Monday, December 15, 2014

Get Outside & Enjoy St. Cloud Winters!

The snow is here, so why not enjoy it? There are so many GREAT activities to do in the St. Cloud area to stay busy this winter season.

Build A Snowman

Fresh snow means one thing…. building a snowman! Its a simple, family-fun activity that everyone can enjoy. Go for the classic three-tired snowman with a carrot nose, or add your own personal touch with facial expressions or different articles of clothes. You could also take out the”man” and build an animal, character, or creature of your very own. Don’t miss out on building your version of Frosty The Snowman in the front yard this winter!



Head to Powder Ridge Winter Recreation Area

Hit the slopes at Powder Ridge this winter! A short 20 mile venture to Kimball, MN will provide you with an easy day (or season) full of fun. Whether you’re a beginning or an experience rider, Powder Ridge has a variety of runs for all downhill skiers, snowboarders, and snow tubers. Equipment rentals are available and they have various specials happening throughout the season.


A skier getting big air at Powder Ridge


Family fun at Powder Ridge

Go Cross-Country Skiing 

Enjoy nature and the snow-kissed beauty of St. Cloud during the winter season with cross-country skiing. An activity for all ages, cross-country skiing is a GREAT way to stay in shape throughout the winter months. Whether you’re looking for a quick venture, or a longer route, check out some of the top trails and parks to add to your “to-do” list this winter.




Enjoy Outdoor Ice Skating

Outdoor ice skating is a GREAT way to get into the holiday spirit. All St. Cloud outdoor ice rinks are open & ready for you to enjoy, including Lake George! Interested in skating but don’t have skates? No worries! Each site has a variety of donated skates, although sizes and availability are not guaranteed. If you have skates that you’ve outgrown or are no longer using, consider donating them by contacting Steve with St. Cloud Parks & Recreation at 320-650-3053.


The warming shelter at Lake George will be staffed and open for public at the following times:

Monday - Friday: 4:00-8:00PM
Saturday - Sunday: 1:00-8:00PM
*Special hours available for specific dates.


It's easy to become a hermit during the chilly winter months, but don’t let the cold stop you from enjoying all the beauty Minnesota winters and the city of St. Cloud have to offer. So turn off that TV, shut down your computer, (Netflix isn’t going anywhere) and go outside and enjoy the St. Cloud area this winter!

Monday, December 8, 2014

Downtown St. Cloud: Winter Nights & Lights

“The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!” - Buddy, The Elf.

Get into the holiday spirit this Christmas season with the GREAT activities held right here in St. Cloud, MN. This weekend kicks off the 14th annual Winter Nights & Lights celebration, brought to you by The Downtown Council.

Friday, December 12: St. Cloud Weihnachtsmarkt

The festivities begin on Friday, December 12th with the St. Cloud Weihnachtsmarkt from 5:00pm - 9:00pm. This event will feature holiday gifts from the Paramount Gallery, German food & drinks, including the seasonal treat Gluhwein (a.k.a hot mulled wine), a brass brand, and more! Enjoy German novelties, a cup of hot chocolate or apple cider & join in on the 2014 Weihnachtsmarkt celebration. A heated holiday tent will be located at the World Heritage Corner, 525 St. Germain Street, next to St. Cloud Floral in downtown St. Cloud.

German Christmas Market in downtown St. Cloud

Saturday, December 13: Winter Wonderland
Don’t let the fun come to an end, continue your holiday celebrations on Saturday, December 13. Kick start the afternoon with family and friends at Winter Wonderful from 1:00pm - 4:00pm at the beautiful Lake George. Santa and Mrs. Claus have taken time out of their busy schedules to come and see YOU! With a variety of activities, there will be fun for everyone. Enjoy photos with Santa, arts and crafts, cookie decorating, sleigh rides, and more!


Winter Wonderland: $3.00/child OR $5.00/family
*Receive $1.00 off admission if you bring an item for the food shelf. 

For more information, visit www.ci.stcloud.mn.us or call (320) 257-5959. 

Winter activities for the entire family.

Saturday, December 13: Holiday Shopping & Dining

Don’t fret, the holidays aren’t quite here… you still have plenty of time to get all of your holiday shopping taken care of. From 10am - 6pm, enjoy the downtown shopping and dining scene. Great deals, specials, and holiday discounts, all in downtown St. Cloud. Fill up on delicious food, shop ‘til you drop… or until the Nights & Lights parade begins!


Saturday, December 13: Winter Nights & Lights Parade

Celebrating the 14th annual Winter Nights & Lights Parade, brought to you by Capitol One 360. West St. Germain Street in downtown St. Cloud will be illuminated with holiday floats and festive holiday music. Bundle up, and join the community as they experience the old-fashioned holiday spirit of a winter parade.




The parade will begin at 5:00pm, so cozy up, bring some hot chocolate & spread holiday cheer this Saturday evening! It's going to be a GREAT time, we hope to see you there! 

Friday, November 21, 2014

Shop Local, Shop Small, Shop "Small Business Saturday!"

ShopSmall.jpg

‘Tis the season… the season of giving. Each year, we celebrate Thanksgiving amongst family and friends, giving thanks to one another for the blessings we have in our lives. Tied closely to Thanksgiving is, of course, one of the busiest shopping weekends of the entire year. 

Thanksgiving generally involves food, family, football… and finding the best shopping deals by paging through store ads from the newspaper. The shopping craze kicks-off with Black Friday, the day following Thanksgiving.

This holiday season, don’t just get caught up in the savings the chain superstores are trying to sell you. Instead, consider shopping local and supporting your community. The Saturday following Thanksgiving, November 29th, celebrates the fifth-annual Small Business Saturday.

Shop local, shop small, shop Small Business Saturday.

Shop Small is a nation-wide movement encouraging people to support their neighbors and shop at small businesses. Millions of individuals, businesses, and communities have embraced this profound shopping ‘holiday.’



When you shop local, a greater percentage of the money spent actually stays in your community.

How can you participate?

Simple! There are a ton of ways that you can support small businesses that are local to you. The St. Cloud area has many options and ways to get involved. Whether you decide to go shopping at the many local stores, shops, and boutiques, or grab a post-shopping meal at a locally-owned restaurant or bistro, be sure to share the day with your family and friends.

When you shop small, it can lead to big things. #ShopSmall and support your neighborhood and community! 

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Pumpkinfest: Lake George Spooktacular!

It’s that time of the year once again… The ghosts, goblins, princesses, and super heroes alike are ready to celebrate the holiday where obtaining ample amounts of candy is acceptable - Halloween!

To celebrate, St. Cloud welcomed back Pumpkinfest - the fifth annual, spooktacular event held at Lake George last Friday evening. Thousands of kids and their parents flooded the park and enjoyed a GREAT night of  family-friendly fun!


These children were all smiles eating their popcorn at Pumpkinfest

The park was transformed into a very festive, fun Halloweentown! Local businesses and organizations in the St. Cloud area participated by setting up their very own trick-or-treat stations to hand out candy. From suckers, tootsie rolls, chocolate and fruit candies, each child most definitely returned home with plenty of sweets!


Aside from candy, Pumpkinfest also had arts & crafts, face-painting, a pumpkin patch, a petting zoo, and a hayride… a little bit of fun for everyone!



The Petting Zoo was a fan-favorite!

Pumpkinfest featured a Pumpkin Patch and activities where kids were able to paint & decorate their pumpkins.

After a night of tricks and treats, what better way to end the night than with an outdoor showing of Monsters, Inc.? As the sun was setting, families gathered with their blankets and chairs to enjoy a movie to end yet another successful Pumpkinfest!

Monsters, Inc. capped off the fifth annual Pumpkinfest


Did you bring your children down to Pumpkinfest? If so, what was their favorite part?


Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Welcome Back Students!

Welcome back to St. Cloud students!

The time has come yet once again - school is back in session! We hope you all had great summers and we’re excited for you all to be back on the campuses and kick off the year in St. Cloud.

As you’re getting settled and attending your first weeks of classes, we want you to remember that one of the keys to success for all students is to get involved as quickly as possible! We encourage you to take advantage of all opportunities on your campuses, as well as throughout the community.

Take yourself, or grab a group of friends, and get involved in a campus organization, or volunteer through community programs. Staying active, networking, and getting involved will assist you in creating lasting relationships, and landing great internships and job opportunities.

If you’re new to the city, (or even if you’re not) we invite you to partake in the great activities and opportunities St. Cloud has to offer. Numerous parks and trails fill the city and are waiting for you to explore. The surrounding restaurants are waiting for you to come on in and enjoy a delicious bite to eat. Entertainment and events? No problem - visit AroundTheCloud.org for community updates & info!

And, as any student knows, life isn’t just about play. So, if you’re searching for a solid part-time job, check out the Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation’s JobSpot, St. Cloud Workforce Center, The St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce, and The Crossroads Mall. All of these sites feature a wide range of job opportunities around town.

More interested in on-campus/work study positions? Take a look at the job board postings on the St. Cloud State University and St. Cloud Technical & Community College websites.

Again, we welcome you to the great St. Cloud community and hope you have the chance to embark on experiences that will create lasting memories.

Join us and be a part of something GREATER. As students, we want you to discover why St. Cloud is a great place to work, live, and play now and in the future! Of course, there are many ways to get connected with all the latest news & updates.

Study hard and be GREAT,

The City of St. Cloud
#StCloudGREATER

Thursday, August 21, 2014

GREAT Summer Activities

Whether we want to accept it or not, the elusive season known as summer is coming to an end.

BUT, this isn’t to say there aren’t a whole ton of fabulous ways to enjoy it here in St. Cloud.

First, let’s discuss the community phenomenon that is Summertime By George! The outdoor music/food/craft/etc extravaganza has been bringing central Minnesotans in the by the thousands this year, and you still have one more week to experience it for yourself! Come down to Lake George on Wednesday, August 27th for the sound of central MN favorite, The Fabulous Armadillos!

Summertime by George // Photo Credit: Granite City Photography

Music is everywhere in St. Cloud during the summer months, including Munsinger Gardens, perched near the Mississippi on the city’s south side. Music in the Gardens brings talented musicians together every other Sunday afternoon near the Gazebo in Munsinger Gardens. Like Summertime by George, the musical performances are free to all. Oh, and root beer floats for a dollar don’t sound too bad.

Music in the Gardens 

Nothing says summer quite like a spread of fresh vegetables, fruits and other locally-produced foods. The St. Cloud Area Farmer’s Markets haven’t sung their swan song just yet!  The Saturday market has been a popular staple, and you can find it in the Lady Slipper Parking Lot (that’s the one between Perkin’s and Fitzharris in downtown St. Cloud), 8am-noon, through the last Saturday in October.

St. Cloud Area Farmer's Market 

If you’re aiming for a late summer outing on the water, but don’t have the proper boating gear, you should check out the boathouse at Lake George. SCSU’s Outdoor Endeavors club has joined forces with the City of St. Cloud, St. Cloud Parks Department and the St. Cloud Rotary Club to make Lake George a focal point for rentals of boats, canoes, kayaks and more, along with professional instruction and safety advice, all summer long. Rates vary depending on gear and time, but this is a solid way to try a new water activity without a serious commitment!

Lake George
And finally, The St. Mary’s Cathedral Block Party in downtown St. Cloud is a summer-ending smash hit, and that’s going to be hosted on September 6th. The event starts at 4pm with an outdoor mass, and is set to include food, a beer garden a raffle, a silent auction, several popular local music acts and lots more. Seriously - what’s better at wrapping up summer than a gigantic downtown party?



So there you have it. There’s plenty of summer left after all! Be sure to check out AroundtheCloud.org for a variety of additional activities, arts, and entertianment throughout the community. Anything make the list that you’re going to do? Leave us a comment and tell us about it!


Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Capture the Beauty of St. Cloud, MN

Do you have an eye for photography? Is capturing moments with your camera a passion of yours?

If the answer is yes, then get July 11th on your calendar; that’s the deadline for St. Cloud GREATER's 2014 summer season photo and video competition!


The guidelines are simple; we’re looking for your photos and videos that capture the essence of what makes St. Cloud GREAT! Use your imagination and creative eye to illustrate what you love about our community. Suggested settings include:

- Neighborhoods

- The downtown area, including skylines, streetscapes, infrastructure, landmarks, and buildings

- City Buildings (exteriors only)

- The Mississippi and Sauk Rivers

- Transportation (ex. trains, busses, railroad tracks)

- Any number of city parks, trails, open space, flora/fauna, and wildlife

- Businesses

- Public Safety

- Community Life – arts/culture, education, volunteerism, entertainment, and celebrations

- People Portraits, including people participating in any of the City sponsored summer events (e.g. Summertime By George, Granite City Days, June 13 Art Crawl, July 4th fireworks, etc.


So basically, the sky’s the limit. Choose whatever you value most about St. Cloud life, and send it our way! You’re encouraged to submit up to 10 different photos, which will be judged based on age and skill level - youth to professional.

Work will be judged by a carefully curated panel of photo and video professionals, who will present finalists to Mayor Dave Kleis. Kleis will make the final selection, and our prize-winning photographers will be announced LIVE at the August 24th Summertime by George festivities! 

We’ve got an extensive submission requirements list, which is detailed on the city’s website; take a gander and consider sharing your favorite St. Cloud moments with your friends and neighbors! After all, it’s you who makes St. Cloud “GREAT!”

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

"Summertime by George" Is Back!

It's the Wednesday night phenomenon that’s brought thousands of Central Minnesotans together every week...and it’s back!

Since its inception in 2011, Summertime by George (SBG) has continued to pull thousands of people into Downtown St. Cloud on Wednesday evenings for music, food, art and more.

Now, while the idea for the free community event seems foolproof in hindsight, the fact is, no one really expected SBG to become as popular as it has. Let’s back up a little and review how all this even came to be…

The groundwork for SBG was laid in 2007. At that time, the St. Cloud Rotary Club, in tandem with the City of St. Cloud, started kicking around the idea of gathering the funds to fix up one of St. Cloud’s most central and historic parks.

Over the years, Eastman Park / Lake George, while ideal for all types of things, had developed a reputation for being underutilized and conditions began deteriorating.

This inspired the Rotary Club of St. Cloud to take action.

Four years and $7 million in restorations later, the park was ready for a celebration. The park was transformed with granite water fountain, fishing piers, restored walking and bike paths winding around the lake, a splash pad and, most recently, a permanent performance stage, completed earlier this year.

The question was - exactly what kind of celebration would suit this new community gathering place? After much discussion and whittling away at the list of options, Rotary members expressed overwhelming support for the creation of a weekly outdoor festival, complete with live music, food vendors, artisan retailers, a beer garden, activities for children and families...and more.

That plan was ideal. Last year’s final festival shattered records, drawing in an estimate 13,000 attendees. That brought total SBG 2013 attendance to over 86,000 people.

So, if you haven’t yet been bitten by the Summertime by George bug, you can on June 11! We hope to see you there.