The Heartland Lakes Community Calendar

Art Bites
2026-01-15 11:30 - 13:00, 2026-02-19 11:30 - 13:00, 2026-03-19 11:30 - 13:00, 2026-04-16 11:30 - 13:00, 2026-05-21 11:30 - 13:00, 2026-06-18 11:30 - 13:00, 2026-07-16 11:30 - 13:00, 2026-08-20 11:30 - 13:00 (America/New_York) and 1 more date | Armory Arts & Events Center, 203 Park Ave. South, Park Rapids, MN, 56470, United States
Enjoy light lunch & lively conversation as we explore a variety of art styles, techniques & creative practices. Whether you’re an artist, an art lover, or just curious, this is your chance to get inspired, connect with others & even hear special guest artists discuss their craft.

Heartland Portraits by Jeremy Simonson
2026-01-24 13:00 - 15:00 | Armory Arts & Events Center, 203 Park Ave. South, Park Rapids, MN, 56470, United States
Join Jeremy Simonson as he exhibits the first four artists of his long form project “Heartland Portraits.” Artist and culture bearers who live and create in the Heartland Lakes Region of Minnesota.

Knit-Flicks - JULIE & JULIA
2026-01-31 14:00 - 16:30 | Park Theater, 107 Main Ave S, Park Rapids, 56470, United States
KNIT-FLICKS
Film: JULIE & JULIA
Jan 31 at 2pm
Tickets are free!
Work on your knitting, crocheting, needlepoint, or other non-messy craft projects (no glue/no glitter!) in a relaxed theater setting with the house lights bright enough to see & polite chit-chat allowed. Tickets are free (but pre-booking seats at http://www.parktheater.mn is recommended). Sponsored by Jennifer Christi Photo & Video

Knit-Flicks - LA LA LAND
2026-02-28 14:00 - 16:30 | Park Theater, 107 Main Ave S, Park Rapids, 56470, United States
KNIT-FLICKS
Film: LA LA LAND
Feb. 28 at 2pm
Tickets are free!
Work on your knitting, crocheting, needlepoint, or other non-messy craft projects (no glue/no glitter!) in a relaxed theater setting with the house lights bright enough to see & polite chit-chat allowed. Tickets are free (but pre-booking seats at http://www.parktheater.mn is recommended). Sponsored by Jennifer Christi Photo & Video

Open Art Studio
2026-03-01 11:00 - 16:00, 2026-03-15 11:00 - 16:00, 2026-03-29 11:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-12 11:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-26 11:00 - 16:00, 2026-05-10 11:00 - 16:00 | Armory Arts & Events Center, 203 Park Ave. South, Park Rapids, MN, 56470, United States
Studio 3 opens its doors to artists looking for a place to find community and a great space to create. Registration is required on the Armory Website.

March Madness: An Evening of Comedy with Nate Roe and Eric Slivoskey
2026-03-01 19:00 - 20:30 | Park Theater, 107 Main Ave S, Park Rapids, 56470, United States
A Night of Smiles and Laughter featuring the hilarious Nate Roe and the middle of America funny man, Eric Slivoskey. Eric previously auditioned for America’s Got Talent, and has opened at the Laugh Factory in Hollywood for comics like Ken Jeong (Mr. Chow in the legendary Hangover Movie series). Eric performs at festivals, comedy clubs, bars, corporate events, and community theaters all over the country and his comedy is centered on family dynamics, pop culture, current events, and life in these United States
This event is for audiences 18+.
For Tickets: Use the Humanitix link or pay cash at the door

Gel Plate Printmaking
2026-03-14 10:00 - 12:00 | Armory Arts & Events Center, 203 Park Ave. South, Park Rapids, MN, 56470, United States
Gelli Printing: Play, Layer, Print Discover the magic of gel plate printing as you experiment with color, texture, and unexpected effects. Every print is a surprise and no two are alike. Perfect for beginners and curious creatives. $10 per seat, all supplies included. Tickets available on Armory website.

Felted Flat Work
2026-03-21 10:00 - 14:00 | Armory Arts & Events Center, 203 Park Ave. South, Park Rapids, MN, 56470, United States
Felted textiles have long been made for daily use—protecting surfaces, warming homes, and carrying simple folk patterns tied to place and tradition.
Rooted in one of the world’s oldest textile traditions, this workshop explores needle felting as a modern way to build flat, felted surfaces. Participants will create needle-felted coasters or flat felted pieces suitable for cards or decorative use, focusing on texture, pattern, and simple folk-inspired design.
This hands-on class is beginner-friendly and welcoming to all skill levels.
All materials and tools are provided.
$25 per seat, tickets available on the Armory website.

Wire Jewlery
2026-03-21 19:00 - 23:00 | Armory Arts & Events Center, 203 Park Ave. South, Park Rapids, MN, 56470, United States
Learn the basics of wire jewelry while creating a copper pin and a necklace or bracelet. This beginner-friendly workshop covers tools, wire types, and simple wire-wrapping techniques. All materials provided.
Wire jewelry grows out of ancient traditions of personal adornment, trade, and craft. Across cultures, copper and other soft metals were shaped by hand into functional and symbolic objects—pins, fasteners, talismans, and decorative forms meant to be worn daily. Simple loops, twists, and wraps became visual language, carrying meaning through repetition and form. This workshop draws from that lineage, using accessible materials and traditional techniques to create wearable pieces with both beauty and purpose.
$25 per seat, tickets available on the Armory website.

Beginning Jewelry Making
2026-03-28 10:00 - 13:00 | Armory Arts & Events Center, 203 Park Ave. South, Park Rapids, MN, 56470, United States
Learn the basics of jewelry making while creating a custom bracelet of your own. This hands-on class covers essential tools and techniques using wire, head pins, eye pins, jump rings, clasps, and chain.
$30 per seat, tickets available on the Armory website.

Northern Light Opera Company Cabaret Auditions
2026-03-28 14:30 - 20:30 | Armory Arts & Events Center, 203 Park Ave. South, Park Rapids, MN, 56470, United States
Auditions for the 2026 summer production of Cabaret are planned Saturday, March 28 and Sunday, March 29 in Studio 1 at the Armory Arts & Events Center. Go to https://www.northernlightopera.org/ to complete an audition form and find audition times. Rehearsals start June 22 and performance dates will be July 31-August 8.

Copper Enameling
2026-05-02 10:00 - 14:00 | Armory Arts & Events Center, 203 Park Ave. South, Park Rapids, MN, 56470, United States
Discover kiln-fired enameling—an ancient art where powdered glass is fused to copper using high heat, creating bold, glassy color that lasts. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll design and fire your own enamel jewelry or small art piece. Take home 4 pieces of your work!! All materials provided.
Copper enameling (often just called enameling) is the process of fusing powdered glass onto metal—most commonly copper—using high heat. When fired in a kiln (or sometimes with a torch), the glass melts and permanently bonds to the metal surface, creating a smooth, glossy, glass-like finish.
$45 per seat, tickets available on the Armory website.

Contour Drawing to Wire Sculpture
2026-05-09 10:00 - 13:00 | Armory Arts & Events Center, 203 Park Ave. South, Park Rapids, MN, 56470, United States
This is an introduction to the power of line through both drawing and sculpture.
This workshop introduces participants to the expressive power of line through both drawing and sculpture. We will begin by discussing contour-focused works by Egon Schiele and Ellsworth Kelly to see how line suggests movement, emotion, and form. Participants will then complete guided contour drawing exercises to build confidence. Finally, we will explore the wire sculptures of Alexander Calder and use the drawings as templates to create original three-dimensional wire sculptures.
Suzanne earned her MFA in Painting from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia and previously served as a professor of studio art at Rider University. She maintains an active studio practice and has a particular passion for painting en plein air. Recently, she relocated from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to Park Rapids. Suzanne is eager to engage with the local arts community and contribute to the region’s vibrant cultural landscape.
$25 per seat, tickets available on the Armory website.

Beginning Mosaics
2026-05-16 10:00 - 13:30 | Armory Arts & Events Center, 203 Park Ave. South, Park Rapids, MN, 56470, United States
Explore one of the world’s oldest art forms in this hands-on mosaic workshop. Dating back thousands of years to ancient civilizations, mosaics use small pieces of stone, glass, or tile to create images, patterns, and decorative surfaces that endure through time.

Explore one of the world’s oldest art forms in this hands-on mosaic workshop. Dating back thousands of years to ancient civilizations, mosaics use small pieces of stone, glass, or tile to create images, patterns, and decorative surfaces that endure through time. Participants will learn foundational mosaic techniques, basic design and composition principles, and safe material handling while creating their own finished mosaic artwork to take home.
This workshop emphasizes creativity, patience, and process-driven making in a welcoming studio environment. No prior experience is required. All materials are provided.

$25 per seat, tickets available on the Armory website.

Word Dances: Poetry in Motion
2026-05-16 16:30 - 17:30 | Armory Arts & Events Center, 203 Park Ave. South, Park Rapids, MN, 56470, United States
An impactful performance that blends poetry, dance, and music to promote healing, hope, and joy. Viewers have called it “Brilliant” and “Life altering”!
Word Dances: Poetry in Motion is an impactful performance that blends poetry, dance, and music to promote healing, hope, and joy. The performance has been described by viewers as “brilliant” and “life altering”! Using birds as her muses, poet-dancer-choreographer Katie Bruckbauer brings her poems to life through interpretive movement, music, and heartfelt expressions of the ups and downs of life. Fellow dancer-choreographer Barb Wieland accompanies her.
Bruckbauer recently published her first book of poems, Time to Soar: Word Dances and Bird Songs for Every Season, incorporating many of the poems into the performance. The poems are about real life, relatable to all, young and old — about our struggles and joys, our searching, and our common desire for joy and peace.
$10 admission, tickets are available on the Armory website.

Forestedge Art Fair at the Winery
2026-08-15 10:00 - 17:30, 2026-08-16 10:00 - 16:30 | Forestedge Winery, 35295 State 64, Laporte, 56461, United States
A beautiful weekend of talented artists, delicious food, and, of course, the best wine in the North Woods! You don’t want to miss this!
