Every spring, the tiny Bluff Country town of Lanesboro hosts one of the most colorful small-town spring festivals in Minnesota. Be sure to mark your calendars for this year’s Lanesboro Rhubarb Festival.

The small town of Lanesboro, Minnesota is tucked into the valleys of the state's Bluff Country.
Thomas Walker/Google
This historic southeast Minnesota community is, perhaps, best known as a popular stop along the Root River State Trail and as a bed-and-breakfast hotspot.
What folks may not know about Lanesboro and its citizens is their love for rhubarb.
Lanesboro, Minnesota
Lanesboro, in fact, was named "Rhubarb Capital of Minnesota" by legislative proclamation.
The town's love for rhubarb is evidenced in its dessert choices.
Kammy Reeves/Google
And every June, the whole town turns out in Sylvan Park to celebrate these stringy stalks of sour goodness.
Lorraine Nelson/Google Reviews
Rhubarb fans of all ages attend the fest to get in on the action.
Lanesboro, Minnesota

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All of the day's festivities pay homage to this beloved broadleaf plant.
Rhubarb Run/Facebook
Events include ranting, rhubarb-themed art - or rhub-art, as it is known in Lanesboro - a farmers market, music, singing, games, and contests, including largest leaf and heaviest stalk.
Lanesboro, Minnesota
You can also put together your nattiest rhubarb attire and show it off for the event's fashion show.
Rhubarb Run/Facebook
The Rhubarb Run is a great way to burn some calories ahead of all the rhubarb treats you'll have to face later in the day.
Rhubarb Run/Facebook
Speaking of rhubarb treats, there's even a rhubarb-tasting event, so start dusting off your favorite recipes if you want to get in on the action.
Rhubarb Run/Facebook
One of our favorite things to do in spring in Minnesota is head to the lake. Here are some of the most beautiful lakes in MN that you can enjoy as the weather warms up:

Clearly, the Lanesboro Rhubarb Festival is one of the most colorful Minnesota spring festivals. For more information on this year’s event, such as date and schedule, visit the Lanesboro, Minnesota website. You could even make a stop at the Rhubarb Festival as part of a scenic road trip through Minnesota’s Bluff Country!

Have you attended the Lanesboro Rhubarb Festival? What are your favorite small-town spring festivals in the Bold North? Let us know in the comments!

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Spring In Minnesota

Chris Muras | February 28, 2024

What are some things to do in Minnesota in spring?
When the snow melts and the sun warms up Minnesotans run outside in shorts and a T-shirt like it is Spring Break - even if it's only 50 degrees outside. Here are some things to do in Minnesota in spring that you'll want to put on your bucket list:

  • Take a spring wildflower road trip: There is no bigger sign that spring is officially here in Minnesota than when the wildflowers start to bloom. This wildflower road trip is the perfect way to get out of the house and enjoy nature. Grab an RV from RVShare and take the whole family on a trip from the Twin Cities down to Carley State Park past Rochester on this pre-planned road trip. You can even swing by Utepils Brewing for a refresher on a warm drying day.
  • Spring tulip walk, Chanhassen, MN: One of our favorite places in Chanhassen, Minnesota is the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. This amazing 1,200-acre garden has everything you can imagine from beautiful blossoming cherry trees, Japanese gardens, cool sculptures, and even a giant hedge maze. In late April or early May, there is a wonderful surprise you don't want to miss - an explosion of tulips! Over 30,000 colorful flowers line the walkways with a fragrant scent that means spring is finally here.
  • Discover wildflowers on Stub Lake Trail, Ely, MN: Spring takes its sweet time in Northern Minnesota, but when it arrives the North Shore is a beautiful place for a spring hike. The Superior National Forest is a 3.9-million-acre wilderness full of amazing wildlife and wildflowers. You can start Stub Lake Trail from the Fall Lake Campground on beautiful Ely Lake. Hunt for wild roses, starflowers, round-lobed hepatica, and even wild ginger. One of our favorite wildflowers is the honeysuckle - which actually tastes sweet like honey.

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