Spring Activities in St. Cloud

Photo Credit: Meghan Kiley

The snow is gone, the ground is thawed, and the birds are chirping in the freshly-budding trees; it’s springtime in St. Cloud! Finally the frigid temperatures of winter are gone and St. Cloud residents are ready to get out and about in the city. If you are looking to cure your cabin fever with some outdoor activities, here are a few options around the St. Cloud Area:

Parks- St. Cloud has an array of beautiful parks to choose from. For the flower lover, Munsinger Clemens Gardens never disappoints- especially in the springtime, when the plants and foliage are just beginning to bloom. For a family-friendly park alternative, Lake George comes equipped with a ½ mile walking path around the lake, picnic area, and playground- great for a fun day out for the whole family.

Disc Golf- Growing in popularity over the last decade, St. Cloud has two distinct disc golf courses: Riverside Park and Cavalry Park. As the name suggests, Riverside Park is located on the banks of the Mississippi River just south of St. Cloud State University campus. The park features rolling hills, trees, and scenic views. The winds blowing from the bluffs prove an added challenge to the game. Calvary Hill Park offers an alteration of open and tight shots and dual tees on most holes for all skill levels. For more information, visit the St. Cloud Disc Golf Club’s Facebook page.

Biking- Getting around town can be difficult during the frigid Minnesota winter. When the warm weather comes out again, so do the cyclists of the area. St. Cloud’s Beaver Island Trail follows the Mississippi River from St. Cloud State University for 2.5 miles. The trail carries on past excellent views of bluffs and the river.

Rox Baseball Game- For the sports fans out there, check out a St. Cloud Rox baseball game this spring! Tickets are available now on their website. The first game of the season is Saturday, May 30th hosting the Thunder Bay Border Cats.

Now that the winter weather is gone and Minnesota’s few precious months of beautiful weather are among us again, take advantage of a few activities around the St. Cloud area this spring. Whether it’s walking in a beautiful park, biking around town, or taking in a ball game, there are plenty of spring activities in the St, Cloud area.

River's Edge Convention Center

The River's Edge Convention Center strives to bring events like trade shows, wedding and regional sporting events to central Minnesota. But, did you know that a public art installation celebrating the natural environment walk exhibit and the Minnesota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame are also housed in the 180,000 square foot space?

Being along the Mississippi has its perks. Enter through the west entrance and experience this two-story exhibit that puts the spotlight on 118 different species of plants, animals, fish and other wildlife that are native to the river. This work is a cross section of the river, which allows viewers to see above and below the waterline.

Here you can visualize the natural history of the Mississippi, as portrayed by artists associated with the Paramount Visual Arts Center. This 40 x 25 ft feature wall was created by three master artists and six apprentice artists from central Minnesota.

The Minnesota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame Museum preserves the history of baseball within our state. Minnesota has a glorious past of minor leagues, semi-pro and hometown teams. This museum harbors several artifacts including uniforms, caps, gloves, bats and game day programs. Continuing the tradition of this museum is important to the Convention Center.

The Minnesota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame Museum is located on the second floor of the convention center and is open to the public. There is no cost to explore the museum. The museum is open year round 8:00 AM-4:30 PM Weekdays and on weekends when the convention center is open for events but may be closed due to certain events that are being held in the center! If you are interested in when the museum is open you can call the River’s Edge Administrative Office at (320) 255-7272.

The River's Edge Convention Center has more to offer than just a space for the community to meet. This space thrives on the culture that central Minnesota has to supply to its community. Stay up to date on all the GREAT events that are going on at the Convention Center, by following them on Facebook and Twitter!

St. Cloud Art Crawl to Celebrate 10 Years

Black Box Art Display

 If you haven’t had the chance to check out the previous Art Crawls in St. Cloud, 2015 is the year to attend. Art Crawl St. Cloud will be celebrating it’s tenth year! The Art Crawls started as a completely grassroots movement with one main goal in mind, to provide the St. Cloud Community with a quality arts experience in St. Cloud’s historic downtown. According to Amy Jo Paul, Art Crawl board member, since it’s inception, the Art Crawls have played an active role in creating a vibrant atmosphere in downtown St. Cloud for artists, small business owners, and community members.

Local Musicians Performing

If you are a first timer attending the event, a great place to start is at either end of St. Germain. From here you will find multiple participating businesses proudly swinging an Art Crawl flag or displaying an Art Crawl Member sticker in the window of their business. Once inside a participating business, you can expect to find a local or regional artist hosted at each location. Other perks may include special offers, snacks, and/or beverages. This is a FREE event and all ages are welcome.

Art Crawl Attendees Wine Tasting

Art Crawls are held four times a year, and the first in 2015 is fast approaching! It will take place on Friday, March 20, 2015. The rest of the Art Crawls will be held the following Fridays: June 12, August 14, and November 6. The Art Crawls start at 5:00 PM and go until 9:00 PM. The August Art Crawl, known as the Sizzling Summer Art Crawl, will be held from NOON - 9:00 PM. With more than 30 businesses joining in this year, 2015 is expected to be an unforgettable year!

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!