by Dennis Dalman
The annual colorful, tune-filled, engaging arts event known as the Millstream Arts Festival will take place in St. Joseph along College Avenue from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 27.
The festival is an outdoor juried art show with a staggering variety of visual arts, ceramics, jewelry, printmaking, folk art, textiles, paintings (watercolor, acrylics, oil), photography, homemade candles, woodworking, stained glass, literature (including poetry), music and dancing (both street and stage performances), art activities for children and many kinds of food for sale at street-vendor tents.
Founded 40 years ago, the Millstream Arts Festival has been situated in downtown St. Joseph for the past 15 years. The event attracts people from a wide area of Minnesota and even some from out of state.
In the past and likely this year as well, the artists hailed from St. Joseph, Avon, Sartell, Sauk Rapids, St. Cloud, St. Augusta Kimball, Little Falls, Shaefer and the Twin Cities. The artists are right there in the street in their vending tents showcasing their works as they greet and meet visitors who may want to buy their works.
Millstream is a non-profit organization that promotes the visual and performing arts. Its annual festival is funded partly by the Central Minnesota Arts Board with funds appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature.
Millstream’s Board of Directors/Planning Committee is comprised of local volunteers Alison Bell, Jessie Chandler, Mary Degiovanni, Mary Niedenfuer, Alicia Peters (president), Thomasette Scheeler (Order of St. Benedict) and Danielle Taylor.
Larry Schug, a St. Joseph poet, signed a copy of one of his many poetry collections during the 2022 Millstream Arts Festival in St. Joseph.
An old bridge is the subject of a watercolor painting by artist Kerry Kupferschmidt of St. Cloud, one of the many artists who displays their works at the Millstream Arts Festival in St. Joseph.
This plater by acclaimed Sartell potter/sculptor Peder Hegland was created in collaboration with Hegland’s neighbor, award-winning painter Judith Bergerson. It is one of many of his ceramic artworks Hegland has displayed at the Millstream Arts Festival in St. Joseph.
