Z puppets

Through catchy songs and fun storytelling, award-winning Z Puppets’ performers – Cherokee Nation tribal member Chris Griffith, with Shari Aronson – lead audiences to see, hear and sing out Cherokee words to help Grandmother Turtle get back up on her feet.

Sing along with Dagsi Turtle & Jisdu Wabbit — and you, too, will learn how to count to three, say hello and thank you in Cherokee!

Puppeteers

As you stroll along the trail you might be lucky enough to spot a talking toad, owl, crow, fox, skunk or a snail!  Look for these magical creatures because they all will be up to some kind of shenanigans!  Don’t be shy!  Take a moment to have an enlightening conversation!   

Featured Puppeteers are:  Carole Jean Anderson, Denny Carlson, Miriam Drieblatt, Noam Freshman, Sherri Gebert-Fuller, and Beth Gilleland

Dana Strahnson: storyteller

Dana Strahnson is the Youth Services Librarian at Hennepin County’s St. Louis Park Library. When not at the library telling stories and foisting stacks of books on children, she can be found knitting, reading, or adventuring.  

SLP COmmunity Band

The St. Louis Park Community Band, bringing music to communities since 1972, is recognized as one of the top adult concert bands in the state. They are dedicated to making beautiful music accessible to all. Based in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, they are a group of 65 dedicated musicians from all areas of the Twin Cities Metro Area. Under the direction of Steven Light, they perform a wide variety of programs throughout the year with a repertoire that includes marches, show tunes, contemporary, classical, and traditional band music.

Kathy & steven light

Before moving to the twin cities in 2023 Steven and Kathy Light enjoyed rich and active musical lives in Vermont. Since the move they have found the Saint Louis Park Community Band, which Steven now conducts and Kathy plays clarinet. They have begun to explore gamelan playing opportunities and recorder groups and continue to perform as a duo.

KJam flute collective

Kathy Nelson / Jenn Gillen / Audrey Ziller / Marissa Arnquist

Kathy, Jenn, Audrey, and Marissa are all members of the St. Louis Park Community Band. One day, Jenn got an alto flute and wanted to find more reasons to play it. She whispered into the ears of Kathy, Audrey, and Marissa for months about how great a flute choir would be, until finally the flute collective was born. Trail of Small Wonders is their debut performance!

Hijinks Stilts

This collective was founded in MniSota Makoce (Minneapolis, Minnesota) in 1998 by Amy Ballestad and Shelley Chinander, through a research and development grant from FORECAST Public ArtWorks. For over 25 years, we have created spectacular original performances; including countless parades, festivals, and celebrations; tall-tale puppet shows at fairs and schools; inspired choreography at art museums; and flaming pyrotechnic pageants in urban corridors (https://hijinks-stilts.com/.)