The Spirit of Community in Delano is defined by the
Creativity, Resilience, and Community Investment of its people.
Delano Area Council for Arts and Culture
EST. 2009
The mission of the Delano Area Council for Arts and Culture is to empower people to think, work and live creatively through arts and cultural experiences.
The purpose is to promote collaboration and provide support to other community arts and cultural organizations. Provide art and cultural events for all ages.
Delano Old-Fashioned Christmas
2019: Delano Old-Fashioned Christmas - Storybook Characters The Arts Council's started this annual festival in 2009.
Delano Sculpture Park
“Flood of ’65” Sculpture by International sculptor, Zoran Mojsilov. Historical artifacts were donated by the Delano Middle School 8th grade art class and the community in 2011-12. Can be seen in the Delano Sculpture Park on Hwy 12. The Arts Council worked with the city to create a Public Art Policy. The Sculpture Park has expanded to hold multiple permanent sculptures and annual sculptures that are displayed for a year, available for purchase and are replaced the following year.
4th of July Street Art
2019: 4th of July Street Art Contest: Guest Artist Shawn McCann, sponsored by Delano Public Library. The first Street Art Contest was held 2017.
2015-18: The Arts Council worked with the Delano Labyrinth Committee. The labyrinth is an interactive public art project that offers an oasis of calm in a busy world. Located in the Highway 12 Sculpture Park.
Spirit of Community Trail
2019: Debbie DeBeer and Sarah Hellmich lead a guided walking tour of the Delano Heritage Trail.
The Heritage Trail expanded to the Spirit of Community Trail, a comprehensive history of many of the buildings, businesses and organization that made and make Delano the city it is today.
Rieder Homestead Concerts
Rieder Homestead Concerts is a music series that began in 2016 in the Historic Rieder Homestead Barn on Bridge Avenue in Delano. Dave Dennison, a neighbor of the Rieder’s and a video producer, started the concerts after using the building as a “set” for a series of music videos. After seeing owner Dave Rieder and his son Logan watch the video production, he was struck by their wonder at the musicians’ talents. After discussing the idea of holding concerts in the 1881 barn, Dennison and Rieder hosted their first in May 2016. Soon after, they began hosting outdoor concerts on a homemade stage. More than 200 concerts later, Rieder Homestead Concerts has built a national reputation for quality concerts featuring orginal songwriters from all over the United States, Canada, and the UK. Shows are by reservation only, drawn from a private email list. To join, email riederhomesteadconcerts@gmail.com.
Delano Community Band
The Delano Community Band is an inter-generational ensemble proudly based in Delano, Minnesota. Since 2017, we've united musicians from all walks of life—from enthusiastic high school students to accomplished performers with decades of experience. This dynamic mix fosters both musical excellence and meaningful connections, offering a rewarding opportunity for growth, collaboration, and community celebration through music.
Directed by Mike Dailey
The Delano Community Band, commissioned Randall Standridge to write the musical piece titled ‘Unbound Celebrations’
The composition was first played at the Delano Sesquicentennial Jamboree, October 3, 2026, in celebration of Delano's Sesquicentennial and dedicated to the people of Delano, whose community spirit has shaped the city's first 150 years.
Delano Dramatic Company
The current version os Delano Dramatic Company (DDC) was newly formed in 2022, when some key people who have deep roots in the Delano Public Schools drama program and community theatre came together with input from others in our community to form a new theatre company in Delano. The concept for this new company was also supported by the Delano Schools, the Delano Area Council for Arts and Culture - which served as the fiscal agent for the group in its inaugural year - the Delano Area Community Foundation, and local civic groups.
The genesis of the name for Delano Dramatic Company had its roots in Delano history. The City's own website notes this history: "In September 1890, work began to build a stage upstairs in the [city] hall so theatrical performances could be held. The next year the village purchased stage scenery to equip the stage. A year later dressing rooms were added on each side of the stage. Also, in 1890 the Delano Dramatic Company offered to pay $100 toward $250 needed for a piano... "
DDC offers adjunct theatrical opportunities in the Delano area, where interested community members of all ages and backgrounds can participate. The drama programs offered to students from elementary age through high school within Delano Public Schools are excellent and have strong student participation. These programs are well supported by district staff and by the community, both as audience members and as volunteers.
Businesses and organizations in the community also provide strong support through financial sponsorships, advertising, and the like. The school district itself has supported DDC's work by making audition, rehearsal and performance spaces available for our large scale summer musicals. Local churches and the City's senior center have welcomed DDC's more intimate performances of dramatic and comedic plays.
Since 2022, DDC has produced four Broadway musicals on the Delano Performing Arts Center (PAC) stage, and four smaller plays in area churches and the senior center. Many talented adults and youth from Delano have participated in these eight productions: "Christmas with a Twist", "School of Rock", "Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol", "Sound of Music", "Grace and Glorie", "Billy Elliot the Musical" "Tuesdays with Morrie" and Disney's "Newsies".
DDC also supports other community events like the Delano 4th of July activities; the Olde Fashioned Christmas celebration, and the Delano Sesquicentennial by providing actors, staging and costumes. We also support the school drama programs by donating production elements, such as scenery, props and costumes, and allowing high school drama boosters to sell candygrams at performances as a fundraiser.
In the four and a half years of our existence, we have become a valuable, integral part of the arts community of Delano. Our president also represents DDC on the Delano Area Council for Arts and Council.
Inaugural production “School of Rock” at Delano PAC 2023
Sound of Music July 2024 at Delano Performing Arts Center
Billy Elliot the Musical July 2025 at Delano Performing Arts Center
Disney’s Newsies July 2026 at Delano Performing Arts Center
Delano’s Sesquicentennial Tribute
For the Sesquicentennial the Arts Council worked on three comprehensive projects. Starting in 2024 they commissioned a public sculpture called ‘Sesquicentennial’ by James and Ryan Pedersen.
They also created a Community Tile Project where people of all ages decorated a ceramic tiles with permanent markers. The tiles were photographed and the participant took their tile home. The photos were embedded into photos of four of LeAnna Wurzer’s paintings, depicting Delano, The Crow River and the Indigenous that came before, the Agriculture, Railroad, and Industry. This became a mosaic that was installed on the retaining wall for the Sesquicentennial Sculpture.
To help support these project the council sold Heritage Bricks, dedicated to individuals, families, business, and organizations. The bricks were laid in front of the mosaic, creating a tribute to Delano’s 150 years.
Grants from the Central Minnesota Arts Board, Legacy Funds and Delano Area Foundation have helped make the Delano Area Council for Arts and Culture bring Art and Culture to Delano
“These activities were made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Central MN Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.”
The content of this page is brought to you by the Delano Spirit of Community Trail Committee in honor of Delano's 150th Anniversary.