Calendar of Events

Deadline for submissions for Talking Stick #29

The Jackpine Writer' Bloc call for submissions for the next Talking Stick will be out in December. This will be the group's 29th book. Writers can check the website - www.jackpinewriters.com - in December for submission guidelines. The deadline for submissions will be March 1, 2020. The Jackpine Writers' Bloc has been publishing the Talking Stick since 1995. Started as a writer's group hoping to have their work published, their Talking Stick has become a statewide literary journal. And JWB has also published books authored by several members. Most volumes are available for purchase on their website.

Aerial Firefighting

Dan Carroll, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources firefighting specialist, will reveal specialized techniques for preventing and battling wildfires for the Headwaters Center for Lifelong Learning program March 3. HCLL programs are from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays at Park Theater. The sessions are free and handicapped accessible. Refreshments and treats provided.

Heartland Concert Association: The Hall Sisters

The Hall Sisters will perform as part of the Heartland Concert Series at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 5 at the Park Rapids Area High School Auditorium. Performing together since 2007, the sisters play violin, viola, cello, mandolin and piano. The four sisters have brought their unique blend of the Andrews Sisters and current country pop to the Grand Ole Opry, Carnegie Hall and the Country Music Hall of Fame. Membership packets are available at Beagle and Wolf Books, Park Rapids; Thrifty White Drug, Walker; and Headwaters School of Music and the Arts, Bemidji. Additional funding has been provided in whole or in part by a Region 2 Arts Council Community Arts Support Grant through an appropriation by the MN Legislature, and the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund passed by MN voters Nov. 4, 2008.

The Great White North

Photographer Cal Rice's travels took him to Polar Bear territory at Churchill, where he also captured images of Arctic Fox, Ptarmigan and Snowy Owls. Rice will show his photos for the HCLL program March 10. Programs are from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays at Park Theater. The sessions are free and handicapped accessible. Refreshments and treats provided.

Chasing the Northern Lights

Nature photographer and musician, Debbie Center will present a program featuring her photography and music, while sharing her passion for the Northern Lights in a program from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 12 at the Park Rapids Area Library.

The Land Feeds Us, Body and Soul

The Headwaters Center for Lifelong Learning program March 17 will feature Marcie Rendon, author of the novel, "Murder on the Red River.” She will talk about her history of writing and how her Ojibwe heritage has formed and shaped her story. HCLL programs are from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays at Park Theater. The sessions are free and handicapped accessible. Refreshments and treats provided.

Fish and Wildlife Enforcement - A Look Back

Tom Chapin will recall events and experiences from a 30-year career in poaching enforcement, for the Headwaters Center for Lifelong Learning program March 24. Chapin relates dramatic and often humorous anecdotes of human behavior. HCLL programs are from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays at Park Theater. The sessions are free and handicapped accessible. Refreshments and treats provided.

Northern Light Opera Company auditions

In line with CDC recommendations, Northern Light Opera Company has changed auditions to an on-line process using the meeting program Zoom. The March 27 and 28 dates remain the same. For instructions on the audition process, go to https://www.northernlightopera.org/big-fish-auditions.

Whatever your age, if you like to sing, dance, build things, find new friends or do something to make others smile…check out Northern Light Opera Company (NLOC). The 2020 summer musical will be “Big Fish,” a rollicking fantasy set in the American South that premiered on Broadway in 2017. This is your invitation to become part of a fun/rewarding adventure and audition to become one of the characters telling this story. Auditions will be at Calvary Lutheran Church, Park Rapids as follows: Friday, March 27 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. sing one verse, recite one- to two-2 minute monologue and Saturday, March 28 dance auditions at 10:30 a.m. and invited call-backs at 1:30 p.m. For more information about characters, vocal range, sides, etc., check: www.northernlightopera.org or info@northernlightopera.org.

Terrapin Sundays: Original art and music series

Terrapin Station is hosting a third season of Terrapin Sundays, an original art and music series. The art reception begins at 3 p.m. Music will start about 3:45 p.m. and go until about 6 p.m. with a 30-minute break between sets. Admission is $10 per event. Featured Sunday, March 29 will be Art by Ramona, Barry and Casimir and Music by SOMJAM. Terrapin Station, a music, art and wellness center, and the Blue Door Gallery are located at 115 Main Street, Nevis. For more information, call 218-652-4091.

A Farm, A Forest, A Little Blue Bird, and the Future - Or What Happens When a Farmer Marries a Bluebirder

Mary and Bill Bailey, 2015 Tree Farmers of the Year, will introduce the conservation practices that permeate their professions for the HCLL program March 31. Programs are from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays at Park Theater. The sessions are free and handicapped accessible. Refreshments and treats provided.

Century Elementary 2nd Grade Music Concert

A Century Elementary 2nd Grade Music Concert is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday April 2. Students will be performing a musical revue about how bedtime can be a blast called "Pajama Party" written by Cristi Cary Miller and Jay Michael Ferguson. "This is a super fun program we are excited about sharing with the community," said instructor Kirsten Edevold. A reminder that if the main parking lot is full, people are invited to use the bus loop on the south side of the school. "We invite the community to enjoy an evening of music sure to bring a smile. There is nothing like young voices singing together to lift your spirits," Edevold said.

For Love of a River: Minnesota

The Headwaters Center for Lifelong Learning program April 7 will feature aquatic ecologists Geri and Darby Nelson, who weave together cultural and natural history as they recount their journey of paddling the entire length of the Minnesota River. HCLL programs are from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays at Park Theater. The sessions are free and handicapped accessible. Refreshments and treats provided.

Hobos of the Great Depression

Connie Lounsbury, HCLL's featured Bella Sanders Memorial speaker, will bring pictures, stories and colorful history with daily life details of a unique aspect of life in the 1930s for the Headwaters Center for Lifelong Learning program April 14. HCLL programs are from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays at Park Theater. The sessions are free and handicapped accessible. Refreshments and treats provided.

I'm Just a Girl from Federal Dam

Justice Anne McKeig will talk about her upbringing on the Leech Lake Reservation, education, work as a prosecutor, family law judge and Minnesota Supreme Court Justice. for the Headwaters Center for Lifelong Learning program April 21. HCLL programs are from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays at Park Theater. The sessions are free and handicapped accessible. Refreshments and treats provided.

Park Rapids Classic Chorale Concerts

Are you ready for warmer weather? Are you needing some time to connect to the earth through songs about her? Just need to get out of the house? Join the Park Rapids Classic Chorale for "We Belong to the Earth," a concert of nature-themed music, which will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 24 and at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 26 at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Park Rapids. The 50-voice chorale, under the direction of Dr. Melanie Hanson, closes their 30th anniversary season leading listeners on a journey connecting us back to the land we call home, Earth. Listeners will enjoy traditional Native American texts as well as music from famous Minnesota composers, F. Melius Christiansen's Psalm 50 as well as “Dawn” composed by Crookston native Dr. Eric William Barnum, grandson of one of the members of the chorale. The program will be rounded out by "Tree of Life" by Mack Wilberg, music director of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square as well as the well-known American Composer Aaron Copland's stunning "The Promise of Living." The concert is open to the public with a free will offering taken at intermission. As always everyone is invited to join the chorale in the social hall for refreshments following the concert and enjoy the artwork of local Ojibwa artist Brian K. Down. Remember to like us on Facebook at PRClassicChorale to stay up to date on all the Chorale happenings!

Heartland Concert Association: Ball in the House

Entertaining as part of the Heartland Concert Series at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 28 will be Ball in the House.Performing for more than 20 years, the five-voice a cappella vocal band has appeared on America's Got Talent and the TODAY Show. They've also written and performed jingles for Amazon Prime and Cool Whip. The concert will be at the Park Rapids Area High School Auditorium. Membership packets are available at Beagle and Wolf Books, Park Rapids; Thrifty White Drug, Walker; and Headwaters School of Music and the Arts, Bemidji. Additional funding has been provided in whole or in part by a Region 2 Arts Council Community Arts Support Grant through an appropriation by the MN Legislature, and the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund passed by MN voters Nov. 4, 2008.

Community Band Spring Concert

The Park Rapids Area Community Band has begun preparing for its Spring Concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 3 at the Park Rapids High School Auditorium. The concert will be titled "The Great American Outdoors." The opening selection will be "An Outdoor Overture," composed by Aaron Copland in 1938. Other pieces include "Down a Country Lane," also by Copland, "Shenandoah" by Frank Ticheli and "Variations on America" by Charles Ives. Adam Tervola Hultberg of New York Mills conducts with members traveling from towns more than a one-hour drive from Park Rapids, including Bemidji, Nevis, Wadena, Detroit Lakes and beyond. The musicians span the age and experience spectrum with several area school music teachers to adults who still enjoy playing their instruments many years after high school. The band currently has about five high school musicians seeking additional performing experience. Guest soloist Deborah Harris will delight the audience with her brilliant flute playing. The longtime professor of flute from Concordia College will be featured in the flute section on a work called "The Gemeinhardt Suite." The three movement work explores a variety of ethnic components as well as flute-specific details. For example, the soloist and members of the section will play alto and bass flutes in addition to the standard C flute and piccolo. The Park Rapids Area Community Band began in 1991 with Jim Wheeler as its founding leader. Many years later, Wheeler still attends band events as a loyal audience member. This time, he has agreed to conduct on a piece that was on the inaugural program, "Guadalcanal March” from the television program “Victory at Sea."

Century Elementary 3rd & 4th Grade Music Programs

Century School 3rd and 4th grade music programs will be the evening of Thursday May 14. There will be two separate concerts with the 3rd grade starting at 6:30 and the 4th grade concert time of 7:30. "We scheduled them back to back to make more seating for our audience," Edevold said. "This worked really well last year." Concert music selections will be very varied. First Responders is a song that pays tribute to the people in our community who help us.Peace Song, There is Life Beyond the Phone and Es Bueno Ser Educado are just a few of the pieces students have been preparing. A reminder that if the main parking lot is full, people are invited to use the bus loop on the south side of the school. "We invite the community to enjoy an evening of music sure to bring a smile. There is nothing like young voices singing together to lift your spirits," Edevold said.

Blank Canvas Gallery Revisited art show

The original members of Blank Canvas Gallery, who opened their gallery on Main Street in Park Rapids in June 2010, are planning a 10 year reunion while hosting a public art show. The plan is to create a “Three-Day Gallery” showing to reconnect with the public. Many of the artists remain in the community and are looking forward to working together again. While some artists have left the area, most indicate they will return for this event. Local arts organizer, supporter and catalyst for the community arts, Bickey Bender, states that this unique 10 year anniversary coincides with the community progress on the redevelopment of Armory Square. “We would not even try this without the availability of Armory Square. The founding members are enthusiastic for the opportunity.” The event will be held at the armory, now known as The Armory Arts and Events Center. The show will be open to the public June 19, 20 and 21. In addition to the Gallery show, several artist demonstrations are planned to include sculptor Paul Albrecht, who will demonstrate how to create a bench from your favorite family remembrance log. This event is also supported by a gift from the Bella Sanders Estate.