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Harvest Star
Join us at Harvest Star, an outdoor agricultural event celebrating the harvest season! The festivities kick off with a larger than life, all-ages AUTUMN EQUINOX PUPPET PARADE! Follow the fun from LITTLE THEATRE AUDITORIUM to NEER PARK where you'll be greeted by LOCAL FOOD PRODUCERS selling fresh produce, smoked meat, cheeses, pumpkins, hot meals and more!
Autumn Equinox Puppet Parade
The puppet parade is the culmination of a monthlong community gathering where we collect community stories and ideas, devise special characters and built puppets and masks together.
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Experience the parade's finale on the Crow River with the Equinox Water Ballet, performances by the LTA Youth Art Camp, Afro-brazilian drum ensemble Cimarròn Batucada!​
Have fun with face painting by Maria Novak and take a photo with your favorite parade puppets and masks!​
Puppet & Mask Make Dates
Paint, sew, glue, staple, build!
Location: Little Theatre Auditorium
Story gatherings and workshops are led by Puppet Artists, Steve Ackerman, Dominique Herskind, LTA Director Bethany Lacktorin, Program Coordinator Maria Novak.
Enjoy smoked Kadejan Farms chicken wings & fresh salads by the New London Co-op and beverages by Spurs Bar & Grill! ​
Explore fresh local foods from Pastures a Plenty, Tipsy Barns Farm and more, plus art offerings at the makers market. Don't miss special live music at 3pm by the old-timey folk fiddle band the ROE FAMILY SINGERS!​​This event is free and open to the public. For more information email: hello@littletheatreauditorium.org or visit our website at: www.littletheatreauditorium.org to find out how you can participate!
Photos by Macy Moore
Story Gathering Info & Ideation Session
Tuesday, July 29 5:30-7:30PM
Share your hopes & dreams for New London's future! These stories become sections of the puppet parade!
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Story share & snacks
Tuesday, Aug 26 5:30-7:30PM
The 2025 Parade section reveal
and signup!
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Puppet Building Workshops
Sa Sep 6: 11am-1pm, 2pm-5pm
Su Sep 7: 11-3pm
Tu-Th Sep 9-11: 11am-1pm (CANCELLED), 5-7pm (still happening!)
Fr Sep 12: 11am-1pm, 5-7pm
Sa Sep 13: 11am-1pm, 2pm-5pm
Su Sep 14: 11-3pm
Tu-Th Sep 16-18: 11am-1pm, 5-7pm
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Fr Sep 19 Lineup Assignment!
11am-7pm Puppet & Mask Build, Fitting + Lineup Assignment
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Sa Sep 20 PARADE DAY!
11am FINAL FITTING & LINEUP
1pm PARADE BEGINS!
2pm NEER PARK WATER BALLET
3pm LIVE MUSIC by The ROE FAMILY SINGERS
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​1pm The Autumn Equinox Puppet Parade
Come watch our stories come alive with life-size puppets & music parading thru New London.
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2pm The Autumn Equinox Water Ballet Finale at Neer Park! Get a seat on the bleachers and witness an inactment of the autumn equinox with the LTA Youth Art Camp Kids presenting a magical theatrical performance directed by Little Stories co-creators Nick Shadowick and John Szczur!
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3pm Performance!
The Roe Family Singers​​
Dance to old timey folk fiddle tunes
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12-5pm September 20
FEATURED Food Producers
Pastures a Plenty -
VanDerPol Pork
Serving smoked chicken wings by Kadejan Farms, Glenwood
PLUS and many more local Minnesota food providers' products on display and on sale!
WHAT IS HARVEST STAR?
This event has been organized in collaboration with a project through Renewing the Countryside, the Sustainable Farming Association, and the Minnesota Farmers Union to promote and expand agritourism opportunities through local on-farm and outdoor events. Check out all the cool events at:
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WHAT IS THE AUTUMN EQUINOX?
The autumn equinox, when the sun sits directly above the equator, halfway between the summer and winter solstice, we celebrate our season's work, give thanks for a bountiful harvest and prepare for the future together. Read more from the Farmer's Almanac.​​​
Thank you to our sponsors and supporters!
