Frozen River Film Festival Celebrates 20 Years with New Film Series
2025-08-03 - 2025-08-10, 2025-08-04 - 2025-08-11, 2025-08-05 - 2025-08-12, 2025-08-06 - 2025-08-13, 2025-08-07 - 2025-08-14, 2025-08-08 - 2025-08-15, 2025-08-09 - 2025-08-16, 2025-08-10 - 2025-08-17 and 4 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.

A New Museum Makers Class at the History Center: Beginner Embroidery
2025-08-03 12:00 - 15:00, 2025-08-04 12:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | Winona County History Center, 160 Johnson St, Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Sun & Mon, Aug 3, 4 | 12-3 pm
$30 WCHS Members | $40 Public
Best for ages 12 and up
Winona County Historical Society
160 Johnson St.
winonahistory.org

Learn seven common stitches and practice them creating a beautiful floral design. Also use your new sewing skills for creative ways to patch clothing or add custom details to apparel, bags, kitchen towels, and more. Learn more.

Sugarloaf Community Theatre Summer Musical
2025-08-03 14:00 - 16:00 | Central Lutheran Church, 259 W Wabasha St., Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Friday, August 1 | 6 pm
Saturday & Sunday, August 2 & 3 | 2pm
Students $10 | Adults $12
Central Lutheran Church-354 Huff St
Sugarloaf Community Theatre
Sugarloaf Community Theatre presents the new musical, Queen of the Library. This fun and quirky musical features catchy music and a fast-paced story that is fun for all ages. Learn more.

Gate City Jazz Band Performs First Sunday Each Month
2025-08-03 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 The Angel Next Door
2025-08-04 19:30 - 22:00, 2025-08-08 19:30 - 22:00, 2025-08-09 13:30 - 16:00, 2025-08-11 19:30 - 22:00 | Commonweal Theatre, 208 Parkway Ave. N, Lanesboro, MN, United States
Preview Dates
Saturday, May 17 | 7:30-9:30 pm
Sunday, May 18 | 1:30-3:30 pm
Thursday & Friday | May 22, 23 | 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 Paul Slade Smith’s romantic screwball comedy, The Angel Next Door. Journey to an opulent Newport mansion in 1948, where playwrights, actors, and a star-struck novelist gather to work on their next Broadway hit! (Never mind the housekeeper who wants them gone.) Learn more.

MMAM Summer Seasonal Saturday
2025-08-05 00:00
Saturday, Aug 9 | 10 am – 4 pm
Minnesota Marine Art Museum
800 Riverview Dr. Winona, MN 55987
The Minnesota Marine Art Museum in Winona, MN will hold its quarterly arts access program, Seasonal Saturday, on August 9! With $1 admission, live music in the galleries, guided tours, art-making, and bingo, this is a fun and lively day for all. This special event will also feature the advancement of the Grand Panorama of a Whaling Voyage ‘Round the World to the next scene. At 1200+ feet, the Grand Panorama is the longest painting in the United States and is currently on display at MMAM with 40 feet of the painting shown at a time.
This lively event is inspired by the museum’s current exhibition, Erik Jon Olson: Waste Not, and features a full day of art-making, music, tours, community engagement, and $1 museum admission. All activities conclude at 4 p.m., and museum galleries remain open until 5 p.m. In keeping with MMAM’s commitment to accessibility, the Oberton Education Room will open early at 9:30 a.m. for guests who prefer a quieter environment. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., all visitors can create Recycled Treasures, unique prints made using everyday recycled materials, suitable for all ages and abilities. At 2 p.m., guests can witness the advancement of the Grand Panorama of a Whaling Voyage ‘Round the World, the longest painting in the United States.
Live music will be performed in the galleries, featuring Jim Reineke on jazz mandolin from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., and Bob Stuber and Jim Armstrong playing Americana and folk music from 3 to 4 p.m.
Guided tours will be available throughout the day, including MMAM Highlights Tours at 10:15 a.m., 12:15 p.m., and 2:15 p.m., Curator’s Tours at 11:15 a.m. and 3:15 p.m., and a Director’s Tour at 1:15 p.m. All tours are 30 minutes long, begin in the atrium, and utilize assistive listening devices.
Visitors are invited to “Meet the Artwork” from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., where they can explore the materials and processes used by artist Erik Jon Olson to create zero-waste artworks. Bingo Overboard, a popular gallery scavenger hunt, will be available in the Atrium from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with prizes for all participants. The Bell Museum of Natural History is this event’s community partner, which will host hands-on activities in the lounge from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., such as exploring specimens, sewing constellations, and distributing take-home science & nature kits (while supplies last).
Project FINE will provide Spanish and Hmong interpretation services from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free transportation to and from the event is available through Winona Area Transit Service’s Dial-A-Ride. Visitors can schedule a ride by calling 507-454-6666 prior to the event. MMAM will pay the fare upon arrival and provide return fare to guests. The Minnesota Marine Art Museum is located at 800 Riverview Drive, Winona, MN 55987.
For a complete schedule and more information, visit mmam.org/seasonal-saturdays. This event is part of MMAM’s Seasonal Saturday series, 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. Additional support is provided by s2s Architects and Pelaez Creative. 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.

Frank Bures, Jr. at the Blue Heron Coffee Shop
2025-08-05 19:00 - 20:00 | Blue Heron Coffeehouse, 162 W 2nd St, Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Tuesday, August 5 | 7 pm
Blue Heron Coffeehouse | 162 W 2nd St.

First Tuesday, the Laureate Writers Series for August 5 at the Blue Heron Coffeehouse will feature Frank Bures, son of prominent Winonans Ruth and Dr. Frank Bures. Learn more.

Patina at Rhythms by the River, Fountain City
2025-08-07 18:00 - 20:00
Thursday, Aug 7 | 6-8 pm
Rhythms by the River, Fountain City Community Park

Patina will be playing at Rhythms by the River in Fountain City Community Park on Thursday, August 7th at 6:00pm. Patina is a fiddle, whistle, bodhrán, accordion, banjo and guitar band that plays mixed Celtic music. This is a free concert.

For more about Patina, visit: https://patinatheband.com/

Greg Peterson is a member of the River Arts Alliance. To learn more about the benefits of membership, please visit: riverartsalliance.org/JOIN.

Commonweal Theatre Presents Lone Star Spirits
2025-08-07 19:30 - 22:00, 2025-08-09 19:30 - 22:00, 2025-08-10 13:30 - 16:00, 2025-08-14 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.

Investing in Artists: Tools & Equipment
2025-08-08 23:59
Applications due August 8, 2025
A $5,000 grant that helps craft artists purchase tools and equipment, administered by our partners at the Center for Cultural Innovation. Learn more.

MMAM Summer Seasonal Saturday: Waste to Wonder
2025-08-09 10:00 - 16:00 | Minnesota Marine Art Museum, 800 Riverview Dr., Winona, MN, 55987, United States

Drawing Workshop with Michelle Cochran at the Winona Arts Center
2025-08-12 08:00 - 17:00 | Winona Arts Center, 228 E. 5th St., Winona
Tuesday, August 26 | 5:30-7:30
Cost: $25
Contact: michelle123.cochran@gmail.com

Join us at the Winona Arts Center for another Drawing Workshop with Michelle Cochran on August 26 from 5:30 to 7:30pm. We will be exploring Shape and Value (dark and light) and review Line as an element of art. Cost is $25. No experience necessary!
If you attended the Drawing Workshop on June 24, you have the supplies you need! If this is your first workshop, you can purchase a packet of drawing supplies: a high-quality sketch book, a drawing marker, an Ebony drawing pencil, and an art eraser, from the Winona Arts Center for $25. We need a 7 to 10 day lead time for supplies. We are looking forward to another fun workshop! If you have any questions please contact: Michelle Cochran michelle123.cochran@gmail.com
To Register and order supplies contact Jen: jsbenson50@gmail.com Orders for supplies need to be placed by August 20 at the latest.

Michelle Cochran and Winona Arts Center are members of the River Arts Alliance. To learn more about the benefits of membership, please visit: riverartsalliance.org/membership/.
