Celebrate MN Festival August 11th and 12th at Whitney Park

(KNSI) — You’ve probably been seeing signs for it all over town, and this Friday and Saturday, Whitney Park in St. Cloud is playing host to the inaugural Celebrate Minnesota event.

It is a free festival with music and entertainment for all ages.

Local pastor and missionary Mike Silva says it will bring together some of St. Cloud’s most influential organizations.

“We are coming at the invitation of some business and corporate leaders. And then it turned into civic leaders, faith-based organizations, churches…really, it’s a cross-section of the entire community, which is wonderful. That’s our heart, is to bring people together.”

Silva says the festival will benefit several causes locally, including homeless and women’s shelters. He says there is a particular emphasis on the family at the event. Silva has four daughters and says three of them were teenagers simultaneously and were always on the go with friends, and sometimes they felt like strangers. All ages are welcome.

“Celebrate MN gives us a chance to be together, have a great time, good food, great news, great music. You can’t beat that.”

The festival opens Friday at 2:00 p.m. There is a skate/BMX show at 3:00, with an FMX show at 4:00 and KidsFest at 5:00. The main stage entertainment starts at 5:45 with Exiles Dance Group, Blanca, followed by Zach Williams. Silva will take the stage before the headlining act Switchfoot.

Saturday starts at 8:00 a.m. with a soccer tournament followed by a basketball tournament and a shooting contest at 11:00, which is also when the festival officially opens for the day. There are two FMX skate/BMX and KidsFest shows before the main stage entertainment gets going at 5:45. The Exiles Dance Group will kick it off, followed by Christine D’Clario, Lecrae, Mike Silva and headliner Chris Tomlin. There is also a car show on both days.

Learn more by clicking here.

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