2014 St. Cloud Community Highlights

2014 was a GREAT year for St. Cloud residents and visitors across the board! During the year, there were many activities that happened around town, and many memories shared with friends, family and loved ones. It’s hard to highlight just a few but the best part about this list is the fact that they are all FREE annual events. If you missed out in 2014, mark your calendar for the new year!

• SummerTime by George: Vendors, the community and the arts converge to create one of the largest events in the St. Cloud area. This free concert series ran from June 11, through August 27, 2014 and was organized by the St. Cloud Rotary Club. Performances included local and national artists, including the Fabulous Armadillos, Transit Authority, Johnny Holm Band and Coyote Wild. The new bandshell was also unveiled this year:       

• Fourth of July Fireworks Display as seen from Lake George near downtown St. Cloud, Minnesota.

• Historic Downtown Art Crawls: Art Crawls are a big deal in St. Cloud! They are free for all ages and bring the community together. Art Crawls are a great way to discover everything that downtown has to offer while enjoying local and regional art. Stroll downtown, meet friends, buy great art! Art Crawls in 2014 took place in: March, June, Sizzling Summer (August) and November.

• Weihnachtsmarkt The second annual Weihnachtsmarkt was held on December 12, 2014. The event allows St. Cloud residents the chance to celebrate a traditional German Christmas market complete with live music, artwork, authentic German food, and Gluhwein- a warm, spiced red wine. This year’s event was such a hit that food had to be restocked several times throughout! 

• Winter Nights & Lights Parade: The 14th Winter Nights & Lights Parade took place on December 13, 2014. Residents from St. Cloud are all welcome to experience an old-fashioned holiday event in historic downtown St. Cloud. Many area businesses and organizations participate with floats and displays -- it is officially the largest winter parade in the entire state of Minnesota!

In a Year's Time

Looking back at 2014, it is amazing to see how far the city of St. Cloud has come in a year’s time. One example where you can clearly see progress is the St. Cloud brand. St. Cloud GREATER was unveiled in April to better represent the city as a whole. Up until this point, the city has never had a “brand” -- this is exactly why GREATER was launched. 

“We have continually heard from so many people about the need for a strong, identifiable brand message for St. Cloud. Businesses and residents are proud of this community and they've asked the city to deliver a unified message that resonates with the pride and loyalty, and that conveys a message they can use to promote St. Cloud and attract workers, residents and visitors,” said Mayor Dave Kleis.

It’s a bold statement, that is meant to display all of the amazing things that happen in St. Cloud. Along with the GREATER branding, the St. Cloud GREATER Facebook page and Twitter handle were established in 2014 to engage with the community, and create a space to talk about St. Cloud. You can also join the conversation on LinkedIn and Pinterest. The City of St. Cloud is continuing to engage the community through the new and improved City of St. Cloud Website launched at the beginning of 2015. Connecting to news and information is easier now than ever before.

Not only does St. Cloud have a new brand image, there have been multiple development projects where the city has seen great progress. All of these projects will ultimately provide jobs -- and opportunities -- for residents and business owners in St. Cloud. Along with construction, there were notable awards for infrastructure development in St. Cloud.

• The City of St. Cloud’s Economic Development Authority received a $99,600 grant awarded by the Minnesota DEED (Department of Employment and Economic Development). This grant was for the demolition of the former Granite Bowl, along with construction of public infrastructure. On the 1.05-acre site, a 17,000 square-foot office building has been constructed. This project will create nine jobs and 52 jobs will be retained -- along with the new opportunities that will arise from the office spaces.
  

• Park Industries expanded in St. Cloud by adding 33,760 feet of production space. The company was awarded $624,000 from the Minnesota Minnesota Job Creation Fund -- which will be disbursed once the company hits its performance goals. “The Minnesota Job Creation Fund is working, helping Minnesota companies like Park Industries expand and create more jobs in our communities,” said Governor Mark Dayton. Park Industries has roughly 225 employees and is the largest stone working equipment manufacturer in North America.

• Water & Wastes Digest awarded the City of St. Cloud with the 2014 Top Water and Wastewater Project, for the rehabilitation and expansion of the municipal wastewater treatment facility. It was chosen because of the attention to creating an environmentally friendly and sustainable facility that will serve residents for decades to come.  

These are just a few examples of progress in the St. Cloud area. We look forward to what 2015 will bring! If you haven’t already, check out the new website to discover ways you can stay connected to news and events in 2015.

 

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!

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! 

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

‘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! 

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?

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