“Family Fun Day” Scheduled for May 20 at Saint John’s

04/28/2006

Free music, activities, rides and tours will highlight the “Family Fun Day” May 20 at Saint John’s Abbey and University.

The campus-wide community festival is scheduled for the 150^th anniversary of the arrival of five pioneer Benedictine monks in St. Cloud in 1856. According to Abbot John Klassen, the event has been planned “to celebrate 150 years of Benedictine presence and commitment to Central Minnesota, and to express sincere gratitude to our neighbors and friends.”

The festivities, which begin at 11 a.m., will recreate the spirit of the Swayed Pines Folk Festival, which was a fixture on the Saint John’s campus from 1974 to 1999.      

Family activities will include circus performers; horse-drawn carriage campus tours; art projects under the “Big Top”; Saint John’s Arboretum children’s events; a petting zoo; art and artifacts exhibits; an architecture tour; and Bingo in the Saint John’s Fire Hall. Visitors may bring their own bikes and ride the Lake Wobegon Trail, or visit The Liturgical Press, Saint John’s Pottery Studio, Abbey Woodworking Shop or the campus bookstore. Event planners are encouraging musicians to bring their own instruments and join informal jam sessions on the lawn. Food and drink will also be available for purchase all day.

There will be a variety of music on three stages reflecting Saint John’s service internationally (maps showing venues will be available at the event). The musical schedule includes:

• Old time German: Jerry’s Concertina Band (11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.)
• Blue grass: Blue Drifters (11:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.)
• Celtic: Piper’s Crow (11:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.)
• Japanese drummers/dancers: Mu Daiko (11:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.)
• Caribbean: Cyril Paul and the Calypso Monarchs (2:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
• Mariachi: Flor y Canto (2:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
• Native American drummers/singers: P-Town Singers (2:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
• In addition, a number of musicians will be roving the grounds

In case of rain, some performances may move inside; others will remain outside.

The afternoon will conclude at 5 p.m. in the Abbey Church with the celebration of the Eucharist for the Sixth Sunday of Easter, with St. Cloud Bishop John Kinney presiding.

Saint John’s alumnus John McCutcheon will perform concerts at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. at the Stephen B. Humphrey Theater on the SJU campus. All seats are reserved ($10), and are available by calling the Humphrey box office at 320-363-3577 or at the door. McCutcheon, described by Johnny Cash as “the most impressive instrumentalist I ever heard,” is a five-time Grammy nominee who has released 25 recordings.

For a look at some of the other Sesquicentennial activities being planned, visit the Sesquicentennial Web site.