River Arts Alliance

Frozen River Film Festival Celebrates 20 Years with New Film Series
2025-11-06 - 2025-11-13, 2025-11-07 - 2025-11-14, 2025-11-08 - 2025-11-15, 2025-11-09 - 2025-11-16, 2025-11-10 - 2025-11-17, 2025-11-11 - 2025-11-18, 2025-11-12 - 2025-11-19, 2025-11-13 - 2025-11-20
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.

Linoleum Stamp Carving
2025-11-06 16:30 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Winona Arts Center, 228 E. 5th St., Winona
November 6 | 4:30-8:00pm
Cost: $10
Contact: Jen jsbenson50@gmail.com

Please join us at the Open Studio 4th Quarter Spotlight November 6 from 4:30 to 8:00pm at the Winona Arts Center (228 E 5th St)
Join us for a demonstration in Linoleum Stamp Carving. You will carve your own design into small linoleum blocks to be used for stamping cards for friends and family, stickers, etc.. All materials are provided. Cost is $10. Class size is 10. Register today! Jen at jsbenson50@gmail.com

Call to Artists: Between the Bluffs Plein Air
2025-11-06 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-11-07 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-11-08 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-11-09 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-11-10 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-11-11 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-11-12 18:00 - 21:00
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/.

Winona Community Chorale Presents Fall Concert “Songs from the Silver Screen”
2025-11-07 19:00 - 21:30, 2025-11-08 14:00 - 2025-11-09 17:00 | Central Lutheran Church, 259 W Wabasha St., Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Friday, Nov. 7 | 7:00 pm
Saturday, Nov. 8 | 2:00 pm
Central Lutheran Church
259 W Wabasha St., Winona.
The Winona Community Chorale will present its fall concert, “Songs from the Silver Screen: From Mozart to ABBA and Beyond,” on November 7 and 8 at Central Lutheran Church. There is no admission charge, but a free-will offering will be collected.
The Winona Community Chorale is a mixed choral ensemble performing music from a wide variety of styles, genres and time periods. Directed by Kurt Speltz, the group was founded in January 2023 and is now in its sixth concert season. The choir has grown over this time from approximately 30 to 60 members. The vision of the Winona Community Chorale is to inspire a love and appreciation for exceptional choral singing in our area, and to ignite the joy and human connection it generates.
This fall’s concert program features pieces either originally from, or heard in, the movies. It includes an eclectic mix of music ranging from Mozart’s “Lacrymosa,” to Elton John’s “Circle of Life” from The Lion King and Enya’s “May It Be” from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, to songs by ABBA, Lady Gaga, and much more. Members of the Chorale will also perform instrumental movie music for about fifteen minutes prior to the start of each concert.
Those unable to attend in person can also view a livestream of the concert via the choir’s page at “Winona Community Chorale” on Facebook.
For more information about the Chorale, contact Kurt Speltz, Director, at WinonaCommunityChorale@gmail.com, or follow the choir on Facebook. New members will be welcome to join when the next rehearsal season begins in January 2026.
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.
Johanna Ruprecht is a member of the River Arts Alliance. To learn more about the benefits of membership, please visit: riverartsalliance.org/membership/.
Photo; Members of the Winona Community Chorale at their May 2025 performance.

A Necessary Death: Launch Party
2025-11-08 15:30 - 17:00 | Nate and Ally’s, 109 E. 3rd St., Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Saturday November 8 | 3:30 – 5 pm
Nate and Ally’s
109 E. 3rd St.
Winona, MN 55987
Come celebrate with Terri Karsten! Enjoy old time tavern board games, treats, and an interview with the author, along with a short reading. Books will be available for sale and signing.
A Necessary Death is a cozy, historical mystery set in a Pennsylvania tavern in 1763. The story follows an impoverished widow and a surly constable who must work together to figure out what happened to the dead man in the tavern privy. With Penelope Corbitt in the kitchen, the tavern will never be the same! Visit http://www.terrikarsten.com to learn more about the author.

The DitchLilies: Concert at Winona Arts Center
2025-11-08 19:00 - 21:00 | Winona Arts Center, 228 E. 5th St., Winona
November 8 | 7:00 pm
Gallery and Coffeehouse opens at 6:00 pm
Cost: $15/adv at Music Mart & Eventbrite, or $20/door
The Winona Arts Center
228 E 5th Street, Winona, MN
The Winona Arts Center is pleased to host our first concert with this Wisconsin duo. There will be a cash bar for wine & beer. Tickets are $15/advance without fees at Music Mart (115 E 3rd St) & Eventbrite and $20/door. This Wisconsin’s American Roots duo, The DitchLilies, have been in musical cahoots since 1998. Kari Larson and Lisa Schultz are stringed multi-instrumentalists/vocalists with a soft spot and keen enthusiasm for early swing, old-time mountain music and juke joint songs of the Golden Era. Together, they turn back in time to dust off the rare and forgotten tunes or to hone the familiar, tried and true melodies with the aim of carrying them forward to share with audiences of today. Variously tender and bold, imaginative and well-honed, The DitchLilies bring a refreshing sound to the roots music revival. Their harmonies are wonderful and their songs are great! Kara & Lisa are excited to be joined by Winona’s own fiddling maven, Betsy Neil. This concert is partially funded with the generous donations from Merchants Bank, Affinity Plus Credit Union & Dahl Toyota.
Contact: debiniebuhr@gmail.com
Winona Arts Center is an organizational member of the River Arts Alliance. To learn more about the benefits of membership, please visit: riverartsalliance.org/membership/.

John Paulson Big Band Concert & Fundraiser Against Drugs
2025-11-08 19:00 - 21:30 | Wellington’s Pub & Grill, 1429 W Service Dr., Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Nov. 8 | 7-9:30
Wellington’s Pub and Grill
1429 W Service Dr.
Winona, MN 55987
The John Paulson Big Band and Wellington’s Pub and Grill in Winona are teaming up for a special fundraiser November 8th from 7:00 to 9:30 pm. The goal is to present some great original jazz music and raise funds to provide education and awareness to schools and communities regarding illicit drug use. All proceeds will be directed to RIPple- a non-profit organization formed locally by persons who have lost loved ones to the drug epidemic- specifically illicit fentanyl. Visit https://rippledrugeducationawareness.org for more information on RIPple and contribute online until December 25 or at the event here: https://gofund.me/507a0fd97 Past recipients of Paulson’s fundraisers include the hurricane victims of Puerto Rico, MAC-V for homeless vets in SE Minnesota, and the Winona Food Shelf.
The 18-piece John Paulson Big Band with vocalist Janette Hanson includes some of the best jazz players and teachers in the region. They are unique in that they perform only original big band jazz composed and arranged by musical director and saxophonist John Paulson. The music is an exciting mix of contemporary blues, Latin, ballads, funk, and swing with plenty of solo space for the players. Since starting in 2011, the band has performed several times each year at venues all around the S.E. Minnesota region and beyond. Wellington’s is located at 1429 West Service Drive Winona, MN. The concert begins at 7:00 pm and the place gets packed so get there early and enjoy the awesome food and drinks. Don’t miss this amazing band and their fantastic new music!
For more, visit: www.paulsonjazz.com or https://wellingtons-pubandgrill.com
photo by Anita Doering

Commonweal Theatre Presents A Sherlock Carol
2025-11-08 19:30 - 22:00, 2025-11-09 13:30 - 16:00 | Commonweal Theatre, 208 Parkway Ave. N, Lanesboro, MN, United States
Preview Dates
Saturday, Nov 8 | 7:30-10:00 pm
Sunday, Nov 9 | 1:30-4:00 pm
Thurs-Fri, Nov 13-14| 7:30-10:00 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 Mark Shanahan’s merry and mysterious mashup, A Sherlock Carol. The worlds of Charles Dickens and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle collide in the ultimate Christmas crossover! Learn more.

Steve Schild Poetry Reading
2025-11-09 14:00 - 16:00 | Winona Arts Center, 228 E. 5th St., Winona
Sunday, November 9 | 2:00 – 4:00
Winona Arts Center
228 E. 5th St., Winona MN
Steve Schild will read from his new poetry chapbook at 2 p.m. Nov. 9 at the Winona Arts Center, 228 E. 5th St. The reading is free and open to the public.
Schild, a longtime Winona resident who now lives in Falcon Heights, self-published “Invocation,” which is about nature and stages of life, with an emphasis on getting older. A Saint Mary’s University emeritus professor, Schild has three previous poetry collections: “Eros in Autumn” and “These Humans”, both published by Shipwreckt Books Publishing Company, and “Gone Away from Crystal Valley”, which was self-published. “Eros in Autumn” won a silver medal from the Midwest Independent Publishers Association. Schild’s poetry has also won awards from the League of Minnesota Poets, Viterbo University, and Winona State University. His work has also appeared in anthologies and a number of literary magazines.
Copies of “Invocation” will be available for a $10 donation to Winona Arts Center.
For more information contact Schild at sschild@smumn.edu.
Steve Schild is a member of the River Arts Alliance. To learn more about the benefits of membership, please visit:

Winona Brass Band Season Begins Nov. 9
2025-11-09 15:00 - 17:00 | Winona Middle School Auditorium, 1570 Homer Rd, Winona, MN, 55987, United States
November 9 | 3:00 pm
Winona Middel School
December 13 | 11:00 am
Central Lutheran Church
April 12 | 3:00 pm
TBD

The Winona Brass Band open their 32 nd season with a Fall Concert on Sunday November 9 at 3:00 pm in the Winona Middle School Auditorium. The performance features selections suggested by members of the group resulting in an eclectic mix from British composer Malcolm Arnold’s Four Scottish Dances to the music of Queen. All WBB concerts are free and open to all. Free-will donations gratefully are accepted at the door.
Founded 1993, this British Style traditional Brass Band is unique in our area. Consisting only of brass instruments and percussion, the sound has been described as rich, vibrant, and organ-like. Instruments include cornets, flugelhorn, alto horns, trombones, baritones, euphoniums, tubas and percussion – 28 players in all!
WBB has made the Winona Middle School their rehearsal and performance home since fall 2024, with both fall and spring concerts happening in the Middle School Auditorium. The December 13 performance will be held at Central Lutheran Church at 11 am rounding out a full day of holiday festivities including a craft sale, Scandinavian-based bake sale and soup/sandwich lunch. The spring concert, scheduled for Sunday April 12 at 3 pm, will feature guest composer and conductor Dr. Jack Stamp as well as a few more players favorites that couldn’t fit into the fall concert!
The Winona Brass Band is a non-profit community ensemble with members from throughout the region. If you’re a brass or percussion player and are interested in membership opportunities please contact Janet Heukeshoven at jheukesh@smumn.edu or WBB board president, John Helm at helmje2@gmail.com. Follow the Winona Brass Band on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/winonabrassband.
Eric Heukeshoven is a member of the River Arts Alliance. To learn more about the benefits of membership, please visit: riverartsalliance.org/membership/.

Café Congo: From America to Sister Cities Concert
2025-11-09 15:30 - 17:00 | First Congregational Church, 161 W Broadway St., Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Sunday, November 9 | 3:30
First Congregational Church
161 W. Broadway, Winona
Once again the musical talents of Melissa Mihm & Heidi Bryant and Larry Price can be enjoyed at a free benefit concert at Café Congo on Sunday, November 9th at 3:30pm. Melissa (pianist) and Heidi (flutist) will present an eclectic program featuring their amazing musical gifts. Jazz pianist Larry Price will then present a short program of favorite jazz tunes. Your freewill donations at the one-hour concert will benefit WIFA (Winona International Friendship Association) and their continuing mission of sending Winona students to study in our town’s sister city, Misato, Japan. Café Congo is located at the First Congregational Church (161 W. Broadway) and, with the generosity of its audiences, has helped to contribute over $70,000 toward good causes over the past 10 years, A reception will follow the event. Doors open at 3:00. The venue is ADA accessible at the canopied Johnson Street entrance.
Steve Bachler is a member of the River Arts Alliance. To learn more about the benefits of membership, please visit: riverartsalliance.org/membership/.

Water Color Basics with Miranda Lomeli-O'Reilly
2025-11-11 17:30 - 19:30 | Winona Arts Center, 228 E. 5th St., Winona
Nov 4 & 11 | 5:30-7:30
Cost $45/members $50/non members
Contact: Jen jsbenson50@gmail.com
Winona Arts Center (228 E 5th St)

Miranda Lomeli-O’Reilly will teach Watercolor Basics: Foundations and Fall Leaves on November 4 & November 11 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. This two-part workshop is for absolute beginners. Over two classes students will learn the foundation skills required to practice watercolors. Students will gain confidence by practicing applications in a step-by step manner. Students may sign up for only the first class on Nov 4 , but must take the first class in order to take the 2nd class, November 11. Fee per class: $45/ members or $50/non-members. A one time fee for materials is $20

Sign up with jsbenson50@gmail.com

Two Fathoms Brewery: Meat and Baked Goods Raffle
2025-11-12 17:30 - 20:00 | Two Fathoms Brewing, 65 E Front St., Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Two Fathoms Brewery
When: Wednesday Nov 12: 5:30-8:00
Cost: Free, open to public
Contact: debiniebuhr@gmail.com

Winona Arts Center is excited to have been chosen as the November recipient of the Meat Raffle at Two Fathoms Brewery, 65 East Front St. We think it is a very cool, local arrangement in that Two Fathoms gives their leftover hops & grain from brewing to a local farmer who in turn gives them cuts of meat and they raffle it off to a different non profit each month. What could be better for our local economy!! Thanks Two Fathoms! The WAC board & friends will also be offering baked goods for the raffle. Tickets are $1 and there are 10 rounds and the rounds go fast & great fun for all. Please bring cash! So come out on Wednesday, November 12 from 5:30-8:00 and enjoy some brew or non alcohol options, buy some raffle tickets for the meat and baked goods and support your local brewery, farmer and the Winona Arts Center. What a great evening!!

10 x 10: Dance on Film
2025-11-12 19:00 - 20:30 | Winona Arts Center, 228 E. 5th St., Winona
Wednesday, Nov. 12 | 7:00
Winona Arts Center
10 x 10: Dance on Film” is a curated selection of dance films from and about Lebanon by Studio Amalgam, presented by Sharon Mansur/The Cedar Tree Project.
Featuring short films by Amy Dang, Wafaa Celine Halawi, Dalia Naous & Kinda Hassan, Yara Boustany & Nader Bahsoun, Petra Serhal, Racha Baroud, Lilliane Rahhal, Sharon Mansur, Jana Younes, and Einleil. Homemade Lebanese treats will also be available.
Studio Amalgam is an organization that supports research and creation in the performing arts. Since 2014, located in the heart of Beirut, Studio Amalgam has become a dynamic and central hub for the performing arts, focusing primarily on movement, contemporary dance, and physical theater. https://amalgambeirut.com
Studio Amalgam’s founder, Yara Boustany is also a co-creator of The Cedar Tree Project’s “1001 Arab Futures,” and the film from that project will be shared in this evening’s screening.
Admission donations starting at $10 will go towards supporting Studio Amalgam’s vital work during their 10th Anniversary season. Donations that night can be made via cash, check or Venmo.
Reservations requested.
Please email smansurdancer@gmail.com to reserve your spot, or if you are unable to attend but would like to make a contribution.
Sharon Mansur is a member of the River Arts Alliance. To learn more about the benefits of membership, please visit: riverartsalliance.org/membership/.

10 x 10: Dance on Film
2025-11-12 19:00 - 21:00 | Winona Arts Center, 228 E. 5th St., Winona
Wednesday, November 12 | 7:00pm
Winona Arts Center,
228 East 5th Street,
Winona, MN, Dakota land
10 x 10: Dance on Film

a curated selection of dance films from and about Lebanon
with Studio Amalgam, Beirut
Presented by The Cedar Tree Project

Featuring work by: Amy Dang, Wafaa Celine Halawi, Dalia Naous & Kinda Hassan, Yara Boustany & Nader Bahsoun, Petra Serhal, Racha Baroud, Lilliane Rahhal, Sharon Mansur, Jana Younes, and Einleil
For more about Winona Arts Center, visit: https://winonaarts.org/
Studio Amalgam’s founder, Yara Boustany is a co-creator of The Cedar Tree Project’s 1001 Arab Futures, and the film from that project will be shared in this evening’s screening.Admission donations will go towards supporting Studio Amalgam during their 10th Anniversary season! Stay tuned for more…
Sharon Mansur is a member of the River Arts Alliance. To learn more about the benefits of membership, please visit: riverartsalliance.org/membership/.
