Winona is celebrating its recognition as a Minnesota Legacy Destination on July 15-17, with an assortment of activities demonstrating the impact of the Clean Water, Land & Legacy Amendment approved by Minnesota voters in 2008.

Legacy  weekend is a statewide collaborative project between Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, Conservation Minnesota, Explore Minnesota Tourism and various community partners.

“We are very excited to be collaborating with Visit Winona and the other wonderful attractions.  We have a great line-up of activities scheduled for the weekend,” said Mark Peterson, executive director of the Winona County Historical Society. 

Visit Winona, in partnership with the Great River Shakespeare Festival, Winona County Historical Society, MN Marine Art Museum, Pickwick Mill, Frozen River Film Festival and the City of Winona, will feature a series of arts, historic and outdoor events including:

•    The Great River Shakespeare Festival is offering three productions over three days;  A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Saturday, July 17 at 8:00 pm), Henry IV: Part 1 (Friday, July 15 at 2:00 pm and Sunday, July 17 at 2:00 pm),  and The Fantasticks (Friday July 15 at 8:00 pm and Saturday, July 16 at 2:00 pm). There will also be Festival Morning Q and A at the Acoustic Café on Saturday at 10:00am  and the Shakespeare Symposium at Winona State University on Sunday at 10:00 a.m.  GRSF in association with Theatre du Missisippi will be offering FREE Concerts on the Green on Friday and Saturday at 6:30pm at the WSU Campus.  For information and tickets contact 507-474-7900 or visit www.grsf.org

•    The Winona County Historical Society is displaying two exhibits at the Winona County History Center, Steamboats Models of the Mississippi and Minnesota on the Map. There will be Family Gallery Activities all weekend and a FREE performance by the Songs of Hope International  Choir Concert on Saturday, July 15,  at 2:00 p.m. $1 off admission to the Museum. For more information, contact 507-454-2723 or visit www.winonahistory.org

•    The Frozen River Film Festival is sponsoring an Iraqi Art Exhibit; “Navigating the Aftermath” at the Winona County History Center featuring Iraqi artists with an opening reception on Saturday from 4:00 pm- 7:00 p.m. The film “The Unreturned”, produced by the Iraqi and American Reconciliation Project, will be shown for FREE at the Winona County History Center at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 17.

•    The City of Winona Park and Recreation Department is offering FREE watercraft rental at Lake Lodge at Lake Winona. Friday: 4- 8pm and Saturday/Sunday from 1-6 pm.

•    Pickwick Mill is offering FREE admission on Saturday (10 am – 5 pm) and Sunday (11 am- 5 pm). For more information contact 507-457-0499 or visit www.pickwickmill.org

•    The FREE Wild River Family Fest on July 16 from 10:30 am-1:00pm is offering outdoor and indoor family activities provided in partnership with the Minnesota Marine Art Museum, Upper Mississippi National Wildlife Refuge, Whitewater State Park and the Winona State University Geology Department.  The Minnesota Marine Art Museum displays historical Marine Art, Hudson River School paintings, Impressionism and regional contemporary exhibitions. $1 off admission Friday-Sunday.  For more information contact: 507-474-6625 or visit www.minnesotamarineart.org

For more information about Winona’s Legacy Destination Weekend or other things to do in town that weekend, contact Visit Winona, 507-452-0735 .  www.visitwinona.com. 

The Winona Visitors Center at 924 Huff Street is open Monday – Saturday from 9am – 5pm, and Sunday from 11am – 4pm.  Tel:  507-452-2278.