About Saint Cloud's Downtown St Cloud

Just a quick note to everyone that next Thursday, November 11th is Veterans Day. Federal Offices will be closed and possibly some local government offices as well. Take a moment to thank those who have served, and say a prayer for them, and especially for those still serving. Fly the American Flag with pride.

Oh, and if you know a Marine (once a Marine, always a Marine), be sure to wish them a Happy Birthday on the 10th. It's the Birthday of the Corps. They'll get it and know you do too!

Chocolate Decadence & Champagne Dreams - Holly Ball 2010

Holly Ball is the annual gala event to raise money for the CentraCare Health Foundation Hospice Fund, which benefits the St. Cloud Hospital Hopsice. Over the past 30 years, Holly Ball has raised more than $2 million which directly helps people with end-of-life care.

The theme for Holly Ball 2010 is Chocolate Decadence & Champagne Dreams. This year's Holly Ball will be held Saturday, December 18th from 6:30 p.m. -12:30 a.m. at the St. Cloud Civic Center.

You can buy tickets for the Holly Ball 2010 securely online here.

The sponsor reception event starts at 5:30 p.m. in the Glenn Carlson Room (doors open at 5 p.m.) for the $2,500+ benefactors. The Sponsor reception will feature a sit-down gourmet dinner with wine, entertainment and a program. The 2010 Holly Ball Presenting Sponsor is Marco, whose corporate offices are located in St. Cloud Minn.

www.centracare.com/foundation

The 2010 Holly Ball starts at 6:30 p.m. in the Terry Haws Room at the St. Cloud Civic Center with hors'd oeuvres, Holly Ball 2010 silent auction and entertainment. The live music this year will be from the bands the Fabulous Armadillos and Belladiva.

So mark your calendars for December 18, 2010 for the Holly Ball 2010, from 6:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. at the St. Cloud Civic Center.

Central Minnesota Halloween events: Boo Bash, Great Country Pumpkin Party, Halloween Awakening, Halloween Historia and Trick-or-Treating in Saint Cloud MN

Boo Bash Thursday, Oct 28, 2010 from 4:00 to 6:30pm

The St. Cloud Downtown Councilalong with Downtown St. Cloud businesses are hosting a free and safe trick or treating experience for kids! Stop by and join the hundreds of families visiting the friendly downtown Saint Cloud MN businesses handing out goodies and sweets to kids in their Halloween costumes!

Boo Bash will also feature a pet parade! Bring your pet in costume and join the parade or bring your bike, wagon or on foot and show off your Halloween Spirit! Please remember that your pets need to be on a leash.

The Boo Bash in Downtown Saint Cloud MN is free and all are welcome.

Great Country Pumpkin Party Thursday, Oct 28, 2010 from 5:00 -7:30 p.m.

The Great Country Pumpkin Party is a Halloween celebration for children with special needs and their families in a safe and accessible environment. CountryInn and Suites West - 235 Park Avenue South Saint Cloud MN - (320) 259-8999

Local businesses sponsor the entire first floor of Country Inn and Suites and decorate the rooms, then give out the candy to the children. After Trick or Treating the children will enjoy going to the breakfast room, it will be set up with Halloween games and prizes will be awarded out to the winners.

The staff of the Country Inn volunteers their time to help out with the Great Country Pumpkin Party. Each year there is a theme for the employee/volunteers, this year the theme is Toy Story. Everyone is invited to the Country Inn and Suites West Saint Cloud, so dress up in your favorite costume and Trick-or-Treat in a safe accessible environment.

Halloween Awakening  Friday, Oct 29, 2010 - Saturday, Oct 30, 2010 at 7:30pm

The Stroia Ballet Company presents Halloween Awakening, its like nothing you have ever seen before at the Paramount Theatre! Skeletons, wolves, and similar spooky creatures and things that go bump in the night will dance to familiar music from Psycho and Thriller will captivate you in a musical journey through All Hallows Eve. The cost of the program Halloween Awakening is $19 for Adults $16 for Seniors/Students and $12 for children 12 and under. For more information go to the Paramount's website or call (320) 259-5463, The Paramount Theatre is located in Downtown Saint Cloud MN.

Halloween Historia Saturday, Oct 30, 2010 12:00 to 4:00pm

Stearns History Museum in partnership with the St. CloudJaycees and Miller Carlin Funeral Home present the 20th Annual Halloween Historia. Explore the museum and enjoy Halloween Historia a non-scary event. This event is perfect for young children and those of us who are young at heart, Halloween costumes are encouraged at the museum for this event. Everyone attending will enjoy a hayride, Halloween craft-making, scavenger hunt in the Museum's exhibit gallery, a kindly Candy Witch, carnival games, and face-painting. The cost is $3 per person and as always there will be no charge for infants to enter. For more information on Halloween Historia go to the Stearns County Museum website or call (320) 253-8424.

Trick-or-Treating Sunday, Oct 31, 2010 from 3:00 to 5:00pm

Crossroads Mall in Saint Cloud Minnesota will again this year be holding its annual trick or treat for children age 12 and under. It is a nice safe system and if we get another Halloween Blizzard it just might be the perfect place to go on Halloween night! It works out nicely for the mall and for the stores as you visit the retailers while you trick-or-treat.  For safety reasons, the Crossroads Mall asks you to leave your Halloween mask at home if you are over the age of 12. You can visit their site for more information http://www.crossroadscenter.com/events/trick-or-treating 

Park & Ride

I was thinking about what to say about the Park & Ride system for today's post (post number 99 of my series 100 wonderful reasons to love the Saint Cloud area) this morning. Funny thing is there is not a whole lot to really say about the set up. It is a great way to save on gas, you can get some work done while riding instead of driving and the system is really very simple.

If you work in the Twin Cities and live in one of the surrounding areas of the state you can catch a ride to work by simply driving to one of the Park & Ride lots, parking your car, then catching the bus to the train station in Big Lake, then off to the Cities. In the evening you do the same; in reverse. This saves on traffic congestion, gas usage and carbon output from the vehicles. Parking in the lots is free for people catching the bus, and some of the lots allow for overnight parking. Nice system, easy to use and environmentally friendly. Sometimes short, sweet and to the point is the best way to go!

Snowmobiling in Minnesota - The Sauk Rapids/Saint Cloud Area Trails & Waterways

Snowmobiling is a blast. Getting dressed up in your warmest outfit and going out to play in the snow is a huge pass time here in central Minnesota on a snowy day. The Minnesota DNR Sauk Rapids/Saint Cloud Area Trails & Waterways has a registered 35,476 snowmobiles in their work area. The area has over 30 snowmobile clubs and the state has over 20,000 miles of groomed snowmobile trails, and 18,000 of those miles are maintained by local snowmobile clubs. As you can see snowmobiling is very popular here in central Minnesota.

There have been all kinds of snowmobiles in central Minnesota for years. I found this picture of a homemade snowmobile from 1910. The description says that it is on the Mississippi River heading towards Hastings Minnesota. While in the St Cloud area we are no longer allowed to run snowmobiles on the Mississippi River there are still lots of fun places to take your machine out for a run. Going to go snowmobiling in the Saint Cloud area? Here is a link to the new rules for snowmobiling within the city.

The Minnesota DNR site has a wealth of information for snowmobilers including podcasts, snow conditions, links to snowmobile regs and fees, and most importantly snowmobile safety training. But once you are safely trained, properly licensed, and the conditions are right it is time to get out and enjoy one of the many snowmobiling trails in the Sauk Rapids/Saint Cloud area.

• Map of the area and the linked central Minnesota snowmobile trail system managed by the DNR for the local St. Cloud area.
• Rum River Sno Riders Trail in Benton, Mille Lacs and Morrison counties for more information about this trail contact DNR P&T-Sauk Rapids at 320-255-4279 X222
• Map of the DNR managed local parks for snowmobiling
• Map of Stearns County Recreational Trail Lake Wobegon snowmobiling

In the state of Minnesota there are 279,738 Registered Snowmobiles, enjoying an average annual snowfall of 77.5 Inches, a nice fun layer of snow for you to enjoy snowmobiling in the Sauk Rapids/Saint Cloud area of central Minnesota.