Thursday Marks Start of Granite City Days Festival

(KNSI) – Granite City Days is less than 72 hours away.

As has become tradition, the Lemonade Arts Festival on the campus of St. Cloud State University will lead into the opening ceremony at Ritsche Auditorium at 7:00 p.m. Thursday. That’s followed by a concert from the St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra, playing music written specifically for the fiftieth anniversary of the fair.

Mayor Dave Kleis says Granite City Days ends just as spectacularly on Sunday with the Family Fun Fest. “Kids love to see all those big trucks whether it’s fire, it’s recycling, whether it’s a bus, plow truck, all those things. You got inflatables, you got food. So, yeah, it’s gonna be a great opportunity, just come on out and closing ceremonies [at] about three o’clock.”

Kleis says to make sure you tip your cap to the groups and companies who make it a possibility. “We don’t put any property tax into this. These festivals — a lot of people, you see their names on the thank you ads or on the billboards and stuff. That’s because they put their money into it in sponsoring it. So, same with the parade, thank ’em for allowing the festival to happen.”

Peter Noone and Herman’s Hermits, The Cowsills, and the Rockin’ Hollywoods highlight a concert Friday at Whitney Park as part of Libertyville. Saturday is the parade from Hester Park to the library plus sidewalk chalk on the river and a free movie at the Paramount. There’s also a softball tournament.

Kleis appeared on the KNSI Morning Show with Bob Hughes on Monday. The full Granite City Days lineup can be found here.

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