Maple Grove has officially flipped the switch to summer festival mode. Maple Grove Days kicked off Wednesday, turning Central Park and nearby venues into a five-day block party packed with food, live music, kids’ activities and volunteer-run attractions. The celebration runs through Sunday and features the long-running parade, a medallion hunt, an Ambassador coronation and a big fireworks show on Saturday. Streets and parks around the city are filling up with beer tents, food trucks and family-friendly programming that organizers bill as the city’s largest summer get-together.
The five-day event is presented by the Maple Grove Community Organization, which has posted a full schedule and maps, and put the official event guide online. According to Maple Grove Community Organization, activities are spread across Central Park, Town Green and the Community Center. The City of Maple Grove is also steering residents and visitors to the Maple Grove Days Facebook page for event specifics and weather-related updates, as shown in the embedded post below.
What To Watch This Week
The Maple Grove Days parade steps off Thursday along 89th Avenue at about 6:10 p.m., with elected officials leading the march, followed by local businesses, youth groups and marching bands, Maple Grove Magazine reports. Parade co-chair Jason Pruhs told the magazine, "It's just crazy to me how many people actually show up for this parade," a reminder that the 1.8-mile route typically draws serious sidewalk crowds. Organizers are also reminding spectators to stay behind the yellow line along the street for safety, a rule that keeps this one of the festival’s oldest and most reliable traditions.
Fireworks are set to light up Central Park on Saturday evening, according to CCX Media. The city says free shuttle service will run between the Maple Grove Transit Station and Central Park from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday. In its summer newsletter, the city notes that parking near the event is limited and directs visitors to the transit station at 12350 Main Street, behind the Shoppes at Arbor Lakes, for park-and-ride service. Shuttle details are available on the Maple Grove Community Organization website.
Who's Pitching In
Financial support from local businesses helps keep many of the festival events free to attend. According to the Maple Grove Community Organization sponsor list, the Maple Grove Firefighters Relief Association and Boston Scientific are among the top backers, with Great River Energy, North Memorial Health and Maple Grove Transit listed as platinum- and gold-level supporters. Organizers say those sponsorship dollars help underwrite the fireworks, kids programming and the volunteer-run medallion hunt.
Plan Your Visit
The full timetable and maps are laid out in the festival’s event guide, available in the official event guide. Expect heavy foot traffic at Central Park on Saturday, so bring water, sunscreen and a phone charger, and consider parking at the transit station and hopping on the shuttle. For last-minute changes and weather-related updates, keep an eye on the City of Maple Grove’s Facebook page via the embedded post above.
