(KNSI) – St. Cloud’s Granite City Days celebration kicks off Saturday with a full day of community festivities, featuring a morning parade, downtown entertainment, and a new historical tribute event that honors the city’s automotive heritage.
The festivities begin at 10:00 a.m. with the Granite City Days Parade, starting near Hester Park and marching down 6th Avenue North to St. Germain Street, ending near the Great River Regional Library. This year’s Grand Marshal is the St. Cloud Rotary Club, celebrating 100 years of service.
Following the parade, the celebration continues downtown with a patio party running from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Residents can enjoy boutique sales, the farmers market, games, live entertainment, and restaurant specials in what organizers call the perfect way to celebrate the heart of St. Cloud.
Saturday concludes with an exciting new addition, the Panstock Cookout & Concert at Pantown Brewing. This event pays tribute to local automaker Sam Pandolfo’s legendary July 4th, 1917 barbecue fundraiser, the biggest picnic Minnesota had ever seen. Pandolfo fed the masses with over 15,000 pounds of beef and 8,000 loaves of bread as he unveiled his Pan Car prototype and sold stock to investors.
Continuing Pandolfo’s legacy, Pantown Brewing hosts a free cookout starting at noon (while supplies last), complete with yard games and Wandering Cow ice cream for sale. The Pantowners Classic Car Club will display one of the historic Pan Cars from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The celebration transitions into an evening concert, with Prank Williams performing at 3:00 p.m., followed by headliner Pat McCurdy taking the stage at 7:00 p.m.
The multi-day celebration wraps up Sunday with the 2025 Fred Yiran African Arts Day at the Lake George Municipal Complex. This seventh annual cultural event runs from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., featuring live drumming, dance, and storytelling that celebrate the diverse heritage of the St. Cloud community.
___
Copyright 2025 Leighton Media. All rights reserved. This material may not be broadcast, published, redistributed, or rewritten, in any way without consent.
FOLLOW US FOR INSTANT UPDATES!
FOLLOW US FOR INSTANT UPDATES!