The Rural Voices spoken word open mic comes alive on January 7, 2023, from 7:30-9:00 p.m. with sign-up at 7:15 at reception desk. Five and ten-minute slots are open to everyone willing to bring their creative verbiage to the crowd. Even one piece to share is enough. This event will take place the first Saturday of every month. Sudsy beverages on sale and donations for the cause accepted. Come be part of the magic!

Time yourself at home. Practice makes perfect.

Master of Ceremonies: Kelly Green

Craft Beer, Apple Cider, and a smattering of delicious snacks will be available for purchase—all proceeds support future programs.

The Rural Voices spoken word open mic comes alive on January 7, 2023, from 7:30-9:00 p.m. with sign-up at 7:15 at reception desk. Five and ten-minute slots are open to everyone willing to bring their creative verbiage to the crowd. Even one piece to share is enough. This event will take place the first Saturday of every month. Sudsy beverages on sale and donations for the cause accepted. Come be part of the magic!

Time yourself at home. Practice makes perfect.

Master of Ceremonies: Kelly Green

Craft Beer, Apple Cider, and a smattering of delicious snacks will be available for purchase—all proceeds support future programs.

EVENT CANCELED DUE TO FIRE DAMAGE.

Thank you to all the Winter Solstice w/ Charlie Parr ticket holders for your patience as we worked to reschedule the postponed event. We are pleased to announce the new date!

Join us in welcoming Charlie Parr back to the Saint Croix Valley! Charlie is an incorruptible outsider who writes novelistic, multi-layered stories that shine a kaleidoscopic light on defiant, unseen characters thriving in the shadows all around us. Parr has a new record with only his name on it, and it isn’t shiny and perfect and commercial and catchy. It’s him. It’s pure Charlie Parr and that’s enough. He hasn’t moved to LA or Nashville; he’s stayed in the cold grey north of Minnesota, because that’s his home.

All ages event. Limited tickets available, advanced registration required.

25% of ticket sales will help fund the NHAC scholarship, which allows us to waive workshop or material fees for those who demonstrate financial need.

Special Guest Alison Rae

The Rural Voices spoken word open mic comes alive on January 7, 2023, from 7:30-9:00 p.m. with sign-up at 7:15 at reception desk. Five and ten-minute slots are open to everyone willing to bring their creative verbiage to the crowd. Even one piece to share is enough. This event will take place the first Saturday of every month. Sudsy beverages on sale and donations for the cause accepted. Come be part of the magic!

Time yourself at home. Practice makes perfect.

Master of Ceremonies: Kelly Green

Craft Beer, Apple Cider, and a smattering of delicious snacks will be available for purchase—all proceeds support future programs.

The Rural Voices spoken word open mic comes alive on January 7, 2023, from 7:30-9:00 p.m. with sign-up at 7:15 at reception desk. Five and ten-minute slots are open to everyone willing to bring their creative verbiage to the crowd. Even one piece to share is enough. This event will take place the first Saturday of every month. Sudsy beverages on sale and donations for the cause accepted. Come be part of the magic!

Time yourself at home. Practice makes perfect.

Master of Ceremonies: Kelly Green

Craft Beer, Apple Cider, and a smattering of delicious snacks will be available for purchase—all proceeds support future programs.

The Rural Voices spoken word open mic comes alive on January 7, 2023, from 7:30-9:00 p.m. with sign-up at 7:15 at reception desk. Five and ten-minute slots are open to everyone willing to bring their creative verbiage to the crowd. Even one piece to share is enough. This event will take place the first Saturday of every month. Sudsy beverages on sale and donations for the cause accepted. Come be part of the magic!

Time yourself at home. Practice makes perfect.

Master of Ceremonies: Kelly Green

Craft Beer, Apple Cider, and a smattering of delicious snacks will be available for purchase—all proceeds support future programs.

Enjoy an evening of community fellowship in celebration of the release of local author Heidi Barr’s latest book, Collisions of Earth and Sky: Connecting with Nature for Nourishment, Reflection, and Transformation.  Heidi will be joined in reading by other St. Croix Valley writers, as well as Chrystal Odin of Philadelphia Community Farm (an area non profit that is featured in Heidi’s book) who will share information on the work PCF is doing.

Event is free and open to all, registration preferred

Light Refreshments and books will be available for purchase during the event to support the Natural Heritage Art Centre.

Readers:

• Adam Pieri-Johnson

• River Maria Urke

• Debbie Trantow

• Heidi Fettig Parton

• Kathleen Melin

• Heidi Barr

Presenters:

Chrystal Odin

The Rural Voices spoken word open mic comes alive on January 7, 2023, from 7:30-9:00 p.m. with sign-up at 7:15 at reception desk. Five and ten-minute slots are open to everyone willing to bring their creative verbiage to the crowd. Even one piece to share is enough. This event will take place the first Saturday of every month. Sudsy beverages on sale and donations for the cause accepted. Come be part of the magic!

Time yourself at home. Practice makes perfect.

Master of Ceremonies: Kelly Green

Craft Beer, Apple Cider, and a smattering of delicious snacks will be available for purchase—all proceeds support future programs.

Winter solstice, also known as midwinter, the hibernate solstice, and Yule, is the astronomical first day of winter. Dressed in our best woodland costumes, we will celebrate the return of light together! Join us for an evening filled with the rich and soulful sounds of Charlie Parr, a potluck dinner, and the much-anticipated luminary display.

DOORS OPEN AT 4:00 PM, EVENT RUNS 5:00 TO 9:00 PM

COSTUME CONTEST

Win a prize! Come dressed in your very best woodland animal costume and enter to win the costume contest! Need help with a costume? Register for the Winter Solstice Craft Workshop—Forest Animal Masks and learn to make your own from recycled materials.

POTLUCK

All guests are encouraged to bring their very best comfort food to share. Beer and mulled wine and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase. Must be 21+ with valid I.D. to be served.

LIVE MUSIC

Join us in welcoming Charlie Parr back to the Saint Croix Valley! Charlie is an incorruptible outsider who writes novelistic, multi-layered stories that shine a kaleidoscopic light on defiant, unseen characters thriving in the shadows all around us. Parr has a new record with only his name on it, and it isn’t shiny and perfect and commercial and catchy. It’s him. It’s pure Charlie Parr and that’s enough. He hasn’t moved to LA or Nashville; he’s stayed in the cold grey north of Minnesota, because that’s his home.

• $45 General Admission - Online

• $50 General Admission - Door

• $100 VIP Admission (includes reserved seating and one complimentary refreshment per member of your party)

All ages event.

Limited tickets available, advanced registration required.

25% of ticket sales will help fund the NHAC scholarship, which allows us to waive workshop or material fees for those who demonstrate financial need.

(Image Credit: Winter Solstice by Dick Vincent)

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

Join us for the Grand Opening Celebration and overwhelm your senses with a smörgåsbord of art, music, poetry, and food in celebration of the Natural Heritage Art Centre opening in the beautiful river town of Osceola, Wisconsin.

Doors open at 4:00 pm | Event Hours 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | 12 and under are free.

ART 

Mingle during the cocktail hour from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm amidst the first exhibition in the Heritage Gallery entitled "Becoming" by artist Sara Brokke from Duluth, Minnesota. The show features an incredible collection of Brokke's work that truly brings to life the vibrant future of the Natural Heritage Art Center by visually demonstrating the intersection of art and ecology.

POETRY 

Basque in the rhythm of language from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm with a smattering of award-winning poets such as Zoë Fay-Stindt, Thomas R. Smith, Cole Williams, Natalie Deam and friends.

Zoë Fay-Stindt (she/Z/they) is a queer, bicontinental poet with roots in both the French and American south. Their work has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize, featured or forthcoming in places such as Southern Humanities, Ninth Letter, and Poet Lore, and gathered into a chapbook, Bird Body, winner of Cordella Press’ inaugural Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Prize. She lives in Ames, Iowa, where she is an MFA candidate at Iowa State University and a community farm volunteer.

MUSIC

Shake your hips from 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm to the sounds of Stillwater's Blue Hazard Band.

The Minnesota-based group supports a traditional bluegrass composition (banjo, mandolin, guitar, and upright bass) but strives to break the bonds that are typical or expected. All members write music that leads to a diverse original catalog of bluegrass, roots, Americana, pop, jazz, and folk.

FOOD

Pick your way through an assortment of locally produced goodies and choose from a selection of local craft beer and wine available for purchase. *Must be 21+ with valid I.D. to be served.

COMMUNITY 

Be sure to participate in the community art project, wave a few sparklers in the air, chat with your friends and neighbors, and dance.

• $20 General Admission - Online

• $25 General Admission - Door

• $75 VIP Admission (includes reserved seating and one complimentary refreshment per member of your party)

• Free for ages 12 and under

25% of ticket sales will help fund the NHAC scholarship, which allows us to waive workshop or material fees for those who demonstrate financial need.