Worthington hosts the Great Gobbler Gallop each
fall, when the town pits one of its turkeys in a main
street race against one from Cuero, Texas. Each town
claims national supremacy in turkey raising (and racing!).
Windsurfers race with the wind on Lake Okabena. A
pioneer village traces the city’s roots, and the home of
one of its most famous residents can be toured with
advance reservations. The 1890 residence was home to
George Dayton, who went on to found Dayton’s
Department Store.
Luverne, in the southwest corner of the state, was
once home to the award-winning National Geographic
magazine photographer Jim Brandenburg. The
Brandenberg Gallery features his striking photographs of
the prairie and Minnesota wildlife. Quarries near
Luverne, Jasper and Pipestone provided the handsome
red stone used in many of the distinctive turn-of-the-century buildings found throughout the area. A self-guided walking tour highlights many of these historic
structures in Luverne.
Blue Mounds State Park just outside of Luverne
preserves a remnant of native prairie, complete with a
small buffalo herd. Prairie wildflowers bloom in late
summer and early fall, and the rocky ridge here is
popular with climbers. Further north, Split Rock Creek
State Park also has some prairie and a small lake.
Festivals & Events
February
Grumpy Old Men Festival, Wabasha
March
Soar with the Eagles, Wabasha
April
Salt Lake Bird Watching Weekend, Madison
Bluff Country Studio Tour, Lanesboro Area
May
Stand-Still Parade, Whalan
June
Minnesota Inventors Congress, Redwood Falls
Rochesterfest, Rochester
Windsurfing Regatta & Unvarnished
Music Festival, Worthington
July
Wilder Pageant, Walnut Grove
Bavarian Blast, New Ulm
Great River Shakespeare Festival, Winona
August
Berne Swissfest, near Rochester
Cornfest, Ortonville
Butterfield Threshing Bee,
near Windom
Berne Swissfest
September
Defeat of Jesse James Days, Northfield
Airfest & Hot Air Balloon Rally, Faribault
Mahkato Traditional Powwow, Mankato
King Turkey Day, Worthington
Rock Bend Folk Festival, St. Peter
October
Johnny Appleseed Days, Lake City
Oktoberfest, New Ulm
Big Island Rendezvous, Albert Lea
Fall Festival of Arts, Red Wing
November
Tundra Swan Watch, Winona
For more events info see:
Mahkato
Traditional
Powwow
