Statehood Week: May 11th – 18th
Events leading into the Sesquicentennial Statehood Week.
- May 3: Ann Reed’s “Song For Minnesota” debuts at the Fitzgerald theater at 8:00p.m. Visit www.mpr.org for more information.
- May 4 -11: The Sesquicentennial Wagon Train drives from Cannon Falls to St. Paul, arriving on Statehood Day, May 11, to kickoff Statehood Week. Check the Wagon Train website for detailed schedule and stops.
- May 6: Declaration of Independence arrives at the Minnesota History Center for Statehood Week events. The Declaration exhibit, including many of Minnesota’s founding documents, will be free and open to the public through May 18th.
- May 8-11: Old Minnesota Song of the North Star musical tribute show at the Pantages Theatre in Minneapolis. Children’s shows for local schools on May 8 & 9 and evening performances May 10 and 11.
- May 10: Minnesota Twins & Boston Red Sox game at the Metrodome honors Minnesota’s Sesquicentennial. Pre-game festivities on the Twins Plaza and 1860s-style baseball game on the field before the 6:10 p.m. Twins-Red Sox showdown. Go to http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com for tickets.
STATEHOOD DAY SCHEDULE
Sunday, MAY 11, 2008
Minnesota Sesquicentennial Commission
Noon to 4 p.m. – Open House at the Capitol – Special Tours and Minnesota Historical Society events
2 p.m. – Group picture participants begin to arrive at Capitol steps area. Participants include all current and former state officials (constitutional officers, State Supreme Court justices, legislators and their descendants)
3 p.m. – Group picture taken
3:30 p.m. – Sesquicentennial Statehood Wagon Train arrives, ending a 7-day journey that began in Cannon Falls. Today’s final leg of the journey begins at Fort Snelling, travels down Summit Avenue and continues to the Capitol.
3:30 p.m. Kickoff ceremony begins with welcome by Cay Shea Hellervik, Commission chair, and includes remarks by:
- Governor Tim Pawlenty
- Senator Norm Coleman
- Senator Amy Klobuchar
- Commission Executive Director Jane Leonard
- Minnesota Historical Society Executive Director Nina Archabal
- Winners of statewide fourth, fifth and sixth grade essay contest read their essays “What Statehood Means Today and Into the Future.”
- Music by Classic Brass, Inc.
- Vocals by Anita McColley
May 12-16: Honorary Capitals for a Day
The five honorary capitals chosen by the people of Minnesota last fall.
Bemidji (May 12):
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7:00am - Pancake breakfast -Senior Center, 216 Third Street NW
- all you can eat pancakes, 3 sausages, OJ and coffee for $5
- 8:00am – Flag raising declaring Bemidji Capital for a Day (with bells and sirens) City Hall, 317 4th Street NW
- 8:05am – Governor to speak with Secretary of State
Mini-stamp unveiling City Hall, 317 4th Street NW
- 10:15am to 1:30pm – Local elementary school activity - “Happy 150th Birthday Minnesota!” - J.W. Smith Elementary School, 1712 America Avenue, NW
- 8:45am – Community Conversation/Plan for our Future - City Hall in Chambers, 317 4th Street NW
- 10:15am – History Tour with Go & Whoa Club
- 12 noon – Capital for a Day Ceremony and Dedication - Diamond Point Park, Birchmont Drive Northeast
- Presentation of the Colors and Honorary SQ Flag
- National Anthem
- Presentation of Hail Minnesota Historical Society Invocation
- Performance of “Honor Song”
- Speaker – Parks and Trails Commission
- Special recognition of Honorary Governor and Lt. Governor for the Day
- Winner of Jaycees History Scavenger Hunt
- Closing Remarks
- Retire the colors
- Performance of “Northern Minnesota”
- 1:00pm – Lunch - Diamond Point Park, Birchmont Drive Northeast
- 7:00pm – “Bend in the River” presented by Wild Rose Theater - Diamond Point Park, Birchmont Drive Northeast
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Contact –
Kay Murphy
218-759-3570
kmurphy@ci.bemidji.mn.us |
Thief River Falls (May 13):
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7:00am to 8:00pm - Displays/Exhibits - Businesses and Organizations active for 50 yrs in TRF
- 7:30am to 7:32am – Ring bells and sirens Ralph Engelstad Arena, 525 Brooks Ave S
- Opening Ceremony - Ralph Engelstad Arena, 525 Brooks Ave S
- Welcome by Mayor
- Color Guard w/US and MN flags
- Star Spangled Banner & Hail, Minnesota!
- Governor's Address to the Town
- Unveiling of special, commemorative postmark & Mini-Stamp unveiling
- Introduce Honorary Mayor, Fire Chief and Police Chief
- Community Sing-a-Long of "We're From Thief River"
- 8:15am to 9:00am – Breakfast and Small Business Awards ceremony - Ralph Engelstad Arena, 525 Brooks Ave S
- 9:00am to 10:00am – Community Conversation/Plan for our Future - Ralph Engelstad Arena, 525 Brooks Ave S
- 12:00pm to 1:30pm – Community Picnic - Floyd B. Olson Park
- Recognition Dinner - REA Imperial Room
- Welcome by Mayor
- Prayer by Ministerial Association President Cuppett
- Norwegian Prayer by Gloria Johnson
- Dinner of Norwegian Foods
- Talk by Gretchen Beito on "Enterprising
- Recognition of Bob Carlson
- Recognition of Honorary Mayor, Fire Chief, Police Chief
- Keynote Speaker (Art Lee, former Bemidji State University professor on "Growing Up Norwegian in MN")
- Wrap-Up and Thank You's by Mayor
- NCTC Community Band Concert
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Contact –
Jodie Torkelson
218-681-2943
jtorkelson@citytrf.net |
Detroit Lakes (May 14):
-
8:58am – Bells ring to announce Detroit Lakes as Capital for the Day
Tree planting at Historic Holmes Theatre with Lt. Governor Carol Molnau
- 9:00am – Tour of Greater Detroit Lakes
- 9:00am to 4:00pm – Becker County History Museum extended hours
- Noon to 1:00pm – Community Conversation/Plan for our Future - Soo Pass Ranch, 25526 City Highway 22
- 1:00pm to 3:00pm – Tour of Detroit Lakes
- 1:00pm to 1:30pm – Tree planting by area students (15 trees, one for each decade)
Arena
- 1:00pm to 2:30pm – Detroit Lake Middle School 6th grade presents “Famous Minnesotans" - Washington Square Mall, 808 Washington Ave
- 1:00pm to 7:00pm – Environmental and Fun Exhibits (slide show and movies from “old DL”) - Pavilion, West Lake Drive
- 1:30pm to 2:30pm – Holy Rosary School presents “Assignment Earth – What Kids can do to Save the Planet” - Pavilion, West Lake Drive
- 2:30pm – 150th Birthday Cake and Coffee - Pavilion, West Lake Drive
- 4:00pm to 5:00pm – “Hoot & Toot” - City Park/Pavilion, West Lake Drive
- 4:00pm to 6:00pm – Fun activities! - Pavilion, West Lake Drive
- Capital Cash Free Giveaway
- Free Kids’ Fishing
- Free Horse and Wagon Rides
- 5:00pm to 5:30pm – City Presentation and Dedication of Sailboat
- Presentation of Colors & Flag Raising
- National Anthem
- Opening Remarks – Mayor Larry Buboltz
- Speaker – Rebecca Otto, State Auditor
- Speaker – Jane Leonard
- Sailboat Dedication – Teri Lynne Nelson
- Closing Remarks
- Retire the Colors - Pavilion, West Lake Drive
- 5:30pm to 7:00pm – Free Community Picnic - Pavilion, West Lake Drive
- Music by Doc & the Scrubs
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Contact –
Amy Stearns
218-844-4221
amy@dlccc.org |
New Ulm (May 15):
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6:30am to 8:00am – Farm City Hub Club pancake breakfast
- Concord Singers
- Governor Tim Pawlenty address
- Mini-unveiling of Stamp
- Q & A with Governor and community (mingle and shake hands) -
Civic Center, 1212 North Franklin Street
- 8:00am to 8:02am – Bells and Whistles - Throughout the city
- 8:00am – Raising of Flags by National Guard and Boy Scouts -
City Hall, 100 North Broadway
- 9:00am – Dedication of Popcorn Wagon- Brown County Museum, 2 North Broadway
- 9:30am to 11:30 am – Community Conversation/Plan for our Future-
New Ulm Middle School, Center and State Streets
- 10:00am to 2:00pm – New Ulm Postal Cancellation - Brown County Museum, 2 North Broadway
- 11:00am to 4:00 pm – Cultural Congress - Brown County Museum, 2 North Broadway
- 11:30am – Schell’s Hobo Band Concert -
Turner Halle, 102 South State Street
- 12:00pm/3:00pm/5:00pm – Glockenspiel - carillon plays music and animated character perform - Schonlau Park, 4th North and Minnesota Streets
- 12:00pm to 1:30pm – German Buffet Luncheon
- $12.00 tickets (in advance only)
- Senator Dennis Frederickson as featured speaker
- Premier of New Ulm podcast tour guide
- Turner Halle, 102 South State Street
- 1:30pm – Katie Groper Walking Tour -
Beginning at Turner Halle
- 1:30pm to 3:00pm – State Agricultural Commission Round Table
- Facilitated by Assistant Ag Commissioner Jim Boerboom -
Turner Halle
- 3:00 pm to 5:30pm – Big Catfish Release (with Cash prize) and DNR presentation
- Commissioner Mark Holsten - Riverside Park, Front Street between 1st and 3rd Streets South
- 5:30pm to 8:00pm – Community Picnic
- Food and refreshments and visit from Lt. Governor Carol Molnau
- 6:15pm – Fly-over by WWII aircraft: P-38, P-51 & P-40
- 6:30pm – Program hosted by Brian Filzen
- Abe Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address
- New Ulm History Skit / NUACT
- Prairie Grass Biome Song / Prairie Arts Chorale
- German Park, German and 2nd North Street
- 7:00pm to 8:00pm - Band Concert and New Ulm Battery - German Park, German and 2nd North Street
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Contact –
Mayor Joel Albrecht
507-359-8233
joel.albrecht@ci.new-ulm.mn.us |
Winona (May 16):
- 5:45am – Sunrise CeremonyJaycees Pavilion, Lake Park7:15am – Breakfast City Hall, 207 Lafayette Street7:45am – Flag Raising
- Speech from Governor
- Stamp unveiling
- Music by High School Jazz Band City Hall, 207 Lafayette Street
- 8:15am – 12:00pm – Ojibwa and Ho-Chunk Tribe Truth & Reconciliation Circle Lake Park
- 9:00am – 3:00pm – Model Legislature with Representative Gene PelowskiCity Hall, 207 Lafayette Street
- 9:00am – 10:00am – Governor’s Radio ShowTBD
- 9:00am – 11:30am – Garvin Heights Lookout Tour
- 11:30am – Capital for a Day Lunch
- Music provided by Orchestra students
- Additional music performers will be there Levee Park by Wilkie
- 12:00pm – Calliope - Levee Park
- 12:15pm – Special music and readings from Poet Laureate, Jim Armstrong - Levee Park
- 1:00pm to 2:00pm – Community Conversation/Plan for our Future - Levee Park
- 1:00pm to 3:30pm – Winona Unified Talking Circle- Jaycees Pavilion, Lake Park4:30pm – Public picnic Lake Park 7:00pm – Minnesota Photo
- 9:30pm – Fireworks - Lake Winona
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Contact –
Myrna Olson
507-457-8232
MOlson@cityhall.luminet.net |
May 17 & 18: The Statehood Weekend Festival
Saturday, May 17 highlights
- 11:00am Food vendors on Martin Luther King Dr, Sesquicentennial and exhibitor tents, entertainment on the Minnesota Stage in front of the Capitol, Emergency Food Shelf Network collects non-perishable food donations all day
- 12:30pm 26 vintage aircraft plane flyover
- 1:00pm The First Day Issue ceremony for Minnesota’s Sesquicentennial Commemorative U.S. Postage Stamp in front of the Capitol featuring both Minnesotan dignitaries and representatives of the United States Postal Service. States are only allowed one commemorative stamp every 50 years, so Minnesota won’t have another till 2058.
- 1:30pm USPS will have the Commemorative Minnesota Stamp for sale. Dignitaries and the artist behind the stamp’s photographic image, Richard Hamilton Smith of Park Rapids, will be on hand to sign autographs on poster-size reproductions of the stamp.
Sunday, May 18 highlights
- 4:00p.m. Food vendors on Martin Luther King Dr, Sesquicentennial and Exhibitor tents, entertainment on the Minnesota Stage, Emergency Food Shelf Network collects non-perishable food donations all afternoon
- 6:45p.m. Music begins on the Capitol steps
- 6:58p.m. (18:58 Military Time) National Guard Flyover
- 7:00p.m. Statehood Ceremony “Honoring Those Who Serve”
We’ll recognize public servants, citizen volunteers, and members of our armed forces on the steps of the Capitol. Includes an all-state choir led by Philip Brunelle, and speakers that include Governor Tim Pawlenty and other dignitaries. There will also be a satellite link to our troops stationed in Iraq.
- 8:45p.m. Fireworks over the Capitol
