Composer of “The Music Man” flew in to participate in the event. There were way more than 76 trombones.
![Bill Arends, playing the part of Ebenezer Scrooge stopped traffic at the Linden Hills Station so the Holly Trolly could pull safely into the station. Sunday, November 25, 2012. ] GLEN STUBBE * gstubbe@startribune.com](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/TTLK6NUKIIAPQK37HP4WIQS6UU.jpg?&w=252&ar=3:2&fit=crop)
More from Curious Minnesota
How did Minnesota become home to the world’s first shopping mall?
Southdale’s architect had a vision to thwart the cold and create an indoor town square in Edina where it was always 75 degrees.
November 28, 2025
How often do earthquakes happen in Minnesota?
They are rare, but do take place. The largest recorded was in 1975.
November 21, 2025
How did Hubert Humphrey’s time as mayor change Minneapolis?
Humphrey was the city’s leader before he headed to the U.S. Senate and White House.
November 14, 2025
What was life like on Minnesota’s ‘poor farms’?
A century ago, most counties ran farms to house their poorest residents.
November 7, 2025
What’s ‘The Birds’ star Tippi Hedren’s Minnesota connection?
The Alfred Hitchcock thriller’s leading lady was born and raised in the state.
October 31, 2025
Whatever happened to Minneapolis’ Zombie Pub Crawl?
A huge festival that set world records in attendance seemed to have its own apocalypse.
October 24, 2025
Bloomington’s Queen Anne Kiddieland was once a birthday destination
The little amusement park delighted suburban Minnesota kids.
October 17, 2025
How a beloved piece of Camp Snoopy ended up at a Ham Lake pumpkin farm
The giant red dog bowl, once a Mall of America amusement park fixture, is now being used as a corn pit.
October 10, 2025
Minneapolis’ Witch’s Hat has a fascinating history. Will it ever reopen to the public?
The Prospect Park tower is one of three historic structures that haven’t held water for years, but are now city landmarks.
October 3, 2025
Raspberry Island was once home to curling rinks, a Navy training center, even an R.E.M. concert
The tiny Mississippi River isle under the Wabasha Street Bridge in St. Paul has a surprising history.
September 26, 2025
How a surveying error preserved ancient pines in Minnesota’s Lost 40
It all began when a crew misplotted Coddington Lake in 1882.
September 19, 2025
Where were Minnesota’s fur trading posts located long ago?
Waterways were key to trade routes hundreds of years ago. Historic sites include the Snake River Fur Post and Grand Portage National Monument.
September 12, 2025
