The Minnesota Sesquicentennial Commission is hosting eleven days of special events for history buffs, amateur artists and kids of all ages at this year's St. Paul Winter Carnival, to help commemorate 150 years of Minnesota statehood. Just around the corner from the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, the Minnesota Sesquicentennial Statehood Commission booth (inside the Landmark Center's cortile) will have
storytellers, book-signings, coloring contests and a whole lot more. 

The festivities kick-off with a talk and book signing by Doug Hoverson, author of Land of Amber Waters: The History of Brewing in Minnesota, on January 23rd from 4p.m. to 6p.m. Hoverson will be on hand at the Sesquicentennial booth to talk about more than 150 years of beer and ale in Minnesota as well as sign copies of his book, on sale from
the University of Minnesota Press for $39.95.

Thursday, January 24th, author Steve Keillor will stop by from 5p.m. to 8p.m. to sign copies of his book, Shaping Minnesota's Identity: 150 Years of State History. Keillor's text follows key state and national events that were turning points in Minnesota's history. Copies of the book will also be on sale at the booth for $17.95. 

Friday night, master storyteller Dwight Wilcox will regale visitors with tall tales and historical interpretations. It will be a great educational and entertaining activity for kids and adults. January 25th, 5p.m. to 8p.m.

Saturday, January 26, the Sesquicentennial is sponsoring coloring contests at the top of every hour. Kids age 12 and under will each get the same page from the Department of Natural Resources State Symbols coloring book and have 5 minutes to work on it with crayons. Then official Sesquicentennial judges will choose a winner who will receive a bronze Sesquicentennial medallion. All participants will receive special prizes. 

Also on Saturday, the Minnesota Sesquicentennial Statehood Commission is marching in the Grand Day parade through downtown St. Paul with Jon Olson and a wagon from the Sesquicentennial Wagon Train. This May, to herald Statehood Week, the wagon train will travel from Cannon Falls to
St. Paul. You can join up for the May journey by clicking on
www.mn150years.org. 

On January 27th, Minneapolis-based mosaic artist Susan Warner is bringing a special project to the Landmark Center for the Sesquicentennial. She'll have the outline of a mosaic drawn on an empty canvas in the Sesquicentennial booth. Visitors to the booth can take broken pieces of tile and put them onto the canvas and by the end of the day there will be a beautiful mosaic. Warner has been selected by the Sesquicentennial Commission to create the Sesquicentennial Commemorative Mosaic to be installed at the State Fair in August.

Thursday, January 31st, authors of Twin Cities by Trolley, John Diers and Aaron Isaacs will be in the Sesquicentennial booth showing large photographs from their book and signing copies of the book. Diers and Isaacs will be on hand from 5p.m. to 8p.m. for this special event.  

Every evening and all day on weekends, the Minnesota Historical Society will have historical players at the Minnesota Sesquicentennial Statehood Commission booth with special giveaways for kids and adults.  

The Sesquicentennial Commission will also have items to give away as well as a whole assortment of Sesquicentennial gear and commemorative items for sale.

To find out more about these events or the Sesquicentennial year-long plans, contact the Sesquicentennial office at 651-296-1870 or go to www.mn150years.org.

The Sesquicentennial will be a yearlong, statewide commemoration and a catalyst, to learn from our past and connect all Minnesotans in creating a thriving, innovative future.