River Arts Alliance

Frozen River Film Festival Celebrates 20 Years with New Film Series
2025-10-15 - 2025-10-22, 2025-10-16 - 2025-10-23, 2025-10-17 - 2025-10-24, 2025-10-18 - 2025-10-25, 2025-10-19 - 2025-10-26, 2025-10-20 - 2025-10-27, 2025-10-21 - 2025-10-28, 2025-10-22 - 2025-10-29 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.

Commonweal Theatre Presents King Lear
2025-10-16 19:30 - 22:00, 2025-10-18 19:30 - 22:00, 2025-10-19 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 Announces Their First 48/5 Reel River Rush Contest
2025-10-17 17:00 - 2025-10-19 17:00
Frozen River Film Festival is hosting our first ever 48/5 filmmaking contest!
Friday-Sunday, October 17th-19th
Registration is open now | Registration Fee is $35 per team
20 teams max for contest | Visit frff.org/485-reel-river-rush to register
Grab your friends, family, and your imagination! NO experience needed. NO professional equipment required! Use your phone for recording and your computer for editing! Join us for an epic weekend of storytelling, laughter, and creativity as you take on the challenge of making your own 5-minute short film in just 48 hours!
Whether you’ve never touched a camera or you’re a TikTok pro, this is your chance to try filmmaking in a totally fun, low-pressure environment. Think of it like a movie-making adventure! Perfect for all ages, skill levels, and creative brains!
Here’s the deal:
You’ll form a team (or go solo if you’re feeling bold!
You’ll have 48 hours to dream up, shoot, and edit a short film
We’ll provide the a line of dialogue to include, and genre to film as!
At the end, your film will be screened Sunday, October 19th at 6pm!
All ages are welcome | There is no age restriction to this event.
Event Details:

Name: 48/5 Reel River Rush Contest

Kick Off Date: October 17th 5pm – Zoom and asynchronous option available

Location: The ARC

Address: 255 Main Street Winona, MN 55987

Submission Deadline: October 19th 5pm

Location: The ARC

Address: 255 Main Street Winona, MN 55987

Grand Screening of Films: October 19th 6pm

Location: The ARC

Address: 255 Main Street Winona, MN 55987

There are three trophies and one cash prize:

Best use of Dialogue

Best use of Genre

Judges’ Favorite

$200 cash prize for audience favorite!

Learn more at frff.org/485-reel-river-rush!

Call to Artists: Between the Bluffs Plein Air
2025-10-17 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-10-18 11:00 - 2025-10-19 16:00, 2025-10-18 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-10-19 11:00 - 2025-10-20 16:00, 2025-10-19 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-10-20 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-10-21 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-10-22 18:00 - 21:00 and 1 more date
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/.

Commonweal Theatre Presents Lone Star Spirits
2025-10-17 19:30 - 22:00, 2025-10-18 13:30 - 16:00, 2025-10-20 19:30 - 22:00, 2025-10-23 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.

River Rock Mandala Painting
2025-10-18 13:00 - 15:00 | Winona Arts Center, 228 E. 5th St., Winona
Saturday, October 18 | 1:00-3:00pm
Winona Arts Center at 228 E 5th Street
Cost: $25/members $30/non-members
Contact: Jen at jsbenson50@gmail.com for registration
Join us on Saturday October 18 from 1pm to 3pm for a meditative, creative experience painting River Rock Mandalas with Cheri Bunker! Learn simple dotting techniques to create beautiful, symmetrical mandala designs on natural river rocks. Perfect for all skill levels! All Materials Provided. No Experience needed. Class Fee $25 for Members and $30 for non-Members. Scholarships for classes are available as needed. *Mandala painting kits (includes tools and three bottles of paint) will be available after class for purchase for $10 so you can continue your creative journey with future projects. For more information and to register contact Jen at jsbenson50@gmail.com. For more information about the Winona Arts Center offerings, please visit winonaarts.org
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/.

Concert: The Everett Smithson Band
2025-10-18 19:00 - 21:00 | Winona Arts Center, 228 E. 5th St., Winona
Saturday, October 18
Concert 7:00-9:00
Doors open at 6:00 for coffeehouse & gallery
Cost: $20/adv $25/door
Winona Arts Center (228 E 5th St)

Come join us for some Cajun fun on Saturday October 18 . Tickets are $20/advance & $25/door and are available at Eventbrite and Music Mart (115 East 3rd Street). Music Mart accepts cash, check or credit cards/no fees.

The Everett Smithson band plays an incredible mix of Creole, Zydeco, & Blues with talented players, Everett Smithson on harp & vocals, Kathy Smithson on accordions & washboard, Phil Schmid on guitar & Jeremy Johnson on guitar, Victor Span on drums, and Bill Black on the stand up base. They have played with many famous bands over the years and continue to delight audiences with their original tunes as well as tunes by musicians of many genres. Along with our regular coffeehouse offerings, some special Cajun treats will be available as well as a cash bar for wine, beer & Sangria.
Contact: Debi debiniebuhr@gmail.com

This concert is made possible with support from Affinity Plus Credit Union, Dahl Toyota, & Merchants Bank.

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/.

October Jazz Jam Welcomes Winona Brass Band
2025-10-19 14:30 - 17:30 | Two Fathoms Brewing, 65 E Front St., Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Sunday, October 19
2:30- 5:30
Two Fathoms Brewing
H3O Jazz Trio will be joined by members of the Winona Brass Band on Sunday, October 19 from
2:30 – 5:30 pm, for their family-friendly monthly Jazz Jam. Find your spot on Two Fathoms’ spacious
outdoor patio or in the taproom if the weather isn’t cooperative.
As they begin their 32 nd season, support for the Winona Brass Band is more important than ever.
Every month, H3O matches all donations along with Two Fathoms Brewing contributing 20% of their
Jazz Jam Sunday profits! Winona Brass Band concerts have delighted audiences since 1993 with
their unique British Brass Band sound.
H3O Jazz Trio and Two Fathoms Brewing (formerly Island City) have helped support local nonprofits
with over $73,000 in total donations thanks to the generosity of Jazz Jam patrons! Last month’s Jazz
Jam contributed $1,175 to support Project FINE.
Everyone wishing to sing, play, or cheer on their friends is welcome to join the H3O Jazz Trio at Two
Fathoms Brewing’s monthly Jazz Jam! Interested players can choose from a wide selection of songs.
Music is available from the Hal Leonard Real Book series, bring your own music, or just name that
tune!
Come early to enjoy a Two Fathom’s beverage and enjoy an afternoon of great music with H3O Jazz
Trio and friends … all while showing your support for our community!
An up-to-date schedule is always available at H3OJazz.com. The family-friendly Jazz Jam is free and
open to all – young and not so young.
More information about the Winona Brass Band, including 2025-26 concert dates can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/winonabrassband/?locale=bg_BG
Know of a group who needs some support? Use this simple form to nominate your favorite nonprofit
for a future Jazz Jam: https://h3ojazz.com/jazz-jams/nominate.html
You can also email info@H3OJazz.com for more information.
