Art in the Park

The 42nd annual Art in the Park fine art festival in Lanesboro, Minnesota features fine art booths, and family art activities in the midst of mature shade trees in the beautiful setting of Sylvan Park. Hosted by LANESBORO ARTS, a multidisciplinary nonprofit with a 40+ year legacy of supporting art and artists in the scenic Lanesboro area, the annual Art in the Park festival is southern Minnesota’s longest running fine art fair! Renowned for quality, variety and value, Art in the Park attracts thousands of regional patrons to Sylvan Park in Lanesboro each year. Admission is free. Handicap parking is available at Sylvan Park. Socialized dogs on leashes are permitted.

Nestled in the heart of Bluff Country along the Root River, Lanesboro is the hidden gem of Southeastern Minnesota. With an extraordinarily high density of creative activities concentrated in such a small community, Lanesboro (pop. 754) was declared one of the country’s “Top 12 Small Town Artplaces” in 2013 by Artplace America. The Root River State Bike Trail, rated one of the best trails in Minnesota, runs right through Lanesboro’s authentic 19th century downtown. This picturesque hub of activity invites travelers of all stripes to indulge in one of many tantalizing restaurants or unique shops.

Artist booths!

The focal point of Art in the Park is, of course, the art! Fine art and fine craft artist booths encircle Sylvan Park underneath canopies of shade, featuring a wide variety of artist-made work by over 90 artists from the tri-state region. Artwork includes paintings, photography, fine jewelry, textile rugs & quilts, hand thrown ceramics, stained glass, blown & fused glass sculptures, artworks utilizing reclaimed wood, stoneware clay pottery, metalwork, woven baskets, whimsical welded yard art, and more. Check out the bottom of this page for the list of the 2023 participating artists.

Food & Beverages:

Available food options in 2023 are pulled pork sandwiches and smoked chicken (Biggen’s BBQ of Peterson), burgers and sandwiches (Smash-It Burgers), tacos (Taqueria El Sueño), and brats and hot dogs (Lanesboro High School Sophomore and Junior TexMex Fundraiser). The Farmers Market is also offering fresh food and healthy snack stands. There will also be a Dessert Booth featuring home-made baked goods (Discovery Faith Community).

Beverages will be available from Lanesboro Community Theater (ice-cold pop, lemonade, and water). Craft beer will be provided by Kinney Creek Brewery of Rochester, KARST Brewing of Fountain, Island City Brewing of Winona, and Lanesboro’s very own Sylvan Brewing.

Live Music:

A whole lineup of live musicians will add a joyful ambiance and additional entertainment to Art in the Park 2023 from Sylvan Park’s central Gazebo. This year’s Art in the Park features live performances from The Rutabaga Brothers (10:30 am-12:00 pm), Squirrel Tail (12:15 pm – 1:45 pm), Nathan’s Jazzers featuring Mariah Ciangiola (2:00 pm – 3:30 pm), and River Crossing (3:45 pm – 5:00pm).

The Rutabaga Brothers are an upbeat and danceable R & B combo that puts smiles on your faces because it “Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues.” With selections by such artists as Wilson Picket, Muddy Waters, Eric Clapton, Delbert McClinton, The Blues Brothers, Eddie Floyd, Etta James, B.B. King, Jimmy Reed and many others, The Brothers will have you rockin’ your blues away. That’s the secret to the blues: Listening to it makes you feel happy.

Squirrel Tail is a group of musicians from Minnesota and Iowa. They have enjoyed playing their bluegrass and old country music at area festivals and town celebrations. Each musician plays a variety of instruments, including everything from the fiddle and guitar all the way to the occasional train whistle!

Nathan’s Jazzers featuring Mariah Ciangiola is an easy-going group of guys and a gal who have been playing music for many years. The variety and improvisation found in Jazz standards is a fun challenge for the group, who will knock your socks of with their classic big band sound. Nathan Davidson, the group’s front man, is the founder of CBB Jazz Combo as well as the Lost Faculties. Mariah Ciangiola is an actress and vocalist who has sung around the world as lead Vocalist for AIDA Cruiselines.

River Crossing is a unique local trio that plays an engaging, eclectic mix of songs. From infectious rhythm and blues and deep roots to neo-soul and modern singer-songwriter tunes that will welcome you to sit back and enjoy. Members Paul Schmidt, Ryan Palmer, and Jeff Sanders met at an open mic in Lanesboro in 2021 and found they all share the same passion for creating and supporting local music.

2023 Kids & Family Activities:

Kids Create! “Make a Tie for Dad” art project
Caricatures
Face painting
Yard Games
All Glazed Up-Studio Motif (Painting)
Austin Area Art Center (Bubbles)