Celebrating community in Granite Falls

Squidfest kicks off Saturday with arts, music and more

GRANITE FALLS -- It's a day of art, culture and fun - and organizers of Squidfest in Granite Falls say they want to get people to share their talents and interests.

"It's a celebration of all of our community," said Melissa Peterson, of the Squidfest organizing committee. "We all have something to offer." Part of the goal for this year's festival is to make art feel more accessible to everyone, she said.

Squidfest 2023 kicks off in Granite Falls on Saturday morning. Over the past three years, the festival has grown to include community events like the Granite Falls American Legion's Rib Fest and local Welcoming Week celebrations, with arts activities for all ages and a free concert in downtown Granite Falls.

"The evolution is really fun," said committee member Dani Prados.

Squidfest gets its theme from a squid reportedly seen in the Minnesota River in 2021, and nicknamed "Todd" by locals. Squidfest isn't only about Todd's story, however.

"It's about the idea of being a good neighbor, and being welcoming to people in our community," even when they are different from us, Peterson said.

"We're doing this year's events a little bit differently," Prados said. The Squidfest schedule has been spaced out more to give people chances to attend different activities.

Saturday morning will start out with a 5K run/walk and a kids' fun run, Prados said. A disc golf tournament starts at noon, and from 1-4 p.m. there will be "a whole hoopla" of kid-friendly events at Rice Park, Prados said. Kids can enjoy games and crafts, face painting and a petting zoo. There will also be a drum circle led by Purpose Artisans of Willmar, and a juggling workshop led by Guest Artist Benjamin Domask-Ruh.

Peterson said another feature of this year's Squidfest will be a community art walk, with artworks by area residents displayed in the windows of downtown businesses in Granite Falls. At 4 p.m., community members can also take part in a talent show.

Another part of Squidfest, the Welcoming Week Cultural Cookout, is going on most of the day. The event includes a buffet of small snacks representing different local cultures, and cooking demonstrations of Dakota, Kurdish and Mexican cuisine. Visitors can also learn to make Dakota arts and crafts at the Welcoming Week event.

In the evening, visitors can catch a variety of musical styles from reggae to rock, at the Squidstock Music Festival. This year's festival includes headliner performances by Dred I Dread, Red Eye Ruby and Maygen & the Birdwatcher.

Peterson said organizers hope people come out to enjoy the show. "There are not that many opportunities to see really good original music for free," Peterson said.

Squidfest schedule of events

Saturday, Sept. 16

10 a.m.-5 p.m. – Welcoming Week Cultural Cookout. Event features cultural cooking demos at 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 4 p.m., local cultures buffet from 1-5, and Dakota arts and crafts from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

11 a.m. – 5K run/walk. Registration begins at 10:30 at Lende Plaza

Noon - Kids' fun run. Meet at bottom of the footbridge near Rice Park by 11:50.

Noon - Steve Virnig Memorial Disc Golf Tournament in Rice Park

Noon-8 p.m. – Stone Soup fundraiser for Neighbors United food shelf.

Noon-4 p.m. – Squid Kids events: games, face painting, crafts, petting zoo and vendors at Rice Park

Noon - Purpose Artisans drum circle

1-6 p.m. – Community art projects on the River Walk

1:30 p.m. – Juggling workshop with guest artist Benjamin Domask-Ruh

3 p.m. – Circus arts performance with guest artist Benjamin Domask-Ruh

3:45 p.m. – Mini parade around Rice Park and Sorlien Park

4 p.m. – Community talent show at Sorlien Park

4-8 p.m. – Ribs served at Granite Falls American Legion Rib Fest

5 p.m. – Latin dance workshop by Purpose Artisans

6-10 p.m. – Squidstock Music Festival, featuring Dred I Dread, Red Eye Ruby and Maygen & the Birdwatcher. Free to the public in downtown Granite Falls.