, written reflections, video documentation, and an original soundscape, Moving Beyond Bars highlights the power of creative expression as a pathway for reclaiming identity and preparing for reentry into society. The exhibition invites visitors to engage deeply with the lived experiences, resilience, and humanity of incarcerated individuals.
Moving Beyond Bars began in 2022 as a program designed by Costello and has since been presented in prison and reentry environments across the U.S. Over the course of 2-3 week immersive residencies, Costello and Albright guide participants through group discussions, writing exercises, visual art practices and movement explorations that evolve into visual artworks and group performances presented at the conclusion. This process affirms each participant’s lived experience, making space for healing, expression, and transformation.
Contributors to the exhibition range in age from their 20s to their 70s, represent diverse cultural backgrounds including Native nations, and have prison sentences spanning from a few years to life without parole. Some participants had never engaged with art before, while others drew upon deep cultural traditions. For all, the program offered a rare and powerful opportunity to rediscover their essential selves.
Exhibition Details
Title: Moving Beyond Bars
Venue: Rochester Art Center
Dates: October 11, 2025 – February 8, 2026
Admission: $8 Adults, $5 Seniors & Military, FREE for ages 21 & Under
Request a Group Tour at: https://www.rochesterartcenter.org/group-tours
Website: https://www.rochesterartcenter.org/exhibition/moving-beyond-bars

Call to Artists: Between the Bluffs Plein Air
2025-10-11 09:00 - 12:00
Demonstrations: Sat. Oct 11 9 – Noon
Show: Oct 17, 18, 19
Betweenthebluffs.com
Colleen Shore is a member of the River Arts Alliance. To learn more about the benefits of membership, please visit: riverartsalliance.org/membership/.

Frozen River Film Festival Presents: Independent Gothic Horror Screening A One-Night Descent into the Dark
2025-10-11 19:00 - 21:00 | 251 Main Street Winona, MN 55987 The Historic Masonic Temple, 251 Main Street, Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Saturday, October 11th
Doors at 6:15pm | Film at 7:00 pm | The ARC
255 Main Street Winona, MN 55987
Tickets | $10 General Admission |$8 for FRFF members | Free for Winona Students
Screening at 7:00 PM | Doors open at 6:15 PM
Step into the shadows with a chilling showcase of seven short films that explore the many faces of horror—from eerie Gothic tales to psychological dread, supernatural terror, and darkly comic frights. This one-night-only event brings together a diverse lineup of independent voices pushing the boundaries of the genre. Following the screenings, join a thought-provoking talkback with the Managing Director of the Frozen River Film Festival and filmmaker Curtis Matzke, as they discuss the craft of making horror films, the unique challenges of the genre, and the evolving landscape of independent filmmaking.
Concessions and merchandise will be available for purchase to round out this movie experience!
We will also have FRFF swag available for purchase and other engaging activities!
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.
Frozen River Film Festival is an organizational member of the River Arts Alliance. To learn more about the benefits of membership, please visit: riverartsalliance.org/membership/.

Exhibition of Recent Drawings " Beneath the Fields" by Lois Peterson
2025-10-13 14:00 - 17:00
Sept 3rd- Nov 5th 2025
Artist Reception: Saturday, Oct. 11, 4–5:30 p.m.
Artist Draw-In: Monday, Oct. 13, 2-5 p.m. in the Gallery
Viterbo Fine Arts Gallery
Third Floor
LaCrosse, WI
By creating large-scale detailed drawings of dormant prairie plants and fallen tree segments, their essential role in our ecosystem is both recognized and documented. While working on this series, I found myself mourning their decline. Drawing and restoring land helped me better understand my past and present. Living in a rural area paired with a personal family history of engagement with farming practices gave me a perspective on environmental issues and the need for collective efforts in restoration.
Read more: http://www.viterbo.edu/university-gallery
