Ananke Designs Events Schedule

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Earth Day Celebration
Winona State University
Satuday, April 21
11am to 8pm

This event has continued to grow to give to its community every year. I felt a tug at my heart as I looked at my nine year old sitting on the grass listening to a woman speak about light pollution. I felt a sense of pride and hope as having been a part of the event for the past six years. Bring your kids to be a part of the procession of the species. You won't regret it. You feel smarter as soon as you step onto the lawn, really.

Mississippi Music Fest
St. Cloud State University
Sunday April 29
11am to 8pm

I hate to say it folks, but I am afraid we have seen the death of this fine event. For funding purposes, the 'team' agreed to move the location. Not only that, but they shit-canned all the food vendors of year's past. (Remember the variety? I bet those vendors were quite suprised to have lost an income generating venue that their small businesses have grown to depend upon for many years. I bet they didn't tell them until the last minute either.) Now you have to stand in line for food tickets. (I really find this so offensive, it just sends the message - we are greedy and we want to make sure we know exactly how much money was made and we don't trust our employees or our customers either.) You can now 'buy' food from one of three booths all owned by the same guy - incidently; its the same guy who put up the money for the park and instigated the "no alcohol" rule. He isn't a very good cook either, and he charges $3 for a bottle of water. If you don't like it - go to a different festival. Can you say Bad Business Decision? Maybe not so much for him, but definately for the event. This annual event used to take place at the beautiful Riverside Park. It used to draw around 15,000 people; families, kids, seniors, the art comunity, alumni, and students alike. Last year we got there, only to discover that we were going to be 'festing' at a soccer field, where there was no alcohol allowed. (They didn't tell us ahead of time so that we had an opportunity to make a sensible business decision, thus we suffered from their bad one.) Needless to say, no one showed up. I take that back. Some people showed up. Some people showed up looking for the free activities that were advertised. No one came for the music, no one came for the festivities, I hope they didn't come for the food, and no one came to buy art. That was probably OK really, because there wasn't very much art. It was mostly dollar store variety jewelry and imported clothing. The good energy that was always in the air in prior years was gone. The students were angry as their annual going away party was ruined, and they went elsewhere to celebrate, en masse. The whole thing was a shambles. No one seemed to care, maybe they would care if they understood the problem. Maybe they should identify their objectives. Last year's objective: kill the event and piss off the vendors who have remained true for 10+ years. It's a non-profit event put on by college students for the experience of putting together a venue. The committee changes every year. This venue isn't about drawing a good crowd, although it used to do that on its own. This event has gone from one of our favorites, to one of the old bygones.

Sad Sad. RIP MMF...

Reggae Sunsplash
Saturday, May 12
Trempealeau, WI
2 pm - 11 pm

Held on the beautiful Mississippi River at the wonderful historic
Trempealeau Hotel, this annual event is always a lot of fun.
Come out and enjoy the music!
You will have the time of your life!! 
Great outdoor stage, huge grassy grounds,
and a wonderful  hotel with bar and restaurant.

For info on the AWESOME Trempealeau Hotel, click here.

Blues Bash
Saturday, May 26
Trempealeau, WI
2 pm - 11 pm

Held on the beautiful Mississippi River at the wonderful historic
Trempealeau Hotel, this annual event is always a lot of fun.
Come out and enjoy the music!  Great outdoor stage, huge grassy grounds,
and a great hotel with bar and restaurant.

For info on the AWESOME Trempealeau Hotel, click here.

Edina Art Fair
June 1 - 3

Here is another event that has changed for the worse. They decided to contract with a big corporate event promotions outfit. These people just went crazy. We'll see what future years bring. I am not going to learn at my own expense.

Taste of the Arts Fair
Sun Prairie, WI
June 9

The organizers kept to themselves. There was some neat stuff there, but no food. Food was miles away in town. If you got really hungry, you could get an iced spritzer water flavored wth your choice of syrup. Or black coffee. There were some great booths there, but I don't think there was ample audience to appreciate it. There was also a lot of buy/sell merchandise and imports for an event that advertised itself as an "Art Fair". I was scheduled to do a demonstration. This was in an unmarked pavillion, at an unmarked picnic table, all the way at the back of the park. Not one single person came to see my demonstration, and not a single promoter showed their face to express appreciation. The guy before me said no one watched him either. The lady next to us got really drunk, so it was fun to watch that anyway.

They even put pictures of the wooden roses on their website.

Wooden Roses, Art?

Georgia must be rolling in her grave.

Rochesterfest Riverwalk Arts & Crafts Show
Rochester, MN
June 23
I am not sure what to say about this event. I signed up for it last year, and when I got there I realized that I was expected to haul my merchandise for over three blocks. There was heavy security for a nonexistent crowd, they looked like Homeland Security. This event is completely blocked off from "Rochesterfest." I have never really understood Rochesterfest, which appears to me to consist of a few blocks of food vendors, a parade, and a couple of drunken street dances. Of course, there are things going on all over town if you get a program - but I like my events to be in one place. I left and went to Lake City. At any rate I was more prepared this year, they lowered the price for a 10 x 10 - and I dragged my set-up all the way across the lawn. There were Vikings cheerleaders there. Vikings cheerleader fans don't really like arts & crafts very much. I did manage to promote the Thursdays on First Downtown Street Market, to the few attendees who cared. They were mostly other crafters who wanted to know how to get a spot. I don't think I will leave David alone in Lake City next year on Saturday. It was a bad business decision overall.

Waterski Days

Lake City, MN
June 23 & 24, 2002
Held in Lake City in the beautiful Patton Park. 

We are going!!  We love it!! See you there!!

St. Croix Valley Bluegrass Festival
Hastings, MN
June 30

This was held at the Carpenter Nature Center near Hastings, MN. They aren't having one in 2008. It was good, David had a nice time.

Visit their website here. 

Riverfest
LaCrosse, WI

This annual celebration is held the week of July 4th on the banks of the Mississippi River.  Features five stages with live performances all weekend, an air show, and an excellent fireworks display. A well put together event rich in tradition, with something to offer to everyone. Get kissed by Commadores!

If you don't come see me,
you should at least go see Orrico!

Riverfest Website

Sidewalk Days
Duluth, MN
July 11 -14

We like Duluth. We go there. We think you should too.

Frank lives in Duluth, and so do his rocks.

See the Sidewalk Days Official Website.

Prairie Dog Blues Festival
Prairie du Chien, WI

Last weekend in July. You could win a Harley while listening to excellent national blues acts. Todd and Sharon have it going on!!

Don't miss it! We love it!
Prairie Dog Blues

Des Moines Renaissance Faire

Defeat of Jesse James Days
Northfield, MN
September 8 - 9

There really is a lot going on in Northfield for this event. You could get lost for at least three days. There is a little bus that you can ride around, too. Bring the kids.

See the official website.

Tree Frog Music Festival
Faribault, MN
September 15 - 16

What fun!!  Really!
Where else could you stand inside a soap bubble?

Visit here for more info.

Festival Of The Arts Show & Sale
Stillwater, MN
October 6

I am honored to have been accepted into this venue, and I hope to be welcomed back next year. It is a real treat to work with such professionals in the art industry. Stillwater has something for everyone, and offers breathtaking scenery along the river.

We'll see how things go now that Bob has "hopped the creek, " so to speak. I miss this place when I am away. Things are a little different in McGregor, IA. The colors are better.

Visit here for more info.

Our annual open house ----> See you at Earth Day 2008!