A vibrant community of more than 60,000 people, Eden Prairie is located just southwest of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area. With more than 72 percent of the population under the age of 45, the community has an optimistic eye on the future.
Eden Prairie is home to more than 2,200 businesses, including Super Valu, ADC and the Minnesota Vikings. The City also has attractive residential neighborhoods, affordable housing options, more than 170 miles of multi-use trails and 2,250 acres of park land.
Fine restaurants and shopping are plentiful in Eden Prairie. Combined with excellent schools and a strong sense of community, Eden Prairie is truly a great place to Live, Work and Dream!
Eden Prairie Parks and Recreation
Art Offerings – Youth and Family
Eden Prairie Parks and Recreation offers classes and activities in the arts, music and movement, drama and theater for infants through age 12. These programs are offered during the day, after school and during school breaks and during the summer. Specific programs are included in the “Creating Community” program brochure, which is published in August, November and March. Call 952-949-8470 to receive a copy of the current brochure or go to www.edenprairie.org and look on the Recreation Page.
Art Offerings – Outdoor Center
The art classes at the Staring Lake Outdoor Center relate to sustainability and nature such as knitting and felting, and art with nature themes, outdoor photography and others and are offered for youth and adults. Programs are listed in the “Creating Community” program brochure and the City of Eden Prairie Web site.
Eden Prairie Senior Center
Classes for adults of all ages are offered at the Senior Center. Programs are listed in the “Creating Community” brochure and the Senior Center Newsletter, The Echoes. Call the Senior Center at 952-949-8475 to request a copy of the newsletter.
Summer Concert Series
Every summer since 1983, the City of Eden Prairie has offered concerts in the parks. These began as a six-week series — one night a week — at Round Lake Park and moved to the new Staring Lake Park Amphitheater in 1990. The concerts were later expanded to the current 10-week Starring at Staring Series on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday nights.
In 2003, the very popular KidStock series was added on Tuesday mornings, starting at 10:30 a.m. at the Staring Lake Amphitheater. This 10-week series features children’s entertainers.
Fridays at Purgatory Creek were added in 2005. This series at noon — on Fridays — features a mixture of adult and children’s entertainers.
The 2008 Starring at Staring season will kick off with the 18th Annual Festival of Jazz on the Prairie, now part of the Minneapolis Hot Summer Jazz Festival. This June 2008 festival features six “big bands” playing popular jazz tunes over six hours.
A special brochure promoting the entire series is inserted in the Eden Prairie News the first week of June.
Art on City Walls
City Hall Gallery
“Art on City Walls” promotes public awareness of the visual arts by providing exhibition space for local and regional arts each month. Exhibits are open to the public and many artists offer originals and prints for sale. The exhibits are located on the lower level of City Hall outside of the Heritage Rooms. This program began in 1980.
Eden Prairie City Hall, 8080 Mitchell Rd.
Hours (free public viewing): Monday – Thursday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (most Monday–Thursday evenings until 10 p.m.); Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Call 952-949-8300 for evening hours.
If you would like to exhibit in 2008, contact Sandy Werts at swerts@edenprairie.org or call 952-949-8450, TTY: 952-949-8399.
The 2008 exhibits will vary each month, and include watercolors, oils, acrylics/photos.
Art at the Senior Center
8950 Eden Prairie Rd.
Hours (free public viewing): enter through the main front doors between 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Call Carla Kress at 952-279-8051 for information.
The 2008 Exhibits at the Senior Center will vary each month and will include watercolor, acrylics and photography.
Arts and Antiques in the Garden
This annual free event is held the second Saturday in June, and offers visitors an opportunity to stroll around the fabulous peony gardens while hunting for the perfect gift or treasure. You will find a variety of art, craft and antique vendors. Due to road construction, the event will be held in a new location (previously at the J.R. Cummins Homestead). This is a rain or shine event.
Artists, crafters and antique dealers may inquire about openings by contacting Sandy Werts, Recreation Coordinator, at 952-949-8450 or swerts@edenprairie.org. This event is sponsored by the Eden Prairie Parks and Recreation Department and the Eden Prairie Historical Society.
Eden Prairie Players –
Community Theatre
The Eden Prairie Players is in its 17th season of providing high-quality theater to Eden Prairie and the surrounding areas.
The Eden Prairie Players is a City of Eden Prairie Parks and Recreation Department program. Its mission is to enhance the quality of life for the people of greater Eden Prairie, through the theater experience by inspiring, nurturing, challenging, educating and empowering artists, audiences and volunteers.
The Eden Prairie Players annually produces two plays and one-act series, offers acting classes, dinner theaters and other theater venues in the community. Residents are invited to become part of the Eden Prairie Players committee, staff or acting company.
To learn more about auditions, productions, classes and news, request to be added to the mailing list by calling Sandy Werts, Arts & Special Events Coordinator, at 952-949-8450, TDD: 952-949-8399. You may also send an e-mail — including your name, mailing address and specifying the theater mailing list — to swerts@edenprairie.org. Visit the Web site at www.edenprairieplayers.org.
Eden Prairie Community Band
The Eden Prairie Community Band is an adult band of more than 50 musicians that performs year-round in Eden Prairie and neighboring communities. The band has two components: a Concert Band and the Jazz on the Prairie Big Band. The band is also home to the Prairie Schooners (Dixieland). The band is open to adults who live or work in Eden Prairie. All instrumentalists are needed and residents are invited to join the group at a rehearsal (rehearsals at Central Middle School in Eden Prairie, Thursdays at 7 p.m.).
For a listing of Upcoming Concerts, visit www.edenprairie.org click on Art, Music, Theater, then Community Band.
The Community Band is an Eden Prairie Parks and Recreation Department program. For more information contact Sandy Werts, Arts & Special Events Coordinator, at 952-949-8450, Jazz Band Director Don Bates at 952-938-5598 or Concert Band Director Tom Maeck at 651-322-1074.
Eden Prairie
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