6.b Vinterfest Update
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: November 1, 2021
To: Parks and Recreation Committee
From: Brenda “Bee” Stignani, Office Assistant
Re: Vinterfest Update
• Corey Roberts’ Event Permit was approved by City Council on October 19th for The Minnesotan Cup.
• Minnesota Pyrotechnics collected the application for the fireworks display with the intention to submit
it for consideration on the November 16th City Council meeting.
Greg Zauner reported the following:
• Pleasant Valley Cloggers & Smashin’ Toe Competition Team have indicated they would participate
in an outdoor event
• St. Paul Kubb would participate
• Mike Lynch responded (text of email below) re hosting a Star Party at Vinterfest
• Fleet Farm Bean Bag Toss: https://www.fleetfarm.com/detail/triumph-sports-usa-tournament-
bean-bag-toss-game/0000000074740?Ntt=Bean%20bag#
Hi Greg,
Thanks for getting a hold of me. I would be thrilled to come back to Scandia with my fleet of
telescopes, see the attached. As of now January 28th is open for me. As far as a summer program it
would have to be in mid to late August otherwise we'd have to start really late at night, around 10pm.
My total charge would be $500 per star party that would inclu de all my expenses. I do require a
non-refundable $50 deposit to hold the dates. If it's cloudy that night we could cance l or I could come
and put on my Plan B" stargazing program that would help prepare the folks for stargazing when the
skies clear up. I also would tell more constellation mythology stories that I make a lot of fun. The folks
will still learn a lot and hopefully enjoy themselves. I try to make it as entertaining as I can. I also
provide the same handout packages of star maps, constellation diagrams, information on stargazing
websites and apps as well as useful information about telescopes and purchasing them.
We would spend a little more time inside but unless it's raining or snowing I’ll have at least some of
the scopes set up outside and we'll do some "land gazing". One of the fun things I do is view "human
star clusters" with the scopes by sending small groups of kids with one or two adults downrange... It's
a lot of fun.
I also like to offer a Mike Lynch "cloud check" that makes it possible for folks to come to any one of
my future Starwatch programs free of charge and without making reservation s I'll have a list of my
upcoming programs at other sites.
All I need is a good place to put on the parties. I don't expect total darkness but we can't be too close
to parking lot and street lights.
I hope this works for you. Let me know.
Take Care, Mike Lynch