Summertime in Lanesboro & Whalan, MN

If you’ve spent any time in Lanesboro, you’ve probably heard Buffalo Bill’s name come up once or twice (or a dozen times). From a bluff named in his honor to the town’s biggest summer celebration, Buffalo Bill Days, his legacy looms large here. But what exactly is the connection between this legendary Wild West showman and our scenic little town in bluff country? The answer is a fascinating mix of fact, folklore, and frontier-sized personality—and it all starts in the late 1870s.

There’s something undeniably electric about an opening night performance. The anticipation, the buzz, the first time the actors feel the energy of a live audience—it all combines to create a one-of-a-kind experience. At the Commonweal Theatre, located in the heart of downtown Lanesboro, that electricity doesn’t stop when the curtain falls. On opening nights, the celebration continues with a lively post-show reception, where audience members are invited to mingle with the cast and crew, enjoy wine and snacks (including a famously addicting punch), and toast the beginning of a new artistic journey. It’s immersive, joyous, and the best way to experience live theatre.