Minnesota Prairie Roots

Face painting by Laura O’Connor proved especially popular.

CREATIVITY FOCUSED FAMILY Night at the Virtues Trail in Faribault on Wednesday evening

with face painting,

Jewelry artist Jessica Prill, right, of Fleur de Lis Gallery, set up a beading station.

jewelry making,

theatre,

Sarah Beth Stadler and Suzanne Schwichtenberg of The Upper East Side offered hands-on art projects. Stadler leads “Crafty Mondays” for kids at the Central Avenue creative haven.

hands-on art with markers,

hands-on art with chalk, storytelling and much more to engage kids.

I’m reflected in a mirrored sign next to the tent headquarters for The Virtues Project Faribault.

As I meandered along the trail lined with mirrored signs promoting virtues like kindness, tolerance and creativity, I thought how valuable this event. It not only reinforces positive traits, but it shows the kids of this community that they are valued. People care. They volunteered for this Family Night.

Clearly, kids loved it. Their faces, their hands, their involvement showed their enthusiasm.

Enjoying ice cream, compliments of The Depot Bar & Grill.

Jeff LaBeau of The Depot scooped ice cream for attendees.

I, too, enjoyed myself, stopping occasionally to chat with friends, to eat a scoop of ice cream, to delight in a summer evening as beautiful as they come in Minnesota.

Displayed on a table with a pipecleaner art project.

I love how the people of Faribault are really stepping up to shine positivity in creative ways.

A final summer Family Night at the Virtues Trail is set for 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 28, along the trail in Heritage Bluff Park, next to the train tracks and across from The Depot Bar & Grill.

© Copyright 2019 Audrey Kletscher Helbling