Sandbar Storytelling Festival, in partnership with the Winona County Historical Society, invites the public to the first event in the four-part Business & Immigrant Stories on Thursday, June 4 at 7:00 p.m. in the WCHS Wanek Room.
Each summer Sandbar Storytelling Festival partners with the Winona County Historical Society and Project FINE to present a four-part series highlighting the people that built the businesses that built our town. This series celebrates Winona’s legacy businesses and the people that built them, giving attendees opportunity for to learn more about how iconic and beloved Winona institutions came to be. In 2026, SSF is featuring Blooming Grounds, Merchants Bank, Bluff Country Co-op, and Immigrant Stories with Project Fine.
The series kicks off on Thursday, June 4 at 7:00 p.m. with Amy Jo Marks, founder of Blooming Grounds Coffee House and Muddled Thyme Restaurant. Blooming Grounds Coffee House is located in the heart of downtown Winona, MN and was established in 2003 with its doors opening on Labor Day. After getting a degree in Criminal Justice, owner Amy Jo decided to follow her passion for baking and working in customer service by opening a coffee house, and mixed a cozy atmosphere with homemade baked goods. Over the years, Amy Jo has navigated her business through a fire and pandemic, and expanded her businesses to include Blooming Grounds Express and Muddled Thyme restaurant.
All Business & Immigrant Stories events are free and open to the public. There is limited seating, but no reservations are required. Stories begin at 7:00 p.m., with a reception and refreshments following the story. Upcoming events include: Merchants Bank on July 16, Bluff Country Co-op on August 13, and Project Fine on September 15.
Sandbar Storytelling Festival presents storytelling performances which celebrate and preserve the power and pleasure of our varied cultural traditions and human experiences and to promote the art of storytelling for all ages. The 2026 festival will be held October 7-11. Sandbar Storytelling Festival operates with support from: Winona Community Foundation, Elizabeth Callender King Foundation, Southern Minnesota Arts Council, and is made possible by funding through the Minnesota Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment.
For questions, contact Emily Kurash Casey, SSF Managing Director at sandbarwinona@gmail.com.
