Upcoming Events at the River's Edge Convention Center

Coming up in 2017 are several events at the St. Cloud River’s Edge Convention Center. Offering resources on weddings, recreational activities, farming, and more, make sure that you don’t miss out!

St. Cloud School District 742 Expo

January 7, 2017 – 9 AM to Noon

Expand your knowledge about the school district at this year’s St. Cloud Area School District 742 Education Expo. There will be activities and exhibits covering everything from early childhood development to area universities and colleges. Students of all ages and their parents will enjoy:

• The Riddler’s Escape Room
• Airmaxx Bounce House
• On-site Interviews and Job Fair
• Minneapolis Crayola Experience
• A Firetruck, Police Car, and School Bus  
• Much, Much More!

St. Cloud Wedding Expo

January 15, 2017 – 10 AM to 12 PM

Twice a year, the St. Cloud Wedding Expo connects couples with an incredible network of wedding industry specialists that can make your wedding planning an exciting time. With over 80 professional businesses present, you will get a chance to experience the newest trends in wedding décor, themes, and fashion. Join us in January to begin planning your dream wedding. For ticket information, visit the St. Cloud Wedding Expo.

St. Cloud Craft Beer Tour

January 21, 2017 – 2 PM to 5 PM

If you consider yourself a beer connoisseur, get ready for a special treat this January. The River’s Edge Convention Center will host the fifth annual St. Cloud Craft Beer Tour. With over 250 different beers from 60 local breweries and 15 cideries, there will be a plethora of cold ones for you to choose from. For a preview of beers to come, take a look at the list of breweries attending.

The 29th Annual Sportsmen’s Show

February 10-12, 2017

For the outdoor enthusiasts out there, the Sportsmen’s Show will be back in February with the best of the best for all things recreational. With top-of-the-line fishing boats, tech-driven camping and fishing gear, and the latest campers and trailers, the hardest part will be waiting for the return of fairer weather! Whether you picked up a new hobby or are hoping to gain more skills and resources, the Sportsmen’s Show will feature excellent hunting and fishing seminars that will be useful for the whole family. For a complete schedule and information on tickets, visit stcloudsportshow.com.

St. Cloud Boat Show

February 17-19, 2017

Looking to upgrade or replace your boat this year? Central Minnesota’s most popular dealers will be on exhibit this February at the Convention Center for the St. Cloud Boat Show.Boats for every lifestyle - from canoes to pontoons - will be on display. Compare models, dealers, and prices to make your best purchase. Don’t forget to check out the best docks, lifts, and other accessories available in the area.   

PleasureLand Camp & Travel Show

February 23-26, 2017

This year marks the 46th annual PleasureLand RV Camp and Travel Expo. Free to the public, there will be over 100 campers, RV’s and trailers on display. Visit the exhibits of area campgrounds and start planning your summer getaways around the state. Check out last year’s recap of the event to learn more.

The Central Minnesota Farm Show

February 28 - March 2, 2017 – 9 AM to 4 PM

The Central Minnesota Farm Show features a wonderful variety of educational opportunities in the farming industry and the agricultural field. Explore special offers and products, as well as network with farmers and agricultural educators from across the state. For event details or to sign up as a volunteer, visit the Central Minnesota Farm Show page at the St. Cloud Chamber of Commerce website.

The Central Minnesota Builders Association Home Show

March 10-12, 2017

A homeowner’s dream event, the CMBA Home Show will feature hundreds of vendors to help with your home building dreams as well as seminars on home planning, landscaping, and the Kids Building Project. The Home Show will also feature gardening tips from KARE 11’s Bobby Jensen, who has decades of experience in environmental services and landscaping. To register for a booth or for more event details, visit the CMBA Homeshow page.

Don’t miss out on the events happening in central Minnesota this winter. There is always something new to learn and explore going on at the River’s Edge Convention Center!

Hosting Your Fundraising Event At River’s Edge Convention Center

As one of central Minnesota's premier event headquarters, there's no better place than the St. Cloud River’s Edge Convention Center to host your fundraising event. We offer large gathering spaces, plenty of parking, and a convenient location in historic downtown St. Cloud. Dozens of organizations trust us with their fundraiser all throughout the year, but here are a few that are coming up soon or have taken place recently:

Evening For Life - Annual Birthline Benefit

On October 6th, Birthline hosted its annual benefit entitled “Evening For Life.” Admission to the fundraiser was free, and Birthline encouraged attendees to give donations. What made this benefit a success was the speaker, Chris Shepherd. He shared the story of his late wife’s act of selfless love as they chose confidently and courageously to continue her pregnancy amid a cancer discovery. This story allowed benefit participants to put themselves in the shoes of someone who could really use the help of Birthline and give donations with empathy.

March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction

Coming up on November 10th, River’s Edge Convention Center will host the Signature Chefs Auction fundraiser for March of Dimes. This benefits the research, education, advocacy and programs that help more moms have full-term pregnancies and healthy babies. March of Dimes raised money at this fundraiser by both selling tickets and hosting an auction. They made the event valuable for their attendees by providing a culinary tasting experience and evening program.

Holly Ball

On December 3rd, one of central Minnesota's biggest fundraisers will be hosted at the River’s Edge Convention Center; The Holly Ball. This is a gala event where proceeds benefit the St. Cloud Hospital Hospice and Coborn Cancer Center Greatest Needs Funds. The evening includes music for dancing and entertainment; this year, the main event features Boogie Wonderland and DJ Rage. There is a silent auction where guests can donate an item for others to bid on. And, of course, the benefit raises money through selling tickets to the event. Holly Ball was wildly successful in 2015, raising more than $700,000.

If you plan to host a fundraiser in the future, there is no better place than River’s Edge Convention Center. From small crowds to large ones, we service all with multiple gathering space options. To start planning your benefit, click here!

Choose River’s Edge Convention Center to ensure your fundraising event is a success.

Preview of the Cloud-A-Scope Tattoo and Arts Convention

The Tattoo You Minnesota and Cloud-a-Scope Tattoo and Arts Convention gets underway on Friday, November 11 at the River’s Edge Convention Center.

Tattoo You has presented Minnesota some of the finest tattoo artists for 25 years and celebrated its Silver Anniversary at Grand Casino Hinckley in August, with over 100 artists and two huge contests.

The Tattoo and Arts Convention at the River’s Edge Convention Center will also feature tattoo art, contests, plus more than 100 artists. Doors open to the public at noon on Friday, November 11 and attendees will be able to purchase weekend passes for $20. Friday night’s entertainment will feature two Scarlette Revolver Burlesque shows - the first beginning at 7:00 pm and the next at 10:00 pm. Please note that this is an 18+ event due to the nature of the performance.

Tattooing and piercing continue at 9:00 am on Saturday, November 12, when doors re-open to the public. The tattoo contest judging begins that afternoon at 3:00 pm. Categories will include color size, black and grey size, portraits, lettering, hand tattoos, water color and cover-ups. All first place winners at Saturday night’s tattoo contest award ceremony will automatically qualify for the Best of Show Award on Sunday.

Don’t miss Saturday’s music headliner, City of the Weak. The dynamic and talented rockers from Minneapolis are scheduled to hit the stage at 9:30 pm.

The convention comes to a close on Sunday, November 13, but not before another jam packed day of events. Tattooing and piercing will continue throughout the morning and tattoo contest judging begins early in the afternoon. Sunday evening concludes with a grand prize drawing, as well as an awards ceremony for Tattoo of the Weekend and Best of Show.

You can find more information on the event - including a list of artists and lineup of events - on Tattoo You Minnesota’s Facebook page.

St. Cloud Area Comic Lovers Visit Lioncon at the River’s Edge

Anime, comic books, video games, and all things nerd livened the River’s Edge Convention Center when LionHeart Games of Waite Park presented LionCon on Saturday, August 27th.

Justin Willard, owner of LionHeart games, organized the event. Planning began in January 2016, but until LionCon, St. Cloud had never seen a comic con-esque event like this.

Conventions like this are sometimes misunderstood. In the last few decades, the term “nerd” has come to be used as a term of endearment rather than an insult. Conventions such as LionCon are an opportunity to bring like-minded people together to celebrate arts and entertainment that they love and that have been sadly lacking in Central Minnesota.

LionCon showcased game displays, comic book and graphic novel displays and artists, toys, and plenty of fans dressed up as their favorite video game, movie, and TV show characters. Attendees played board games and role-playing games and some took part in a cosplay competition.

The first in Central Minnesota, LionCon provided the opportunity for area comic book convention fans to stay a little bit closer to home. Popular conventions pop up annually in the Twin Cities, but in St. Cloud, we have yet to begin a tradition of our own.

Justin Willard hopes to hold the convention again next year, making it even bigger than the success it was this time around. Plans for next year at this point are preliminary, but it seems that the St. Cloud River’s Edge Convention Center can expect a 2-day event for LionCon 2017. Area fans can only hope that LionCon will grow and continue for years to come.

River's Edge Convention Center Parking Ramp Nearing Completion

The long-awaited downtown River’s Edge Convention Center parking ramp is nearing completion, and construction crews are working around the clock to complete the $11.56 million project in time for the Convention Center's busy season and holiday shoppers. The new parking ramp will increase parking capacity by 400 stalls and will provide easier accessibility for convention center guests, downtown employees, shoppers, and visitors. The parking ramp will straddle 5th Avenue North providing direct access to downtown businesses. When completed, the ramp will be five stories tall on the west side and three stories tall on the east side of 5th Avenue.

Governor Mark Dayton visited downtown St. Cloud in June 2014 to celebrate the fact that $11.56 million was allocated to expand the River’s Edge parking facilities and accommodate the community’s many visitors.

Construction began on November 16, 2015, and is expected to reach completion in October, making it a perfect addition just in time for holiday shoppers. Current downtown visitors have been using the Timber Lot and the Convention Center Surface lot as alternative parking. With the parking ramp nearing completion, it will greatly alleviate current parking and traffic congestion, adding 400 stalls and 155,040 square feet of space for downtown visitors.

In addition to the new parking ramp, the City of St. Cloud has additional projects that will help change the skyline of downtown St. Cloud. Other new projects coming to St. Cloud are the expansion of the Beaver Island Trail on the north side of the River’s Edge Convention Center, which will provide more recreational area, greater bike and walking trails, and The Lofts — a 47-condominium building that will add stylish and modern living options for downtown dwellers.

The 2016 Minnesota Quilters Show and Conference

The Minnesota Quilters will be holding their 38th Annual Quilt Show and Conference at the River's Edge Convention Center in downtown St. Cloud from June 9-11. Minnesota Quilters, Inc. is a non-profit organization comprised of volunteers who celebrate the craft of quilting. The organization is rooted in learning the history and new advancements in quilting in all its forms, as well as documenting the art and craft of quilting in Minnesota.

The organization was founded in 1978 as a result of renewed interest in quilting, brought on by the U.S. Bicentennial. The first 18 women were assessed $10 dues to battle the seemingly high postage costs of the time. They also worked tirelessly on the task of recruiting for and setting up the organization.

In their first year, the group was invited to quilt at the Minnesota State Fair - a group of 40 women. Despite rain and building and location switches, the booth was manned by volunteers for ten days - at the end of which the displayed quilt was completed. The first official show was held in 1979 in St. Paul. Meetings were held in different areas in order to allow more attendance. One of the largest in the first year was seen at the Dakota County Fair, in which 95 people attended. Now, the annual Minnesota Quilters’ Show and Conference is the largest volunteer quilt show in the U.S., draws visitors from around the world and is one of the premier quilting events in the country.

Once a one-page publication produced from a typewriter, you can now view the MQ Newsletter on their website. The schedule of events for the 2016 MQ Quilt show and conference - which includes exhibits, classes, lectures, awards, actions and more - can be viewed here.

If you’d like to get involved in quilting, check out the 2016 Minnesota “Hail to Thee” challenge fabrics, consisting of two groups - a blue/green/gold group and an orange/red group. Using these fabrics, contestants must make a quilt, clothing item, or three-dimensional piece that depicts something they like about Minnesota. You can pick up your packet at any MQ monthly meeting, at the MQ office in Minneapolis, or by calling (612) 436-0449. Packets cost $18.

Although registration for the show has ended, classes that have remaining space and regular lectures may be purchased at the registration desk. You can contact Minnesota Quilters, Inc. on their website, or send an email to quilter@mnquilt.org for more information.

Why Hosting Prom at River's Edge is a Good Idea

One of the most anticipated high school seasons is fast approaching — prom season! Prom is a time for dancing, dressing up and making lifelong memories with friends. Though prom is undoubtedly one of the most unforgettable high school memories, it can be a pain for parents and schools to set up for their kids. That’s why you should book your school’s prom at River’s Edge Convention Center.

Tons of space

No matter the theme, activities, or size of the crowd, the River’s Edge has the space that you can customize to fit your needs. For example, our pre-function space will work perfectly as a backdrop for prom photos. We’ve got 150,000 square feet of space, including a 16,000-square foot ballroom. Download a colored map of the floor plan, or check out our full brochure for more details.

Decorating

At the River’s Edge, you can do all the decorating yourself. Assemble a prom committee, designate a group of art students, or recruit parents or volunteers to help. You also have the option of hiring a professional to do it for you — we’ve got a great list of them on file!

Catering

With the connections we have, you can bet you’ll find tons of catering options for a beautiful evening. Don’t worry about the setup, after party clean-up, or refilling food and beverages throughout the night. We’ve got it all under control.

Equipment Rental

Worried about finding a rental company for prom? Luckily, you don’t have to go through another company to rent your equipment. We’ve got everything you need to host a fun prom: dance floors, pianos, podiums, tables and chairs, microphones, projectors, spotlights and much more. Read our Material Service Price Guide for more information.

We Provide Services

Worried about housekeeping? Not sure if there will be enough parking? Nervous about setting up and executing the perfect slideshow or video? We can help. Just let us know about all your event details and service needs before the event, and our friendly staff will be happy to help.

Planning the perfect prom at the River’s Edge Convention Center makes perfect sense. If we haven’t convinced you yet, contact us with your questions and concerns.

Downtown St. Cloud Has A Lot To Offer

The River’s Edge Convention Center is sitting in the best part of St. Cloud. Historic downtown St. Cloud has a lot more to offer than meets the eye.

Downtowns are becoming cool again throughout the country. City Centers may have lost some of their popularity in the 1980s and 90s, but they’ve come back in a big way in the 2010s.

Downtown meetings have become trendy at hotels and convention centers all around the country again. Convention centers and visitors bureaus throughout the United States help paint a vibrant and exciting picture of what meeting planners and attendees can experience downtown.

The River's Edge can easily accommodate events such as concerts, weddings, trade and consumer shows, conventions, and conferences for a wide array of businesses and group sizes.

The River's Edge offers more than 75,000 square feet of exhibit space along with 24-foot ceilings and easy on-grade load-in access.

The River’s Edge hosts conferences and trade shows throughout the week and on weekends and other events such as weddings, graduations, and proms. Entertainment is also part of what the River’s Edge offers, including sporting events like SCAR Dolls Roller Derby and concerts like Trampled By Turtles. But things aren’t just going on at the River’s Edge. There are plenty of other things to do in Downtown St. Cloud.

There are more than 40 food options in the downtown area. The options include gourmet, down-home buffet, family style, health-oriented, Asian and more. To see a list of St. Cloud’s downtown dining options, visit here.

We'd like to welcome 7 West Taphouse and JL Beers as the latest additions to downtown!

If you want to make a weekend out of it and stay in downtown St. Cloud for a few days because of a wedding, meeting or banquet, Downtown has plenty of  accommodations awaiting you.

The Arts District in Downtown St. Cloud is also very vibrant. The district offers a wide array of theater options, classes, clubs, galleries, shopping and more.

Speaking of shopping, you’ll find more than a few spots Downtown to find what you’re looking for - from specialty shops to department stores, to chic boutiques.

Maybe the best part of downtown St. Cloud is the nightlife. There are plenty of bars and restaurants to have a great time at while also seeing live music, comedians, theater and other entertainment.

So come and see what downtown St. Cloud has to offer you. We promise you won’t be disappointed.

To learn more, or to plan your next event at the River’s Edge Convention Center, call us at 320-255-7272 or visit our website.

2016 PleasureLand RV Camp and Travel Expo

The 45th annual PleasureLand RV Camp and Travel Expo gets under way on Thursday, February 18, at the River’s Edge Convention Center.

The expo, which started in 1971, is free and open to the public.

There will be more than 100 new RV units taking up the convention center floor. There were 125 units at last year’s show, according to PleasureLand assistant sales manager Vinny Binsfeld.

“Last year we put in more units than we have ever had before,” said Binsfeld, who has worked for PleasureLand for 11 years. “It’s really expanded more and more every year.”

There will be everything from motorhomes, travel trailers, ice houses to pop-up campers at the expo.

The expo goes from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, February 21.

Some of the companies represented at the expo will include Winnebago, Keystone, Thor, Grand Design, Forest River, Crossroads, Cruiser RV and Palomino.

Fitting in all of the RVs on the convention center floor certainly isn’t an easy task for PleasureLand to accomplish.

“The River’s Edge does a great job of working with us,” Binsfeld said. “It’s almost like putting together a puzzle. Our GM does a fantastic job of making it all happen. Sometimes it comes down to a matter of feet and inches to fit all of these units in.”

RVs have come a long way since 1971. Binsfeld said the general public will be amazed by some of the technology advancements if they step into an RV today.

“There are always floor plan and technology changes,” he said. “There are so many more features like bluetooth, LED lights, larger bathrooms. The technology continues to grow and I think people love it.”

PleasureLand has six different locations in Minnesota including two in St. Cloud and Brainerd and one each in Ramsey and Long Prairie.