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Visit Bluff Country

A guide to Historic Bluff Country

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Visit Bluff Country

Barnetimen Children’s Hour at Vesterheim

February 10, 2025 by Visit Bluff Country

Vesterheim, the National Norwegian-American Museum and Folk Art School, welcomes preschoolers and their caregivers to the museum for Barnetimen Children’s Hour, on Tuesday, February 18, at 10 a.m. Meet in the lobby of the Museum Building to explore objects and stories in the collection and make fun art.

Meet in the lobby of the Museum Building to explore the textures and patterns on objects that feature hearts, then create heart-inspired art before enjoying a snack.

Barnetimen programs are free and geared toward 3- to 5-year-olds, but all ages are welcome. New programs are offered in person at the museum the third Tuesday of the month from 10-11 a.m., September through April.

No reservations are needed, but larger groups of 10 or more are asked to contact the museum the day before the program to help with planning. For more information, please contact Jennifer Kovarik, Vesterheim Collection Manager, 563-382-9681 or jkovarik@vesterheim.org.

This program is supported by generous gifts to the Vesterheim Annual Fund from David and Brenda Carlson and Norwegian Mutual Insurance Association.

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.

Filed Under: Happenings in Bluff Country, News

Announcing Call for Visual Artists for Early Career Artist Exhibition at Lanesboro Arts Gallery

November 24, 2024 by Visit Bluff Country

Photo from Lanesboro Arts 2023 Early Career Artist Exhibition. Photo courtesy of Lanesboro Arts.

Lanesboro, Minn. – Lanesboro Arts is pleased to announce an opportunity for early career visual artists from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa to display their work in a professional gallery setting at Lanesboro Arts. The show will run from February 8 through March 30, 2025. Applications are due December 9, 2024 at noon. Accepted artists will be contacted by December 20. 

The Early Career Artist Exhibition will be curated by an advisory committee made up of BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and disabled artists involved in the Equitable Systems Change Program. Lanesboro Arts has launched the Equitable Systems Change Program for the Lanesboro Arts Gallery as a commitment to a thorough review and change of current systems and processes, based on detailed recommendations to align practices with equity values and more deeply serve BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ artists. 

Lanesboro Arts defines an “early career artist,” or emerging artist, as an individual who has great potential in their artistic practice but has not yet received major recognition, has not yet been substantially celebrated for their work and / or has not yet established significant “footing” within their field. This particular show will prioritize early career artists who also identify as BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled; however all early career artists are welcome to apply. All visual arts media are eligible. Artists may be any age, but Lanesboro Arts specifically invites those artists with limited exhibition experience to apply.

To apply, artists may complete the online application available on the Lanesboro Arts website. From the homepage of lanesboroarts.org, click on ‘Artist Opportunities’ on the sidebar, and then on ‘Early Career Artist Application’. To complete the application, artists are asked to submit images via Google Drive or Dropbox. All visual arts media are eligible – both 2-D and 3-D. For those who prefer, you may submit a video application to gallery@lanesboroarts.org, with the subject line “Early Career Artist application”.

Wall pieces chosen will need to be framed and include a hanging wire in the back; all work in the Early Career Artist Exhibition will be for sale as per consignment agreement (40% gallery, 60% artist). Each accepted artist will receive a $500 stipend for exhibition costs, and will have the option of assisting with installation.  Transporting the work to and from Lanesboro will be the responsibility of the artist; however, for this show, we are able to offer a mileage stipend for those who request it up to $250. The deadline for work delivery will be January 31, 2025. 

The Early Career Artist Exhibition will open on Saturday, February 8, 2025, with an artist reception from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Lanesboro Arts Gallery.

The Lanesboro Arts Gallery is located at 103 Parkway Ave. N. in Lanesboro, Minnesota. The organization provides year-round arts programming and serves as a regional catalyst for artistic excellence and educational development, by providing diverse art experiences for people of all ages. For more information, visit www.lanesboroarts.org.

Filed Under: Happenings in Bluff Country

Blackstone 4-Burner Griddle Winner

September 25, 2024 by Visit Bluff Country

Photo by Jason Sethre

On August 31, 2024, Marissa Ristau, of Preston, Minn., won a brand new Blackstone 4-Burner Griddle from a drawing for the Visit Bluff Country Magazine Best of the Best contest.

Kelley Hudson, of Brooklyn Park, Minn., won a brand new kayak from the same contest on July 31, 2024.

Maria Stemper, of Caledonia, Minn., won a brand new kayak from the same contest on June 30, 2024.

Katie Semling, of Fountain City, Wis., also won a brand new kayak from the same contest on May 31, 2024.

As Visit Bluff Country Magazine celebrates 39 years as the premier tourism publication of 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 Grizzly cooler, and a Green Mountain Grill.

The last drawing of the season will be held on September 30, 2024, 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 a 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.

Filed Under: The Best Winners

Third Kayak winner of the Summer

September 19, 2024 by Visit Bluff Country

Photo by Jason Sethre

On July 31, 2024, Kelley Hudson, of Brooklyn Park, Minn., won a brand new kayak from a drawing for the Visit Bluff Country Magazine Best of the Best contest.

Maria Stemper, of Caledonia, Minn., won a brand new kayak from the same contest on June 30, 2024.

Katie Semling, of Fountain City, Wis., also won a brand new kayak from the same contest on May 31, 2024.

As Visit Bluff Country Magazine celebrates 39 years as the premier tourism publication of 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 Grizzly cooler, and a Green Mountain Grill.

The last drawing of the season will be held on September 30, 2024, for a brand new Green Mountain Grill pellet grill. Please go to 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 a 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 explore this website.

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

Filed Under: The Best Winners

Second Kayak winner of the Summer

August 22, 2024 by Visit Bluff Country

Photo by Jason Sethre

On June 30, 2024, Maria Stemper, of Caledonia, Minn., won a brand new kayak from a drawing for the Visit Bluff Country Magazine Best of the Best contest.

Katie Semling, of Fountain City, Wis., also won a brand new kayak from the same contest on May 31, 2024.

As Visit Bluff Country Magazine celebrates 39 years as the premier tourism publication of 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 Grizzly cooler, and a Green Mountain Grill.

The next drawing for a brand new Blackstone griddle will be held on August 31, 2024. 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 a 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.

Filed Under: The Best Winners

First Kayak winner of the Summer 2024

June 20, 2024 by Visit Bluff Country

On May 31, 2024, Visit Bluff Country Magazine conducted the first prize giveaway drawing of the summer, which was a brand new kayak. As the magazine celebrates 39 years as the premier tourism publication of 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 Grizzly cooler, and a Green Mountain Grill.

The next drawing for a brand new kayak will be June 30, 2024. 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 a 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 with four different contests.

The Visit Bluff Country Magazine Golf Tour kicks off this next week, and $25 gift cards will be given away with a contest on the Visit Bluff Country Facebook Page.

The Brewery, Distillery & Winery Contest runs on the Visit Bluff Country Magazine Facebook page.  This contest will include a weekly $25 gift card giveaway for 17 consecutive weeks.

Visit Bluff Country Magazine will also giveaway $100 in gift cards with the Choose Your Adventure Contest, accessible at www.visitbluffcountry.com/adventure.

PHOTO:
Katie Semling, of Fountain City, Wis., alongside her son Barett, stood next to their brand new kayak that Katie won in a recent contest.
Photo by Jason Sethre

Filed Under: The Best Winners

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