It's Coming, For One Day Only

My favorite time of the summer is almost here. The 2018 One Day Vintage Band Festival will take place this Saturday, July 28, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. in charming, historic downtown Northfield.

Elias, Sebastian, Steve, and my niece Franny enjoying the 2017 One Day VBF

The festival will feature 11 Minnesota bands playing a variety of brass and wind music, including mariachi, New Orleans jazz, and big band/swing. It's appropriate for all ages and is completely free, although we do rely on generous donations from individuals and businesses to make it all happen.

If you want to donate online instead of during the festival, you can visit our website and donate here. We're a nonprofit, so your donation is tax-deductible.

Participating bands are: the New Prague Area Community Band; Mariachi Mi Tierra; Sheldon Theatre Brass Band; Southside Aces; Ameriikan Poijat (Boys of America); the Minnesota State Band; Twin Cities Brass Band; Brio Brass; Metro Brass; The Copper Street Brass; and Buddy Koopmans Orchestra.

More information about participating bands and concert times is available here.

The festival will run in conjunction with the Riverwalk Market Fair, which takes place in Bridge Square from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday through October 20. This means you can enjoy delicious baked goods, a cup of coffee, and/or a shave ice, and browse the colorful art, fine crafts and local produce offerings, all while listening to live band music.

Two food trucks, operated by Maria's Taco Hut and the Cannon Valley Lions Club, will be on hand throughout the day and evening to make sure you don't go hungry during the festival.

We also encourage concertgoers to patronize our program advertisers. Produced by the folks at By All Means Graphics, a VBF partner from the beginning, the free programs will be available during the festival and are already available at various locations around town.

As the grants coordinator and a longtime board member of the Vintage Band Festival, I plan to be at the festival all day. I'm especially eager to welcome back one of our headlining bands, The Copper Street Brass, which is always a crowd-pleaser. (Thanks, Southeast Minnesota Arts Council, for the presenter/production assistance grant that made the band's appearance possible).

Lawn chairs galore at the 2017 VBF — remember to BYOLC!

Remember to bring your lawn chairs or blankets and your friends and family with you. And mark your calendars now for the next big four-day Vintage Band Festival, set for Aug. 1-4, 2019.

Hope to see you in Bridge Square on Saturday. Let's keep the music going!