Any day of the week there is a multitude of cultural events or exhibits happening in Marshall.

Marshall Area Fine Arts Council & Arts Center
Opened in the Spring of 1998, the Marshall Area Fine Arts Council (MAFAC) Arts Center is dedicated to promoting local artistic talent, art education, exhibits and performances.  Exhibits are free and open to the public during Center hours, 11:00 to 4:30 PM, Tuesday through Friday.  Groups may schedule special tours by calling (507) 532-5463.  The Center is located at 109 North 3rd Street in Marshall.  Exhibits rotate every three months, so there is always something new to see, and new classes accept registrations on an ongoing basis.

MAFAC's performance series provides high quality entertainment at an exceptional value.  Contact the Art Center for ticket information.

William Whipple Gallery I and II, SMSU
The Southwest Minnesota University Art Museum contains two galleries, William Whipple Gallery I & II.   William Whipple Gallery I is located in Bellows Academic Center 291 and Gallery II is located on the second floor of Founders Hall.   Southwest Minnesota State University Museum is a showcase for exhibiting the works of students, faculty, regional, national and international artists.  Galleries is open to the public 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday thru Friday, closed holidays.  For more information, call (507) 537-6266, or e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Marshall Area Stage Company
Newly formed in 1999, the Marshall Area Stage Company (MASC) encourages the growth of the performing arts in Marshall and the surrounding area.   For information on the stage company and upcoming productions, call (507) 537-0933.

Southwest Minnesota Orchestra
Southwest Minnesota Orchestra, celebrating over 30 years of bring fine, live orchestral works to southwestern Minnesota, is a community/university joint venture based at Southwest Minnesota State University, Marshall.  SMO performs three concerts in their yearly series; Fall, end of October, Winter - March, and Spring - May.  For information on Southwest Minnesota Orchestra, contact the Fine Arts Office at Southwest Minnesota State University,  (507) 537-7234.  

Prairie Dance Alliance
The Prairie Dance Alliance is the organization that supports area dancers and networks area dance schools.  The Marshall area is home to the nationally acclaimed Southwest School of Dance, the awarding winning Just for Kix, and Just for Jazz programs to name a few.  For more information on area dance opportunities, either in schooling options or performance schedules, visit www.prairiedancealliance.org.

SMSU Fine Arts Department
Southwest Minnesota State University is home to many activities for community involvement in the arts.  Check out the SMSU web site at www.southwestmsu.edu for current events.  The Fine Arts Department supports arts students/performances in every medium including Vocal Music, both solo and ensemble including Jazz, Women's Choir and Concert Choirs; Symphonic, Marching and Jazz Bands; Orchestra; Visual Arts; Theater; Speech and Communications.  For more information, phone the Fine Arts Office at (507) 537-7234.  

Marshall Public Schools Arts Opportunities
The Marshall Public School System provides area students with a great wealth of arts opportunities.  From Visual Arts, Speech, Choir, Band, and Orchestra.

Striking Up the Band
Robert Meffert, City Band Director will once again be striking up the band as the City Band Concert Series begins its season in June.  Concerts are held on Wednesdays throughout the summer from June  through mid-July.  Concerts begin at 7:30 PM at the Liberty Park Band Shell on East College Drive.  Interested in joining the band?  Call Bob Meffert at (507) 532-5801.

During the winter months, Marshall and SW Minnesota turn into a winter playground for kids of all ages.

 

Skate in style at the Schwan's Arena throughout the winter. The arena is open to the public for Open Skate and Open Hockey at the Lyon County Fairgrounds. A monthly calendar of activities are available at the arena or at the Marshall Community Services office. Contact the Skate Rental Office for complete details at (507) 537-6795 or the Zamboni Room at (507) 532-5335. The Southwest Figure Skating Club provides an annual ice show in March of each year.

If you like to skate in the great outdoors, the city provides a skating rink at Independence Park complete with a heated warming shed, lights, parking lot and restrooms available.

After skating, take a trip or two down the Independence Park sliding hill on Lyon Street across from Park Side elementary. The hill is lit for evening sliding.

Area lakes offer some great ice fishing. Log on to www.dnr.state.mn.us for Minnesota's ice fishing rules and regulations.

Camden State park is the perfect place to spend the afternoon snowshoeing in a wooded river valley. Snowshoeing is allowed anywhere in the park except on groomed trails.

Public Cross Country skiing is allowed at Independence Park. You can also enjoy cross country skiing at Garvin Park's 2.5 miles of trails in one of the most popular recreational areas in Lyon County, thirteen miles south of Marshall. Another option is to grab your skis and take a short drive to Camden State Park. Hit 5 miles of groomed Cross Country trails whenever there is 6 inches or more of snow on the ground. For more information on the conditions of the trails visit www.dnr.state.mn.us

For the snowmobilers, Southwest Ridge Runners publish a Lyon County Snowmobile Trail System map to make the journey more enjoyable. The maps can be picked up at the Marshall Chamber office as well as other locations through the county.