SCENE September 2024

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

Southern Minn campgrounds, like Kamp Dels

By ASHLEY HANLEY Guest Contributor

Grant Pope is a third-generation owner of the Kamp Dels family in Waterville. Having been born and raised on the place, he has, in his own words, worked there his whole life.

As a family run business, Pope says their campsite embodies all that families love about summer fun.

“This is a family-owned and -operated resort since 1955, and it’s more than just a business to us. It’s our home. It’s our legacy. It’s where our roots run deep, and

we work every day carrying a humble approach and a lot of pride in what is around us. It gives us a lot of purpose to see families come together at our family’s place and leave with memories in their pockets they will never forget,” Pope said.

With a wide range of activities for all ages, from a thrilling water park to a petting zoo, Kamp Dels is perfect for creating lasting memories with your family and friends, Pope added.

They have 530 campsites and seven cabins available for their season, which runs May 1 through Oct. 1.

“Early June is the best time to come,” Pope said. “It’s quiet and the busyness of the summer hasn’t set in. The bugs haven’t come out and all amenities are offered. Anytime in the summer is great. But early June is a hidden treasure.”

Some of those amenities include: Pools,

The Kamp Dels swimming pool and water park is a hit every summer.

There are plenty ways to enjoy Waterville’s Lake Sakatah at Kamp Dels.

a petting zoo, arcade, batting cages, tram rides, lake equipment and more.

“I just want to encourage people to give us a try if you haven’t been here,” Pope said. “And

Other camping options in the Southern Minn Scene region:

Camp Faribo

21851 Bagley Ave., Faribault 507-332-8453 | campfaribo.com

Clear Lake Park & Campground

35194 Clear Lake Lane, Le Center

Primitive campsites, first come-first served

Flandrau State Park

1300 Summit Ave., New Ulm 507-233-1260 | dnr.state.mn.us

Camping, swimming, hiking

Frontenac State Park

29223 County 28 Blvd., Frontenac 651-345-3401 | dnr.state.mn.us

Camping, hiking trails

Lake Washington Regional Park & Campground

47102 Washington Park Road, Kasota 507-357-8201 | co.le-sueur.mn.us

Camping, fishing, canoe launch, playgrounds

Land of Memories Campground

for those that have been here, to keep coming back. We are constantly improving and adding new things to our place.”

Other activities include a water park with

slides and a climbing wall, a driving range and plenty of non-motorized lake equipment to enjoy along Lake Sakatah.

For those who want to stay dry, Pope said they have recreational games like shuffleboard, Gaga Ball, horseshoe pits, an arcade, basketball, tennis and volleyball courts, to go along with a fitness center, racquetball court and a state trail.

While Pope said the pools are usually the most desired places to be, he said overall it is the amenities and the people that brings them to Kamp Dels.

“Our staff is special – the people here want to be here and are happy to serve. It’s the real difference maker for us. We wouldn’t be the place we are without the rock-solid team we have,” Pope said. “We want to create the best experience for families to bond, grow, love, and create memories through a variety of activities, superior safety, clean facilities, and exceptional customer care.”

Pope added that they occasional have live bands on the weekends and one of their biggest attractions is hosting Halloween in August when the whole campground dresses up, decorates and does a trick-or-treating event, creating event more unforgettable family fun. 

Ashley Hanley is a wife and mom of three kids under the age of five in North Mankato. When she’s not handing out snacks or kissing boo-boos, you can find her cheering on her favorite Minnesota sports teams and is a firm believer they will win a championship in her lifetime!

100 Amos Owen Lane, Mankato mankatomn.gov

Fishing, canoeing, boat landing

Kiesler’s Campground & RV resort

14360 U.S. Hwy. 14, Waseca 507-835-3179 | kieslers.com Boat rentals, mini golf

Mill Pond/Riverside Park & Campground

227 S Front St., St. Peter Boat launch, fishing pond, playground

River View Campground

2554 SW 28th St., Owatonna 507-451-8050

riverviewcampgroundminnesota.com

Heated swimming pool, mini golf, playgrounds

Sakatah Lake State Park

50499 Sakatah Lake State Park Rd., Waterville 507-698-7851 | dnr.state.mn.us

Hiking, biking, camping

Kamp Dels includes a mini golf area.

The slides at the Kamp Dels water park are enticing to kids and adults alike.

Pick some and at

Trumps Orchard, Bridgewater Pumpkin Patch and more fall fun farms

By JANE TURPIN MOORE Guest Contributor

Although the nights are gradually getting longer, there’s no excuse not to make the most of every beautiful autumn day.

Whether with a bunch of school kids, a crew of grandchildren, a group of friends, a significant other or simply by yourself, make it a priority to frequent a fall

fun spot where Minnesota’s agricultural bounty and unique outdoor opportunities (corn maze navigation, anyone?) are at their peak.

Southern Minnesota is bursting with producers eager to welcome you to their farmsteads and orchards.

Frolic close to home or extend your autumn adventure by driving down the road a piece — either way, you’ll be glad you made the most of these fleeting but golden fall afternoons.

Bridgewater Farm Pumpkin Patch, 4706 East Lonsdale Blvd, Northfield. bridgewaterproducefarm.com; also on Facebook and Instagram.

Sisters Lauren and Madeline Altringer enjoy a hayride at Bridgewater Farm Pumpkin Patch.

A themed six-acre corn maze is always part of the fun at Bridgewater Farm Pumpkin Patch. The 2024 theme is “hayride,” while the 2023 “Defeat of Jesse James Day” theme is depicted here.

Turns out you can go big and go home.

Take time to tour the six-acre corn maze at Bridgewater Farm Pumpkin Patch and your little ones will be ready to hit the hay once you return.

Oh—there’s a kiddie maze, too, in case someone needs a little less adventure amidst the cornstalks.

“Our corn maze has a hayride theme this year,” said Else Larson, who along with her husband John, teenage daughters Annalisa and Elizabeth and in-laws Ray and Darlene Larson, operates Bridgewater Farm Pumpkin Patch on Northfield’s western edge.

Collectively named the Rice County Farm Family of 2024, the Larsons are enthusiastic hosts each weekend from Sept. 28 through the end of October, when they welcome all comers for hayrides, a small petting zoo area starring gentle sheep and goats, pumpkin patch picking, kiddy barrel train rides, a “corn” box (think sand box but with corn kernels) and a major thrill for the win—an apple cannon, which was added to their array of fall fun in 2023.

“The apple cannon was a big hit last year,” said Else, explaining that users load an apple into a cannon, swivel the cannon to suit, aim carefully and push a button to launch the fruit.

“People do it for the joy of hitting a target,” she said.

A “photo alley,” with various head cutout forms for maximum social media posting pleasure, is another draw.

“And we build a hay pyramid we call ‘Straw Mountain’ from hay bales for climbing, with a jumbo slide that flows off of it,” Else added.

Some 20 years ago, the Larson family began their autumn enterprise as more of a produce stand. Over the last 10 years, their efforts have morphed into a full-on fall fun headquarters, although they continue to offer plenty of grown-on-the-spot takeaways.

“You can buy pumpkins and gourds, with the option of picking your own pumpkins directly from the patch or choosing them from our pre-picked displays,” said Else, mentioning pumpkins are priced by weight. Also for sale are decorative pumpkins, gourds and squash, corn stalks and pumpkin-carving kits.

A small selection of cold beverages (water, iced tea and the like) and snacks (candy, crackers, chips) are available on-site for purchase, but food is definitely not the main focus for guests at Bridgewater Farm Pumpkin Patch.

“This is a place for active, wholesome fun, where people can interact with each other and spend time outside,” said Else. “I guess you could say this falls into the category of ‘ag tourism,’ because people can get

acquainted with farm life and see animals and tractors.”

Naturally, Bridgewater Farm Pumpkin Patch attracts folks from Northfield and the surrounding area, but many guests visit from Owatonna, Rochester and the Twin Cities, Else reports.

“What we love is seeing the joy on the faces of kids and families at the farm, and recognizing returning guests from year to year,” said Else.

“It’s a very positive experience to get people out to the farm to enjoy the beautiful fall weather and all the activities we have. It’s such a fun season.”

Bridgewater Farm Pumpkin Patch has a $10 perperson activity admission fee; free for ages 2 and under. Open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 28-29 and on all October weekends, plus 12 to 5 p.m. Oct. 17-18 (MEA break days).

Trumps Orchard, 1020 St. Paul Ave., Faribault. trumpsorchard.com or “Trumps Orchard” on Facebook.

Rest assured, this family-run orchard is a politics-free zone.

The Trump family of Faribault—today, the business is led by Chrissy and Scott Trump, and Scott’s parents Todd and Joyce—has been producing and peddling fruit and other irresistible treats for residents of the region since 1954.

“I love fall,” said Chrissy. “It’s a great time of year, and we love seeing all the customers. This is busy but rewarding work.”

For the lucky folks who vote to turn in to the Trumps Orchard parking lot off of St. Paul Avenue, rewards come in the form of crisp apples — sweet or tart, your choice — and a number of other locally grown goods you’ll be hard-pressed to leave without. Make that hand-pressed, as in 100% pure apple juice that will quench your thirst in the sweetest, most natural way.

“We sell so much of it,” said Chrissy of their handpressed cider. “There are zero additives.”

Don’t even try to walk away without a pan of Trumps Orchard’s famous caramel apple crisp.

“We make it right here,” affirmed Chrissy.

Also available are Amish popping corn, Annie B’s popcorn and caramel corn (the latter a St. Paul company), local honey, jams, jellies, some seasonal veggies, plums, pears, eating grapes and freshly dipped caramel apples.

“In the busiest part of the season, we make more than 100 caramel apples a day. We put quality cara-

Apples are king at Trumps Orchard in Faribault.

Caramel apples with Abdallah caramel are always hits at Trumps Orchard.

Popcorn is pop-ular at Trumps Orchard.

Caramel apple crisp from Trumps Orchard is always a sweet idea.

Local syrups and apple sauce among are among the appealing products sold at Trumps Orchard.

CONTINUED from page 9

mel—from Abdallah Candies—on quality apples,” noted Chrissy, mentioning they carry additional Abdallah products like individual caramels, bars and small boxes of chocolates.

But the core of Trumps Orchard business is undeniably apples.

“We grow over 30 varieties,” said Chrissy.

Perennially popular is the favored Honeycrisp, followed by First Kiss (“That’s the earliest, really crunchy eating apple,” said Chrissy) and SweeTango, another earlier season arrival.

“I’m personally partial to the Zestar for baking because it has such a great flavor,”

said Chrissy, who acknowledged that Haralson remains many people’s go-to apple for oven-baked treats.

And for those who prefer their desserts ready-made, Trumps has the answer: frozen pies made from scratch by the “Pie Makers” of Faribault’s Trinity Lutheran Church.

“The church ladies make them and we donate the proceeds to them, plus the apples to make them,” said Chrissy. “It’s one of the ways we give back to the community.

Beginning in mid-September, u-pick apples are options for those with hands-on wishes, and a pumpkin patch allows kids and families to choose the perfect slates for carving and porch decor.

Oh—and cornstalks, hay bales and mums are also usually in stock.

“We have so many returning customers, which is cool,” said Chrissy. “Our customers are awesome, and we love getting to know people.” 

Freelance writer/collaborative pianist Jane Turpin Moore grew up in the Mankato area and is now based in Northfield. She blogs at timeformoore566445504. wordpress.com and fields emails at jturpinmoore@gmail. com.

MORE FALL FARMS

Other Southern Minn Scene regional sites for fall fun (note: most do not allow dogs or smoking on-site):

Apple Creek Orchard, 5524 185th St. West, Faribault. applecreekorchard. org. Over 30 apple varieties available plus caramel apples, pies and crisps; onsite concession stand; tether ball, apple slingshot game, wagon rides, corn maze, playground.

Faxon Farms, 30456 Faxon Road, Henderson, faxonpuremaplesyrup.com. Pure maple syrup and maple sugar, scarecrow contest (Sept. 7-13), fall festival (weekends Sept. 14 - Oct. 27) with apples, caramel apples, Dutch apple pies, pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn, coffee; see chickens and goats, play yard games, watch apple cider press demonstrations, kids’ bouncy house.

Fireside Orchard & Gardens, 2225 Lonsdale Blvd. East, Northfield, firesideorchard.com. Apples, gourds, honey, handmade pies, donuts, jams/jellies, cider, baked goods, fudge, caramel, plus rose, perennial and water gardens.

Barten Pumpkins, 5716 W. 280th St., New Prague, bartenpumpkins.com. Pumpkins, squash, gourds, straw bales, mums,

broom and ornamental corn, pumpkin stilts, nature play area, photo areas.

Little Green Wagon Pumpkin Patch & Farm, 23493 State Highway 22, Mankato, Little Green Wagon on Facebook. Specialty pumpkins, Moody Bees honey, pastured pork and eggs, naturally grown produce (potatoes, onions, beets and more), free play area with large corn pit, straw bale maze, play truck with slides, play tractor, tic-tac-toe and photo boards.

Montgomery Orchard, 15953 State Highway 99, Montgomery, montgomeryorchard.com, 952-221-1051. Apples (14 varieties), apple juice, plum and apple wines, six-acre corn maze, U-pick apples, music, food trucks.

Sweetland Orchard, 26205 Fairlawn Ave., Webster, sweetlandorchard.com. Orchard strolls, hard cider/hard cider sampling, multiple apple varieties, pears, chicken-viewing.

Autumn Acres Farm, 35482 W. County Line Road, Janesville, autumnacresfarmminnesota.com. Pick-your-own pumpkins, two corn pits, giant pumpkin ring toss, pint-sized ring toss, music sticks, pumpkin bean bag toss, pumpkin tic-tac-toe, bushel basket toss, straw mountain with slide, mini-obstacle course, photo opportunities, tractor-pulled wagon/hay rides, concessions on weekends. Special events including a family fun fest, date night at the farm and yoga.

Welsh Heritage Farms/The Cheese & Pie Mongers, 20758 528th Ave., Lake Crystal, welshheritagefarm.com or on Facebook. Apples, peaches, pies, cheese, cheesecakes, caramel apples, apple cider donuts, orchard walks.

Crunching apples fresh from the tree is a joy at Trumps Orchard.

Pre-picked pumpkins of all shapes and sizes await customers at Bridgewater Farm Pumpkin Patch, but choosing your own in the patch is also an option.

Elizabeth Larson grins during a kiddy barrel ride at Bridgewater Farm Pumpkin Patch.

By JANE TURPIN MOORE Guest Contributor

Oom-pah-pah, oom-pah-pah.

You can hear the polka tunes from nearly any part of southern Minnesota in late September and early October as area breweries, restaurants and community organizations pull out all the stops to welcome autumn with hearty steins of lager and hot, juicy bratwursts.

And why not? When the nights get crisper and the leaves burst out in shades of orange, yellow and rust, cozying up in a tent with a jolly crew makes all the sense in the world—especially if Ger-

man heritage is part of your region’s cultural history.

From small to large and everything in between, your Oktoberfest dreams across this part of the state can be fulfilled—and topped off with a healthy head of foam to boot.

Since several of the surrounding Oktoberfest celebrations take place on the same weekends, you’ll need to pick and choose, or seriously pace yourself.

But 2024 might be the year to make sure you bid hello to fall and farewell to summer with at least one Oktoberfest visit.

Eins, zwei, g’suffa!

Ettlin’s Ranchero Oktoberfest, Saturday, Sept. 28, 1-5 p.m.; Sunday, Sept. 29, 1-3 p.m. 4452 40th St. West, Webster. rancherosupperclub. com

If you’re itching for authentic German fare to pair with your Paulaner Oktoberfest beer, then Ettlin’s Ranchero Oktoberfest is where you’ll want to be on Sept. 28 and 29.

Paulaner is one of the six Munich breweries serving up golden brews at the original Oktoberfest in steins so huge you’re well advised to bulk up before attending, and conveniently enough, Paulaner beer is the drink of choice in Webster on Sep-

An authentic pork schnitzel special, complemented by servings of red cabbage and gravy-topped spaetzle, join brats on the German-themed menu at Ettlin’s Ranchero Oktoberfest in Webster.

TOP PHOTO: Service always comes with a smile among the crew at Ettlin’s Ranchero Oktoberfest, Webster.

CONTINUED from page 11

tember’s waning days.

“My dad emigrated from Switzerland and bought this restaurant in 1972,” said Heidi Elwood, owner/operator of Ettlin’s Ranchero Supper Club.

“When they ran the restaurant, they incorporated the German/Bavarian specials, and our pork schnitzels and stroganoff have really taken off over the years. We sell a ton of German beers.”

And that’s never more true than during their Oktoberfest, now in its sixth year.

“We bring in a beer wagon and serve a few of our German specials, like brats on buns and pork schnitzel with sides of spaetzle and red cabbage,” she shared. “We’re thinking about adding Swedish meatballs, but we’ll see.”

Although they maintain a healthy stock of non-alcoholic options (primarily pop and water) plus some seltzers, German beer is the undeniable focus of Oktoberfest.

At Ettlin’s Ranchero Oktoberfest, customers can buy a half-liter Paulaner stein filled with their beer of choice and then keep it, with a reduced price for refills (if you can manage one).

“We had such a good turnout last year, and we’ve had wonderful crowds for every Oktoberfest to date,” said Elwood. “We’ve been blessed with beautiful weather most years.”

The event is enhanced by the presence of games (like corn hole and Connect 4), plus the Music of Vee (Sept. 29 from 1 to 3 p.m.) and the Charlie Sticha Band (Sept. 28 from 1 to 5 p.m.), the latter providing classic polka vibes.

“Oh, sure, people dance,” said Elwood when asked if any polka enthusiasts cut a rug.

Additionally, at least 12 area vendors offering crafts, produce and regionally produced goods will be on site, making shopping part of the Oktoberfest experience, too.

Bring some cash along because, as Elwood laughingly reminds, “There are no ATMs in Webster, and this is kind of an old-school operation.”

Those looking to linger in Webster after the Oktoberfest activities wind down for the day are encouraged to make advance dinner reservations with Ettlin’s Ranchero Supper Club, which will open for dinner each evening around the time Oktoberfest ends.

But Oktoberfest itself is a “great introduction to our food, if you haven’t dined with us before,” said Elwood, and fall is one of the best four seasons to

indulge in classic supper club entrees of the kind for which Ettlin’s Ranchero is famous.

“Oktoberfest is so fun,” said Elwood. “Some people dress up, and everyone’s here for a good time.

“Our celebration has a hometown feel to it and a really nice vibe. It’s a great chance to be outside and enjoy the last of the beautiful Minnesota weather for the season.”

St. Peter Oktoberfest, Friday, Sept. 27, 4 - 11 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 28, 1 - 11:30 p.m. Nicollet County Fairgrounds, 400 Union St., St. Peter. Details on Facebook at 2024 St. Peter Oktoberfest presented by Nielsen Blacktopping & Concrete.

Since 2011, the St. Peter Ambassadors have been building St. Peter Oktoberfest into the large-scale community celebration and fundraiser it is today.

Now a two-day, fun-filled juggernaut, with plenty to love for adults and families alike, St. Peter Oktoberfest overflows with contests from the rowdy (like the sauerkraut-eating contest at 7 p.m. Friday and the stein-hoisting contest at 2 p.m. Saturday) to the stylish (see the lederhosen and dirndl competition).

“Anytime a five-year-old is wearing lederhosen, they win,” joked Dave Detlefsen, one of the St. Peter Ambassadors organizing the fest.

“We’ve never had a repeat winner for the stein-hoisting contest, but we have for sauerkraut-eating,” he added.

The weekend boasts a full lineup of music — both rock/cover and traditional German — including the Bock Fest Boys, Rough House, IV Play, Rock of Ages, the Hype, the Wendinger Band, the Concord Singers of New Ulm and Schell’s Hobo Band.

One fan-friendly, family favorite is the Kidtoberfest Parade, scheduled for 12 p.m. Saturday. A Kids’ Zone, sponsored by the St. Peter Recreation Department with activities and games suitable for kids and families, is another come oneand-all draw.

“We outgrew our downtown locations and moved to the Nicollet County Fairgrounds in 2022,” said John Mayer, another event organizer and St. Peter Ambassador.

Mayer and Detlefsen, who’ve both been involved with St. Peter Oktoberfest from the beginning, say attendees visit from a wide swath of southern Minnesota and also from the Twin Cities.

“This is the biggest Oktoberfest in the area,” attested Mayer. “We have so many different traditions and activities going on that it’s not just about getting together and drinking beer.”

But make no mistake — it’s also about that. Usually, five to six Oktoberfest beers are on tap from Schell’s, and European beers make their way into the mix as well.

Some seltzers and wines, as well as non-alcoholic choices (pop, root beer, water) are available, and a craft beer tasting is planned for Saturday afternoon featuring seven area breweries— and a collectible glass.

An event tradition that clearly delights Detlefsen and Mayer is that of the St. Peter Oktoberfest Festmeister, who is named in early September and presides over the festival with authority and humor.

“The parade of Festmeisters be-

Music by Vee (Dave Velander of Northfield) and the Charlie Sticha Band are among the entertaining draws at Ettlin’s Ranchero Oktoberfest in Webster. Ettlin’s Ranchero Supper Club’s Oktoberfest in Webster, presumably from their 2023 event.

Small-town hospitality and enthusiasm define Oktoberfest at Ettlin’s Ranchero Supper Club in Webster, scheduled for Sept. 28 and 29.

Kidtoberfest Parade at St. Peter Oktoberfest.

gins at 1 p.m. Friday, when they walk around downtown St. Peter and share free beer at local businesses while inviting people to join them at Oktoberfest,” said Mayer.

“Then they jump on a bus to make it to the fairgrounds in time for the opening ceremony at 4 p.m. And off we go.” Festmeisters are required to be at least 60 years old, to wear lederhosen and be up for lots of interaction with the public and countless photo opps.

“They’re in charge of everything but responsible for nothing,” said Mayer. “Their opinion matters in every situation, and they judge all the competitions.”

The Festmeister also starts the 0k Chug Run, which is “measured down to a few feet” and invariably begins with a beer stein in hand. The only serious part? Proceeds benefit non-profits supporting women’s health and breast cancer awareness.

“St. Peter Oktoberfest is our biggest fundraiser,” said Detlefsen, mentioning major donations in past years to the St. Peter Veterans Memorial, the pavilion in Minnesota Square Park, the Govenaires Drum and Bugle Corps, the local 4th of July fireworks and more.

Food available includes a variety of food trucks, plus a brat stand operated by the Govenaires, pizza from Cleveland’s Lucky Lure Pizzeria and Mexican food from El Tacazo Mexican Delights of Le Center.

What’s better than a fun-loving, foodand-beer-filled fall festival that benefits numerous good causes and brings together residents from the community and region for good-natured frolic?

“It’s a friendly event,” said Detlefsen. “You can’t help but have fun when polka music is playing.”

Besides the St. Peter Ambassadors, other community organizations (the Lions, Rotary, Kiwanis, Masons, the St. Peter Area Chamber of Commerce and the fire departments of St. Peter and Kasota) provide volunteers to make all the moving parts work.

“And we receive a lot of generous support from other community businesses,” said Detlefsen.

“This has really become St. Peter’s Oktoberfest.”

St. Peter Oktoberfest has an admission fee of $10 per person after 5 p.m. each day, with free admission up to 5 p.m.; $15 weekend passes are available for purchase in advance at stpeterambassadors.com. 

Freelance writer/collaborative pianist Jane Turpin Moore grew up in the Mankato area and is now based in Northfield. She blogs at timeformoore566445504. wordpress.com and fields emails at jturpinmoore@gmail. com.

MORE

OKTOBERFESTS

Here are more area Oktoberfest events in the Southern Minn Scene region to consider attending and beers to consider sipping:

Bier on Belgrade, Belgrade Avenue, North Mankato. Saturday, Sept. 21, 210 p.m. businessonbelgrademn.com/ events. Food vendors, live music, bean bag toss, ceremonial first beer with city officials, seasonal beer sampling. Free event but must be 21 or older to attend.

Giesenbrau Oktoberfest, 1306 First St. NE, New Prague. Friday, Oct. 4, 310 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 5, 12 - 10 p.m. giesenbraubierco.com. Live music, food trucks with German fare, games, commemorative mugs.

New Ulm Oktoberfest, downtown New Ulm (Best Western and Green Mill), Schell’s Brewery, Morgan Creek Vineyards. Oct. 4-5, 11-12. newulm.com/ events/oktoberfest. Live music, contests (sauerkraut eating, stein-holding, yodeling), German food, grape stomp and more.

Mineral Springs Brewery Oktoberfest, 111 N. Walnut Ave., Owatonna. Sept. 20-21, 12 - 11 p.m. exploreminnesota. com/profile/mineral-springs-brewery/6921. Games, competitions, music, entertainment, food and specialty brews.

Ward House Brewery Oktoberfest, 308 S. State St., Waseca. Sept. 29-30. Wardhousebrewerywaseca.com/events. Seasonal Oktoberfest brew, live music Sept. 30.

CONTINUED page 14

Crowds of all ages enjoy the ambience at St. Peter Oktoberfest every year.

Lederhosen and dirndls are common though not mandatory attire at St. Peter Oktoberfest.

Schell’s beer takes center stage even when the Concord Singers of New Ulm are entertaining at. St. Peter Oktoberfest.

CONTINUED from page 13

Imminent Brewing, 519 Division St. South, Unit 2, Northfield. imminentbrewing.com. Releasing an Oktoberfest beer on Aug. 28. Rotating list of 13 beers (produced on-site) available throughout the fall. Taproom hours: 4 - 9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 2 - 10 p.m. Friday; 12 - 10 p.m. Saturday; 12 - 8 p.m. Sunday. Mankato Brewery, 1119 Center St., North Mankato. mankatobrewery.com. Serving an Oktoberfest

Festbier throughout the fall. Taproom hours: 4 - 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 4 - 10 p.m. Friday; 12 - 10 p.m. Saturday; 12 - 6 p.m. Sunday.

Stein-hoisting contestants demonstrate their considerable talents at recent St. Peter Oktoberfests.

St. Peter Ambassadors President Aaron Petersen dons the Oktoberfest attire.

Mollywood BLVD

Reboots and sequels continue to dominate the box office in 2024. In the grand fashion of regurgitating ideas that have already been done, Hollywood is finally releasing a long-awaited sequel to the 1988 Tim Burton film, “Beetlejuice, starring Micheal Keaton as the troublesome spirit.

Fans have long called for a sequel of this classic, but Warner Bros. waited to get some of the original cast on board before pulling the trigger. In fact, Warner Bros. hired Seth Grahame-Smioth to write the screenplay for it back in September 2011. Well, folks, the wait is over. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (Beetlejuice 2), directed once again by Tim Burton, hits theatres on Sept. 6. The late 80s must have been a very busy time for Tim Burton creatively. Not only did he release Beetlejuice in 1988, a year later, he released his own version of Batman, starring none other than Micheal Keaton as Bruce Wayne. Burton’s gothic style was just beginning to make its mark on the world of cinema, and audiences loved it. Winona Ryder was in the height of her career when she took on the role of emotionally vapid teen, Lydia Deetz. She has since revived her career by portraying Joyce Byer’s, Will’s mom, in the

Ortega catapulted to super stardom when she starred as Wednesday Addams in the Netflix Series Wednesday (2022) and subsequently Scream (2022) X, (2022) and Scream VI (2024), type-casting her as a bit of a “scream queen” and this is definitely her moment. In the new film, Jenna Ortega plays Astrid Deetz, the daughter of Lydia, who was Winona Ryder’s teen character in the original Beetlejuice.

The premise of the original film was pretty simple: Rural couple named Adam and Barbara, live simple life in a beautiful, traditionally decorated country home in a small town. They encounter a dog on a bridge and veer into a river and die. They return to their home as ghosts and seek the help of “bioexorcist” spirit, Beetlejuice, to help them ward off new tenants, the Deetz, who are bringing a bit too much city edge to their quaint abode. Beetlejuice is summoned by saying his name three times aloud. In the film, Lydia is the only one who can see Adam and Barabara and she befriends them, but Beetlejuice goes a bit rogue and creates havoc in the house trying to ward off the unwanted guests.

The film was an instant classic, and the success of Beetlejuice was not confined to the big screen; it even inspired a popular animated series and a stage adaptation that

is currently running on Broadway. Millennial audiences, who have a fondness for reboots of their favorite ‘80s and ‘90s films, have been instrumental in this revival trend. Ghostbusters is another example of an 80’s baby franchise that has made a resurgence in Hollywood with three new Ghostbusters films coming out in the last 10 years. While older generations might not view Hocus Pocus (1993) as a Halloween classic, millennials have embraced it, leading to the creation of Hocus Pocus 2.

The new film, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, includes three generations of Deetz family returning to home to winter river Connecticut after the death of their patriarch, Charles Deetz. Lydia’s teenage daughter, Astrid, discovers Adam’s attic dwelling model of the town that is shown in the opening sequence of the original film, and accidentally opens a portal to the afterlife releasing, you guessed it… Beetlejuice! The film’s title is a play on the fact that in order to summon him, you must repeat his name aloud three times.

experience. Regal Cinemas has revealed a Beetlejuice 2 Sandworm Popcorn bucket. Innovative idea, but hilariously the second sandworm bucket moviegoers have been able to purchase this year, they made them for Dune 2 as well! In addition, you will see special Beetlejuice limited edition Fanta hit shelves as well. The flavors include traditional Fanta Flavors such as orange and strawberry, but each can is adorned with a character from the new film.

The release of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is a testament to Hollywood’s ongoing fascination with reboots and sequels. It could be a flop

In the 80s, movie ratings weren’t as strict as they are today. Beetlejuice (1988) had a PG rating, despite extreme foul language and gestures coming from Beetlejuice himself, down to some of the sheer horror of certain scenes. I remember being 7 years old seeing the original film in theatres, and it was probably the first time I heard the “F”-word: when Beetlejuice kicks a model tree in Adam’s model cemetery, grabs his crotch and says, “Nice f----- model!” The new installment boasts a PG-13 rating for “violent content, macabre and bloody images, strong language, some suggested material and brief drug use.” OK, I’m intrigued.

In addition to the film, promotional tie-ins have been introduced to enhance the fan

like Hocus Pocus 2 which, in my opinion, failed to capture the magic of the original, but I am hopeful. This sequel stands out not only for its connection to a beloved 1980s film but also for its blend of returning stars and new talent. Not to mention how long it has been in the works- this is not a rushed production. With Tim Burton back at the helm directing, fans have good reason to be excited about the continuation of the Beetlejuice saga. Whether it will achieve the same level of acclaim as its predecessor remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: our favorite mischievous Bio-Exorcist spirit, Beetlejuice, is set to make a memorable comeback. 

Netflix hit series Stranger Things. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice also brings in some new talent in Jenna Ortega.

What to WATCH

Longlegs

At the end of each year, my best friend and I rank our 150 favorite films of all time. With each ranking, some rise while others fall, new ones are added while some are subtracted — truly dorky stuff. Last year, three of my top fifteen were about serial killers: The Silence of the Lambs (streaming on MGM+), Zodiac (streaming on Paramount+), and Se7en (available to rent on Amazon Prime and Apple TV).

Don’t worry, I am not a psychopath. In the real world, I abhor violence and reject war, I have a loving family and friends who are as close as siblings, and my godchildren are the light of my life.

But, like so many other (fairly) well-adjusted horror and true-crime aficionados, I am also fascinated by the dark psychology of methodical killers, and find myself consistently intoxicated by the detectives and reporters who

fall down investigative rabbit holes to bring these monsters to justice.

On a Sunday evening in late July, my aforementioned best friend and I attended a sold-out screening of Longlegs – the latest addition to the serial killer canon – written and directed by Osgood Perkins (son of Psycho star Anthony Perkins). We watch basically every horror movie and do not scare easily. This film, however, burrowed into our psyches and legitimately haunted our dreams.

Scream queen Maika Monroe plays Lee Harker, a damaged FBI agent tasked with tracking down an occultist serial killer. And veteran movie star Nicolas Cage completely transforms as the devilishly-creepy titular villain.

During its initial marketing push, one of the film’s viral teasers claimed that Monroe’s heart rate reached 170 beats per minute when she first saw Cage’s performance. I believe it.

Perkins does not dispute that Longlegs has very obvious similarities to other iconic movies.

During the July 12, 2024 episode of every cinephile’s favorite podcast, The Big Picture, Perkins said he felt like there was an appetite

for a cool, 90s-esque serial killer movie again: “You’ve got Silence of the Lambs, you’ve got Se7en. And there’s never going to be better than those two. Unlikely. And so, it just became this sort of…a little bit of a love letter. Because movies are, I think, love letters to other movies.”

Just like Clarice Starling in The Silence of the Lambs, Monroe is a young upstart hot on the trail of a ghoulish and glam-rock-obsessed weirdo. Said weirdo is leaving behind ciphers, just like the killer who terrorized San Francisco in Zodiac. The film’s final act, without spoiling anything, is cynical and twisty and hopeless a’ la Se7en. And there’s even a little supernatural shenanigans reminiscent of The Shining and The Exorcist.

I will refrain from saying anything more about the film’s plot. It is truly best to enter the theater knowing next to nothing. The twists pile up throughout, and the narrative tension is nearly unbearable. During

one of the key twists in the last twenty minutes, a woman in our theater audibly gasped, “Oh no!”

The audience response to a movie like Longlegs will inevitably be mixed since what scares us (or, in the case of comedy, what makes us laugh) is so subjective. Some have said the viral marketing campaign was misleading (I disagree). Others argue that it’s not very scary (I would argue these folks should seek out a therapist). And a few were disappointed that it did not reach the masterpiece-heights of the classics it’s emulating (Osgood Perkins openly admits “there’s never going to be better” than those classics).

So, while Longlegs may not quite match the greatness of The Silence of the Lambs or Zodiac or Se7en, it’s still handsomely crafted, occasionally funny, and always unsettling. The best serial killer thriller in years. Maybe it will even crack my 150. 

Kyle Hoffman is a writer, communications and marketing professional, and lifelong movie lover from Mankato. Follow him on Letterboxd: kylejhoffman.

Rants & RAVES

Take the time

When I meet someone for the first time, I automatically assume they’ll wanna be my friend. I thought that’s what “regular” folks did.

It never really occurred to me that someone wouldn’t immediately appreciate the serendipity of our encounter and the fact that we’re probably meant to be BFFs.

This is where one of my many day-to-day problems kicks in. This unique proclivity makes my sister, Beth, insane. Every time we run an errand; I like to add in time to meet new people.

If I’m going into the store to pay for my gas, I’m not gonna come out until I hear about Sheila’s dog that passed away and how her husband is doing since his stroke. I’m practically guaranteed to get a pepper-crusted turkey recipe as well as a home address so I can rendezvous with my new pal later.

This is a great way to go through life. Everyone has a story, and I find them all intriguing. My family on the other hand, wishes I would get in, get out and wrap it up already. So, when my other sister, Jennifer, asked me to go

to a big box home improvement store, I said, “No problem.”

I managed to chat with five folks before my newest buddy located the elusive concrete splash guards I’d been directed to pick up. Wayne the forklift guy, came to my rescue. We spent about thirty minutes discussing the size of his upper arms after years of weight lifting and his desperate need for carpal tunnel surgery.

I was sorry to hear his Mom has a 19” steel rod in her back and terrible arthritis. He had a lot of issues with the medical industry as well as the political system, and I heard about many of them.

During our chat, Wayne’s walkie-talkie thingy suddenly roared to life and requested his assistance with another customer. Being that Wayne and I had bonded at this point; he correctly told his boss he was unable to help as he was already busy with a client.

That was when I got the scoop on his childhood friend who fell while jumping on bridge I-beams and ended up breaking lots of limbs and giving himself an impressive head injury.

The kid’s Mom wasn’t happy, but he did get an extraordinary amount of street cred for a 14-year-old. How could you not want to hear all this? This stuff is gold.

I’ve met some of my favorite, long-term pals during everyday encounters like wandering the

shave his neck and then recommended a barber for them.

Sometimes starting a casual conversation is all it takes. Next thing I know, I’m on the way to a stranger’s home to drop off puzzles or share my family’s Lemon Souffle recipe I promised them when we met at a bar while on vacation.

I’ve driven visiting tourists to their hotels when they couldn’t get a taxi and delivered iced coffee to the crabby gal at the Post Office all in an attempt to win these people over. All of this because I came across someone that was interesting and I’m a big believer that these connections happen for a reason.

Another of my favorite venues for meeting people is Facebook. Buying and selling weird crap on Facebook Marketplace is kinda my thing. It’s like a big treasure hunt from your computer. I’ve come across some incredible folks during this process. I’ve also met some people who I’m pretty sure think I’m a serial killer.

To avoid this stereotype, I always present my personal card with my address and social media details when we first meet. In my mind, what axe-murderer carries a pretty business card? But every once in a while, I chat with someone who wants to meet in a public place

to exchange our treasures and then they’ll barely roll their window down to talk to me. Why don’t these people understand how fabulous I am? Why don’t they get the clear message — I’m a huge box of fun?!

I recently sold something to Lisa Rae Maier who lives in Washington State. We’ve never met, yet we’re busy exchanging sizes so we can order matching pink satin jackets with our names embroidered on them! This girl knew the assignment. She bought a Christmas tree topper from me and I sent her photos of my family pooch, told her my love of spray-painting plastic animals, and sent her pictures of my hometown.

We’ve also covered my interest in wearing as little clothing in public as possible due to my being made of lava. I now understand her hatred of the word “moist”, that she prefers cake to pie, the trauma she endured losing a parent, her love of body art, and why she sometimes has to embroider swear words on canvas tennis shoes! I would have missed out on this amazing person if I hadn’t overshared and forced her to start texting with me.

Moral of the story, don’t listen to your family … take the extra time. Who knows, you may make a new pal or at least someone who makes you feel a little less alone. 

aisles at the grocery store. For instance, I might have mentioned a fellow shopper should

Through a SOMINN LENS

Settling into September in Southern Minnesota

September marks a time of transition from summer’s end to autumn. There’s an air of anticipation, of change, of easing into routines. Vacations are done. School’s open. Schedules are shifting. And so is the landscape.

Lush green morphs into muted browns and yellows offset by flaming oranges and reds. Autumn is beginning to settle in, day-by-day.

There are corn and soybeans ripening,

soon to be gathered in. Gravel roads to follow deep into the countryside on a leisurely afternoon drive. And it’s all right here in southern Minnesota. In our communities. In our rural areas.

There are hikes to take and flora to appreciate. Goldenrod, dried seed heads, prairie grasses rising and bending in the wind, cattails opening in puffs of fluff … so much beauty, if only we pause to see it.

It is the simple things that I appreciate most. The scents of September — of dried leaves, harvest, evening campfires and cinnamon-laced apple crisp baking in the

oven. The last of garden vegetables to pick.

A bowl of spicy chili. I appreciate, too, the coziness of flannel and fleece and the enthusiasm for the Minnesota Vikings, fans optimistic that this may be “the year.”

September feels anticipatory — a time of new beginnings even as we edge closer to year’s end. We pack in flea markets and fall festivals, final outdoor concerts, shopping at farmers’ markets, outings to apple orchards, evenings at high school football games. There’s a sense of needing to do it all before autumn exits and winter settles in. 

CONTINUED page 23 & 24

SOUTHERN MINN

THURSDAY, AUG 29

Summer Carnival - Owatonna-- 3-7 p.m., Birchwood Cottages, 1845 Austin Road, Owatonna. Food, music, games and prizes. All proceeds for the Alzheimer’s Association.

Community Show & Tell - Owatonna-- 6-7:30 p.m., Steele County Historical Society, 1700 Austin Rd., Owatonna. Do you have a special family heirloom, collectible, or antique that you would like to share with others? Bring your item to the History Center and share its story with fellow history buffs. This program is free and open to the public.

Poor Cousin John - Waseca-- 6-9 p.m., Club 57, 204 Second St.

Poets of Penchant - Northfield-- 7 p.m., Content Bookstore, 314 Division St. S, Northfield. Content Bookstore invites you to celebrate the importance of poetry in our lives this summer by hosting a reading with several members of Penchant (previously known as Northfield Women Poets) from their new collection, “What Wakes Her in the Night.” It will also be streamed on the Content Facebook page.

Did we miss something?

Let us know! We may still be able to get an important event on one of our weekly pages that run in the newspapers.

FRIDAY, AUG 30

Traveled Ground - St. Peter-- 6-9 p.m., Paddlefish Brewing, 108 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter. Offering a unique combination of the Americana sounds from folk, blues, jazz and roots rock. Their music crosses the spectrum of the roots music scene.

p.m.,

Fred the Bear - Owatonna-- 6-8 p.m., Mineral Springs Brewery, 111 N Walnut Ave, Owatonna. Fred the Bear is a classic rock/alternative band known for their rich harmonies, emotive dynamics and original songs. FTB’s music reflects on life’s promises and disappointments through personal crafted lyrics and driving rhythms. Mixed within their originals is a blend of music from other Midwest artists, currently touring groups and classic bands.

-

and

Farmers Markets - SoMinn

Scene Region-- 7 a.m.-12

SATURDAY,

events compiled by Philip Weyhe.

AUG 31

p.m., Southern Minn Scene Region. The Owatonna Farmers Market runs 7 a.m. to noon Saturdays in Central Park from May 4 to Oct. 26.The Riverwalk Market Fair in Northfield takes place 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays in Bridge Square from May 18 to Oct. 26.The Northfield Farmers Market takes place 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays, plus 9-11 a.m. Saturdays at Riverside Park from May 7 to Oct. 30.The Waseca County Farmers Market runs 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays at the Waseca County Fairgrounds from June through October.The Le Sueur Farmers Market runs 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays on N. Second Street from June through October.The St. Peter Farmers Market runs 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturdays in the Co-op parking lot from June through October.The Faribault Farmers Market runs 7 a.m. to noon Saturdays in Central Park from June through October, plus 1:30-5 p.m. Wednesdays from July-September.The Kenyon Farmers Market runs 4-7 p.m. the first and third Thursday of each month in the First Lutheran Church parking lot from June through October.

&

-- 8 a.m.-5 p.m.,

County

& Gas Engine showground, Hwy. 3 south, Dundas. Runs Aug. 30-Sept. 1. Swap meet and flea market, tractor pull, consignment auction, displays and exhibits, food vendors, special events and tractor parade. Located on the Dundas Showgrounds just three miles south of Northfield on Highway 3. ricecountysteamandgas.com

-

p.m.,

on

The

with

in

and

through Oct. 26.

SW, Waseca. Live music with some live instruments.

Father’s Daughters - Janesville-- 6-8:30

Indian Island Winery, 18010 631st Ave, Janesville. Acoustic vocal trio from Waterville.

SJ3

Kasota-- 7-9

Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery

Distillery, 1179 E. Pearl St., Kasota.

Shaun Johnson Trio turns originality

its head

gospel, country, and traditional pop rooted

a big band sensibility. Tickets online.

Steam

Gas Engine Show - Dundas

Rice

Steam

Hop Picking and Uncle Muskrat - Waseca-12-9 p.m., Half Pint Brewing, 10099 150th St., Waseca. Hop picking starts at noon. Stick around and listen to some great music as Uncle Muskrat returns.

Sean Benz

Le Sueur County-- 1-3 p.m., Next Chapter Winery, 16945 320th St., New Prague. Sean Benz enjoys singing

playing guitar to music that many enjoy, like Johnny Cash, Roger Miller, Buck Owens, Hank Williams, Sr, Eddie Arnold, Ritchie Valens, Elvis Presley, Rick Nelson, Bobby Vee, Bobby Vinton, Eddie Cochran and others.

‘Gorgeous Nothings’ Opening Reception - St. Peter-- 3-5 p.m., Arts Center of Saint Peter, 315 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter. While creating work for this exhibition, writer and visual artist Holly Dodge found inspiration inside the poems of Emily Dickinson. Using meticulously sourced vibrant flora, fauna, and anatomical images from books, Dodge creates thoughtful and intricate collages that can visually sing. They are truly treat to behold. Exhibit runs

Tractorhead - Dundas-- 4-7 p.m., Keepsake Cidery, 135th St. East, Dundas. Bluegrass, countrywestern and folk tunes. A local favorite.

Slapdash Bluegrass - Dundas-- 4-6 p.m., Chapel Brewing, 15 Hester St, Dundas. This duo weaves melodic picking with tight vocal harmony. Original tunes, traditional old time & bluegrass tunes, and folk & country covers. A veritable cornucopia for your ears.

Mark Ross - Faribault-- 7-10 p.m., 10,000 Drops, 28 4th St NE, Faribault. Mark Ross & the Three-

Nineteen is a compelling Americana/Indie/Alternative Rock band led by the talented singer-songwriter Mark Ross. With heartfelt lyrics, captivating melodies, and a dynamic sound, this group has been making waves in the music scene since its formation in 2019.

Pocket Lounge Album Release - St. Peter-- 8-11 p.m., Patrick’s on Third, 125 S. Third St., St. Peter. Funk

CCL - New Prague-- 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m., Outlaw Saloon, 103 Main St. W., New Prague. CCL is an acoustic folk rock duo that draws inspiration from the 90s and 80s, alternative, and grunge influences with occasional, true, by-golly country tunes to fill the void.

Do

SUNDAY, SEP 01

Shenanigans - Kilkenny-- 1-4 p.m., Vintage Escapes Winery & Vineyard, 8950 Dodd Rd., Kilkenny. A father-daughter acoustic music duo.

Emma Josephine & Dale Haefner Duo - Waseca-5 p.m., Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm, 41142 160th St, Waseca. On-the-rise singer/songwriter Emma Josephine pairs up with City Mouse veteran Dale Haefner.

THURSDAY, SEP 05

Downtown Thursday - Owatonna-- 5-8 p.m., Free Summer concert series attracting thousands of attendees per event featuring local, regional and national bands with its music, makers, and night market. Vendors showcase local food, beverages, and artisans. Welcome families, employee’s, and residents into the heart of Owatonna for an after-work, family friendly gathering.

FRIDAY, SEP 06

Matt Whited - Dundas-- 4:30-6:30 p.m., Chapel Brewing, 15 Hester St, Dundas. Chemistry at Carleton College by day, Jazz Piano by night, he’s really good at both. The perfect accompaniment for Friday night wind down on Chapel’s deck, and Matt might just bring along an equally talented friend to perform with him.

Paradise Gallery Opening - Faribault-5-7 p.m., Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault. Carlander Gallery — Melinda Wolff; Vranesh Gallery - Lonnie Broden; K&M Gallery — Creative Aging classes: Rebecca Tolle. Sue Leech, Tami Resler, Julie Fakler; Creger Gallery - Angelina Dornquast.

Ben Scruggs - St. Peter-- 6-9 p.m., Paddlefish Brewing, 108 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter. Folk/blues/ Americana singer songwriter from Mankato.

Chris Bertrand - Faribault-- 7-10 p.m., 10,000 Drops, 28 4th St NE, Faribault. Chris Bertrand is a seasoned singer/songwriter from Southern Minnesota who dedicates his life to music. Deeply rooted in folk and unafraid to stomp and howl, Bertrand is currently working on his first recording effort, “By The Pour.”

SATURDAY, SEP 07

Farmers Markets - SoMinn Scene Region-- 7 a.m.-12 p.m., Southern Minn Scene Region. The Owatonna Farmers Market runs 7 a.m. to noon Saturdays in Central Park from May 4 to Oct. 26.The

Riverwalk Market Fair in Northfield takes place 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Saturdays in Bridge Square from May 18 to Oct. 26.The Northfield Farmers Market takes place 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays, plus 9-11 a.m. Saturdays at Riverside Park from May 7 to Oct. 30.The Waseca County Farmers Market runs 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays at the Waseca County Fairgrounds from June through October.The Le Sueur Farmers Market runs 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays on N. Second Street from June through October.The St. Peter Farmers Market runs 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturdays in the Co-op parking lot from June through October.The Faribault Farmers Market runs 7 a.m. to noon Saturdays in Central Park from June through October, plus 1:30-5 p.m. Wednesdays from July-September.The Kenyon Farmers Market runs 4-7 p.m. the first and third Thursday of each month in the First Lutheran Church parking lot from June through October.

Defeat of Jesse James DaysNorthfield-- 7 a.m.-11:45 p.m., Downtown Northfield. Festival runs Sept. 4-8. Carnival, rodeo, arts and crafts fair, tractor pulls, run/walk, entertain ment, beer garden, food trucks, bank raid reenactments and more.

Multi-Family Sale - Waseca-- 9 a.m.-3 p.m., The Mill Event Center, 310 2nd Ave SW, Waseca. Takes place 10-7 Friday, Sept. 6 and 9-3 Saturday, Sept. 7. It’s that time of year where people are purging items they no longer need. Come have a cocktail and browse a large selection of items. Clothing, footwear, electronics, furniture and much more.

Rock Bend Folk Festival - St. Peter-12-9 p.m., Minnesota Square Park, 1000 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter. Runs Sept. 7-8. Rock Bend Folk Festival is a free, all-ages music and arts festival held annually the weekend after Labor Day since 1991 in beautiful Minnesota Square Park. Featuring national, Minnesota and local musicians, artists, and performers entertaining the whole family. Headliners include Caballo Cosmico and The Pistol Whippin’ Party Penguins. Full lineup at rockbend.org.

for Hope - Le

County-- 1-8 p.m., Next

Do you want to submit an event to this calendar?

Send details to editor@outhernminnscene.com

fusion trio Pocket Lounge celebrate the release of their album “Walleye Denial” with special guests Soul Folk Union.

Hops

Sueur

Chapter Winery, 16945 320th St., New Prague. A fundraiser for the fight against ALS & FTD. Live music from Rockin’ Woody and JAWS with Eddie Shimota, plus food trucks BamaSota BBQ and Pizzeria 201. Silent auction.

Family Block Party - Le Center-- 3-8 p.m., Little Dandy hot beef dinner with sides, plus music from Lance & Jeremy and Doug Traxler. Free giveaways for kids. Bring your own lawn chairs.

Minneapolis Jazz Guitar Duo - Dundas-- 4-7 p.m., Keepsake Cidery, 135th St. East, Dundas. Minneapolis Jazz Guitar Duo (MJGD) consists of David Martin and Serdar G. The duo plays their interpretations of jazz standards.

Crista Bohlman - Janesville-5:30-8:30 p.m., Indian Island Winery, 18010 631st Ave, Janesville. Performing all kinds of hit music.

Melissa Schulz - Kasota-- 6-9 p.m., Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery and Distillery, 1179 E. Pearl St., Kasota. Melissa Schulz is a classically-trained pianist and singer based in southern Minnesota. Performing over 250 shows each year, Melissa showcases her musical talents at venues that range from rowdy bars to chill breweries to upscale restaurants, fairs, and private events.

Barefoot Winos - Owatonna-- 6:30 p.m., Mineral Springs Brewery, 111 N Walnut Ave, Owatonna. The Barefoot Winos play their own distinctive brand of Blues. There energetic, soulful, live performances has captivated their audiences all over the Midwest. It’s Blues with an attitude. What makes the band so unique is their depth of talent, blend of musical influences, and the ability to tie it all together.

CRVO Cowboy Music - Northfield-- 7 p.m., Oddfellows Park, 1011 Forest Ave., Northfield. An outdoor concert during Northfield Defeat of Jesse James Days, themed Cowboy Music. CVRO is a diverse group of volunteer musicians performing symphonic music, drawn together by our love of rehearsing and

Broughttoyouby:

performing this fine repertoire. Anyone with talent, experience, and motivation is welcome to join, from exceptional 12-year-olds to octogenarians.

Triple Berry Pie - Owatonna-- 7 p.m., Foremost Brewing Cooperative, 131 W. Broadway St, Owatonna. Anjanette Bandel, Ruth Casper, and Karen Masbruch sing a variety of three-part harmony music together.

City Mouse - St. Peter-- 8:30-11:30 p.m., Patrick’s on Third, 125 S. Third St., St. Peter. City Mouse brings their 50+ years of magic to the Patrick’s Main Stage to help keep the music flowing after Saturday at Rock Bend Folk Festival ends.

Fly-In or Drive-In Pancake Breakfast - Le Sueur-- 8 a.m.-12 p.m., Le Sueur Municipal Airport, 780 Elmwood Ave. Menu includes pancakes/blueberry pancakes, sausages, coffee, milk and juice. Real maple syrup is also available. Come and enjoy your morning with us and help support the great things Lions do in our community. Games to play for both children and adults. Ticket info online.

Gallery OpeningOwatonna-- 1-5 p.m., Douglas Clement will display is photography and illustration works. In an artist statement for a previous show, he said, “I believe thoughtful, captivating imagery often communicates most effectively when left to subjective reception, without the pretenses of motivation and inspiration.” Show runs Sept. 8-29.

Did we miss something? Let us know! We may still be able to get an important event on one of our weekly pages that run in the newspapers.

CONTINUED page 24

Beret Finkin - Waseca-- 5-7 p.m., Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm, 41142 160th St, Waseca. Blending the sounds of her soft, ethereal vocals, simple yet rich instrumentation, and unique folk-inspired compositional style, Beret strives to evoke strong feelings of nostalgia and introspection in her listeners through her musical storytelling.

WEDNESDAY, SEP 11

Marcie Rendon Author Talk - Northfield-- 7 p.m., Content Bookstore, 314 Division St. S, Northfield. From the award-winning author of the Cash Blackbear series comes a compelling novel, “Murder on the Red River,” of a Native American woman who learns of the disappearance of one of her own and decides enough is enough.

THURSDAY, SEP 12

Center, 1000 Rustad Road, Faribault. It’s French Romantic Opera and New Wave Disco Beats. It’s a deal with the devil as humanity shoots for the Moon. It’s Mixed Precipitation’s 16th annual summer operatic adventure. Reserve online.

FRIDAY, SEP 13

Samantha Grimes with Tom Mobry - Northfield-- 5-9 p.m., Grand Event Center, 316 Washington St., Northfield. Tom Mobry is an established and gifted songwriter. His stories are captivating, and his all around personality as a performer is energetic and vivid. Samantha Grimes is an award-winning singer/ songwriter that weaves lyrical stories without adhering to genres.

Mark Cameron Band - Faribault-- 7-10 p.m., 10,000 Drops, 28 4th St NE, Faribault. Known as a charismatic frontman and soulful guitarist, Mark engages his audience directly in live performances and delivers his original compositions with a mix of sincerity, honesty and often a touch of humor.

Songs of Peace - Northfield-- 7 p.m., Emmaus Baptist Church, 712 Linden St. N, Northfield. David is a songwriter, speaker and author. He has performed over 3,500 concerts and toured in all of the fifty states and on five of the seven continents.

Chad Johnson & Jeenti Dutta - Dundas-- 9 p.m., Dawn’s Corner Bar, Dundas. Playing a unique blend of Americana and country-rock sound for original music and crowd favorite covers.

SATURDAY, SEP 14

ville. The beer tent will be open from 1:30-4:30 with vendors from various local breweries sampling some of their featured beers. Music from 12:30-3 p.m. is the Ryanne Noelle Duo, 3-5:30 p.m. is GTX, and from 5:30-8:30 p.m. is Rain Kings. The day also features a grape stomp and costume contest. Tickets online.

Farmers Markets - SoMinn Scene Region-- 7 a.m.-12 p.m., Southern Minn Scene Region. The Owatonna Farmers Market runs 7 a.m. to noon Saturdays in Central Park from May 4 to Oct. 26.The Riverwalk Market Fair in Northfield takes place 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays in Bridge Square from May 18 to Oct. 26.The Northfield Farmers Market takes place 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays, plus 9-11 a.m. Saturdays at Riverside Park from May 7 to Oct. 30.The Waseca County Farmers Market runs 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays at the Waseca County Fairgrounds from June through October.The Le Sueur Farmers Market runs 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays on N. Second Street from June through October.The St. Peter Farmers Market runs 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturdays in the Co-op parking lot from June through October.The Faribault Farmers Market runs 7 a.m. to noon Saturdays in Central Park from June through October, plus 1:30-5 p.m. Wednesdays from July-September.The Kenyon Farmers Market runs 4-7 p.m. the first and third Thursday of each month in the First Lutheran Church parking lot from June through October.

Rustic Mamas Fall MarketOwatonna-- 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Four Seasons Centre, 1525 S. Elm Ave., Owatonna. You will find everything straight from granny’s attic to upscale creations from over 120 vendors all under one roof.

Nancy Noyes Silcox Author Talk - St. Peter-10 a.m., St. Peter Library. “A Place Called Home” by Silcox is the story of young Carolina Beck and her family who are driven from Cincinnati, Ohio, by rising hostilities toward immigrants. Constructing a house, securing food, building a community and defending their town during the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862 test their courage, persistence and resilience.

WAC Gallery - Waseca-- 12-5 p.m., Waseca Art Center, 200 N. State St. Last chance to see the works of artists Dick Crumb and Abigail Blythe Davisson.

Faust - Faribault-- 6:30 p.m., River Bend Nature

Grape Stomp and Beer Fest - Janesville-- 12-9 p.m., Indian Island Winery, 18010 631st Ave, Janes-

OTC Truck Show - Owatonna-- 12-4 p.m., Cabela’s, 3900 Cabela Dr., Owatonna. Trucks of all years and styles. Always a great show with great trophies. Bring the family for the food and the foam cannon.

Tractorhead and Nicolas & Hezekiah - Dundas-2-7 p.m., Chapel Brewing, 15 Hester St, Dundas. The 7th anniversary celebration of Chapel. Nicolas & Hezekiah bring Americana with a mix of blues, bluegrass, Cajun, pop, & country, including covers and originals. Tractorhead rocks Chapel’s deck with their bluegrass, country-western and folk tunes.

Tom Petty Tribute - Waseca-- 5-8 p.m., Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm, 41142 160th St, Waseca. Fred the Bear will be here to play tribute to Tom Petty. Cover charge applies. More info online.

The Space Force - Owatonna-- 6-9 p.m., Mineral Springs Brewery, 111 N Walnut Ave, Owatonna. The Space Force is a buncha dudes playing songs that were overplayed way before they were born.

UnWined with Garrett Steinberg - Kasota-- 6-9 p.m., Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery and Distillery, 1179 E. Pearl St., Kasota. Enjoy some piano tunes with your wine.

p.m., Nicollet County Fairgrounds, 400 Union St., St. Peter. Cars and trucks from all of the decades.

Bruce Burniece - Kilkenny-- 1-4 p.m., Vintage Escapes Winery & Vineyard, 8950 Dodd Rd., Kilkenny.

With a set list of 900 hit songs spanning more than 70 years, Bruce encourages song requests as well as singing along and dancing. He is best known for his showmanship and it has earned him a reputation as a very memorable performer.

ones you already know.

SUNDAY, SEP 15

Car Show & Swap Meet - St. Peter-- 6 a.m.-3

Pat Donohue and Friends - Faribault-- 2 p.m., Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault. Pat Donohue and Friends is a musical presentation featuring Grammy Award winning acoustic fingerstyle guitarist Pat Donohue. As the guitarist for the “Guys All-Star Shoe Band” of Minnesota Public

Radio’s “A Prairie Home Companion,” for twenty years. Tickets online.

TV & the Bellered Yellers - Dundas-- 4-7 p.m., Keepsake Cidery, 135th St. East, Dundas. Americana with a twist.

Given Names - St. Peter-- 4-7 p.m., Patrick’s on Third, 125 S. Third St., St. Peter. Each member will perform a short solo set leading up to the full band set to end the evening.

MONDAY, SEP 16

Taste of Steele CountyOwatonna-5-7 p.m., Owatonna Eagles 1791, 141 E. Rose St., Owatonna. Costas Candies | Candullo’s

Coffee | Mizuki Fusion |

leo’s Pizza. Ticket info online.

TUESDAY, SEP 17

Scott Dominic Carpenter Book Launch - Northfield-- 7 p.m., Grand Event Center, 316 Washington St., Northfield. The launch of Scott Dominic Carpenter’s new memoir “Paris Lost & Found: A Memoir of Love.” He’ll be in conversation with D.E. Green and Becky Boling. Presented by Content Bookstore.

THURSDAY, SEP 19

35th Anniversary Party - Waseca-- 4-7 p.m., NE Park, Waseca. A night of celebration for Waseca Foundation’s 35th birthday, including food trucks, live music and free music.

Flannel Gala - Northfield-- 5 p.m., Armory Square Event Center, 519 Division St., Northfield. This annual fundraiser brings together the community of LBSA supporters and raises crucial support for programming CONTINUED page 26

Saturday

that helps bring the power of possibility to people with special needs. An evening of music featuring Sam Ryden and Fred the Bear. Food truck, silent auction and prizes.

Joseph Mbele

motor, the shine of chrome bumpers, pinstripes, and fender skirts, plus some great live music and food.

Author TalkFaribault-- 6-7 p.m., Buckham Memorial Library, 11 Division St. E, Faribault. Mbele is a Professor of English at St. Olaf College and has written four books, including “Africans and Americans: Embracing Cultural Differences” and “Chickens in the Bus: More Thoughts on Cultural Differences.”

books, Bad Bad Hats is defined by a balance of sweet and sour. Their music honors classic pop songwriting, with nods to nineties rock simplicity and pop-punk frivolity. Tickets online.

Dr. and Mrs. Forthwright’s Quacks and Cure All Trivia - Waseca-- 6:30 p.m., Waseca Co. Historical Society, 315 2nd Ave NE. A delightful dip into the bizarre world of turn-of-the-century medical marvels (and missteps) right here in Minnesota. The charming hosts, Dr. and Mrs. Forthwright, will guide you through a series of trivia questions that will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about historical healthcare. Tickets online.

PK Mayo Eclectic Electric Quartet - Faribault-7-10 p.m., 10,000 Drops, 28 4th St NE, Faribault. His original music, although influenced by blues, appeals to a wide range of music lovers crossing the spectrum of genres. He’s never fit into a box so neither does his music. Paul’s natural musical talent on guitar, especially slide guitar, has garnered worldwide praise from colleagues and critics alike.

FRIDAY, SEP 20

High Strung - St. Peter-- 6-9 p.m., Paddlefish Brewing, 108 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter. An acoustic trio provided the

Did we miss something? Let us know! We may still be able to get an important event on one of our weekly pages that run in the newspapers.

SATURDAY, SEP 21

Mineral Springs Oktoberfest - Owatonna-- 12 a.m., Mineral Springs Brewery, 111 N Walnut Ave, Owatonna. Ratkes place Sept. 20-21. Under the bigtop tent with games, competitions, music, entertainment, food, and specialty brews highlighting the traditions of the German Heritage.

Farmers Markets - SoMinn

--

Southern Minn Scene Region. The Owatonna Farmers Market runs 7 a.m. to noon Saturdays in Central Park from May 4 to Oct. 26.The Riverwalk Market Fair in Northfield takes place 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays in Bridge Square from May 18 to Oct. 26.The Northfield Farmers Market takes place 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays, plus 9-11 a.m. Saturdays at Riverside Park from May 7 to Oct. 30.The Waseca County Farmers Market runs 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays at the Waseca County Fairgrounds from June through October.The Le Sueur Farmers Market runs 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays on N. Second Street from June through October.The St. Peter Farmers Market runs 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturdays in the Co-op parking lot from June through October.The Faribault Farmers Market runs 7 a.m. to noon Saturdays in Central Park from June through October, plus 1:30-5 p.m. Wednesdays from July-September.The Kenyon Farmers Market runs 4-7

tunes.

Car Cruise - Faribault-- 6-9 p.m., Faribault Harley Davidson, 2704 W. Airport Dr. Bring your car or just yourself. The rumble of a souped-up

Gabe Fueston - Kasota-- 6-9 p.m., Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery and Distillery, 1179 E. Pearl St., Kasota. Anything with soul, anything with passion. Fueston has been playing guitar for about 20 years now.

Bad Bad Hats - Faribault-- 7:30 p.m., Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault. Named after the trouble-making character from the Madeline children’s

and businesses with art on display all across St. Peter’s downtown. The third annual stroll includes 33 artists at 19 venues. Food trucks will also feature at St. Peter Plaza.

Oktoberfest - Dundas-- 12-6:30 p.m., Chapel Brewing, 15 Hester St, Dundas. Music, food, beer and cider. Kids activities. Family friendly and free to attend. Rain or shine under the big tents in scenic downtown Dundas.

Marching Classic - Waseca-- 12-10:30 p.m., Downtown Waseca. 100 unit parade, marching band, classic car cruise, royalty and more at noon. The classic field show at 5:30 p.m. at the high school. Awards at 9 p.m., followed by fireworks.

Orphanage Museum Fall Celebration - Owatonna-- 12-4 p.m., Minnesota State Public School Orphanage Museum, 540 W. Hills Circle, Owatonna. celebrate the children and history of the Minnesota

State Public School. This family-friendly event has activities for all ages. Plus, you’ll learn what life was like at the State School. The popular horse-drawn wagon rides around the campus will stop at various history stations where a “real” State School character will share information and answer questions.

Cornerstone Car Show - Owatonna-- 2 p.m., Cornerstone Owatonna, 1500 SE 18th St. bring all vehicles, new and old, shiny, rusty, restored or original, street machine, race car, low rider or off-road vehicle. Come have fun, check out other folk’s rides, and share the enthusiasm. It’s free.

-

Generation Gap - Janesville-- 5:30-8:30 p.m., Indian Island

Ave,

Pinnacle Pro Wrestling - Waseca-- 6 p.m., The Mill Event Center, 310 2nd Ave SW, Waseca. WresCONTINUED page 28

Saturday September 21st,

–

Car Show Schedule 9am Registration 9am-12pm Participation Voting 12pm Classic Car & Marching Band Parade 12pm-1pm Cruise Clear Lake 1pm-1:30pm Awards for top 20 & Drawings

Registration Information Fee $10.00 This includes T-shirt and tickets for drawings

Prizes Door prizes throughout the car show: Gift certificates and much more!

SPONSORS OF THE CAR SHOW

Flea Market - Faribault-- 8 a.m.-12 p.m., Rice County Historical Society, 1814 NW 2nd Ave., Faribault. Lots of vendors and a great atmosphere. Entrance and parking to the Flea market is free to all.

Classic Car Show - Waseca-- 9 a.m., Club 57, 204

Second St. SW, Waseca. Annual car show accompanying the annual Marching Classic in Waseca.

Art Stroll - St. Peter-- 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Downtown St. Peter. Takes place 10-4 Sept. 21-22. Take a stroll and visit local art studios, galleries

Tractorhead - Dundas-- 4-7 p.m., Keepsake Cidery, 135th St. East, Dundas. Bluegrass, country-western and folk tunes. A local favorite.

SlipJig

Dundas-- 4-6 p.m., Chapel Brewing, 15 Hester St, Dundas. Folk duo doing Celtic and North American fiddle music and doing it really well. David and Chris get your toes tapping and the deck rollicking.

Winery, 18010 631st

Janesville. Enjoy all the classics from this young and old duo.

tling ticket featuring: Paul Virk, Joey Jet Avalon, Sierra, Ares Creed, Akira Gonzalez X, Onyx Andretti, Ethan Everheart, Malik Champion, Eric Eznite, Jason Rage, Niko Kline, Lili “La Pescadita” Ruiz and more. Tickets online.

SUNDAY, SEP 22

Larry Novotny One Man Band - St. Peter-- 3-6 p.m., Patrick’s on Third, 125 S. Third St., St. Peter. Larry Novotny of Montgomery, Minnesota began playing with his family band in the early 1960s. Today, he still performs as a one-man band.

Pianist Dan Chouinard with Prudence Johnson - Northfield-7 p.m., For nearly four decades Dan Chouinard has been pianist and accordionist of choice for a who’s who of Twin Cities performers, an

enabler of community sing-alongs, and writer and host of hit shows for radio, concert hall and theatrical stage. Prudence Johnson’s career has taken her from honky-tonks to Carnegie Hall, from the theater stage to the Silver Screen, from the Midwest to the Middle East. Tickets online

WEDNESDAY, SEP 25

Mark Kreitzer and Tom Schaefer - Northfield-5:30 p.m., Imminent Brewing, 519 Division Street South Unit 2. Once a month, Imminent is inviting a different artist to play some acoustic roots music. Tonight, we welcome back our beloved Mark Kreitzer with his friend Tom Schaefer. A night of amazing tunes you won’t want to miss.

Did we miss something?

Let us know! We may still be able to get an important event on one of our weekly pages that run in the newspapers.

OAC Luncheon - Owatonna-- 6 p.m., Owatonna Arts Center, 435 Garden View Ln, Owatonna. The entertainment during the luncheon with be the Gospel singing group, “Just Friends.” Lunch will be chicken Kiev on rice pilaf, Italian vegetables, and a slice of pumpkin log with whipped cream. There will also so be a cork wall where you will be able to buy a cork to win a bottle of wine. Tickets online.

NEVER MISS AN EVENT

PHOTO CONTEST

Show us your best photos of the Northfield area, and you could be a WINNER!

There are four catagories: Spring, Summer, Fall & Winter. Upload as many photos as you wish. The Northfield Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism will choose one winner and runner-up for each catagory. Enter for free through September 8th. Scan the QR code or visit northfieldnews.com and click the contest link to get started.

SoMinn THE BOOKWORM SEZ

‘Sharks Don’t Sink,’ ‘The Mysterious Mrs.

Nixon’ and

more book reviews

Sharks Don’t Sink:

Adventures of a Rogue Shark Scientist

by Jasmin Graham

c.2024, Pantheon Books $28.00 213 pages

Oh, those teeth!

Your finger practically bleeds just looking at them: three rows of perfect, razor-sharp white triangles that you know are gonna hurt. They’re inside a mouth made for swallowing you whole, that’s obvious, but when you think about it – are sharks really as bad as they seem?

As you’ll see in the new book “Sharks Don’t Sink” by Jasmin Graham, maybe dentism isn’t the problem. In studying them, maybe racism is.

Growing up near the ocean by Myrtle Beach, Jasmin Graham fell in love with the water early in her life. She fell in love with the creatures there when she was ten, with her father, fishing –something her forebears had done on local piers for decades. She knew then that she wanted to be a “shark scientist.”

She was eighteen when she first held a live shark, and that cemented her dream.

Not long afterward, though, Graham felt like she “had burned out completely.” She’d been trying to make it in “a toxic, white, male-dominated... environment laced with... casual and overt sexism and racism...” and it was harming her well-being. She was about to quit when she found a few other Black women who were shark scientists, too, and who were going through the same thing. Graham received instant support and it was life-changing. Two weeks later, the new friends had decided to mobilize. They met a Miami investor who lent resources and who helped them found Minorities in Shark Science (MISS), an organization that gives BIPOC young women an introduction to shark science. By then, Graham had decided to become a “rogue scientist” – one without academic backing, but whose research on sharks is essential in the field.

Sharks, says Graham, are not always the fearsome creatures that Hollywood wants us to believe. Yes, some sharks attack humans, but others are “kinda silly” sometimes, and some are “cutie-pies.” And there’s still a lot we don’t know about them.

Says Graham, “So many questions. But that’s where science begins: with questions.”

Alright, here it is: the STEM book you can share with your young adult, a book that’s not stuffy or academic but that’ll teach you something truly interesting. Here: all the things you wanted to know about all kinds of sharks, in plain words that are friendly, thorough, smart, awed, and easy-to-understand. Right here.

And if the shark science doesn’t fascinate you enough, author Jasmin Graham uses “Sharks Don’t Sink” to draw analogies between freedom and bias and between shark lives and Black lives. That’s done in the sweetest of ways, through Graham’s own story and that of her ancestors who steadfastly, fiercely stood up to racism and big business through the years. We also meet Graham’s father, an easy-going man who makes you want to sit on a quiet front porch with some sweet tea and a church fan. Ahhhhh.

Find this book for yourself, loan it to your 14-to-18-yearold, and be sure to ask for it back. “Sharks Don’t Sink” is the kind of book you’ll want to bite into twice.

In My Time of Dying:

How I Came Face-to-Face with the Idea of An Afterlife

by Sebastian Junger

c.2024, Simon & Schuster $27.99 163 pages Breathe in. Breathe out.

You’ve been doing it since the moment you were born and you don’t even have to think about it. You can hold in air, blow out candles, pant like a puppy, and calm yourself with a little lung-power, then go back to ignoring the whole system. It’s amazing but, as in the new book “In My Time of Dying” by Sebastian Junger, it’s also a terrifyingly

fragile thing.

The pain in his abdomen, just below his sternum, waxed and waned over the course of months.

Like many people, Sebastian Junger made note of it, shook it off, and resumed his life. He was a husband, father, writer, journalist, and filmmaker. He had things to do, starting with a chore he’d been procrastinating on: clearing heavy brush along the sides of his driveway.

In retrospect, he says, it’s odd that he’d tackle the chore on that day. The day he passed out, the day his wife had to half-carry him home, she called an ambulance, he went to the hospital, bleeding out through a ruptured aorta below his sternum.

That day, Junger almost died.

He was unconscious during some of what happened next, as doctors worked to save his life against rock-bottom odds. He lost track of time and space in the ER. but one thing Junger recalls with clarity: his father – dead well more than a decade – beckoned Junger to enter a black hole to the left of Junger’s bed.

Junger’s father had been a scientist, brilliant, focused, and non-religious, and he passed that attitude to his son, who’d seen his share of war and death. Junger hadn’t thought much about near-death experiences (NDEs) or an afterlife, but this was different. In the vast (but inadequate) research, this was his father, and his death.

But he didn’t die. He lived, with questions.

“Finding yourself alive after almost dying is not, as it turns out, the kind of party one might expect. You realize that you weren’t returned to life, you were just introduced to death.

“Would I ever function normally again?”

You may think you’ve made up your mind: there’s an afterlife, or there’s not. Or maybe you’re undecided. Author Sebastian Junger is about to upset whatever opinion – or at least just scuff it up a bit, because “In My Time of Dying” opens a wide discussion.

First, though, you need to get past a lot of history – of war, ancient beliefs, and biology – plus memoir, heavy on science and medicine. This can be dull, but it’s necessary so readers can fully understand the monumentality of what happened to Junger, and his semi-skeptical urge to learn more. He offers readers a window into his thoughts, at that point: He knew science. He knew life. He knew death. Is there an intersection with the three?

Be prepared to be awed, and maybe a little frightened. Be ready to have your own thoughts on life after death poked and prodded – and maybe changed. Beware for “In My Time of Dying” to leave you breathless.

Drawn Testimony:

My Four Decades as a

Courtroom Sketch Artist

by Jane Rosenberg

c.2024, Hanover Square Press

How do you draw a man?

$30.00 256 pages

was introduced to a courtroom artist and her eyes were opened. Bravely, she cold-called around for jobs and was hired almost immediately by a local television station as a sketch artist.

Since 1946, cameras have been generally forbidden in federal courts, which means that TV viewers and newspaper readers often must use their imaginations when learning about a trial. The law has been relaxed since 1981, but artists are still in high demand to illustrate the drama behind courtroom doors.

In her long career, Rosenberg has drawn Ghislaine Maxwell and Mark David Chapman. She’s captured the faces of an executed man and a crime boss. She sketched Martha Stewart, Bill Cosby, and Martin Shkreli; she drew portraits of a bomber, a football player, an accused child molester, a rock star, an accused rapist, and a high-end scammer. She enjoyed sketching a former president, and one of his associates who, she says, was even more fun to draw...

So here’s the most interesting thing about “Drawn Testimony”: it’s a memoir, and a book about a highly unusual job, but you’re going to forget both as you read it.

Author Jane Rosenberg pulls readers so gently and smoothly into the crimes at hand, profiling the criminals so deftly, that this feels more like a true crime book. Yes, you’ll read about art and about sketching defendants – as well as the prosecutors and others in the courtroom – and you’ll learn about what Rosenberg does and how, but that all falls behind the stories of the crimes she records and the outcomes of the trials. Indeed, readers are treated to breathless accounts of lies, scams, murders, theft, and assault, both current and in the last century, all told with the colorful flair of a working artist just doing her job.

Despite that this is the story of a tiny slice of American life and a unique job, this memoir will have wide appeal, with artists, memoir-lovers, and true crime lovers atop the list. If that’s you, let “Drawn Testimony” draw you in.

Angel of Vengeance

by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child c.2024, Grand Central $30.00 352 pages

They say that you can never go back home again. Oh, sure, you can physically be there a few times. You can stay overnight, sleep in your old bed, eat at the same table, but something will’ve changed. Home isn’t home anymore, it’s different. Whether it’s a week or ten years, you can never go home again – especially, as in the new novel, “Angel of Vengeance” by Preston & Child, home is nearly 150 years away.

Diogenes Pendergast had a hunch that Gaspard Ferenc was nothing but a small-time crook.

He’d followed Ferenc through the time portal to see what the man was up to and yes, it was some “get-rich-quick scheme” to take back to the twenty-first century. Diogenes knew that it wouldn’t work, though, especially since the portal had disappeared.

Should you decide to begin the series with this latest installment from authors Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, though, there are things you’ll need to know. The characters are crisp and perfectly wrought, placed inside a lot of cringeworthy violence, alongside a vile but brilliant madman who, in a time warp-twisty way, personifies every despot who comes after him since 1880. Beyond that, overall, the story is dark and dank, a little steampunkish, as if someone painted a portrait of a New York City circa 1881, and then wiped it with watery grime. Fans of Preston & Child will rejoice that “Angel of Vengeance” is here, and that it leaves a few untied ends to tease you. Newbies to these authors will love this book –but go back a few in the series first.

The Mysterious Mrs. Nixon:

The Life and Times of Washington’s Most Private First Lady by Heath Hardage Lee

c.2024, St. Martin’s Press $32.00 416 pages

Nobody knows the troubles you’ve seen. They’re all tucked firmly away in your head, never to be discussed. Your feelings on this, your viewpoint on that, they’re nobody’s business right now – or maybe ever. There are too many people in this world who’ll twist them to fit their own narrative, so no. As in the new book “The Mysterious Mrs. Nixon” by Heath Hardage Lee, you’ll keep things to yourself.

Everyone who knew Thelma Catherine “Pat” Ryan also knew that she was single-minded and focused. She had to be, as the oldest daughter, especially after her mother died. Pat was just thirteen then, and she took over the household to help her father raise her brothers.

By the time her father died in 1930, Pat had gained a college education. She traveled, worked in a medical field, and reveled in a self-sufficient life on her own. Even during the Depression, she was employed and worked hard, and in 1937, she accepted a teaching position at a small high school in Whittier, California.

And that was where a former student invited Pat to try out for a community play, and she met Dick Nixon. By all accounts, Nixon was immediately smitten by the vivacious Ryan, and he pursued her relentlessly. She liked him but not enough to want to give up her solo life or her career. He doubled-down, willing to let her embarrass him by dating other boys while he waited for her at a nearby hotel. She sometimes pretended she wasn’t at home when he came to call. It wasn’t like her to hurt anyone’s ego, but she showed him the door more than once. He persevered. He proposed, multiple times, and one of the proposals succeeded.

Take the easy route: a circle and five lines, and you have a stick figure that’s recognizable to almost everyone. Scribble some squiggles on the circle, and you’ve depicted a woman that any preschooler could identify. Scrawl in a smiley face, voila! Count yourself an artist. Add in chalk colors, some shading, and as in the new book “Drawn Testimony” by Jane Rosenberg, you’ve told a story. Like many artists, Jane Rosenberg grew up enchanted by colors. It started when her mother put crayons in Rosenberg’s small hands while Jane stood in her crib. It continued when her father and grandfather let her color their documents. As a teen, Rosenberg dabbled with her mother’s oil paints in their Long Island home because, of course, she planned to go to art school. By graduation, though, her favorite portrait style was considered out of favor and Rosenberg was often out of work. She took any gig she could find until one day, she

When he spotted his great-granduncle, Enoch Leng, with Ferenc, Diogenes knew that there’d be trouble. Leng must’ve known that Diogenes’ brother, FBI agent Aloysius Pendergast, was there in 1880, as was Aloysius’ partner, who’d come through the portal before Ferenc. Pendergast’s ward, Constance Greene, had traveled back some time even before that.

They’d come to this time and place to save a 9-year-old girl named Binky, who was actually Constance as a child. In later years, Constance had worked for Leng in his search for an extension of human life and at that time, she’d come to possess the Arcanum, a notebook with information Leng needed to “cleanse” the world. In his experiments on women he’d snatched, he’d murdered Constance’s sister, Mary, and endangered her brother, Joe. Constance planned on killing the monster who’d killed her sister.

But in addition to having a hold on most of New York’s riverside area, Leng had one advantage: he knew about the portal, and he knew his plans to create a perfect world would be accelerated in the twenty-first century. He only had to figure out when to get there... Though it’s a fact that you could read “Angel of Vengeance” by itself – don’t. The truth is that you will be much, much happier if you go back to catch a few of the other Pendergast novels. This one relies on former books to fill in the blanks that you’ll undoubtedly have.

Still, she had second thoughts, and third ones, and likely fourth ones. She understood where Nixon’s dreams resided. Uneasy, as the wedding approached, she confided in a friend that she wasn’t sure she could handle a move to Washington when he became President one day... History has been surprisingly kind to Richard Nixon – much kinder, perhaps, than many people would have forecast in 1973. His wife, Pat, though, is still somewhat of an enigma, and “The Mysterious Mrs. Nixon” helps change that.

Beginning with a memorable day for Americans who witnessed the long Watergate summer, author Heath Hardage Lee quickly takes the story to the turn of the last century, and the early life of a woman who “never craved center stage.” It’s a sympathetic tale with midcentury American society as a backdrop to Mrs. Nixon’s experiences, which tends to soften any stance you may have had about her. Because you can’t tell her story without Nixon in it, readers also see a softer side of the disgraced President. In that way, this biography-politicalbiography becomes a full-out charming love story. You don’t have to remember the Nixons or Watergate to read this book; Lee takes care of everything you need inside “The Mysterious Mrs. Nixon.” Look for it; you’ll have no trouble tucking into it.

Conne ct. Experience. Create.

Paradise Center for the rtsA

Paradise Center for the rtsA

For more information & tickets:

BAD BAD HATS

Bad Bad Hats is an indie rock band from Minneapolis, Minnesota. The band consists of Kerry Alexander and Chris Hoge. Named after the trouble-making character from the Madeline children’s books, Bad Bad Hats is defined by a balance of sweet and sour. Their music honors classic pop songwriting, with nods to nineties rock simplicity and pop-punk frivolity. Through it all, Alexander’s unflinchingly sincere lyrics cut to the emotional heart of things.

Friday, September 20 at 7:30 PM

MICK STERLING PRESENTS: BILLY JOEL WITH STRINGS

www.paradisecenterforthearts.org • 507.332.7372

For more information & tickets: www.paradisecenterforthearts.org • 507.332.7372

321 Central Avenue North, Faribault, MN

For more information & tickets: www.paradisecenterforthearts.org

Sponsored by Artist Julie Fakler

507.332.7372

321 Central Avenue North, Faribault, MN

321 Central Avenue Nor th, Faribault, MN

PICKUP TRUCK OPERA VOLUME 4: FAUST - FREE EVENT!

Thursday, September 12 at 6:00 PM at River Bend Nature Center

Mixed Precipitation is back in Faribault with another great opera for families to witness! In the not-so-distant future, scientist and entrepreneur Dr. Johann Faust faces a planet in crisis but no motivation to spare humanity its fate. He yearns to find a life of meaning and love. We hope you will join us for this special event at River Bend Nature Center--You won’t want to miss it!

WHEELTHROWING WITH DIANNE LOCKERBY

Wheelthrowing with Dianne Lockerby: Tuesdays, September 10 - October 15, from 1 to 3PM.

Member: $20

Non-Member: $25 / Student: $15

CHARLOTTE’S WEB

Improv 101:

Intro to Improv with Buddy Ricker (Ages 16+)

Improv 101:

Presented by Paradise Community Theatre

By Joseph Robinette

SATURDAYS THRU JUNE 22, 12:30-2PM

Member: $70 / Non-Member: $80

Based on the book by E.B. White

Intro to Improv with Buddy Ricker (Ages 16+)

Director: Samuel Temple

SATURDAYS THRU JUNE 22, 12:30-2PM

This course will focus on the fundamentals of improv acting with an emphasis on improv comedy. Through “hands on” exercises and laughter, we will bring out the

Member: $70 / Non-Member: $80

your family and friends with a course ending show that showcases the

Member $120/ Non-Member $144. Clay $54.00 for 25 pounds, or $2 a pound for recycled clay. This class is for the beginner or someone who has been away from clay for a bit. We will start with the basics of centering, and opening and go on from there. Each day Dianne does demos and will guide you through the steps of throwing to achieve pieces on the wheel. Small at first, but as skills progress the pots will get bigger and the walls thinner. Persistence pays off here, but it does take time. Come join us, getting dirty and having fun. Bring a towel and wear clothes to get dirty. While in your scheduled class you can also participate in the Tuesday AM studio. For clay newbies to a refresher class to an experienced clay lover. All are welcome Instructor: Dianne Lockerby.

PAT DONOHUE & FRIENDS

Pat Donohue and Friends is a musical presentation featuring Grammy Award winning acoustic fingerstyle guitarist Pat Donohue. As the guitarist for the “Guys All-Star Shoe Band” of Minnesota Public Radio’s “A Prairie Home Companion,” for twenty years. Pat got to show off his savvy licks and distinctive original songs to millions of listeners each week for 25 years. Accompanying Pat in this show are three “Friends,” PK Mayo, Richard Kriehn & John Wright! This combination of talent creates an interplay that is a unique sum of all these musical “Friends!”

Sunday, September 15 at 2:00 PM

Member: $20 / Non-Member: $25 / Student: $15

This is a family story about kindness, empathy, and the extraordinary lengths we can go for the people (or pigs) we love. The Children’s Literature Association named Charlotte’s Web “the best American children’s book of the past two hundred years,” and playwright Joseph Robinette, working with the advice of the book’s author E.B. White, has created a play that captures this work in a thrilling and magical fashion. All the enchanting characters from the classic book are here: Wilbur, the irresistible young pig who desperately wants to avoid the butcher; Fern, a girl who understands what animals say to each other; Templeton, the gluttonous rat who can occasionally be talked into a good deed; and, most of all, the extraordinary spider, Charlotte, who proves to be “a true friend and a good writer.” Determined to save Wilbur, Charlotte begins her campaign to help her friend and tell the story of “some pig” that has enthralled generations of readers and theatergoers.

Performances:

GALLERY

October 18, 19, and 25 at 7:30 PM October 20*, 26**, and 27 at 2:00 PM *ASL Interpreted Performance **Sensory Friendly Performance

Tickets: Member: $16, Non-Member: $18, Student: $12

Thank you to Reliance Bank for sponsoring this production!

“These activities are made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural fund.”

Curt Lund

Doug Clement

Dan Crombie

Curt Lund

Doug Clement

Dan Crombie