Summer may be winding down, but that isn’t any reason for warm-weather fun to take a back seat to back-to-school schedules and fall sporting events. Thanks to some creative foresight and good planning, residents and visitors alike have yet another reason to grab a lawn chair or picnic blanket and enjoy another evening under the stars on The Lawn.
During last year’s planning process for Maple Grove’s Central Park, the idea was floated to plan an event around the award-winning park’s central lawn. “The Lawn was envisioned as the backbone of the park and a venue for major community events,” says Aimee Peterson, superintendent of recreation. The city will see that intention through this year with the inaugural Concert on The Lawn, a one-night music festival that is presented by the City of Maple Grove and its founding sponsors, Minneapolis Northwest Tourism and the Maple Grove Lions.
Photo courtesy of City of Maple Grove
Concert on The Lawn is planned for 5-11 p.m. (gates open at 4 p.m. with music beginning at 5 p.m.) September 14 and will feature a lineup of four musical acts, including Gear Daddies, an Americana/rock band, originally from Austin, MN., known for songs like Stupid Boy, Color of Her Eyes, She’s Happy and Drank So Much. New Power Generation, one of Prince’s former bands in the ‘90s is slated to perform, as well as blues band The 4onthefloor and Twin Cities rock ‘n’ roll artist and contestant on The Voice, Kat Perkins.
A variety of food trucks and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase during the one-night event.
It’s hoped that, by offering the program, more people will be encouraged to visit the park and create lasting, fun memories while they’re at it. “Maple Grove Parks and Recreation creates venues and opportunities for the community to gather,” Peterson says. “Our hope is that residents and visitors to Maple Grove will enjoy a full afternoon and evening of outdoor music and connection to the community.” The new program is likely to be welcomed with success if the community’s support of 10 seasons worth of live music at Town Green’s Sounds of Summer is any indication.
Central Park has been a popular place to visit for those living in Maple Grove and the surrounding area since it first opened in 2015. The area, formerly a gravel mining pit, is now home to The Loop, a refrigerated ice skating loop, interactive fountain, playground, garden, labyrinth, the Phenow Pavilion, The Lawn and more.
This fall, in addition to the Concert on The Lawn, Maple Grove residents can also look forward to spending time outdoors, hiking the park system and checking out fresh produce and other products at the Maple Grove Farmers Market. “The Maple Grove park system is at its most beautiful in the fall,” Peterson says. Residents and visitors can check out the Parks and Recreation fall brochure for programming, and visit the Farmers Market every Thursday afternoon at the Maple Grove Community Center from August to October.
Ready to have some fun?
Tickets for Concert on The Lawn are available at maplegrovemn.gov/thelawn or at Central Park on the day of the concert.
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