Winona community – The Winonan

Winona community honors veteran’s unknown story

Allison Mueller
February 4, 2015

Tourist trolley rides provide a historic view of Winona

Allison Mueller
October 15, 2014

Last Saturday marked the Live at the Levee’s first anniversary concert. The Live at the Levee festival featured ten hours of free music by bands, local artisans and a beer tent for the Winona community on Oct. 11. A brisk morning did not deter those setting up the stage and placing their final touches on their merchandise. The park hosted a 6,000 square foot tent with artisan and restaurant vendors at one end and a black stage where numerous musicians entertained the crowd at the other. Outside the white tent was an instrument “petting zoo” where children played with various instruments. Some people gathered around a stall, which showcased two alpacas from Suri Oaks at Grace Ranch. Others sat on benches taking in the fall view of the bluffs and the river. Volunteer Terry Hawkings said the main goals of the event were to engage the Winona community with festivals involving Levee Park and the historic downtown district. “We want to reutilize Levee Park to get more people involved within the community,” Hawkings said. “Our events are focused on the arts, and we try to make them educational, especially for the younger crowd.” During setup, the younger musicians helped set up the stage and perform sound checks with the professional musicians, learning the tricks of the trade. Performers from Winona and Cotter high schools were the first to showcase their talent at noon. The bands, Farewell Milwaukee, Bone, Jugs, and Harmony and Jaybone Bell played at Live at the Levee, concluded their nights by playing at the bars downtown later in the evening. Artisan vendors and crafts were placed among the food vendors at the opposite end of the tent. Cutting Edge, Lunamada, Handmade Mittens by Joni, and Functional Pottery were some of the artisan vendors at the festival. “We want to promote the arts,” Hawkings said. “We do that by promoting the local artists’ works.” One artisan present was Suri Oaks at Grace Ranch. Mark Fagerwick and his wife live on an alpaca farm and they make their own hats, gloves, sweaters and scarves from the wool they gather. “We were in the business world for 35 years and just got burnt out,” said Fagerwick. “We wanted to live a more relaxed, peaceful life.” He and his wife have turned to art. “We didn’t come here to sell as much as to support the arts in Winona but to market our stuff as well,” said Fagerwick. Live at the Levee helps support local artisans market their crafts and provide customers for them. The festival also helps support local art and music, all by bringing the community to Levee Park.

Allison Mueller
October 15, 2014

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