FAIRMONT– The noon lunch hour can be boring, but it doesn’t have to be. The Red Rock Center for the Arts offers free entertainment from noon to 1p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month. Community members are welcomed to bring in a bagged lunch, sit in the Red Rock Center and enjoy musical performances by local talent.

“It gives the community an opportunity to engage with area musicians,” said Red Rock Director, Sonja Fortune.

Fortune said that all of their musicians are paid. At one point she said people would donate their time and talent but through the years that got hard so now they’re paid for their time.

They typically get between 30-40 people, but with a free concert, Fortune said she would expect to see more people.

“We used to have Fridays in the park and all of the business people would come and catch the entertainment and it’s the same thing except we do it year-round and it’s indoors so its air-conditioned,” Fourtune said.

“It would be great to see business people and younger people come,” Fortune said.

While they only get about 40 people, Fortune said they could comfortably fit about 120.

“It’s very informal. It’s come and go, people don’t have to stay the whole hour. We do serve coffee and bars but people can bring their own lunch,” Fortune said.

This Tuesday’s performance will be by Bruce Boldt of Windom and Kristen Kuipers of Jackson. Boldt will play guitar and Kuipers will accompany on the piano.

Other upcoming performances include Connie and Big John Pedersen from Ledyard, Patrick Rasmussen from Owatonna and Bill Busse, Joyce Schultz and Sandy Ettesvold from Fairmont.

“They’re all very talented. We’re pretty selective with the performers we choose,” Fortune said.

Fortune said she is currently booked through June but August is still open so if there’s a student who wants to perform before school starts up that would be ideal. People typically play music but they have had poetry readings as well as members from Fairmont High School’s orchestra.

The noon lunch with the arts program has been going since 2005. It used to be a weekly program but switched to monthly several years ago.

“It’s not only for the public to come and see but also for the public to participate,” Fortune pointed out.

Fortune pointed out that this program gives people an opportunity to see the local artwork that’s always on display inside the Red Rock Center.

“If anybody has a talent that they’re interested in sharing, they’re welcome to contact us and do that through this program. We just try to connect local people and give them a venue to share their talents with the community,” Fortune said.