We announced our winners of the Fat Tire Raffle during the Award Ceremony at Frozen River Film Festival 2017!

Fat Tire Bike Winner:
Megan Rykken

Redfeather Snowshoes Winner
Bob Kohner

Thank you to everyone who  participated! See you next year!

Written by: Sarah Roberts

“I wish I would have known that was happening!” – Said by everyone that’s lived in Winona for any period of time.

I would not be a good friend to my community if I kept secret the exciting things that are happening at this year’s Frozen River Film Festival. I’m convinced that all of the people who check out these new additions will be sharing with their friends how great they were! But then we’ll have people hollering that they wish they’d known it was happening. If only they’d known! This is a sick cycle that most creative communities have to endure. We just come up with a lot of awesome stuff to do, and in the words of Miss Cyrus, “We can’t stop. We won’t stop.”

These are four of my favorite Frozen River firsts set for this coming festival. They are listed in order of appearance.

Number One: Fat Tire Friday

This year’s Frozen Friday will look a little Fat, and by “Fat” I am referring to the hoard of Fat Bike riders that will be riding from Adventure Cycle to and through Aghaming Park and then back for a beer at Bub’s Brewing Company. Fat Tire Demo Bikes will be available courtesy of WSU Outdoor Education Recreation Center and Adventure Cycle and Ski. Don’t have a bike? You can borrow one! To reserve a demo bike call Adventure Cycle and Ski at 507.4524228. There is a limited supply, so call early! Speaking of not having a bike. FRFF is raffling off a Fat Tire Trek bike, as well as Red Feather Snowshoes and Big Muddy passes. The $20 raffle ticket will automatically get you a free tap beer at Bub’s, as well as 50% off a tune-up at Adventure Cycle, and 50% off any rental with WSU’s Outdoor Education Recreation Center. Connect with us at our new box office spot at the Winona County History Center. Hours are listed here.

Number Two: Tour Island City Brewing Co.

Frozen Friday strikes again! I really could have just listed the entire itinerary for Frozen Friday, because there are new and exciting things happening at multiple locations and we can’t wait for you to see all of the plans. For now though, we’ll just give you a taste. This taste is centered on Winona’s brand new brewery. On Frozen Friday, Island City Brewing Co will offer public tours from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. The price of the tour is waived with the purchase of a beer or soda. The tours will give you a behind the scenes look at the brewing process, as well as an education into the science and history of beer-making. I can’t wait to see what they’ve done with the place!

Number Three: Volunteer Fair

Engage. Educate. Activate. These are the three words that FRFF chose to represent the purpose and passion of the festival. It just makes sense that there would be a Volunteer Fair at the festival. Approximately twelve different groups, lined up by the River Valley Volunteer Association, will have booths set up in the Atrium on Saturday of the festival. Volunteering is already a fulfilling action, but it hits on another level when you are able to aptly align your specific talents with serving your community. The Volunteer Fair will allow for people to ask questions of the groups and hopefully you will find that perfect match.

Number Four: Digital Humanities

Sunday of the festival will bring storytelling and art to life through the work of digital humanity artists from all over Minnesota. Their works explore art and storytelling integrated with virtual reality, augmented reality, and virtual gaming. Why do I think that Bill and Ted would absolutely love this? Far out, Frozen River, far out.

 

Written by Sarah Roberts, FRFF Treasurer

Written by: Sarah Roberts

Dear Future Volunteer,

I was nervous the first time I volunteered for FRFF. I am an introvert that gets nervous whenever I don’t know exactly what to expect in any given situation. What if I didn’t know what to do? What if I just didn’t know what to say to people? What if I’d be required to step out of my shell even though maybe that day I’d be feeling extra shelly? What if I just got bored? What if I messed something up? These poor people would regret the day they made a volunteer out of me!

Funny enough, exactly zero of the things I worried about came to fruition.

For starters, they were very clear about where I needed to go, when I needed to be there, and what I’d be doing. Most volunteer shifts are between three to four hours and basic descriptions are listed right on the website as you sign up. More info is given as you get closer to your shift and on the day of your shift. This level of clarity immediately helped to ease my nerves. I knew that the unexpected was prone to still happen, but I felt much more comfortable thanks to their diligence.

The “unexpected” came in the form of the conversations I had, how easily I forgot about my worries, and how my outlook on the festival took a completely new form. It felt great to feel like I was a puzzle piece, amongst so many other pieces, that came together to form a beautiful scene. I felt this as I watched the other volunteers smiling and laughing with patrons. I felt this as I watched people speak proudly of Winona to filmmakers and producers here experiencing our little town for the first time. I loved hearing the quick thinking and openness between staff as they worked with surprises that are bound to happen. I personally had the chance to meet a couple people that I had always wanted to talk with more. These were women that are known for doing great things for Winona and the festival. What a blessing to find myself volunteering alongside them. What if I’d let my fear of the unknown keep me from this experience? You never know what volunteering will bless you with. It’s just a couple years later and now I find myself on the board for the very festival I was so nervous to volunteer for.

I highly recommend going to our site and finding the shift that looks like the best fit for you. We have already filled 75% of the positions listed at this moment, so please don’t let this wait for too long. If you look at what we have available, but nothing appears to work for you, please contact
the FRFF Volunteer Coordinator (frffvolunteer@frff.org) and other arrangements may be made.
Your four hours are precious to us and we know that our beautiful scene needs every one of its unique pieces.

You receive a pass for volunteering your time and talents. This pass will give you access to over 65 documentary films. Please partake in the scene you helped create! Sense the buzz of excitement in your fellow patrons. Watch the new friendships building around you. Let the films inspire and challenge you! I look forward to standing beside you. Let the countdown begin!

Winona never ceases to amaze me. Not only does our little island city have a film festival, but this festival has a mission to engage, educate and activate the Winona community through film, music, and art. Thankfully, as the community behind them, we get to be front and center when Frozen River Film Festival does something like bring Peter Yarrow, to Winona for a benefit concert. The benefit concert is on Nov. 2 at 6:30pm and proceeds will help the festival and its mission, as well as support the feature-length documentary film “Gene McCarthy: In the Land of Aardvarks.”

Peter Yarrow, of folk singing supergroup Peter, Paul and Mary, is both world-changer and artist. It’s no surprise that he would step in to help raise funds for both FRFF and the McCarthy film. Songs you may recognize him for are “Puff, The Magic Dragon,” “Leaving On a Jet Plane,” and “Blowin’ in the Wind.” You may also recognize the song “Don’t Laugh at Me,” which has been performed countless times by Yarrow as he works with the non-profit he partnered in founding, Operation Respect. The non-profit has a heart for seeing schools transformed into “respectful, safe and compassionate climates of learning, free of bullying, ridicule and violence.” (operationrespect.org) Always a mover and shaker, but also an artist, there is a parallel to be drawn between the two men, for both Yarrow and Minnesota Senator Gene McCarthy shook the sixties with their activism, and helped shape a generation with their words.

The film on McCarthy honors both his politics and poetry set up against a backdrop of Minnesota’s beautiful prairies, lakes, and forests. Archival materials and personal recollections mixed with both public and private footage create an unparalleled window into the life of Minnesota Senator Gene McCarthy. At the benefit concert one of the film’s producer’s, Mary Beth Yarrow, will speak about the film and have a few clips to share with the audience. At the film festival in February there will be an extended screening of selected clips as well as a Q&A with the producers Mary Beth Yarrow, Bill Kersey, and Kelle Green.

An added bonus, for those attending the benefit concert, will be the presence of masterful guitarist, composer, arranger and producer, Dean Magraw. He will have his own set as well as share the stage with Yarrow. Magraw, who you may recognize as a frequent guest on A Prairie Home Companion, has a sound that combines “arena-rock reverb, lilting Irish melodies and filigreed back-porch picking.” (jazztimes.com)

General Admission seating is available for the special early bird price of $30 until October 31. Student pricing for the event is $15. After October 31, General Admission seating will be $35. All tickets are available here.