Happenings around the Perham area, April 13

Jan 04, 2024

The Perham Focus accepts community calendar items for publication online and in our Thursday print edition, space permitting. Submissions must be made at least a week in advance of the event date, in writing, to either [email protected] or [email protected] .

Each submission must include the date, time and location of event, whether it is recurring or a one-time happening, and where to go for more information (phone, email and/or website). Also include whether the event is free or paid admission, and how much it costs when applicable.

Art for Lunch: Come to the New York Mills Regional Cultural Center at noon for a lunchtime class on creating needle felt flowers, led by Cultural Center Artistic Director Cheryl Bannes. Admission is $5, which covers the cost of supplies. Bring your own lunch and enjoy a beverage, courtesy of the Cultural Center.

Chamber Choice Awards: The Perham Area Chamber of Commerce will present its 2023 Chamber Choice Awards at a banquet hosted by The Cactus Event Center in Perham (43521 Fort Thunder Road). Social hour starts at 5:30 p.m., with dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the awards presentation at 7:15 p.m. Tickets are $30 per person, or you can reserve a table for eight people; to sign up, contact the Chamber at 218-346-7710 or [email protected] . Those who wish to attend the awards presentation, but not the dinner, may do so at no cost.

Square Dancing: The Park Rapids Friendly Squares will host a dance from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Century School, 501 Helten Ave., Park Rapids. The caller will be Charley Huhtala. Potluck lunch after the dance. Spectators are welcome. For more information contact Karen at 218-252-3853.

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Good Morning Bedlam Concert: Local favorites Good Morning Bedlam will return to the New York Mills Regional Cultural Center for a 7:30 p.m. concert. Based out of Minneapolis, Good Morning Bedlam is made up of Isaak Elker, Victoria Elker, Dawson Redenius, and Kat Seeger. GMB shows are known for their wild energy and stunning harmonies. The band has played at festivals alongside artists such as Shakey Graves, Sam Bush, Jason Isbell, The Infamous Stringdusters, Trampled By Turtles, and others. Adult tickets are $12 in advance or $15 at the door (members receive a $2 discount); student admission is $5. Tickets can be purchased online at kulcher.org or by phone at 218-385-3339. Doors open at 7 p.m.

Elevate Exploratory-Stained Glass 101: Come to the Gathering Grounds in Perham (134 1st Ave. South) for a 2.5-hour class on stained glass art, starting at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. or 4 p.m. Create your very own aloe succulent suncatcher, using either pre-cut glass pieces or your own design. Learn how to apply copper foil to the glass pieces and solder them together into a finished piece that you can take home with you by the end of class. All supplies will be provided, but feel free to bring your own work gloves if you like so you know they will fit. Cost is $40 per person. Potential hazards include sharp glass, use of lead/tin solder (lead poisoning), skin irritants, and burns from hot soldering irons. Protection equipment is provided, but it is up to the student whether they want to use it. Sign up online via elevateotc.org .

Minnesota Deer Hunters Association EOT Chapter Banquet: The 32nd annual banquet of the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association-East Otter Tail Chapter will take place at The Salty Pickle Bar and Grill from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $50, and include admission to both live and silent auctions, games, food and more. To reserve your seats, purchase tickets at The Salty Pickle, Gene's Sport Shop, or from any MDHA board member. For more information, send an email to [email protected] .

Polka Dance Party: Come to the Vergas Event Center from 1 to 4 p.m. and enjoy live music from the Chmielewski Fun Time Band. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for kids age 16 and under. Free popcorn from Ditterich Mercantile and a cash bar served by Spanky's Stone Hearth. Sponsored by the Vergas Art Club, with funding from the Vergas Community Club.

Foot Care Clinic: Perham Living will host a foot care clinic from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Polished Beauty & Wellness Spa will offer foot care appointments in the salon at Perham Living for those in need of foot care. Appointments will cover nail trimming and filing, as well as filing of calluses. Cost is $30; book now via Perham Living's Facebook Events pag e, then pay when you arrive. Twenty spots are available.

Old-Time Variety Dance: Eric's Dance Band will provide the music for an Old-Time Variety Dance, taking place from 1-4 p.m. at the Frazee Event Center. All are welcome; admission is $5 per person.

AARP Tax Aide: New Creation Lutheran Church of Perham will be offering a free property tax assistance program from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., sponsored by AARP.

Wednesday Workshop-Silk Scarf Painting: Looking for something unique for Mother's Day? Design, dye, and paint your own 11×60-inch silk scarf in this three-hour class at the New York Mills Regional Cultural Center, which runs from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Several techniques will be demonstrated, then participants will be able to create their own one-of-a-kind, wearable work of art. Minimum of four and maximum of 10 participants. Cost is $30, with a 10% discount for members.

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Coffee Talk with Tri-State Diving: Elevate OTC and the New York Mills Public Library will host a "Coffee Talk" at 10:30 a.m. with Tri-State Diving's Gary Thompson, who will discuss diving safety tips, crazy stories, and how his business works. Tri-State is a full service dive center offering sales, service, and rental of scuba equipment that is based in Detroit Lakes, Minn.

Fergus Falls Chamber Spring Member Mixer: Fergus Falls Chamber members are invited to Palmer's Kitchen and Bar, 1918 Pebble Lake Golf Drive, Fergus Falls, at 4:30 p.m. for a spring mixer with complimentary appetizers and a cash bar. Enter the Pebble Lake Golf Putting Game and try a networking game to make the most of unlimited networking. There will also be door prizes, and members are welcome to bring business cards to exchange! Register and pay by April 12 to receive $10 in Fergus Bucks at the door. Cost is $20 for Chamber members and $30 for non-members. Register and pay online, or at the door.

Emergency Management Summit: The Otter Tail County Emergency Preparedness Advisory Committee and 2023 EM Summit Design Team will host their 9th Annual Emergency Management Summit, "Operation Prep Kit," from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Bigwood Event Center in Fergus Falls. Learn about the roles of the whole community in emergency and disaster response and recovery operations, how your organization can be part of the effort, and steps you can take to be ready.As always, it's okay to join us when you can and stay for the parts that most interest you, then leave when you need to. Register online at eventbrite.com . For more information call 218-998-8067 or send an email to [email protected] .

Frazee Polka Fest: Come to the Frazee Event Center from 1 to 7 p.m. and enjoy not just one, but two polka bands playing, the Matt Hodak and Julie Lee bands. Cost is $5 per person, and there will be food available for purchase.

PACC Triathlon: Come to the Perham Area Community Center at 7:30 a.m. for the start of its inaugural indoor triathlon. Participants will be asked to swim 500 meters in the PACC pool, do 15 miles on a stationary bike, then finish with a 5K run. Part of the proceeds for this event go to support the PACC's Relay for Life Team. The race will be run in waves of six participants, starting every 45 minutes to minimize overlap. Start times are 7:30, 8:15, 9:00, 9:45 and 10:30 a.m. To learn more, and sign up, visit https://tinyurl.com/pacctri .

Live Music: Rachael Ianiro performs at Perham's 1894 restaurant from 6 to 9 p.m. Open to the public.

Eric Peltoniemi Concert: The New York Mills Regional Cultural Center's 2023 Live Music Series continues with a concert by Eric Peltoniemi, which starts at 7:30 p.m. All are invited! Since the early 1970s in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Minnesota, and Finland, Eric Peltoniemi has worked multiple sides of the music world as a singer/songwriter, guitarist, lyricist, and composer for the music theater, and for three decades an executive at acclaimed indie roots label, Red House Records. His original songs have been covered and recorded by a number of artists, including Robin & Linda Williams; Claudia Schmidt; Gordon Bok, Anne Mayo Muir & Ed Trickett; NYC cabaret singer Lisa Asher; and young Finnish folk star, Topi Saha, to name a few. Adult tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door (members get a $2 discount); student admission is $5. Buy tickets online at kulcher.org , or at the door. Cash bar and light refreshments will be available; doors open at 7 p.m. Call the Cultural Center at 218-385-3339 with any questions.

Afternoon Tea: The Gathering Grounds in Perham will host a full afternoon tea service from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Seating will take place from 11:15 to 1:30 p.m., and reservations are required. To sign up, call 218-346-7969 or visit gatheringgroundsperham.com . Cost is $32 for adults and $25 for kids age 12 and under. Menu will include finger sandwiches (vegetarian options available), scones, cakes, bars and cookies, along with a choice of teas and a "bottomless" prosecco cocktail or Italian soda.

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The Gathering Fish Decoy Show: The Gathering is the world's largest decoy show, held annually at the Perham Area Community Center, and featuring the John Jensen National Fish Decoy Competitions. Carvers come from all across the United States to compete and sell their beautiful works of art. Over 100 vendors will be on site, Saturday, April 15 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, April 16 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Whether you are looking for a decoy to use or to hang on the shelf there is something for everyone. Vendors wll also be selling a wide array of sporting collectibles, antiques and much more. Admission is $10 for adults and free for kids age 17 and under.

Outdoor Gear Swap: Roots and Wings Forest School will host an Outdoor Gear Swap from 9 a.m. to noon in the New York Mills Schiool commons. Have outdoor gear/clothes you no longer need? Don't want the hassle of trying to sell it? At the Outdoor Gear Swap we’ll sell it for you! Gear can be dropped off at the school commons on Friday, April 14 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. or Saturday, April 15 from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Adult and children's gear accepted. For more information, call 218-325-0234 or email Leona Cichy at [email protected] .

Up North Junkin' Show: Come to the Lakeside Golf Course and Event Center in Perham on Friday and Saturday, April 21-22 for some handmade, vintage home decor and more. Admission is $5 per person at the door; hours are 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, April 21 and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, April 22.

Library Storytimes: The Perham Area Public Library hosts preschool storytime every Tuesday at 10:15 a.m. Toddler Storytime with Becky is held periodically on Monday evenings at 6 p.m. Visit perhamlibrary.org or call 218-346-4892 for more information.

Baby and Toddler Storytime: The Fergus Falls Public Library will host storytime for babies and toddlers on both Tuesday and Wednesday, April 11-12, from 9:30 to 10 a.m. Talk, sing, read, and play together in a format perfect for little ones! Help develop your child's early literacy skills through songs, stories, nursery rhymes, and fun movement activities. Each session includes interactive playtime. Registration is not required.

Trivia Night: Thousand Lakes Brewing Co. in Parkers Prairie will host a Trivia Night every Thursday, with happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m. and trivia rounds starting at 6 p.m. Prizes will be awarded to the top two teams.

Homeschool Hangouts: All area home-schooled students are invited to the Otter Cove Children's Museum, 105 W. Lincoln Ave., Fergus Falls, from 9 a.m. to noon every Friday, for a "Homeschool Hangout" event. For more information call 218-998-5437 or email [email protected] .

Sit-n-Stitch: A weekly gathering of fiber artists takes place from 5 to 7 p.m., every Thursday at the New York Mills Regional Cultural Center. Free and open to all who are interested in learning about fiber arts, or enhancing their knowledge. All ages and experience levels welcome.

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Baby Bin: Come look through the baby bin at Crosspoint Alliance Church, 600 8th St. NE, Perham, on the first Tuesday of every month from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. All WIC participants receive one pack of diapers and wet wipes. Everyone may look through our children's clothing, sizes 0-10.

Quilting: The Calvary Cut-Ups quilting group meets from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursdays at Calvary Lutheran Church in Perham. Questions? Contact Brenda Halvorson at 320-493-0802.

Progressive Bingo: Every Tuesday, 6-7 p.m., Thumper Pond, Ottertail.

Tuesday Trivia Night: Billy's Corner Bar & Grill in Vergas will be offering Trivia Night every Tuesday at 7 p.m. Open to the public.

Perham Networking Opportunity: The Nest in Perham will host a one-hour free business networking opportunity on the first Wednesday of every month, starting at 8:15 a.m. Personal introductions, sharing of upcoming events and projects, and a focus presentation. Coffee will be provided by the focus topic presenter.

Mah Jongg at Calvary Lutheran: Men and women are welcome and play Mah Jongg at Perham's Calvary Lutheran Church on Thursdays at 12:30 p.m. in the library. No prior experience necessary, as experienced players will teach the game to newcomers.

Old Time Photographs: Stop by the History Museum of East Otter Tail County, at 230 First Ave. North in Perham, and take a trip down memory lane. The museum would like the public's help identifying old photos. Hours are 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, and 9 a.m.-12 p.m. on Saturdays. Call 218-346-7676 for more information.

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