Visit Bluff Country

A guide to Historic Bluff Country

Visit Bluff Country

First Kayak winner of the 2025 Summer

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On May 31, 2025, Tina Darr, of Rushford, Minn., won a brand new kayak from a drawing for the Visit Bluff Country Magazine Best of the Best contest.  Her son Beatty helped her pick up her prize.

As Visit Bluff Country Magazine celebrates 40 years as the premier tourism publication promoting Historic Bluff Country (a.k.a. The Driftless Area), they will be conducting prize giveaways each month from May through September.  Prizes include kayaks, a Blackstone 4-burner griddle, and a Green Mountain Grill.

The last drawing of the season will be held on September 30, 2025, for a brand new Green Mountain Grill pellet grill.  Please go to www.visitbluffcountry.com/thebest to enter for a chance to win.

The Visit Bluff Country Magazine is delivered to more than 1,000 locations in 35 counties in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.  This magazine has an ongoing mission of promoting tourism in the Historic Bluff Country (Driftless) region.

For information on upcoming town festival and events in Historic Bluff Country, vacation ideas for lodging, recreation, dining and shopping, check out the magazine in print or online at www.visitbluffcountry.com.

Over the summer months, Visit Bluff Country Magazine will giveaway over $4,000 in gift cards and prizes.

Photo by Jason Sethre

Founders Day Celebrates 10 Years in Downtown Caledonia

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By Charlene Corson Selbee

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Founders Day being held in downtown Caledonia. The celebration has grown from a one-day to a three-day community celebration filled with memorable homegrown activities. Previously held at the county fairgrounds, the event was moved downtown 10 years ago to support local businesses. Today, the focus remains firmly on the city’s historic downtown.

Festivities kick off Thursday evening, June 12, with St. Mary’s School Summer Bash, featuring music, games, a dunk tank, and walking tacos.

A popular event is the Cheeseburger Drive-Thru, hosted by the American Dairy Association, which takes place on Friday night, June 13, from 5-8 p.m. at the fairgrounds.

“We truly feel that there is something for everyone,” shared event organizer Helen Olson.

Saturday, June 14, starts off with the Caledonia Fire Department Fireman’s Pancake Breakfast, held from 7-10 a.m. at the fire station. Don’t miss the annual fire department’s water fight Saturday afternoon in front of the fire station.

New this year is Krazy Dayz, a one-of-a-kind street sale on Kingston Street featuring over 20 pop-up vendors. Expect vintage items, artisan goods, handmade crafts, furniture, skincare products, crocheted items, baked goods, candles, dog treats, clothing, and more. In addition to the vendors, there will be live glassblowing, music, free outdoor games for adults and kids, permanent jewelry, and temporary tattoos.

Also new this year is a scavenger hunt. Sign up at the beer tent by 12 p.m. Teams of two will search throughout the city limits to locate pieces of Caledonia’s history.

Saturday also includes the annual 5K Run/Walk and the popular Randy Klinski Memorial Car Show from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The beer tent opens at 11 a.m., and a bean bag tournament will take place during the day. The Founder’s Day Parade steps off at 4 p.m.

Enjoy live music Saturday night at the Main Stage featuring Bruce & Virgil followed by the Jay R. Brink Band.

Kids will enjoy the Children’s Outdoor Adventure Funfest at Gazebo Park – activities, crafts, games, inflatable fun, climbing wall, tie-dye, and snacks from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. A sawdust pile at 1 p.m. at Gazebo Park and kid’s activities from 4:30-8 p.m. on Main Street will round out the day.

Other Upcoming events in Bluff Country:

  • Free Iowa resident fishing, June 6-8, Iowa waters
  • Rhubarb Festival, June 7, Lanesboro
  • Rhythm by the River, June 12, Preston
  • Art in the Park, June 14, Lanesboro

The Visit Bluff Country Magazine is delivered to more than 1,000 locations in 35 counties in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. This magazine has a mission of promoting tourism in the Historic Bluff Country (Driftless) region.

PHOTO: Addison Solum was the 2024 winner of the bubble gumball guessing game. She not only took home the title, but all 460 gumballs. Her winning guess was 467. Photo submitted

44th annual Art in the Park fine art festival in Lanesboro

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Presented by Lanesboro Arts on Saturday, June 14th in scenic Lanesboro, MN

Lanesboro Arts is proud to present the 44th annual Art in the Park fine art festival on Saturday, June 14th, 2025, in Lanesboro’s Sylvan Park with 90-plus fine art and craft booths, family art activities, local food and beverage vendors, and live music. This event will run from 10 am to 5 pm, providing visitors an ample amount of time to view and purchase fine art, connect with others, and enjoy the festivities. Renowned for quality, variety and value, Art in the Park is a family-friendly art fair that attracts thousands of regional patrons to Sylvan Park each year.

The focal point of Art in the Park is of course the art! Fine art and craft artist booths encircle Sylvan Park underneath canopies of shade, featuring a wide variety of artist-made work by over 90 artists from the tri-state region. There will be original paintings, photography, fine jewelry, textile rugs and quilts, hand-thrown ceramics, stained glass, blown and fused glass sculptures, artworks utilizing reclaimed wood, metalwork, woven baskets, embroidery, and more. In addition to art vendors, there will be art demonstrations at various booths, as well as family and youth art activities!

If perusing all the artist booths works up an appetite, Art in the Park food and beverage vendors have you covered with delicious and locally prepared foods and craft beverages. Available food options in 2025 include home grown locally sourced or foraged ingredients (Heimstead); tacos, enchiladas, and more (Taqueria El Sueño); barbeque sandwiches (Biggen’s BBQ); brats and hot dogs from Lanesboro High School TexMex Fundraiser. The Farmers Market will also offer fresh food and healthy snack stands. Beverages will be offered by Location Lanesboro Podcast. Craft beer will be provided by Lanesboro’s very own Sylvan Brewing, KARST Brewing of Fountain, and Kinney Creek Brewery of Rochester.

Come for the art, stay for the live music! Throughout the festival, live music in the Sylvan Park Gazebo will keep energy high. The Rutabaga Brothers (10:00-11:30 am) is a southeast Minnesota-based upbeat blues ensemble. Marques Morel (12:00-1:30 pm) is an American songwriter, storyteller, and wandering troubadour with a wholly unique Midwestern-twang of folk music. Molly Brandt (2:00-3:30 pm) was named 2023 and 2024 Americana Artist of the Year at the Midwest Country Music Awards and has been making waves in the independent music scene across the region. Driftless Jazz (4:00-5:00 pm) will round out the day with smooth, easy-listening jazz standards. Take a break from perusing art to soak up the music!

Admission to Art in the Park is free. Accessible parking is available at Sylvan Park. Socialized dogs on leashes are permitted.

Art in the Park is presented by LANESBORO ARTS and is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund. For more information call 507-467-2446 or visit www.lanesboroarts.org/aip

Dana Boler Photography on the Cover of Visit Bluff Country Magazine

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Caledonia resident Dana Boler captured the stunning photo featured on the cover of the 2025-2026 Visit Bluff Country magazine. Taken last June at Hidden Spring Peony Farm with her iPhone – no filters or adjustments – the image highlights the farm’s vibrant pink peonies in peak bloom, a personal favorite of Dana’s. The farm is located just minutes from Spring Grove along Highway 4. 

Dana and her husband Nathan are parents to two young boys, Brooks and Briggs. Dana is a health and wellness coach, author of a children’s book “Raisins Help you Poop,” and as a hobby creates content for B Your Best Wellness Coaching, where you will see more of her photography.

The Boler family loves the outdoors and is enjoying exploring Bluff Country since moving to the area. One of their favorite spots is Beaver Creek Valley State Park, which they visit weekly, just outside of Caledonia.

Photo by Charlene Corson Selbee

Join Vesterheim to Celebrate Syttende Mai, Norway’s Constitution Day

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Vesterheim, the National Norwegian-American Museum and Folk Art School, invites everyone to celebrate Syttende Mai, Norway’s Constitution Day, on May 16, with activities on campus in Decorah and a live fiddle concert. Admission is free all day, and the museum and store will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Syttende Mai is the day Norway ratified its constitution in 1814 at Eidsvoll and Norwegians celebrate with excited crowds—especially children—marching through the streets, waving flags, and singing songs. This event is made possible by a generous gift to the Vesterheim Annual Fund from Craig Trygstad and Lynne Coleman.
In the Museum Store, there will be a book signing by Amy Shaw from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. At 10:45 to 11:45 a.m., a Guided Heritage Park Tour will be available.
In Vesterheim’s Bethania Church, fiddler Vidar Skrede will play from 12:00-12:30 p.m. Vidar Skrede is a freelance Nordic folk musician, playing fiddle, Hardanger fiddle, and guitar. He is from Norway and currently lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He has a background in the traditional music of Rogaland, his home area in the southwest of Norway, and has a masters degree in Nordic folk music at the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm, Sweden. He is known for playing in several bands, such as Geitungen, AAMOS, Secret Carpet Club, and Lynx Lynx.
Outside in the museum campus, the Children’s Parade throughout Vesterheim Heritage Park will begin at 1:00 p.m., free ice cream treats from Decorah’s Culvers will be served, and Decorah’s Nordic Dancers will perform after a brief welcome from Vesterheim President/CEO Chris Johnson at 1:45 p.m. Norwegian flags will be given out at the parade, and everyone is invited to march along. The Nordic Dancers began in Decorah in 1966 and include a senior and junior group of dancers. The dancers begin as third graders and make a 10-year commitment to continue through high school.
Celebrate the new forging studio with Vesterheim! There will be a ribbon cutting at 9:00 a.m. at the forge (north side of 418 W. Water St.) and a chance to see the forge. Then join us in Vesterheim Commons for an opening reception.
In case of inclement weather, the parade and Nordic Dancers will be canceled. All other activities will continue as planned.
Vesterheim, the National Norwegian-American Museum and Folk Art School, welcomes people of all ages and backgrounds to engage in the conversation of the American immigrant journey through the lens of the Norwegian-American experience. Vesterheim offers innovative and interactive exhibits, classes, and programs, both at the dynamic campus and park in scenic Decorah, Iowa, and online at vesterheim.org and Vesterheim social media. For more information on exhibits, classes, programs, tours, membership opportunities, and ways to donate and volunteer, connect at vesterheim.org, (563) 382-9681, and Vesterheim, 502 W. Water St., P.O. Box 379, Decorah, IA, 52101-0379.

New Exhibit at Vesterheim Museum

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Meet Guest Curator Dr. Nancy Coleman at Vesterheim, the National Norwegian-American Museum and Folk Art School, at an opening reception of the new exhibit “Pioneering Pages: Forming the New American Woman” on May 9, 2025, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the Museum Building. Dr. Coleman will give a gallery walk at 5:30 p.m. The exhibit is open through May 18, 2026.

The exhibit tells the story of “Kvinden og Hjemmet” (Woman and Home), a national magazine for women first published in 1888 in Iowa by Norwegian immigrant sisters Ida and Mina Jensen. The magazine offered information to help Norwegian immigrant women adapt to American ways of life, but it was much more! By and for women, the publishers and writers advocated for women’s education, equality, and suffrage.

“Vesterheim is pleased to work with Norwegian scholars Dr. Nancy Coleman, Dr. Eva Marie Syversen, Anne Kari Vasaasen, and Solveig Glesaaen to shed light on an important part of the story of Norwegian immigration history and Norwegian-American life,” Vesterheim Chief Curator, Laurann Gilbertson, said.

This exhibit is made possible by a generous gift to the Vesterheim Annual Fund by the Tomson Family Foundation.

Vesterheim, the National Norwegian-American Museum and Folk Art School, welcomes people of all ages and backgrounds to engage in the conversation of the American immigrant journey through the lens of the Norwegian-American experience. Vesterheim offers innovative and interactive exhibits, classes, and programs, both at the dynamic campus and park in scenic Decorah, Iowa, and online at vesterheim.org and Vesterheim social media. For more information on exhibits, classes, programs, tours, membership opportunities, and ways to donate and volunteer, connect at vesterheim.org, (563) 382-9681, and Vesterheim, 520 W. Water St., P.O. Box 379, Decorah, IA, 52101-0379.