The 43nd annual Art in the Park fine art festival in Lanesboro, Minnesota on Saturday, June 15th will feature fine art booths, and family art activities amid mature shade trees in the beautiful setting of Sylvan Park. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please note that June 15th is the Saturday before Father’s Day. Hosted by LANESBORO ARTS, a multidisciplinary nonprofit with a 40+ year legacy of supporting art and artists in the scenic Lanesboro area, the annual Art in the Park festival is southern Minnesota’s longest running fine art fair! Renowned for quality, variety and value, Art in the Park attracts thousands of regional patrons to Sylvan Park in Lanesboro each year. Admission is free. Handicap parking is available at Sylvan Park. Socialized dogs on leashes are permitted.

Nestled in the heart of Bluff Country along the Root River, Lanesboro is the hidden gem of Southeastern Minnesota. With an extraordinarily high density of creative activities concentrated in such a small community, Lanesboro (pop. 754) was declared one of the country’s “Top 12 Small Town Artplaces” in 2013 by Artplace America. The Root River State Bike Trail, rated one of the best trails in Minnesota, runs right through Lanesboro’s authentic 19th century downtown. This picturesque hub of activity invites travelers of all stripes to indulge in one of many tantalizing restaurants or unique shops.

Artist booths!

The focal point of Art in the Park is, of course, the art! Fine art and fine 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. Artwork includes paintings, photography, fine jewelry, textile rugs & quilts, hand thrown ceramics, stained glass, blown & fused glass sculptures, artworks utilizing reclaimed wood, stoneware clay pottery, metalwork, woven baskets, whimsical welded yard art, and more. Check out the bottom of this page for the full list of 2023’s participating artists.

Interested in applying for the 2024 festival? – Learn More Here.

Food & Beverages:

Available food options in 2023 were pulled pork sandwiches and smoked chicken (Biggen’s BBQ of Peterson), tacos (Taqueria El Sueño), and brats and hot dogs (Lanesboro High School Sophomore and Junior TexMex Fundraiser). The Farmers Market also offered fresh food and healthy snack stands. There was also a Dessert Booth featuring home-made baked goods (Discovery Faith Community).

Beverages were available from Lanesboro Community Theater (ice-cold pop, lemonade, and water). Craft beer was provided by Kinney Creek Brewery of Rochester, KARST Brewing of Fountain, Island City Brewing of Winona, and Lanesboro’s very own Sylvan Brewing.

Live Music:

Live music provides a joyful ambiance and additional entertainment to Art in the Park from Sylvan Park’s central Gazebo. 2023’s year’s Art in the Park featured live performances from The Rutabaga Brothers (10:30 am-12:00 pm), Squirrel Tail (12:15 pm – 1:45 pm), Nathan’s Jazzers featuring Mariah Ciangiola (2:00 pm – 3:30 pm), and River Crossing (3:45 pm – 5:00pm).

The Rutabaga Brothers are an upbeat and danceable R & B combo that puts smiles on your faces because it “Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues.” With selections by such artists as Wilson Picket, Muddy Waters, Eric Clapton, Delbert McClinton, The Blues Brothers, Eddie Floyd, Etta James, B.B. King, Jimmy Reed and many others, The Brothers will have you rockin’ your blues away. That’s the secret to the blues: Listening to it makes you feel happy.

Squirrel Tail is a group of musicians from Minnesota and Iowa. They have enjoyed playing their bluegrass and old country music at area festivals and town celebrations. Each musician plays a variety of instruments, including everything from the fiddle and guitar all the way to the occasional train whistle!

Nathan’s Jazzers featuring Mariah Ciangiola is an easy-going group of guys and a gal who have been playing music for many years. The variety and improvisation found in Jazz standards is a fun challenge for the group, who will knock your socks of with their classic big band sound. Nathan Davidson, the group’s frontman, is the founder of CBB Jazz Combo as well as the Lost Faculties. Mariah Ciangiola is an actress and vocalist who has sung around the world as lead Vocalist for AIDA Cruiselines.

River Crossing is a unique local trio that plays an engaging, eclectic mix of songs. From infectious rhythm and blues and deep roots to neo-soul and modern singer-songwriter tunes that will welcome you to sit back and enjoy. Members Paul Schmidt, Ryan Palmer, and Jeff Sanders met at an open mic in Lanesboro in 2021 and found they all share the same passion for creating and supporting local music.

2023 Kids & Family Activities:

Kids Create! “Make a Tie for Dad” art project
Caricatures
Face painting
Yard Games
All Glazed Up-Studio Motif (Painting)
Austin Area Art Center (Bubbles)

List of Artist Vendors at Art in the Park 2023!

CERAMICS

Sarah Davis | Guttenberg, IA

Alexis Zaccariello | Rochester, MN

Jennifer Nahl | Decorah, IA

Rock Johnsen | Minneapolis, MN

Tanner Talbot | Monticello, MN | Emerging Artist

Molly and Andrew Rivera | Hutchinson, MN

Nina Preheim | Duluth, MN

 

DRAWING/PASTELS

Mike Zierke | Onalaska, WI

Elizabeth Forsman | Rochester, MN

Suzy Johnson | St. Paul, MN | Emerging Artist

Michael Klen | La Crosse, MN

 

GLASS

Linda Carlson | Minnesota City, MN

Nicole Burk | Rushford, MN

 

JEWELRY

Judy Christensen | Stillwater, MN

Connie Kopet and Sue Connolly | Le Center, MN

Robert Hale | North Branch, MN

Rachel Pauli | Winona, MN

Madeline Allen | Rochester, MN

Amy Johnson | Rochester, MN | Emerging Artist

Janice Ahlstrom | Eagan, MN

Robert Geisel | Madison, WI

Angel Teske | Minneapolis, MN

Greta Hammelman | Minneapolis, MN

Madelyn Coffey | Monticello, MN | Emerging Artist

Lake Garren | Trempealeau, WI

Ann Beddow | Bloomington, MN

Sarah Moeding | Jeffers, MN

Christy Dickinson | West St. Paul, MN

 

METALWORK

Tracy and Deb Heimer | Stacyville, IA

Sharon and Duane Kirkland | Maple Grove, MN

 

MIXED MEDIA

Alissa Rindels-Walton | Shell Rock, IA

Scarlett Rosemark | Eagan, MN

Gary Harbo | Eagan, MN

Isabel Emerson | Elk River, MN | Emerging Artist

Courtney Lavan and James Ylinen | Superior, WI

Angela Strobel and Steve Jambor | White Bear Lake, MN

Tonja Ihlenfeldt | Mason City, IA

MaryLee Eischen | Winona, MN

Laura Burlis | Minneapolis, MN

 

OTHER

Craig Wojciechowski | Foley, MN

Shanna McCann | Byron, MN

Jay Skranka | Winona, MN

Cindy Quiring | Mountain, MN

Erin Maurelli | Roseville, MN

Jae Julianne | Lanesboro, MN | Emerging Artist

Sandy Leisen | St. Charles, MN | Emerging Artist

Steve Harris | Motley, MN

Grace Burski | Sauk Centre, MN

Connie Parrett | Rochester, MN

Lanesboro Area Art Tour| Lanesboro, MN

 

PAINTING

Ashley Erickson | Minneapolis, MN

Jen Pietrzak | Byron, MN | Emerging Artist

Dennis Theiler | Winona, MN

Joey Selzler | Edina, MN | Emerging Artist

Echo Larson | Duluth, MN | Emerging Artist

Bill Zierke | Onalaska, WI

Becky Loy | Oronoko, MN

Gretchen Wood | Appleton, WI

Libby Deyo | Winona, MN

Jeanna Krause | Bay City, WI | Emerging Artist

Susan Anderson | Ham Lake, MN

Jon Reiss | St. Louis Park, MN

Suzy Johnson | St. Paul, MN

Brenna Brom | Rochester, MN

Megan Njoroge | Rochester, MN | Emerging Artist

Carrie Arnold | Rochester, MN | Emerging Artist

Elizabeth England | Rochester, MN | Emerging Artist

Kevin Petersen | Rochester, MN | Emerging Artist

Zoe Craig | Viroqua, WI | Emerging Artist

 

PHOTOGRAPHY

Andy Fiore | Foley, MN

Brian Curski | Coon Rapids, MN | Emerging Artist

Mike Gustafson | Des Moines, IA

Ian Hanson | Grand Meadow, MN

Brady Flower | Minneapolis, MN

Doug Cummelin | Bloomington, MN

 

SCULPTURE

Mark Lajiness | Janesville, WI

 

TEXTILES

Ashley Neary | Viroqua, WI

Audra Otto | Harmony, MN | Emerging Artist

Kerri Peck | Lakeville, MN

Nicole Brecht | Carver, MN

Susan Parham | Eagan, MN

Mary Bronk | Lanesboro, MN

Jane Grevstad | Lanesboro, MN

Chelsey Mingone | Zumbrota, MN | Emerging Artist

 

WOOD

Keith Rolling | Blue Earth, MN

David and Lynn Susag | Lanesboro, MN

Ronald Anderson | Byron, MN

Kylie Guimont| Braham, MN

Patrick Plautz | Eagan, MN

Jennifer Linck-Tollefsbol | Oakdale, MN

James Harvey | Eden Prairie, MN

Charles Henry | Faribault, MN | Emerging Artist

Lyle Morey | Wykoff, MN | Emerging Artist

Robert Shaffer | New Prague, MN | Emerging Artist

Dawn Quinn | Lake City, MN | Emerging Artist

Philip Waletzko | La Crosse, MN | Emerging Artist

Dave and Elizabeth Galloway | Spring Grove, MN

Volunteering at Art in the Park!

We need your help in making another successful Art in the Park festival possible! Please sign up in support of Lanesboro Arts and this amazing, long-standing community event. Shifts are available helping with the Set-Up/Tear-Down, Information, Family Art, and Beer Booths. All ages welcome!

Please contact Kara Maloney at kara@lanesboroarts.org and she can sign you up.