River Arts Alliance

Open House, Book Launch for Nature Verse by Ruth Anfinson Bures
2026-05-17 15:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) | The Bures Home, 224 Lake Park Drive, Winona, MN, 55987, United States
OPEN HOUSE / BOOK LAUNCH for Nature Verse, a collection of poetry celebrating the variety of life on earth, by Ruth Anfinson Bures, published by Orange Hat Publishing. Open to the public. Nature Verse readings, light refreshments and signed books available for purchase.

Historic Jazz Jam May 17
2026-05-17 14:30 - 17:30 | Two Fathoms Brewing, 65 E Front St., Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Summer is just around the corner and H3O’s May Jazz Jam will move to the spacious outdoor patio at Two Fathoms Brewing on Sunday May 17, 2026, from 2:30 to 5:30 pm. This month’s non-profit fundraising recipient will be the Elder Network.
H3O Jazz Trio and Two Fathoms Brewing (formerly Island City) have helped support local nonprofits with over $80,000 in total donations thanks to the generosity of Jazz Jam patrons! And we couldn’t do it without your help!

Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help - preview
2026-05-16 19:30 - 2026-05-17 16:00 | MN
208 Parkway Ave N | Lanesboro, MN
Tickets Here.
Let’s do the time warp and travel to 1973 for a retro coming-of-age comedy! You’ve heard of the Brady Bunch and the Partridge Family, now meet the wonderful and wacky O’Sheas: an upstanding Irish-Catholic family who can’t seem to escape comedic chaos. 19-year-old Linda O’Shea has been tasked by her frazzled mother to teach her little sister about the “birds and the bees”. But when the stern parish priest overhears, holy hell breaks loose! The O’Sheas must scramble to outwit the priest, confound a nosy neighbor, and discover that nothing is more sacred than family.

Winona Community Chorale Spring Concert "Tapestry of American Song"
2026-05-16 14:00 - 15:30, 2026-05-15 19:00 - 20:30 | Central Lutheran Church, 259 W Wabasha St., Winona, MN, 55987, United States
The Winona Community Chorale will present its spring concert, “Tapestry of American Song,” on Friday, May 15, and Saturday, May 16. This concert is a celebration of American music in honor of our nation’s 250th birthday.

Birds, Bees, and Blooms
2026-05-16 10:00 - 16:00 | Winona Arts Center, 228 E 5th St., Winona, MN, 55987, United States
The Winona Arts Center welcomes Betsy Midthun for a Spring to Summer Pastel Painting Class – Birds, Bees and Blooms, Saturday May 16 from 10am to 4pm.

Colleen Shore | "Washed Ashore"
2026-05-16 - 2026-09-16 | Minnesota Marine Art Museum, 800 Riverview Dr., Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Myths & Legends of Minnesota: An exhibition of the Minnesota Plein Air Collective at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum in Winona from May 16 -Sept. 13, 2026

Exhibition of Recent Drawings " Beneath the Fields" by Lois Peterson
2026-05-16 - 2026-07-05 | Winona County History Center, 160 Johnson St, Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Peterson’s drawings are informed by the historical traditions of botanical illustration along with her present day focus on land-restoration. She integrates contemporary art practices into her large-scale drawings to create a modern perspective on this historical tradition.

Improv at the Garten!
2026-05-14 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

Burnt By The Sun | WAC
2026-05-08 18:30 - 21:00 | Winona Arts Center, 228 E 5th St., Winona, MN, 55987, United States
The Winona Arts Center presents the film: Burnt By The Sun on Friday, May 8 at 6:30 (PLEASE NOTE DIFFERENT TIME)

Preston Lawing Printing Classes | WAC
2026-05-06 17:30 - 19:30 | Winona Arts Center, 228 E 5th St., Winona, MN, 55987, United States
This 2-week workshop will ease into the printing processes of Drypoint and Chine Colle. We will explore combining these two methods: one focuses on fine lines and tones, the other explores color and textured Japanese papers.

Community Care for Creatives, with Sarah Johnson of The Joy Labs
2026-05-06 12:00 - 12:15 | MN
Community Care for Creatives: A Moment to Breathe & Be Together with Sarah Johnson
Taking a moment to pause, breathe and be together can oﬀer a brief respite when the demands, injustices, and strains of the world don’t stop. Join us for a free, 15-minute virtual opportunity to reset together with community engaged artist Sarah Johnson of The Joy Labs, hosted by the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council (SEMAC). Sarah will oﬀer a short framing and a guided practice to tap into our own wisdom and groundedness. Attend one or both sessions as works for you.
Learn More and Register
https://semac.org/calendar/workshops/
https://forms.gle/wWJx9rKGgDY8RfpC6

Made by Hand: How Craft Shapes the Maker | WAC
2026-05-03 13:00 - 2026-06-14 16:00 | Winona Arts Center, 228 E 5th St., Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Made by Hand: How Craft Shapes the Maker, invites visitors into the shops and thoughts of four outstanding southeastern Minnesota Artisans, created by Taliesin Nyala.

Dog Days Art Fair: Call for Artists
2026-05-03 - 2026-05-15 | MN
Application open Now – May 15, 2026
HVRNT Studio, Pillbox Bat Company & Friends are busy planning the Dog Days Art Fair for Saturday, July 18th. It is shaping up to be a fun, mid-summer event featuring a makers market, free craft activities, pop-up art gallery and more! Artist and Vendor Application is now live and open through May 15, 2026. More details can be found on https://pillboxbatco.com/pages/dog-days-art-fair.

Dixit Dominus~ Winona Symphony Orchestra and Winona State Concert Choir
2026-05-02 19:30 - 21:30 | Wesley United Methodist Church, 114 W Broadway St., Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Winona Symphony Orchestra and WSU Concert Choir to Perform May 2
The Winona Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Erik Rohde, and the Winona State University Concert Choir, directed by Colleen Chester, will perform a joint concert on Saturday, May 2, at 7:30 p.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church.
The program will include works by Robert Fuchs, Arnold Schoenberg, and Marianna von Martines, including Martines’ Dixit Dominus.
The performance brings together orchestra and choir for an evening of compelling repertoire by three notable composers.

Mother’s Day Free Ink Event | WAC
2026-05-02 10:00 - 15:00 | Winona Arts Center, 228 E 5th St., Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Get Inked Up at the Winona Arts Center on Saturday May 2 for our Mother’s Day Free Ink Event. Join us for a fun and free day of printmaking during 2 printing sessions: Family and Friends 10am to 12:30pm and Adults only 1:00pm to 3:00pm.

Meditative Drawing Class | WAC
2026-05-01 17:30 - 19:00 | Winona Arts Center, 228 E 5th St., Winona, MN, 55987, United States
A fun, relaxing, floral inspired drawing class that is non-representational with no right or wrong! It has been referred to as Yoga for the Brain!

Doing More (for Less) with SEMAC
2026-04-29 18:00 - 19:30 | MN
Doing More (for Less): Free, Cheap, & Easy Strategies to Jumpstart Disability Inclusion, with Scott Artley, CPACC, hosted by SEMAC
For individual artists, culture bearers, and arts organizations in SEMAC’s region
To Learn More and Register:
https://semac.org/calendar/workshops/
https://forms.gle/Uakp31oR6fN9Wm3p6

Sandbar Storytelling Festival Presents Irish Tales with Terry Visger at Cafe Congo
2026-04-26 14:00 - 15:00 | First Congregational Church, 161 W Broadway St., Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Sandbar Storytelling Festival invites the public to an afternoon of Irish Stories on Sunday, April 26 at 2:00 pm as part of the Cafe Congo series. Originally scheduled for St. Patrick’s Day weekend and postponed due to the blizzard, Sandbar Storytelling Festival is pleased to welcome Terry Visger, offering tall tales and folklore from the Emerald Isle. There are no tickets sold for this event, but a free-will donation will be taken at the door to support Sandbar Storytelling Festival’s 2026 season. A reception will follow the event.

Forever Young - 80's Prom
2026-04-25 19:00 - 22:30 | The ARC, 255 Main St., Winona, MN, 55987, United States
‘Forever Young’ – 80’s Prom
Missed your dream prom or want to relive it but this time on your terms? Here’s your chance to party like it’s 1985 – neon lights, big hair, and all the retro vibes you crave. And the best part? You get to come with your partner or spouse (not your awkward high school crush)!

Cafe Accordian Orchestra at Winona Arts Center
2026-04-25 18:00 - 21:30 | Winona Arts Center, 228 E 5th St., Winona, MN, 55987, United States
The Winona Arts Center welcomes The Cafe Accordion Orchestra on Saturday, April 25 at 7:00
Coffeehouse & Gallery open at 6:00
Tickets $25/adv $30/door
Wine/beer cash bar

Wonderland - Concert
2026-04-24 18:00 - 19:00 | broken world records, 265 E 3rd St, Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Billy X Curmano & Mai’a Williams with special guest Rowan Emmanuel in a collaborative performance.

Preston Lawing Color Reduction Printing Class
2026-04-22 17:30 - 19:30, 2026-04-15 17:30 - 19:30 | Winona Arts Center, 228 E 5th St., Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Preston Lawing is back for a 3 Day Workshop for Color Reduction Printing at the Winona Arts Center April 8, 15, 22 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm.

Weave a “Mug Rug” to Match the Colors in Your Favorite Mug with Lisa Douglas.
2026-04-20 13:30 - 15:00 | Winona Arts Center, 228 E 5th St., Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Join Lisa Douglas at the Winona Art Center for a 2-Day Workshop April 13 and 20 to learn basic weaving techniques, practiced in easy-to-finish projects.

FILM: The Four Souls of Coyote
2026-04-17 18:00 - 21:30 | Winona Arts Center, 228 E 5th St., Winona, MN, 55987, United States
The Winona Arts Center in conjunction with FRFF presents the Hungarian film, The Four Souls of Coyote, on April 17 at 7:00. Doors & gallery open at 6:00. Cost for this film is $10 and there will be a Q & A following the film.

Opening Reception, Poet-Artist Collaboration
2026-04-17 17:30 - 20:00 | Red Wing Arts Depot Gallery, 418 Levee St., Red Wing, MN, 55066, United States
RAA member Steve Schild is one of 25 poets whose work will be featured in a juried poet-artist collaboration at Red Wing Arts Depot Gallery, 418 Levee St., Red Wing. The poems and visual art they’re paired with will be on display at an opening reception at the gallery from 5:30-8 p.m. on Friday, April 17. The reception is free and open to the public. A chapbook containing the poems and accompanying art will be available through Red Wing Arts. The exhibit runs through June 8.

Poet-Artist Collaboration Exhibit
2026-04-17 - 2026-06-08 | Red Wing Arts Depot Gallery, 418 Levee St., Red Wing, MN, 55066, United States

Water Music: Chamber Music at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum
2026-04-16 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-04-16 16:30 - 18:30 | Minnesota Marine Art Museum, 800 Riverview Dr., Winona, MN, 55987, United States
November 13, December 11, March 5, April 16
4:30 and 7:00 each day
Minnesota Marine Art Museum
The Minnesota Marine Art Museum (MMAM) is pleased to announce the return of Water Music: Chamber Music at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum, presented in partnership with the Winona Symphony Orchestra. Now entering its fifth season, Water Music brings together art and music through a series of four chamber music concerts performed in an intimate setting within the museum’s galleries. Each performance is designed to highlight both the visual treasures of the MMAM and musical masterworks connected by a shared theme.
New for the 2025–26 season, each concert evening will feature two performances, at 4:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Between the two performances, guests are invited to enjoy a reception in the MMAM atrium, featuring a treat prepared by the museum’s new Waterbar Café + Provisions inspired by the evening’s program, included with the ticket price. A cash bar will also be available. Guests are encouraged to come early or stay late to enjoy food, drinks, and conversation surrounded by art and music.
The Water Music season begins on Thursday, November 13, 2025, with Water Music: Epic Journeys, paired with the exhibition A Spectacle in Motion: The Grand Panorama of a Whaling Voyage ‘Round the World. The program will include Shostakovich’s Two Pieces for String Octet and Mendelssohn’s Octet for Strings, featuring guest violin soloist Nash Ryder and musicians from the Winona Symphony Orchestra and Apollo Chamber Music.
The second concert, Water Music: Christmas Concertos, will be presented on Thursday, December 11, 2025, paired with Alexis Rockman: Oceanus. The program will include Torelli’s Christmas Concerto, Vaughan Williams’s Fantasia on “Greensleeves”, and Corelli’s Christmas Concerto, performed by musicians from the Winona Symphony Orchestra.
On Thursday, March 5, 2026, MMAM will host Water Music: Quince Ensemble, paired with the exhibition Fluid: What is Marine Art and What Can it Be? This program will feature Zohn-Muldoon’s Destierros and Night and McKinley’s Ten Medieval Songs, performed by guest artists Quince Ensemble and violinist Erik Rohde.
The season concludes on Thursday, April 16, 2026, with Water Music: The Coast and the Sea, paired with the exhibition The Coast and the Sea: Marine and Maritime Art in America. This program will include new chamber works written for baritone Alan Dunbar, featuring Dunbar and guest musicians.
Single concert tickets are $30 for general admission, $25 for MMAM members, seniors, and active military, and $10 for students. Tickets may be reserved online at https://mmam.org/water-music. The Water Music series is presented by the Minnesota Marine Art Museum and the Winona Symphony Orchestra, and is supported by Your Classical MPR.
The Minnesota Marine Art Museum is a nonprofit art museum that creates meaningful art experiences that explore our relationship with water. Located in Winona, Minnesota, the purpose-built museum is located on the banks of the Mississippi River and boasts six galleries, an educational and events space, and a destination retail shop on its seven-acre riverside campus. It is through this surprising diversity that MMAM is not only describing what marine art is, but pushing the boundaries of what marine art can be.
The Minnesota Marine Art Museum is an organizational member of the River Arts Alliance. To learn more about the benefits of membership, please visit: riverartsalliance.org/membership/.
Image credit: Previous Water Music concert at MMAM, surrounded by the immersive art of Anne Labovitz, featuring Liz Pearse, soprano, and musicians of the Winona Symphony Orchestra.
