by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
The weather was a bit blustery but beautiful for the Millstream Arts Festival in downtown St. Joseph Sept. 27 as thousands of people casually strolled closed-off Minnesota Street, admiring arts and crafts, socializing and enjoying a variety of foods.
More than 50 white tents, some of them shimmying in the wind, lined both sides of the street for several blocks as artists showed and, in some cases, demonstrated their arts and crafts. There were paintings in oil, acrylic, watercolor; drawings; metal works; ceramics; photography, jewelry; printmaking; textiles; woodworks; candles; glass; folk arts; and more.
There were also art activities for children; a booth of local writers with their books; musical performances, including the CSB/SJU Jazz Ensemble, The Half Steps, Charter Kats, Dennis Warner and the Stearns County Pachanga Society. Street performances included Chris Gustafson (street art), the Granite City Cloggers, Carnivale Revolver and musician Paul Imholte.
Many people also took in the vintage car-and-tractor show or stopped into the St. Joseph Historical Society, which was featuring Civil War memorabilia and vintage toys.
The festival, which took place from 11 a.m.-5 p.m., was one of the best-attended in its history.
A video which the festival put together is available by navigating to our website, www.thenewsleaders.com, and clicking on the Millstream Arts Festival logo, on the right-hand side under Informational Links.
Paul Imholte (left), a widely admired local musician, entertained with two drop-by guests during the Sept. 27 Millstream Arts Festival in St. Joseph. Imholte usually plays the hammered dulcimer (seen in center of photo), but he invited Sue Pundsack to play it for one song, as well as guests Caitlin Stiles on fiddle. Both women are from St. Cloud.
Grandmother and grandchildren enjoy a delightful impromptu picnic on the lawn right next to the American Legion during the Millstream Arts Festival Sept. 27 in St. Joseph. Mary Kay Hoeschen brought grandkids Myah Hoeschen (left) and her brother, Keegan, to the festival. The children, from Arden Hills, were visiting her. Their father, Terry Hoeschen, is a St. John’s University graduate, and their mother, Lisa Sullivan, is a College of St. Benedict graduate. Mary Kay has lived in St. Joseph for 37 years.
Long-time St. Joseph residents and intrepid walkers Jim and MaryAnn Graeve appear like shrinking shrimps next to a very tall young woman at the Millstream Arts Festival Sept. 27 in St. Joseph.
Dave Faust of St. Cloud and his canine buddies wait for his wife, Pam, to return with refreshments from The Local Blend at the Millstream Arts Festival Sept. 27 in St. Joseph. The dogs’ names are Nikko (left) and Dixie.
St. Joseph potter Joel Cherrico arranges his pieces during the Millstream Arts Festival Sept. 27 in St. Joseph.
During the Millstream Arts Festival, two friends sold lemonade and cookies to passersby to raise money for the Tri-County Humane Society. The girls are (left) Rhianna Sieben of St. Joseph and Saima Velline of Avon.
Mike Olson of Sauk Centre plays a blues song on his electric cigar-box guitar, one of many such guitars on display for sale at his vendor’s booth at the Millstream Arts Festival Sept. 27 in St. Joseph. Bluesmen in the poverty-stricken, rural South, including the renowned bluesman Lightnin’ Hopkins, made their early guitars out of cigar boxes and a long piece of wood – even broomsticks in some cases.
This old bright orange-red tractor was one of many on display at the Millstream Arts Festival Sept. 27 in St. Joseph. Its owner is Len Schmitz of Cold Spring (right), who has collected old tractors for years. He bought this one from a man in Ore, N.D. and painted it himself. The color, he said, is “Flambeaux Red.” To the left is Maurice Palmersheim of St. Joseph.
Sheet-metal pumpkins, rusted to autumnal tones, grin and leer at the Millstream Arts Festival Sept. 27 in St. Joseph.
Lily Woods of St. Joseph and Kieran Meyer of Sartell paint to their hearts’ content at the Millstream Arts Festival Sept. 27 in St. Joseph.
Jeni Gruber of Sartell comforts her 3-month old baby, Lucy, after a passerby at the Millstream Arts Festival inadvertently alarmed the baby by abruptly sticking his head in the baby carriage, causing her to cry, In the background is Lucy’s father, Logan.
This jazzed-up 1964 Oldsmobile turned many a head at the Millstream Arts Festival Sept. 27 in St. Joseph. Its owners (in photo) are Jerry and Doris Johnson of St. Joseph. Jerry bought the car from a man in Dassel in the early 1980s. After getting its engine overhauled and hiring someone to do its razzle-dazzle paint job, the Johnsons took to the road with it, visiting car shows in 48 states throughout the years.
His wagon loaded with goodies, Brody Zinken of St. Joseph, like a little popcorn king, rides in royal style at the Millstream Arts Festival Sept. 27 in St. Joseph. Brody is the son of Brian and Tracy Zinken.
The Granite City Cloggers kick up their heels and entertain an enthusiastic crowd at the Millstream Arts Festival in St. Joseph Sept. 27. The warm, breezy weather drew thousands to the annual arts-and-crafts gathering.
Dan Mondloch, a master watercolor artist from St. Cloud, demonstrates his art at the Millstream Arts Festival in St. Joseph Sept. 27. Mondloch’s art display was one of many at the festival, which included works of jewelry, pottery, oil painting, photography, woodwork, textiles and more.
Five-year-old Lydia Mrosla of Rice is proud of her pumpkin, which she decorated with lots of artsy scrawls and designs at the Millstream Arts Festival Sept. 27 in St. Joseph.
Cindy Thomas (left) and friend Linda Jensen, both of Eden Valley, admire some whimsical rusted metal works at the Millstream Arts Festival Sept. 27 in St. Joseph.
