For a map of all events and locations click here.

Special Event: Santa Lights the Lights Celebrate with Santa when he comes to town to magically light the Christmas trees at Central School at 5pm. Visit Santa and his friends then enjoy some treats. 4:30 – 6:30 pm.

1. MACROSTIE ART CENTER Presenting the annual Holiday Marketplace with unique, handmade gifts by over 90 local and regional artists, a trunk show with jeweler M’lou Brubaker, the annual wreath auction, food by Timberlake Lodge, and music by Holly Newton’s piano students.

2. THE YARN GALLERY The Yarn Gallery will be raffling a handmade Holiday Village with 100% of the proceeds going to the Second Harvest Food Shelf!  We will also have Amanda Wirta, concert violinist for the Duluth Symphony Orchestra, providing fun and beautiful music!

3. STAINED GLASS WITH CLASS Hosting the Deer River High School 127 A Capella Choir performing festive music from 5:30 – 7:30 pm.

4. OLD CENTRAL SCHOOL Showcasing Artists in Residence Sam Camilli, Diamond Knispel, Sheena Morrision. Stop by to meet the artists, view their work, and learn about the Artist in Residence program.

5. WHISPERING WOODS GALLERY Hosting a Christmas Open House with drawings, goodies, and a chance to meet the gallery’s many artists.

6. GRAND RAPIDS AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION Stained glass artist Shelley Bouquet will be displaying her beautiful artwork. Bring your checkbook!  Enjoy healthy holiday treats, hot apple cider and music.

7. VFW POST 1720 Music by Sam Miltich and Friends from 7 – 10 pm.

8. JENNY & COMPANY Welcoming Kari Hedlund of Buckhorn Breads with artisan breads and baked goods crafted with Grandma’s secrets. Samples of fraguettes, wild rice bread, and cupcakes will be available along with items for sale.

9. WINGS ‘N WILLOWS ART GALLERY & CUSTOM FRAMING Featuring the re-purposed exotic textiles of Lori Worthing.  Stop in to try your hand at painting your own 2013 ornament.

10. MISSISSIPPI DIAMOND JEWELERS Connie Tuominen will be demonstrating the art of loom beading, a traditional Native American craft which she has been practicing for 15 years. Connie will also be showing her line of jewelry which includes wire wrapping, fancy jewelry, and contemporary loom beading. 

11. OVER THE RIVER POP-UP SHOP Over 15 local artisans with everything from mittens to jams & jellies, soaps and furniture.  Stop in to see Grand Rapids’ newest trending shop. Something new, something old, something for them and something for you!

12. FRAME UP Diane Rutherford will be showing her new batik and ice dyed infinity scarves, table runners, napkins, baby onesies, and more. Frame Up has a HUGE variety of gift items made by our local artisans! As always refreshments and friendship will be on hand.

13. ITASCA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY Welcoming “All Things Reconsidered” handcrafted, ecofriendly art by Kayla LaTarte! With dulcimer music and chocolates, of course! 4 to 7 p.m.

14. BREWED AWAKENINGS December features local author Susan Hawkinson with her new children’s book, Tina Christina Sestina: A North Woods Adventure. With music by Maggie & Kristen Anderson on cello and guitar, a dinner special until 6:30 pm, and complimentary coffee & cookies.

15. GRAND RAPIDS AREA LIBRARY Stop by the Community Room in the library from 4 – 6 pm to celebrate the end of NaNoWriMo – National Novel Writing Month – and hear how local writers responded to the challenge!

16. STUDIO NORTH Join Liz White and Lily Winter for the annual Studio North holiday party and sale. Liz will have new encaustic work as well as sharply discounted older work. Lily will showcase new jewelry including several experimental designs. 1 – 5 pm on First Friday.

 

We are pleased to announce a new on-line artist list on our website.  If you are a local area visual or musical artist, we invite you to join the on-line artist list we are starting. We have been maintaining a paper list of musicians, as requests for people to play for local functions happen regularly. Keeping paper lists is very difficult and labor
intensive and has been abandoned.  We just got a request through Visit Grand Rapids from an individual bringing 2 busloads of people here next year. They are looking for one or two nights of entertainment for their group. We also get requests for visual artists who may want to market their work by exhibiting at First Fridays or other art events in
the area. So, click on Sign up for Artist List.  That’s all there is to it.

Celebrate art and community from 4 – 8 pm on Friday, November 1 in downtown Grand Rapids.

A map of events is here.

1. MACROSTIE ART CENTER Presenting painting and printmaking by Lea Friesen in Off the Map and the group exhibition Sculptural Ceramics. Music by cellist Maggie Anderson from 4 – 6 pm, and artist talks at 6 pm.

2. BENDER’S SHOE & SPORT Marva Harms, impressionist oil painter, will be showing her en plein air work from 4 – 7 pm. Her subjects are bathed in expressive color and light. Come catch the light…

3. THE YARN GALLERY Hosting Nuno Felting artist Patty Salo Downs. Patty’s work is showcased in galleries across the state and she uses unusual fibers and silks to create her beautiful pieces.

4. STAINED GLASS WITH CLASS Showcasing small stained glass sun-catchers and stained glass mounted on driftwood by artists George and Lisa Berkholz and Carolyn Latimer.

5. OLD CENTRAL SCHOOL Welcoming Artists in Residence Diamond Knispel and Sheena Morrision to Central School. Stop by to meet the artists, view their work, and learn about the Artist in Residence program.

6. WHISPERING WOODS GALLERY WWG welcomes hunters and hunter’s wives to visit with artist Anne Amato and check out new fall work by the gallery’s artists.

7. JANNA SALMELA PHOTOGRAPHY Stop by for an open house to meet family and portrait photographer Janna Salmela. Enjoy cider and treats, check out the studio, and learn how to pose for photos.

8. DUSTABLES Welcoming Bonnie Lundorff, owner of Willow Wood Market in Bemidji. See Bonnie’s wonderful ways of working with wool with on-going demonstrations and a beautiful display of wool, patterns & kits.

9. VFW POST 1720 Music by the Sam Miltich Trio with gypsy jazz, Brazilian choro, and European folk music from 7 – 10 pm.

10. JENNY & COMPANY ChefCariCooks, graduate of Le Cordon Bleu, will be showing us simple sugar art. Make ordinary desserts spectacular for the holidays!

11. FRAME UP Come see oil and pencil portrait demos by Tom Page and fun portraits he has done of people you may recognize. Tom will discuss his techniques and take orders for portraits for the holiday season.

12. ITASCA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY Hosting T&T Design Christmas Preview and serving chocolates! 4 – 7pm.

13. BREWED AWAKENINGS November features paintings by Lynnette Mackey with music by soulful singer/songwriter Josh Palmi, a dinner special until 6:30 pm, and complimentary coffee and cookies.

14. GRAND RAPIDS AREA LIBRARY Stop by the Community Room in the library from 4 – 6 pm to find out about NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month.