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A Minnesota town now boasts the world’s tallest nutcracker
Summary by The Minneapolis Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Josh Skluzacek , KSTP 5 Eyewitness News (ABC)
· July 21, 2026
· 1 min read
LUVERNE, Minn. (AP) — Crossing the open farmland of southwestern Minnesota, you’ll encounter an otherworldly sight: a massive head with a beard, mustache and red-striped top hat looming over the horizon. Pull into the small town of Luverne and the figure — a nearly 66-foot (20-meter) tall nutcrac...
Story provenance No corrections
Summary created by The Minneapolis Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting Josh Skluzacek, KSTP 5 Eyewitness News (ABC) Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 21, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway Pull into the small town of Luverne and the figure — a nearly 66-foot (20-meter) tall nutcrac...
Why this matters in The Minneapolis
The arrival of Verne the Patriot in Luverne has significant implications for the local economy, particularly in the context of southwestern Minnesota's rural landscape. As a unique tourist attraction, the world's tallest nutcracker is poised to draw visitors from across the region, injecting much-needed revenue into local businesses. The fact that customers have quadrupled at Those Blasted Things rock shop since the nutcracker's completion in mid-June suggests that Verne is already having a positive impact on the town's commercial activity. Furthermore, the nutcracker's presence is likely to bolster Luverne's reputation as a quirky and charming destination, potentially attracting new entrepreneurs and investors to the area. As the town continues to capitalize on its nutcracker-themed attractions, including the annual Nutcracker Fest, it will be interesting to see how Luverne balances its small-town charm with the demands of increased tourism, and whether other local businesses can replicate the success of Those Blasted Things.
About this story
Original reporting by KSTP 5 Eyewitness News (ABC) . The Minneapolis surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KSTP 5 Eyewitness News (ABC) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 21, 2026 ·
Source: KSTP 5 Eyewitness News (ABC) ·
Reading time: 1 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? LUVERNE, Minn. (AP) — Crossing the open farmland of southwestern Minnesota, you’ll encounter an otherworldly sight: a massive head with a beard, mustache and red-striped top hat looming over the horizon. Pull into the small town of Luverne and the figure — a nearly 66-foot (20-meter) tall nutcrac...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 21, 2026 by KSTP 5 Eyewitness News (ABC) and curated for The Minneapolis readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Josh Skluzacek at KSTP 5 Eyewitness News (ABC). To learn more about how The Minneapolis selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Minneapolis, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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