Minnesota’s State-Designated Rhubarb Capital Bursts With Small-Town Charm
The Minnesota State Legislature declared Lanesboro the Rhubarb Capital in 2008, recognizing the town’s annual celebration of the crop and its cultural significance to the community.
Located in Bluff Country about an hour from Rochester International Airport and two hours from Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, the town of cozy riverside charm combines agricultural heritage with arts programming and outdoor recreation along the 42-mile Root River State Bike Trail.
1. The First Saturday in June
Every first Saturday in June, Sylvan Park hosts the annual Rhubarb Festival featuring a goat petting zoo, art-making stations, live music, and homemade desserts centered around the red vegetable.
A rhubarb bake-off invites participants to create savory or sweet dishes, while 1-mile and 5K races utilize the scenic Root River State Bike Trail.
Local businesses participate with themed offerings; Another Time Ice Cream Parlor serves rhubarb-strawberry cobbler ice cream, ice cream sandwiches with rhubarb dipping sauce, and rhubarb-strawberry lemonade during the festival.
2. Downtown Historic District
Lanesboro’s downtown area appears on the National Register of Historic Places, housing shops selling antiques at Driftless Treasures, fishing gear at Root River Rod Company, and Native American-made items at Windy Mesa Indian Jewelry.
Pedal Pushers Café offers lunch options, while Sylvan Brewery provides craft beer. The Commonweal Theatre Company at the town’s center produces new plays and Shakespeare classics, and the annual Art in the Park festival at Sylvan Park in June showcases artwork for purchase.
3. Fall Programming
The Fall Boutique & Business Crawl gamifies local shopping with prizes as participants check off shops on a map for raffle entry, coinciding with the Fall Craft Beer & Wine Festival.
Fall Into Lanesboro on the first Saturday in October features wagon rides, pumpkin decorating, live music, and scavenger hunts. December’s Lanesboro Holiday Sing-Along closes out the annual event calendar.
4. Lodging and Access
Root River Inn & Suites and Hotel Lanesboro provide accommodation options within walking distance of downtown attractions and the riverside park.
Rochester International Airport offers closer access but typically at higher cost and similar total travel time compared to flying into Minneapolis-Saint Paul and renting a car, which allows exploration of the Twin Cities before heading to Bluff Country.
