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What better month could there be to start talking about Watertown’s love of the arts than September? With the community’s help and contributions, The Watertown Current will share a weekly composition of arts events and activities. We look forward to hearing from you!
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Season tickets for the 2024-25 Watertown Concert Association performances are currently available. This season’s line up includes six concerts, beginning with “Alliance Brass – Celebrating Stage and Screen” at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 12, in the D.D. Miller Auditorium. Adult tickets are $50 for the season; student tickets are $20 for the season. Tickets can be purchased at the first show or through the concert association’s website at http://concertassociation.net/watertownsd.
This year’s lineup includes:
Rhapsody & The Blues
Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024 – 7:30 p.m.
Boyd Meets Girl
Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024 – 7:30 p.m.
Sail On
Friday, April 11, 2025 – 7:30 pm
Jared Freiburg & The Vagabonds
Saturday, May 3, 2025 – 7:30 pm
Sing Us a Song…You’re the Piano Man – the timeless hits of Billy Joel with Jim Witter
Sunday, May 11, 2025 – 7:30 pm
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September’s Arts Night at the Pub (held on the second Thursday of each month at Dempsey’s at the Airport) will feature artist Laurel Olene on Sept. 12. Meet and greet the artist begins at 5 p.m., with the Art Talk beginning at 6:30 p.m. Olene started drawing at a very young age and has dabbled in many different mediums. She has taught painting classes both through art galleries and on her own. She excels in Realism and enjoys drawing both wild and domestic animals. Come on out to Dempsey’s at the Watertown Airport (550 Airport Drive) and meet other area artists and folks interested in the arts. Arts Night is brought to you by Northern Prairie Arts, Watertown’s Arts Council.
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Join the One Book South Dakota discussion of “Little and Often” by Trent Preszler at 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 23, at the Watertown Regional Library (160 6th St. NE). The book discussion will be moderated by Lawrence Diggs. Copies of the book can be checked out in advance from the library.
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Fiber arts fans will want to head to the North Country Fiber Fair Sept. 20-22 at the Codington County Extension Complex in Watertown. This year’s featured instructor, Natalie Norman, will lead a presentation on “Swedish Skirt Bags” at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21. The event is free and open to the public. A complete list of classes and hours is available at https://northcountryfiberfair.org/fair-schedule.
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The “Local Vocals” youth community choir kicks off its new semester on Monday, Sept. 16th. Open to youth from grade 3-7, there’s no cost to participate. Rehearsals are held from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Mondays at The Goss Opera House (100 East Kemp.) For more information or to register, call 605-753-0200.
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Bill and Cathy Zubke will take the Town Players stage in a production of “Love Letters,” written by A. R. Gurney, at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 27. “Love Letters” follows the lives of characters Andrew Makepeace Ladd III and Melissa Gardner, childhood friends whose lifelong correspondence begins with birthday party thank-you notes and continues through adulthood. Tickets can be purchased at Town Players (5 S. Broadway) or online at www.townplayers.net.
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Just down the road in Brookings, The South Dakota Festival of Books, set for Sept. 20-22, offers opportunities for readers of all ages and interests. This year’s festival offers seven different ticketed events, plus many open events featuring regional and national authors. For more information, visit www.SDBookFestival.com for details.
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Speaking of books, kudos to the Friends of the Watertown Regional Library on their recent enormously successful Used Book Sale. Thanks to their efforts, many of us are now prepared to curl up with a good book when the inevitable cold weather arrives.
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“Use what talent you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best.” – Henry Van Dyke
(Through this column, Twila Schmitt works to keep you up to date about arts activities in and around Watertown. Have suggestions? Want something included in the next column? Please email twilaschmitt@gmail.com.)
