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Luverne’s Giant Nutcracker Debuts | San Antonio News
Luverne, Minnesota, has turned its obsession with nutcrackers into a towering national spectacle—with over 7,000 collectibles and now the world’s tallest, 65-foot “Verne the Patriot,” decked like Uncle Sam with a working jaw. Born from Betty Mann’s 2001 Christmas healing ritual, the town’s collection grew to 2,500+ before she gifted them to Luverne, sparking a tourism boom. The giant nutcracker, costing $600K and built over years with parts from Utah, debuted in July amid the town’s annual Nutcracker Fest, timed to the nation’s 250th anniversary. It’s more than kitsch—it’s community, history…
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