Top 10 Spring & Summer Activities
Annual Bluff Country Studio Tours
Visit artists in their studios and galleries and purchase original one-of-a-kind pieces of art.
Dakota Homecoming & Gathering
Dakota culture and history at the Learning Tent, moccasin tournaments, entertainment, food, crafts and spiritual services.
Great River Shakespeare Festival
Two plays in repertory. Festival includes concerts on the green, Front Porch speakers, and other educational events.
Steamboat Days
Entertainment, food, beverage garden, concerts, crafts, parades and fireworks.
MN Beethoven Festival
Monthly performances by various classical artists in different locations in Winona.
Gilmore Creek Summer Theatre
A comedy and musical in repertory at Saint Mary’s University.
Annual Jazz Festival
Local and regional groups showcase their talents at this outdoor music festival.
Garvin Heights Vineyard
Specializes in growing cold climate grapes. Tours and tastings offered on the weekends spring through fall.
Outdoor recreational Activities
Bicycling, hiking, fishing, boating, golfing, horse-back riding, geo-caching, disc-golfing, camping and wildlife watching. Farmers market on Saturdays and free bandshell concerts on Wednesday nights.
University on the River: Mississippi Explorations
Offers two-hour educational lectures while cruising the Mississippi River.
Top 10 Fall & Winter Activities
Garvin Heights Overlook
Spectacular views of the Winona area and Mississippi River Valley from this park 545 feet above sea level. Don’t forget your camera!
Tundra Swan Watch
Join our guides from the Upper Mississippi Wildlife & Fish Refuge on a day trip to view the tundra swans in their favorite spots.
Old World Christmas
Historic downtown stores celebrate with a shopping spree, music, food, and Gingerbread decorating contest.
Museums
Visit the MN Marine Art Museum, Polish Museum, Watkins Museum, Winona County Historical Society Museum (including Arches Museum and Bunnell House), Pickwick Mill, and Rollingstone Luxembourg Heritage Museum.
Holiday Lighted Parade
Get into the holiday mood with this festive event that switches between Winona and Goodview.
Candlelight House Tour
Beautifully decorated and lit homes are open for viewing as a fund-raiser for the Winona County Historical Society.
Voice from the Past Cemetery Discovery Walk
Journey into Winona’s colorful past as volunteers portray some of the city’s interesting residents who are now buried at Woodlawn Cemetery.
Frozen River Film Festival
This event features films, speakers, workshops and demonstrations with a focus on environment, adventure, extreme sports and world culture.
Fall recreational Activities
Winona’s bluffs are ablazed with color amidst the scenic hiking trails surrounding our city. Wildlife-watching, horse-back riding, turkey and deer hunting, and apple-picking in nearby orchards are popular in the Fall.
Winter Recreational Activities
Cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, ice-fishing, snowshoeing, are just a few of the winter activities people can participate in. For those who prefer being indoors, enjoy plays, concerts, lectures and visual art exhibits at the campuses and art facilities in town.
