Special Events

Decorated wreaths, trees, and artwork will fill the Arts Guild Gallery for the Festival of Wreaths! Don't miss this chance to buy a one-of-a-kind, artist decorated wreath for your home (or for a gift!) Stop by during Winter Walk (December 3)to see the beautiful wreaths, as well as the Arts Guild's display of 50th Anniversary art: the Just 50 Canvases project, a fantastic display of commemorative mugs, and the Perman Portrait Project. Ornaments by local artists will also be for sale. The silent auction of wreaths and trees will run through Sunday December 6.

The NAGCracker dance performance will spice up the evening of winter walk with some ballet, jazz, mexican folkloric dance and more. NAGCracker will include the premier of the Northfield Dance Theater Company. Stop by at 6:30 or 7:30 for this lovely (and free) dance performance.

Venue: Center for the Arts, 304 Division St

On Dec. 19, Carleton College’s Great Space and Great Hall will add light to the night of the year when lucky ticket-holders don evening wear from the elegant to the fantastical and celebrate the Northfield Arts Guild’s 50th Anniversary with the Beaux Arts Ball. This centuries-old homage to the “beautiful arts” is a themed appreciation of the creative, to do with what you will; this year we present “Fire and Ice.” So, whether you light the night with shimmering crystals or lend a glow with your ruby red, do join us for a night of fanciful finery and delectible fare, dancing to the Bend in the River Big Band, original performances and visual works of art. It’s a celebration of the arts--for the artist in each of us.

According to Rob Schanilec, co-chair of the event, “This is going to be a wonderful evening you won’t want to miss. Our caterer is crafting an over-the-top menu, we’ve hired a 19-piece big band that’s sure to entertain across the generations, and our decorations committee is hard at it dreaming up ways to bring ‘fire and ice’ to Carleton’s wonderful space. To top it off – it’s a dress-up affair that you can, if you want, get a little crazy with – and you know it’s going to be a very well-attended event.”

Tickets are $60 ($50 for NAG members).

Venue: Carleton Great Space

The Northfield Arts Guild’s Annual Auction for the Arts is an annual tradition, and this year promises to be one of the best Auctions the town has seen in a long spell! To be held on March 14 at the Northfield Art Guild theater, “The Eds of March” auction (named in honor of our esteemed auctioneer Ed Kuhlman) will feature all things “la vita dolce”—Italian wines, Mediterranean and middle eastern foods, entertainment interludes and cameo appearances of song, dance, and so on, and much more. It’ll be a veritable Roman feast! And let us not forget the auction of fantastic art by your favorite local artists, as well as wonderful prizes—dance lessons, sailing trips, cocktail parties, intimate dinners—provided by your favorite friends and neighbors. And the best part? It’s all for a good cause, as proceeds go to supporting your favorite community arts organization!

Artwork for auction will be on display at the NAG gallery from March 11—14. View some of the artworks from the auction. Artists donating this year include David Allen, Rhonda Bank, Kate Bauman, Carolyn Brunelle, Nancy Carlson, Patsy Dew, Ron Gallas, Fred Hagstrom, Karl Nelson, Tom Maakestad, Gaylord Schanilec and many more. Check this space again in the next few weeks, as more online previews of the artwork will be added.

Venue: NAG Theater, 411 W 3rd St

Our popular Arts Fair will be held in the heart of downtown Northfield in September 2009. More than 75 artists and fine craft artisans will show their work on the stone walkways hugging both sides of the Cannon River. As always, the Festival coincides with the Defeat of Jesse James Days celebration, which brings crowds of 150,000 each year. Find wonderful photography, pottery, paintings, fiber art, jewelry and more by artists from all over Minnesota and the region.

Eligibility

Our festival is open to artists and craftspeople who are interested in selling, displaying, and demonstrating their arts and crafts. All work is juried by a panel of artists and must be a final product of original design. No imports, commercial jewelry, kits, molded ceramics or manufactured items will be accepted. No dealers, agents, or product representatives will be accepted.

Venue: Along both sides of the Cannon River behind the Center for the Arts, downtown Northfield