Turn the Page on a Memorable Weekend in Red Wing
Minnesota Children’s Book Festival | Saturday, September 19, 2026 | 11:00 AM–4:00 PM
Stories have a way of taking us somewhere new—and this September, they can lead your family straight to Red Wing, Minnesota!
Make plans to attend the Minnesota Children’s Book Festival on Saturday, September 19, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the beautiful Anderson Center at Tower View. Now in its 27th year, this free, family-friendly celebration brings together award-winning authors and illustrators, young readers, families, and plenty of imagination.
Throughout the day, families can enjoy author and illustrator presentations, meet-and-greets, book signings, hands-on activities, art-making, face painting, kid-friendly food trucks and more. It’s a wonderful opportunity to introduce young readers to the people behind the stories they love—and perhaps discover a few new favorites along the way.
Add a Little Music to Your Story
While you’re in the area, make time for an experience that is uniquely Red Wing. Visit Stoney End Music, where beautiful handcrafted instruments are created inside a renovated historic barn.
Step into the workshop and showroom to discover handcrafted folk lever harps made right here in Red Wing. Stoney End’s harps are built from select woods, including cherry, walnut and maple, and can be shipped to musicians around the world. The musical craftsmanship doesn’t stop with harps—you’ll also find carefully crafted dulcimers and mountain banjos.
It’s part showroom, part workshop and an unexpected Red Wing experience that music lovers of all ages will remember.
Go Treasure Hunting in the Historic West End District
Next, make your way into Red Wing and explore the character of the historic West End District, where shopping comes with a healthy dose of nostalgia.
Music fans will want to dig through the collection at Vyntage Vinyl. Located on Old West Main Street, this full-scale record shop is packed with vinyl spanning musical genres, along with CDs, cassette tapes, stereo equipment, apparel and rare and hard-to-find finds.
Then stop into Video Trading Company, another West End favorite and a must-see for media and gaming fans. Browse new and gently used video games, gaming consoles, puzzles, accessories, 3D-printed products and more.
Between the records, games, collectibles and vintage atmosphere, the West End is the perfect place to let everyone in the family find a treasure of their own.
Wander into Historic Downtown Red Wing
Continue your adventure along Red Wing’s historic downtown corridor, where blocks of locally owned shops, boutiques, restaurants and distinctive storefronts invite you to slow down and explore.
No family outing is complete without something sweet, so make sure your route includes the Red Wing Confectionery. Located at 323 Main Street, this downtown favorite continues the tradition of locally made chocolates and offers everything from gourmet truffles and hand-dipped treats to ice cream, saltwater taffy, specialty coffee and other tempting goodies.
Take your time. Wander the shops. Find something unexpected. Grab a treat. After all, some of the best family memories happen between the planned stops.
Why Make It Just One Day?
With so much to experience, turn your trip to the Minnesota Children’s Book Festival into a weekend getaway in Red Wing.
Come for the stories and stay for the music, shopping, local flavors, river views and one-of-a-kind experiences that make Red Wing a destination worth exploring together.
Give yourself another morning to sleep in, grab breakfast and continue discovering everything the city has to offer. Whether you’re traveling with little readers, music lovers, collectors, shoppers—or a little bit of each—there’s another chapter waiting around every corner.
Make it a day to remember. Better yet, make it a weekend.