ALEXANDRIA, Minn. — When Kerry McCauley learned about ferry pilots from a friend of his, he thought it sounded like the coolest job in the world.

“I vowed right then that I had to become a ferry pilot because that is what I wanted to be,” McCauley said.

McCauley then spent 30 years of his life as an international ferry pilot, flying more than 65 different airplanes and logging around 10,000 hours.

“If you’ve got an airplane that’s in one part of the world or country and it needs to go to the other part, that’s where you would get a ferry pilot,” McCauley said. “My particular specialty is international ferry flying. Basically, if somebody has an airplane that’s in Alexandria and somebody in Singapore buys it, and the new owner isn’t stupid enough to fly a small single-engine airplane over the ocean, you need to find somebody stupid enough.”

Kerry McCauley, left, spoke at an event hosted by Alexandria Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 702 on Nov. 20, 2025, at the Alexandria Technical and Community College. Next to him is Josh Schafer, president of the organization. (Celeste Edenloff / Alexandria Echo Press)

And McCauley said he was stupid enough.

Minnesota native McCauley spoke on Nov. 20 to a full auditorium at the Alexandria Technical and Community College in Alexandria, Minnesota. He shared several stories about his time as a ferry pilot, some of which can be found in the two books he authored: “Fairy Pilot: Nine Lives Over the North Atlantic” and “Dangerous Flights: What Could Possibly Go Wrong?”

At a young age, he said he sort of started seeking out dangerous things. Just like learning a new language or learning how to ski or something else, McCauley said the earlier you start it, the better you become.

“I started really early and I started having a lot of crazy stuff happen to me so I kind of fed into that sort of stuff,” McCauley said. “I learned to take the fear and the panic in a situation and just set it aside. I’m going to deal with that later. Right now I’ve got a problem to solve and then I just kind of get going on the problem because you never know you just might get lucky.”

McCauley said his friend’s dad owned an international aircraft delivery company that was based out of St. Paul. He ended up talking to the man and a bunch of other ferry pilots at a wedding. McCauley said he convinced his friend’s dad to hire him and he got the job.

The process to become a ferry pilot took him about three years, he said.

A great way to start his career

For his first flight, he was asked to go to Portugal. His response: “Like over the ocean?” He was told yes, that is what the job of being a ferry pilot is. His response: “Oh, you’re going to have me ride with somebody and learn the ropes?” He was told that he would be flying alone. However, his boss would be with him, but he would be flying in another plane.

Kerry McCauley, left, an international ferry pilot and a friend of his, next to a Thai Regional Airlines airplane. (Courtesy of Kerry McCauley)

“I hadn’t even flown over Lake Michigan at this point in my career,” said McCauley, adding, “I was pretty intimidated right off the bat.”

He said it wasn’t as dangerous as it sounded because they were to start in St. Paul and first fly to Bangor, Maine. Next, they would fly to St. John’s, Newfoundland, which he said is at the easternmost point of Canada. The next morning, they would take a long 1,800-mile flight to the Azores, a small cluster of islands out in the middle of the North Atlantic.

“When I was sitting on the end of the runway and getting ready to go (for the 1,800-mile trek), the nerves started going,” said McCauley, adding that he totally understood what his boss had told him. His boss said that a lot of ferry pilots, when they get to that point of their first trip, they lose their nerves and taxi back, shut the plane down, leave the keys in it and jump on the next flight out of there.

“I was saying, ‘No, not me.’ But I was too stupid to do something smart like that, so I took off,” he said. “As soon as I took off, I realized I made the best move of my life. It was awesome.”

Always have your survival kit

McCauley shared several stories of things that went wrong, especially in the beginning before GPS was invented. He said he was just like Charles Lindbergh with nothing but a map and a compass. He did eight trips before finally having GPS capabilities.

As a self-described “survival nut,” McCauley said he would customize his survival kits for each flight. If he was going to be crossing a large forest, he would have a forest survival kit. If was going to be crossing large bodies of cold water, he would have his ocean survival kit. And then if he was going to be crossing a vast desert, he would need desert survival gear or when crossing over a jungle, he would have his jungle survival kit.

“If you crash on land these days, eventually someone is going to find you and you probably won’t starve to death,” he said. “But, if you go down in water, that’s a whole different story because you might die instantly.”

When crossing water, McCauley said he would wear a survival suit, which is a thick neoprene suit that zipped up all the way and the only thing showing was your face. Inside the suit, he would make sure to have his handheld radio, GPS, signal flares or laser pointer, strobe light, extra water, maybe a little bit of food and possibly a flask for morale purposes.

How dangerous is it really?

He gets a lot of questions about if ferry flying is really that dangerous. When he first started, in the 1990s, he said they would lose about three airplanes — and three pilots — a year. He got his job because there was an opening, and not in a good way.

“So, yes, it’s pretty dangerous,” he said. “There’ve been a lot of planes that I have flown that were pieces of junk that I probably shouldn’t have been flying. But that’s what leads to adventure. And it’s one of the things I love about being a ferry pilot. It’s awesome.”

McCauley said being a ferry pilot has provided him so many opportunities — flying low over the African savanna, over Greenland ice caps, and so many more places. He said the best way to see the world is in a small airplane.

“There’s nothing like flying in a small airplane,” he said. “You just get to do some of the most amazing things that you don’t really get a chance to do in any other circumstances.”

And maybe one of the most amazing times he has ever had was when he got to buzz the pyramids in Egypt, not once, not twice, but three times. Perfect for a ferry pilot.

Besides being an author and pilot, McCauley is also a skydiver and has done more than 20,000 jumps. He was on a Discovery Channel TV show called “Dangerous Flights.” Those videos and more can be found on his YouTube channel, youtube.com/@KerryDMcCauley/videos. Both of his books are available on Amazon.

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The Walker Art Center has opened its contemporary collection to families and children and is inviting them to play in the new exhibition “Show & Tell: An Exhibition for Kids.” 

Specifically designed with children and their adults in mind, “Show & Tell” features a collection of contemporary art spanning multiple mediums, all with a kid-friendly approach at the center. Through April 5, guests can explore the five distinct zones of the exhibition: FIND, READ, PLAY, MAKE and WATCH.

Siri Engberg, the museum’s senior curator and director of visual arts, and Pavel Pyś, curator of visual arts and collections strategy, said the exhibition has been in the works for 18 months with the intention of providing an exciting activity for Minnesota residents during the winter months.

“We really thought about how to create a lively environment that also gives kids and families a way into contemporary art that is really welcoming and engaging,” Engberg said.

The exhibition features contemporary art from the Walker’s collection, as well as new acquisitions, with some pieces making their debut for the first time in a long time. Each art piece is related to a different experience, encouraging visitors to play and touch instead of standing and observing.

The PLAY zone features Cas Holman’s sculpture work “Critter Party,” which doubles as a piece of art and a play area that encourage climbing and exploration. This was an intentional choice by Holman, as she is an educator and toymaker who focuses on the power of play in her work.

Also featured in the zone is the 20,000-piece jigsaw puzzle by artist Rirkrit Tiravanija, with the finished image representing Delacroix’s famous painting “La Liberté Guidant le Peuple,” which the band Coldplay used for their 2008 album cover “Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends.”

“We were really thinking about how we can surprise our young viewers and offer them a kind of unusual and unorthodox way of engaging with the art,” Pyś said.

In the realm of unorthodox, the exhibition features its FIND zone, designed to engage visitors with seeking out art, as the featured works are hidden in a wall and can only be viewed by looking through a series of porthole windows.

The artworks range from a miniature of “Spoonbridge and Cherry,” by Coosje van Bruggen and Claes Oldenburg, to a family of abstract aliens of Yinka Shonibare.

For those looking to slow down, the READ zone encourages visitors to take a break and think about the power of storytelling in art. Featuring artwork by Julie Buffalohead, Andrea Carlson, Amy Cutler and Jacob Lawrence, families are encouraged to ask what comes next for the figures in the art.

“It’s essentially an area where you can come and see works and think about them and experience them through the lens of storytelling,” Pyś said, “Artists are often storytellers. Their works often come in stories.”

In the WATCH zone, visitors can lounge and enjoy a selection of kid-friendly cinema from the Walker’s Ruben/Bentson Moving Image Collection. Before every video, viewers are prompted to be on the lookout for hidden details.

Visitors can also create art of their own in the MAKE zone. Inspired by the abstract work of Jeffrey Gibson and Caroline Kent, visitors can experiment with shapes, colors, and composition to create a work of art projected on the gallery wall, or turn themselves into a one-minute statue, a reference to artist Erwin Wurm and his drawings.

“It’s a really fun way for kids to feel like they’re artists for the day, like they’re part of the exhibition,” Pyś said.

The exhibition will run through the spring, with the intention of offering a space for families to learn and explore the world of contemporary art. For visitors, the Walker offers free admission on the first Saturday of the month and every Thursday night.

“Obviously, you see the ‘Do not touch’ symbol in museums,” Engberg said. “We have the ‘Please touch’ symbol in all the areas where it’s about playing and interactivity.”

‘Show & Tell: An Exhibition for Kids’

What: Families can explore the world of contemporary art in an exhibition designed for kids
When: Through April 5
Where: Walker Art Center, 725 Vineland Place, Minneapolis
Tickets: $18 (adults), $16 (seniors), $12 (students with ID) and free for children under the age of 18. For more information see walkerart.org

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Mike Conley is 38 years old and can’t impact the game to the same level he used to.

Rob Dillingham is 20 years old, and whether or not he will eventually be a starting-caliber player in the NBA is still to be determined.

Donte DiVincenzo is a shooting guard whose best basketball comes while playing off ball.

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch has more than insinuated Anthony Edwards’ new role on the team on multiple occasions – Edwards is Minnesota’s point guard.

It’s the role Edwards wants. He sees himself as an offensive hub-type player who can command the offense. It’s the role Minnesota’s roster now demands of its star player.

But with great power comes great responsibility.

Edwards played an excellent game in many regards Wednesday in Oklahoma City. He hit many big shots. He defended hard. He was one of Minnesota’s only players who could break down the Thunder’s historically dominant defense.

But, as the point guard, he also has to shoulder a share of the blame for Minnesota’s poor late-game execution.

The Timberwolves turned the ball over four times in the final five minutes. The first of those came when Edwards was stripped on a drive to the bucket.

The other three came from DiVincenzo, Jaden McDaniels and Julius Randle. But Edwards was involved in every play. How so? Each of those teammates was attempting to get him the ball on those plays. Edwards is now supposed to be Minnesota’s safe place amid a Thundering storm.

Yet he wasn’t readily available at key points in the final three minutes.

Minnesota called a timeout and drew up a play for Edwards in a tie game with 3 minutes to play Wednesday. But Edwards was denied the in-bounds pass, which forced DiVincenzo to bring the ball up the floor. Which happens frequently in the NBA. But the issue was it then took Edwards seven seconds to cross the timeline. And by the time he got there, a waiting DiVincenzo had been stripped by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

The next trip down the floor, McDaniels had the ball on the wing in semi-transition. Randle was posting up, but Finch pointed for the ball to go back to Edwards. But Edwards was lackadaisical in his effort to get open and created no passing lane as he was blanketed by Casson Wallace.

So McDaniels, who had picked up his dribble, had to turn back and attempt to float a pass to Randle that was knocked away for another turnover.

The final turnover was a five-second call in which Randle was unable to inbound the ball in time. Again, Edwards – the primary option – was unable to break free on a play where he didn’t seem to make multiple efforts to do so, leaving Randle nowhere to go with the ball.

That’s not to say Edwards is singularly to blame for the turnovers. The other guys have the ball in their hands and they have to better improvise when Plan A is negated. But as the best player on the team who’s now empowered to direct traffic and claim control of the contest, everything ultimately falls at the feet of Edwards.

“We’ve got to go back and get the ball,” Finch told reporters. “We allowed them to take us out of what we wanted to do too easily in that situation. That’s really it.”

It’s a lot to take on. But it’s the gig for NBA superstars. The same responsibility is placed on the shoulders of Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Cade Cunningham, Steph Curry … on, and on and on.

When the game is on the line, the action at least starts in your hands, and you cannot allow the defense to dictate otherwise.

The best news out of Wednesday for Minnesota was that the guard himself suggested as such. He accepted full blame for the turnovers, even when they weren’t entirely his. Putting the ball in Edwards’ hands may give the 24-year-old more ownership over team performance than ever before.

“I was supposed to get the rock, kinda lazy trying to get the ball, couldn’t get the ball,” Edwards told reporters. “That’s on me. I can’t allow us to turn the ball over.”

The current roster does Edwards few favors in this department. While Minnesota has plenty of talent, it lacks many sure hands or guys who can break a defense down off the bounce. That’s his reality. Point guard duties for him could be even more difficult than they are for most.

Given the apron-era of the NBA, it’s entirely possible the best rosters surrounding Edwards have already come and gone. There will be deficiencies around him every season. It’s on the superstar to cover them up.

Challenge accepted?

“With no designated point guard, I think I’ve got to be the one to bring the ball up – it’s just that simple – so we don’t turn it over,” he told reporters. “Get us into an action, get my teammates shots and we’ll be alright.

“I’m feeling good. I’ve just got to get used to being a point guard, getting to get the rock. … Just to take the pressure off my teammates.”

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) reacts during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings in Sacramento, Calif., Monday, Nov. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)

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Sure, temperatures are dropping and sunsets are creeping earlier — but when has that ever stopped Minnesotans from having wintertime fun?

This is the city of the Winter Carnival, after all. The chilly celebration, which runs this winter from Jan. 22 to Feb. 1, is marking a milestone 140th anniversary.

During the holiday season in particular, from light festivals to North Pole villages, there’s plenty of all-ages family fun to be found all around St. Paul and the east metro. Here are some ideas:

Now through Dec. 31: Illuminate Festival of Lights

Along with hundreds of indoor lanterns at this colorful festival, you can also catch performances by the AmeriKing Yan Dong Chinese Acrobats. Festival runs 4 to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 to 7 p.m. Sundays through the rest of the year; acrobat performances are 6 and 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 4 and 6 p.m. Sundays. (Note holiday hours — Nov. 26, Nov. 27, Dec. 24, Dec. 25, Dec. 31 — festival is open 5 to 9 p.m. and acrobats perform at 7:30.) Tickets required: $27.23 for adults; $16.73 for kids ages 4–11; $24.60 for seniors and military.

Pan Asian Center South: 3001 White Bear Ave., Maplewood; 651-421-1507; more info and tickets at illuminate-us.com

Now through Jan. 4, 2026: GLOW Holiday Festival

A globe display at the GLOW Holiday Festival.

The holiday lights festival returns to CHS Field this year with more than a million lights, a carousel ride, a zipline and other family activities. Timed-entry tickets — with entry between 5 and 8 p.m.; the festival is open till 9 p.m. — are required and must be purchased in advance; $21.75 for general admission and $12.75 for kids 12 and younger. (2 and under are free.) The festival is cashless.

GLOW Holiday Festival at CHS Field: 360 N Broadway St; glowholiday.com

Now through Feb. 28: Night Trains

At the Twin City Model Railroad Museum, the main lights go down and street lamps glow in the miniature villages, decorated with snow and holiday decor, as vintage model trains run through the carefully crafted cities. You can’t ride the trains — unless you’re the size of a model-train passenger, I suppose — but you can admire them from 3 to 7 p.m. every Saturday, plus special dates of Dec. 19, 22, 26, 29 and Jan. 2. Tickets are $15 per person, free for members and those under 4

Twin City Model Railroad Museum: 668 Transfer Road; tcmrm.org

Nov. 29, Dec. 5 to 6; Dec. 13: Afton Holiday Village

Afton is turning into a winter wonderland—horse-drawn wagons, carolers, tree lighting, crafts, bonfires, treats and more. What more could you ask for? Weekends have special themes: Candy Cane Trail (Nov. 29), Celebrate Merry & Bright (Dec. 5-6) and Wrap It Up Festive Giving (Dec. 13).

Centered around Afton Town Square Park: 3418 S. St. Croix Trail, Afton; aftonholiday.weebly.com

Dec. 4–7, 11–14, 16, 18–21: Stillwater’s Hometown for the Holidays

Stillwater’s Main Street is lighting up for the holidays. During Twinkle Weekend (Dec. 4–7), kids can get free twinkle necklaces and meet-and-greet “Frozen” characters and Santa, with glowing luminaries along Main Street. During Candy Town Weekend (Dec 11–14), events include cocoa with Santa, a gingerbread man hunt and gingerbread house contest and cookie-decorating. During Furry Friends Weekend (Dec. 18–21), there’ll be a pet parade and costume contest, plus treats from the Grinch for both pets and humans. Additional events include the Outdoor Christmas Celebration on Dec. 16 featuring An Andy and Bing Christmas and the St. Croix Valley Opera and SCVO’s Home for the Holidays concert on Dec. 20 featuring Laura Osnes.

Hometown for the Holidays: Along Main Street in Stillwater; full schedule and location details at communitythreadmn.org/Hometown-Holidays

Dec. 5–7, 11–14: North Pole Express

Departing from Union Depot, the North Pole Express consists of real vintage trains that’ll take you to the North Pole — aka the far east end of the Union Depot property; don’t tell the kids — to meet Santa and enjoy treats. Tickets tend to go very fast and are likely already sold out, but consider this a heads-up for next winter.

North Pole Express: More info at 261.com/npe

Dec. 5–14: “Solstice” at Circus Juventas

Youth performers ride unicycles during a performance of “Solstice” at Circus Juventas on Dec. 10, 2022. The circus school is remounting the show for a limited run during the 2025 holiday season. (Dan Norman / Circus Juventas)

This year’s holiday show at the Highland Park circus school is “Solstice,” which focuses on forest creatures’ quest to rescue Jack Frost and save winter; it’s a remount of the 2022 holiday show. Tickets are $35 for adults and $25 for kids/students/seniors/military.

Circus Juventas: 1270 Montreal Ave.; tickets at (651) 309-8106 or circusjuventas.org/holiday-show-2025

Dec. 6: Grand Meander

Find plenty of holiday entertainment during this wintry open house event along Grand Avenue. Highlights include: Trolley rides, sugar cookie decorating at Cooks of Crocus Hill, free caricatures at Red Balloon Bookshop (1 p.m.), the annual Golden Ladle Soup Tasting Contest at various spots along Grand (1 to 3 p.m.), happy hour with Winter Carnival Royalty at Red Rabbit (3 to 4 p.m.) and more.

Grand Meander: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. along Grand Avenue; find more info at grandave.com/events/grandmeander

Dec. 6: Union Depot tree lighting and movie night

The Christmas shines bright at Union Depot on Dec. 3, 2022, in St. Paul. (Ellie Roth / Pioneer Press)

It’s almost time for the massive holiday tree to be lit at Union Depot and the 2026 Winter Carnival buttons to be unveiled. Be there at 5 p.m. for the buttons, followed by a concert from the Mistletones at 5:30 p.m. The humongous tree will shine at 7 p.m., followed by a screening of the movie “Elf.”

Union Depot: 214 Fourth St. E., St. Paul; uniondepot.org/holiday

Dec. 6 and 7: Julmarknad Handcraft Market & Festival

The American Swedish Institute’s annual Scandinavian craft market showcases 60+ local artists, plus music and food, with extra family craft projects and games (plus a ticket deal) on Sunday. The festival runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days, but you’ll need to buy a timed ticket online: $24 for adults and $12 for kids (or for ASI members, $19 for adults and $9 for kids). On Sunday, buy an adult ticket and get a youth ticket free. Your ticket also gets you into the museum itself, which is specially decorated for the holidays.

American Swedish Institute: 2600 Park Ave., Minneapolis; 612-871-4907; asimn.org

Dec. 6–7: Christmas in Germany

The annual celebration of German holiday traditions returns to the Germanic American Institute this year, with seasonal gifts, storytime, crafts for adults and kids and a German model train exhibit. Plus, in the heated tent, find food, drinks and music. This year’s event is ticketed: $10 for adults, $5 for kids aged 4–17 and free for those 3 and under, but they still need their own ticket. The event runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days, but tickets are timed — choose entry between 10–noon, noon–2 or 2–4. Once in, stay as long as you’d like.

Germanic American Institute: 301 Summit Avenue; 651-222-7027; gaimn.org

Dec. 6–7; 13–14, 20–21: Santa’s Train Shop

The Minnesota Transportation Museum is celebrating trains this winter with caboose rides, crafts, a scavenger hunt, storytime and a Lego village. Timed tickets must be purchased online; $25 for adults 16+, $20 for ages 6–15, $10 for kids 3–5.

Minnesota Transportation Museum: 193 E. Pennsylvania Ave.; 651-228-0263; trainride.org/santas-train-shop

Dec. 12–14, 21–22: Celtic Holiday Hooley

It’s a Celtic variety show! Singers and musicians including Norah Rendell, Todd Menton and Dennis Curley; dancers including original Riverdance cast member Cormac O’Sé and the O’Shea Irish Dancers; and comedic sketches, too. Seven performances including matinees; online presale tickets are $30 for adults and $25 for seniors ($5 more apiece at the door, pending availability), and the show is free for youth but tickets are still required.

Celtic Junction Arts Center Performance Hall: 836 Prior Ave., celticjunction.org/event/celtic-holiday-hooley-2025-1

Dec. 14: Santa’s Workshop

Part of the Sundays at Landmark series of cultural programming at the downtown (ahem) landmark, families can stop by for a photo with Santa, “time with festive animals” and gift-making. Free; 1 to 3 p.m.

Landmark Center: 75 W. Fifth St.; 651-292-3225; landmarkcenter.org/sundays-at-landmark

Jan. 16–25: Winter Skolstice Ice Festival

This year’s festival at the Minnesota Vikings’ HQ in Eagan is set to include 8,000 square feet of ice, including custom sculptures, two “striking installations” and an ice bar. Tickets are $13 per person.

Viking Lakes: 2645 Vikings Circle, Eagan; winterskolstice.com/ice-festival

All Season, Weather-Permitting: Ice Castles

Visitors gather around a fire to warm hands at Ice Castles in Minnesota at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in Falcon Heights on Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)

Ice Castles, a traveling attraction that also pops up in Colorado, New Hampshire and Utah, has bounced around the metro in recent years but is headed for the second year to the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Find ice sculptures, slides, mazes, tunnels and more. More info will be released closer to snowy season.

Ice Castles: Minnesota State Fairgrounds; icecastles.com/minnesota

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