By Charlene Corson Selbee The Caledonia Balloon Rally was started in 1990 and is the only balloon rally south of Rochester, Minn., and has become an annual event. This year, the rally is scheduled for October 20-22. The 10 hot air balloons are coming from Minnesota, the surrounding states of Wisconsin and Iowa, and one is coming from South Dakota. They will lift off from the field behind the Caledonia High School at 4:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday evening…

Ride ‘em cowboys and cowgirls!Photo by Charlene Corson Selbee By Charlene Corson Selbee Toot-Toot, the familiar sound heard every September in Mabel welcomes residents and visitors to the annual Hesper-Mabel Steam Engine Days, September 7-10. The giant steam engines kick off both parades on Saturday and Sunday at noon. The Hesper-Mabel Calliope, a steam-whistle organ, takes its place among the steam engines as it whistles out familiar tunes. Do the iconic “wave” when Grand Marshals, Deb…

Hang out with family at Alma’s annual celebration.Photo courtesy of Alma Music and Arts Festival Facebook page By Charlene Corson Selbee Looking for something to do Labor Day weekend on the banks of the Mississippi River? If so, check out the 20th Annual Alma Music & Arts Festival at the Alma Beach and Recreation Area in Alma, Wis. The fun kicks off on Sunday, September 3 at 11 a.m. Thanks to community sponsors and volunteers the…

The Norman Borlaug Heritage Farm south of Cresco.Photo by Charlene Corson Selbee By Charlene Corson Selbee The first fall festival of the year has arrived. Head over to Cresco, Iowa, to immerse yourself in the Norman Borlaug Harvest Fest Friday, August 25 through Sunday, August 27. Borlaug is only one of seven people in the world to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Congressional Gold Medal. “An unforgettable celebration paying…

The Houston County Historical Society is hosting three free show and tell presentations in the agricultural building during the fair. Photo by Charlene Corson Selbee By Charlene Corson Selbee Local Caledonia resident, Luan Hammel’s 30-year Snoopy collection will be on exhibit during the Houston County Fair. The fair runs from August 16-20, in Caledonia, Minn. Fairgoers can find the collection in the Houston County Historical Society agricultural building. Hammel started the collection when she was in…

Meet Buffalo Bill in Lanesboro at the town’s annual Buffalo Bill Days.Photo courtesy of Laneboro Chamber of Commerce By Charlene Corson Selbee Join the community of Lanesboro, Minn. at the 39th Annual Buffalo Bill Days, August 3 through the 6. Family movie night kicks off the four-day event. The Disney movie “Encanto” will start at 8:30 p.m. in scenic Sylvan Park. New this year, a dunk tank! On Saturday, August 5, from 12-2 p.m., take aim…

The Moving Wall in Sumner, Iowa, in 2022. Photo by Charlene Corson Selbee By Charlene Corson Selbee The traveling half-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall was in Houston 19 years ago during the 2004 Hoedown Days and will be in town again this year in conjunction with the town’s well-known celebration. There will be plenty of time for Fillmore County Journal readers to visit the wall between July 27 and July 241 and pay their respects.…

Don’t these BBQ ribs look mouthwatering delicious? Photo from previous 2021 contender My Slabs BBQ.Photo by Charlene Corson Selbee By Charlene Corson Selbee Celebrate 165 years of tradition, food, entertainment, and exhibits at the 2023 Fillmore County Fair, July 17-23. The fairgrounds is located just minutes west of Hwy. 52 in Preston. Food is one of the top reasons fairgoers attend county fairs. Food, especially fair food, challenges all five senses. Whether it is a bag…

Owl Bluff Farm, one of the many vendors selling at the La Crescent Farmers Market.Photo by Charlene Corson Selbee By Charlene Corson Selbee Fresh, nutritious, and delicious tasting veggies are now in season! Shoppers will now find a large selection of veggies. In addition to veggies, shoppers will find a selection of jams, pickles, mushrooms, jerky, fish, beef, wine, flowers, homemade pie and bread, handmade dog treats, baby ducks and chicks, handcrafted items like potholders and…

Sit back and enjoy an outdoor music concert in Bluff Country. Photo courtesy of Dana Gunn By Charlene Corson Selbee Kick off the Fourth of July weekend at one of the many outdoor music concerts scheduled in Bluff County this summer.  Community Spirit Caledonia, a community-driven group of volunteers, is hosting the annual Music in the Park series. The four outdoor music concerts are held at the Gazebo Park, within walking distance of downtown Caledonia, Minn.…

The Decorah Nordic Dancers performing at Spring Grove’s Syttende May celebration. Photo by Charlene Corson Selbee By Charlene Corson Selbee You do not have to be Norwegian or a kid to enjoy Spring Grove’s Syttende Mai celebration Wednesday. May 17 through Sunday, May 21. On May 17, Norwegians celebrate the 1814 signing of the country’s constitution. In Norway Constitution Day is a party for everyone especially children. Spring Grove has planned a weekend of events for…

By Charlene Corson Selbee Do memories of fishing as a child swirl in your head? Have you wanted to learn to fish and did not know where to begin?You may not be familiar with Bluff Country. The scenic Bluff Country region of southeast Minnesota and northeast Iowa offers hundreds of miles of streams of quality trout fishing. In addition, the natural cold streams make for a healthy habitat where trout can thrive. People come to this region to fish for…

The Art of Visiting Bluff CountryBy Charlene Corson Selbee One-of-a-kind art studios and galleries call the pictur­esque landscape of Bluff Country home. Visitors will expe­rience not only first-class art galleries, but they will have the opportunity to meet talented artists and purchase their cre­ations. The range of artwork found in Bluff County ranges from jew­elry, clothing, oil and watercolor paintings, black and white draw­ings, wood fur­niture, fiber arts, sculptures, and glass to name a few. Residents and visitors alike look…

Photo by Charlene Corson SelbeeBy Charlene Corson Selbee Traditionally, pilgrimages are thought of as a journey to a sacred place in a foreign county searching for a higher good that leads to a life-altering experience. Family genealogists go on pilgrimages to learn or expand their knowledge about their roots which leads to personal transformations. Visitors come to the Bluff Country of SE Minnesota, NE Iowa, and SW Wisconsin to learn more about their ancestors and walk…

By Charlene Corson Selbee Effigy Mounds.Photo by Prairie du Chien Chamber of Commerce It is not difficult to find a hiking trail in picturesque Bluff Country, as many communities proudly claim at least one hiking trail. Bluff Country terrain offers trails for all ages and skill levels. The landscape includes miles of rolling hills, scenic overlooks, woods, rivers, rocky bluffs, farms, charming towns, wildlife, and birds. In Preston, Minn., check out Isinours Junction, which connects with…

By Charlene Corson Selbee Effigy Mounds.Photo by Brooklyn HolmstromThis is the year to explore the karst topography both above and below ground in the driftless region. Years 2021 and 2022 are celebrated as the International Year of Caves and Karst. “The 24,000 square miles of the driftless area is almost the size of Iowa and Wisconsin and encompasses four states and 46 counties,” explained George Howe with Sustainable Driftless, Inc. and film producer of Mysteries of…

By Charlene Corson Selbee Splash and dash in the Yellow River State Forest.Photo by Lana DahlstromThe bluff country of NE Iowa, SE Minnesota, and SW Wisconsin offers miles of unspoiled scenic beauty to make your horseback riding trip memorable, fun, and challenging. Riders will find trails that offer water obstacles, woods, flatlands, hills, bluffs, rocks/gravel, scenic overlooks, challenges, and unknowns. Some trails are suitable for beginners to advance riders. Need some gear? Deb Thompson, the owner…

By Wanda Hanson Kristi Danielson-Vreeman notices more and sees more than she used to — not because of glasses or surgery — but because she’s a photographer! Small details that might have previously gone unnoticed now become subjects of her photographs; close-ups of spiderwebs become crystal creations. Kristi’s dad bought her a 110 flash camera when she was 12 years old, thus nurturing a lifelong interest in photography. In college, Kristi took a class on developing her own film which…

By Jason Sethre There are quite a few famous songs about road trips that speak to American’s love affair with automobiles. They are not just a mode of transportations. They represent freedom. Willie Nelson sang, “On the road again… Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway… We’re the best of friends… Insisting that the world keep turning our way,” in 1980. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers created a timeless tune in 1989 with “Runnin’ Down a Dream.”…

By Jason Sethre When the pandemic brought everything to a screeching halt in March of 2020, the world was full of uncertainty in every direction. After the lockdown restrictions loosened up in Minnesota, our family had to figure out what we were going to do about the trip we had planned to fly to Florida to spend some quality time at Universal Studios with our two teenage children. In early June, the airline notified us that our flights had been…