Get Your Horns, Boys, the VBF is Coming!

The 2016 Vintage Band Festival kicks off on Thursday, and I could not be more excited! If you have not previously attended the multi-day music event (held in Northfield, Minn., every three years) you have been missing out on a great time. But it’s not too late to make plans to attend this year; the free, family-friendly event officially begins Thursday, July 28, and runs through Sunday, July 31.

I will give a presentation on the Saturday of the festival (July 30) about the adventures my great-grandfather, G. Oliver Riggs, had in 1912 as a member of the Montana Cowboy Band. The talk is titled, “Get Your Guns, Boys, We’re Starting a Band.” G. Oliver played cornet in the band, which—along with a group of Blackfeet Indians from newly developed Glacier National Park—traveled to expositions in Minneapolis and Chicago in late 1912 to promote the state of Montana. The trip was arranged by Great Northern Railway President Louis W. Hill, the son of James J. Hill.

G. Oliver Riggs is in the back row, second from the right.

The talk will begin at 4:30 p.m. at the Northfield Historical Society, 408 Division Street South. If you want to get a seat, I would recommend getting there early. In fact, I recommend you go early anyway and check out the museum before the talk. You can learn all about how the townspeople foiled the James-Younger Gang’s robbery attempt in 1876, you can view the special exhibit on the Malt-O-Meal company, and you can find some cool souvenirs in the museum gift shop (including VBF T-shirts, stickers and pins).

Visit vintagebandfestival.org to view a daily schedule of events, read about the participating bands, and find other helpful pieces of information. You can also buy the official VBF program and other merchandise at VBF headquarters, By All Means Graphics, 17 Bridge Square in downtown Northfield.

We are still looking for volunteers to work during the festival. If you have an hour or two—or four—to spare, we would love to have your help! For more information, follow this link.