Annual spoon carving gathering in Milan, Minnesota, reunites niche community
Jun. 4—MILAN
— The quaint community of Milan once again reigns as a spoon-carving mecca.
Impassioned spoon carvers from around the country gathered Thursday to begin more than two days of carving camaraderie during the Spoon Gathering at the Milan Village Arts School and Burns Park.
The annual event is hosted by the Milan Village Arts School, and is the oldest wooden spoon-carving festival in the United States.
Many of the carvers return year after year to gather with friends who share a common passion in the craft of carving; the annual event is more about the people than anything else.
Greg Nelson traveled eight hours from his home in Antioch, Illinois, to return for his third visit to Milan.
"It's a nice event, but it's not your everyday kind of event," Nelson said. "It's unique."
What keeps Nelson coming back time and time again is the people who are kind in nature and willing to share their skills and knowledge with others.
St. Paul resident Stuart Pemberton grew up in nearby Fergus Falls, and likes to return to Milan to both support the community event and broaden his social circle.
"I'm looking for a break from the usual," he said. "And I love the community effort it took to get this school going, so I want to support it."
The event, which began Thursday at noon, saw carvers move into Burns Park with their tents. Many will stay the duration of the event, which runs through the evening of Saturday, June 4.
"They put on nice demonstrations and it's just a fun bunch in a nice little community," added Jim Kirchoff of Stoddard, Wisconsin.
