Three Stages, One Cause: Music Festival Aims to Raise $50,000 for Place of Hope

(KNSI) – A day-long music festival at Iron Street Distillery on Saturday will benefit Place of Hope, a St. Cloud nonprofit serving homeless families and individuals.

The Be the Hope” Music Festival features three stages of music, food trucks and family activities running from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Admission is free, with donations collected via QR codes and tip jars at each stage. Organizers are aiming to raise $50,000, aided by a matching donation and roughly 5,000 mailers sent out ahead of the event. Proceeds will fund renovations at Place of Hope’s family center, with a goal of housing families before mid-August.

Pastor Carol Jean Smith of Place of Hope said the festival came together after local musician Charlie Roth heard about the organization’s needs and began recruiting Central Minnesota performers for a benefit concert. The day includes kids’ activities “We have a parade for the kids. They’re going to do a music parade with kazoos.”

There will also be inflatables and face painting.

Beyond shelter, Place of Hope connects residents with county caseworkers and health resources. “We’ve had a free screening clinic there to help people get plugged in and then plugged into a primary care for the children and their families.”

Place of Hope has operated in St. Cloud since 1997 and will mark its 30th anniversary next year. No outside food or drinks will be allowed at the festival; lawn chairs are recommended for outdoor seating.

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