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89 Days

The triumphant return of Grand Old Day in St. Paul

Still image from the Jayhawks' live virtual session
Still image from the Jayhawks' live virtual sessionMPR video

by Cynthia Maya

June 01, 2023

You might remember the pleasure of strolling through Grand Old Day’s corridor of food, activities, and performances of years past, knowing that warm weather has finally come to stay. After a three-year hiatus, Grand Avenue Business Association’s kick-off to summer has returned for its 50th anniversary year since its inception in 1973.

Set for Sunday, June 4, Grand Old Day starts the day with a two-mile Fun Run hosted by the Running Room, followed by Grand Old Day’s famous parade, then the streets fill with vendor booths, the beer gardens open, and the music begins. In all, organizers expect to pull in more than 250,000 visitors.

For the day, stages will take over parking lots and restaurant patios hosting more than 25 Minnesota artists to visit between other attractions like the weiner dog race, car show, and pickleball demos with the top four U.S. female pickleball players. “We were hoping to have five stages, we’re actually going to have nine this year,” says Brian Wagner, Grand Old Day co-chair. “We surpassed what we could’ve imagined from an entertainment perspective.”

See the Jayhawks, and Bad Bad Hats coming off of their acoustic “Living Room Tour” at the Grand Stage being assembled in the Punch Pizza/Brasa lot. Across the street, White Iron Band and Tim Siegler return at the Red Rabbit stage. Four blocks down, at the Pride Family stage hosts Mikko Blaze MC School of Rock performances, and on the western side of the four-block arts corridor, Uptown’s new music venue, Green Room, will be wheeling in a mobile stage at the North Wedding Shoppe lot on Grand & Dunlap. “There’ll be some surprises along the day as well,” says Wagner. 

Grand Old Day
People walk along Grand Ave. in St. Paul, Minn., during the Grand Old Day event on June 7.
MPR Photo/Nathaniel Minor

All performances are free, see below for the full lineup:

Emmett’s & Saji Ya Stage 

  • 12:15 P.M. Rince na Chroi Celtic Dancers

  • 1 P.M. Gus the Bard

  • 2:15 P.M. The Langers Ball

  • 4:15 P.M. The Lore Weavers

The Grand Stage presented by The Current

  • 12:45 P.M. DJ Shannon Blowtorch

  • 2 P.M. Sophia Eris w/ MAKR

  • 3:15 P.M. Bad Bad Hats

  • 4:30 P.M. The Jayhawks

The Red Rabbit Stage

  • 12 P.M. White Iron Band

  • 3 P.M. Tim Siegler

Billy’s Stage

  • 12 P.M. DJ Wicked

  • 1 P.M. JB & The Routine

  • 2:30 P.M. DJ Wicked

  • 3 P.M. Maxx Band

  • 4 P.M. DJ Wicked

Pride Family Stage

  • Mikko Blaze

  • 11 P.M. School of Rock Youth Road Crew

  • 12:30 P.M. School of Rock House Band

  • 2 P.M. Rigby

  • 3:30 P.M. Porky’s Groove Machine

  • 5 P.M. Adam Azra’el and the Sand Castle Orchestra

Iron Ranger Stage

  • Music starts at 12 P.M.

The Green Room Stage on wheels/mobile stage

  • Music from 12 P.M.-5 P.M.

Dunn Brothers stage

  • Performing Arts School performances

Youth Performance Stage

  • 11 A.M. Heart and Soul Drummers

  • 12:30 P.M. Ballet Co. Laboratory

  • 2 P.M. Carey Langer

  • 5 P.M. School of Rock Youth Road Crew

Purchase a wristband in advance for $10 ($15 day of) for entry to six live music stage beer gardens. Or for the full package, purchase Grand Stage VIP passes for $50 that include a swag bag, beer garden fast pass, premium concert viewing area at Grand Stage, VIP tent & lounge, photo booths, and more.

Illustration with colorful cartoon stage performers
Minneapolis-based artist/illustrator Jose Dominguez created three original works for The Current's 89 Days of Summer.
Jose Dominguez for MPR

This feature is part of The Current’s 89 Days series, helping you enjoy the best of the season with weekly guides to events, entertainment, and recreation in the Twin Cities.

Clean Water Land & Legacy Amendment
This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.