Special Events
Storytelling Workshop with Clare Murphy
Presented by Sandbar Storytelling Festival
Sunday / April 16, 2023 / 1:00-3:00pm
Renowned storyteller, performer, teacher, and artist Clare Murphy will kick off the Sandbar Storytelling Festival’s second season at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 15, with “Wild Irish Tales” at Saint Mary’s University’s Page Theatre. Additionally, Murphy will lead a storytelling workshop at the Winona Arts Center, 5th and Franklin streets, from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 16. Participation is $15 and limited space is available. Tickets are available at sandbarstorytellingfestival.

Celebrated for her physical dynamism, wit, and warmth, Murphy brings the ancient art of story firmly into the contemporary world. Born in Dublin, she has lived and worked in Spain and America and now resides in Bristol, UK. A woman of many skills, Murphy was born into a family of performers and poets. Her storytelling career began in 2006; since then she has told all kinds of stories from ancient myths to modern quantum physics.
She has shared her stories in many unusual situations including for Irish President Mary Robinson, at the Royal Shakespeare Company, and for Welsh Rugby Union. She has played world stages from NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena to the National Theatre in London. Her storytelling work goes beyond performance into the realm of teaching, training, and consulting worldwide on a myriad of projects.
Additional information about Murphy’s April 15 performance at Page Theatre is available at sandbarstorytellingfestival.
Storytelling Circle Sponsored by Sandbar Storytelling Festival
Sandbar Storytelling Festival brings back a storytelling circle to the Winona area!
The workshop with Clare Murphy kicks off a storytelling circle sponsored by the Sandbar Storytelling Festival.
The Sandbar Storytelling Circle sessions, led by Terry Visger, an educator and professional storyteller, will be held at the following places and dates:
Saturday, April 22, 2023 at 10 am
Curiosi-Tea House, 901 West 5th Street, Winona
Saturdays at 10 am, May 6 and 20, June 3 and 17, and July 1, 15 and 29
Winona Arts Center, 228 East 5th Street, Winona
These are 90-minute sessions and the fee is $80 for all eight sessions.
For more information about the festival and other events, go to sandbarstorytellingfestival.org.

Stained Glass Tour
Saturday / April 22, 2023 / 9:00am-1:00pm
The WAC is on the Winona County History Center’s April 22 Swing Into Spring: Winona’s Glorious Glass stained glass tour!
The Winona Arts Center will be open for visitors on April 22 from 9:00am to 1:00pm to view the Center’s beautiful stained glass windows as part of the Winona's Glorious Glass tour. The 12 stained glass windows at the WAC are examples of the American Opalescent school of stained glass. It was most popular in American churches from the mid 1800s to about 1930.
The Center will also feature glass artists who will demonstrate their work. Artists include Annie Grossarth-Nicol from Rose Colored Glass, Cathy Richardson from Touchstone Glass, and Jack Honeywell from Cedar Street Studio. The tours are self-guided and members of the WAC exhibit committee will be hosting. Tickets can be purchased at the Winona County History Center and are $15 for Winona County Historical Society members and $18 for the general public.



Earth Day Celebration
Saturday / April 22, 2023 / 11:00am-2:00pm
Jaycee Pavilion
The Winona Arts Center, Bluff Country Co-op, Habitat for Humanity, and the City of Winona are sponsoring a citywide Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 22 at the Jaycee Pavilion in Lake Park. This family-friendly event will include informational booths from various community organizations along with art and seed planting activities for children. There will be kite flying and other outdoor activities. Food trucks will be available with lunch and refreshment options for purchase.
At noon, the Little Warriors Drumline will perform in front of the pavilion followed by the Procession of the Species. Children 12 and under can bring a costume, puppet, or a mask of their favorite animal or plant species to join in the parade.
Please join us for a great celebration of our Earth. We encourage biking, walking, or carpooling to the event. Feel free to bring your own picnic lunch as well. This event is made possible through funding from WNB Financial. We thank them for their support.