Greetings!     
Minnesota River History Weekend Photo  
Minnesota River History Weekend and 
Minnesota State Water Trails 50th Anniversary
 May 17, 18, & 19, 2013

"With the unique mix of theater, historic rapids and paddlers with spring fever, this anniversary celebration is sure to be full of characters!" notes Erik Wrede, state water trails program coordinator for the DNR's Division of Parks and Trails. 

We would like to encourage our CURE members to wear their CURE t-shirt and bring a lawn chair!
Friday Night Speakers
From top left to bottom right: Gwen Westerman, Natalie Warren, Luther Aadland, Jon Carlson, John Hickman, Paul Ryberg, and Erik Wrede.
Historic Exhibit, Film & Speaker Event
Friday, May 17th, 7 PM to 11 PM

 

Grab some popcorn at Granite Falls' famous local
Popcorn Stand and head over to watch a film and listen to great speakers!

 

Minnesota River History Exhibit Reception and Artist Talk with Dakota Author Gwen Westerman, KK Berge Building (6:30 - 9:00 PM). Read more about Gwen here.  

 

Then walk over to the Granite Falls City Hall to watch a film and listen to some great talks and stories about the Minnesota River and the state's Water Trail system.

 

 

 

  • PRESENTATION. Reconnecting the Minnesota River  by Luther Aadland, River Scientist, MN DNR (9:30 PM). His work, research, and publications have included a wide variety of topics that integrate physical and biological processes of rivers and the design of river restoration, nature-like fish passage, dam removal, erosion control, and flood damage reduction projects. Read more about Luther here.
Paddling Theater Rehearsal
Dress Rehearsal
Paddling Theater
Saturday, May 18th, 1st Scene (11:15 AM), then theater goers board shuttles to board canoes to experience the remaining Paddling Theater scenes (approx. 3 hours), final scene at Memorial Park at 7:30 PM. 

 
 
 
 
 
As of today, there are less than 20 spots left on the Voyageur Canoes! A waiting list will be created. Paddlers with their own vessels may participate in the Paddling Theater but are required to register and pay $10/person. This includes shuttle transportation.
 
Helpful Links:
ALL paddlers must check-in at the K.K. Berge Plaza, Downtown Granite Falls, to receive your wristband, which will be your shuttle bus ticket. Check-in begins at 8 AM on Saturday morning.  
River_Kayak
Paddling Options
For all of you paddling enthusiasts, here is some information you may want to know for this weekend.

Paddling Option 1 (Paddling Theater in a Voyageur Canoe) $10 and $15 on-site
  • No experience needed
  • 8.4 mile route from Kinney Access to the confluence of the Yellow Medicine River in Upper Sioux Agency State Park. 
  • 10-person Wilderness Inquiry voyageur canoes. Registration is $10 in advance and $15 on-site upon availability. Register at: www.wildernessinquiry.org/cure.       

 

Paddling Option 2 (Paddling Theater from your own canoe or kayak) $10 and $15 on-site
  • Paddling experience recommended (the water will be high, with no rapids)

  • 8.4 mile route from Kinney Access to the confluence of the Yellow Medicine River in

    Upper Sioux Agency State Park.

  • Shuttle service provided. Drop your watercraft (security volunteers will be on site) at

    Kinney Access and your vehicle at Upper Sioux Agency State Park. Stop in the state park office for a courtesy pass and parking directions. Catch the 8:30 a.m. or 9:30 a.m. shuttle from the state park to downtown Granite Falls

Paddling Option 3 (Historic Rapids in your own canoe or kayak) FREE   
  • Intermediate paddling experience and helmets are highly recommended
  • 13.3 mile route from Memorial Park to the confluence of the Yellow Medicine River in
  • Upper Sioux Agency State Park. This route includes what are estimated to be Class I-II rapids upstream of the site of the recently removed Minnesota Falls dam. For 107 years, these historic rapids were covered by a reservoir. Now that they are exposed, it will take some time for the river to rediscover its natural course and for paddlers to understand the recreational opportunities and the dangers they present at varying water levels
  • Shuttle service provided. Drop your watercraft (security volunteers will be on site) at Memorial Park Access and your vehicle at Upper Sioux Agency State Park. Stop in the state park office for a courtesy pass and parking directions. Catch the 8:30 a.m. or 9:30 a.m. shuttle from the state park to downtown Granite Falls.
  • Register for free by calling Dixie at CURE at 1-877-269-2873 (we need to get a head count in order to provide enough food and shuttle busses).  

When you get to downtown Granite Falls, check-in near the K.K. Berge building to receive your wristband, which will be your shuttle bus ticket. Check-in begins at 8:00 a.m. on the K.K. Berge Plaza. 

popcorn walking
Visitors enjoying popcorn from our famous Granite Falls Popcorn Stand
So if I don't paddle, what is in it for me?
Disc Golf, Museums, Shops, Restaurants - Some Open Special Hours just for YOU!

 

River's Edge Disc Golf Course

All Day

Granite Falls Kiwanis Popcorn Stand

7 PM to 9:30 PM every night

Volstead House Museum

Sat. 9 AM to 12 PM (special hours)

K.K. Berge Building Gallery (MN River Exhibit)

Sat. 8 AM to 3 PM (special hours)

Volstead house tour
Tour the Volstead House Museum

Fagen Fighter WWII Museum 

Sat. 10 AM to 4 PM

Yellow Medicine County Museum

Sat. 11 AM to 5 PM
Sat. 10 AM to 4 PM and Sun. 1 PM to 4:30 PM.
 
For other attractions, restaurants and shops, please click here. Granite Falls and the surrounding area of western Minnesota has a lot to offer visitors!
 
Be sure to join us on Saturday evening at Memorial Park for great music, food and beverage!

River History Music
Hey Lonesome (top) and Brian Laidlaw & The Family Trade (bottom)

Music, Food & Beverage

Saturday Evening,                           
May 18th, 6 PM to 10:30 PM 
  • Food & beverage for sale (5 PM) by Bootleggers
  • Music begins at 6 PM. Free and open to the public!  
  •  Hey Lonesome is an exciting new bluegrass group formed in September of 2012.  Although the band as a whole is new to the Twin Cities music scene, its members are all veteran performers of other regional and national groups.  Hey Lonesome features four lead vocalists who sing duet, trio and quartet harmony arrangements that combine with the band's instrumental flair to create a dynamic bluegrass ensemble.  
  • There will be a short break for the final scene of the Paddling Theater and to acknowledge the Paddling River Theater Group.  
  • The  Granite Falls Riverfront Revitalization (GFRR) will be drawing for a kayak and other items @ 7:45 PM. For more info about their raffle, check out the GFRR Facebook page.
  • Then more great music by Brain Laidlaw & the Family Trade.  This old-timey, fresh-faced, and family-friendly, acoustic ensemble blend the sounds of Appalachian folk with spirited poetics and vocal harmonies. Brian Laidlaw & the Family Trade have already begun a following in the river valley... come and see what everyone is talking about!
More information is being added to CURE's website this week full of details for this event. Check back often. Call the CURE office at 320-269-2984 or email [email protected] for registration, questions, or other issues and concerns. We are here to help you.
 
See you this weekend!
 
Sincerely,

  

The staff at CURE

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117 South 1st Street
Montevideo, Minnesota  56265
320-269-2984
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