Marketfest will take over downtown White Bear Lake for the 22nd year with live music, food and other fun festivities every Thursday from June 14-July 26. And it’s fair to say the annual event is starting off on the right foot June 14 with a performance by the Scottie Miller Band, a local crowd favorite.
“Every season, I ask our Facebook followers or 'people on the street' who would they’d like to see at Marketfest,” says Angela Homic, Marketfest director. “Their group is always at the top.”
In addition to playing in Marketfest in 2008 and 2009, The Scottie Miller Band has made a name for itself locally by playing at the Washington Square Bar & Grill regularly over the past 7 years (along with shows at Tally’s Dockside and Manitou Station). It also doesn’t hurt their local popularity to have a guitarist, Joe Cruz, as a White Bear Lake resident.
“I really enjoyed the first time we played Marketfest—the food and people,” Miller says. “It’s kid-friendly. I love when kids and families can attend performances; it makes it a lot of fun for me. Last year, I had scheduling conflicts due to heavy touring, and was eager to try and get back on the Marketfest billing for 2012.”
Aside from great live music, food is a hot draw at Marketfest. This year’s food lineup includes poutine (a Canadian mix of French Fries, cheese curds, gravy, etc.), Thai food, gluten-free mini donuts, crepes, smoked wings, gyros, and tater tots in a variety of dishes. Of course, annual staples such as corn dogs, fresh lemonade, ice cream and chocolate chip cookies will be back.
Traditional features such as the Classic Car Show and the children’s Activity Zone will be back, and a new Battle of the Bands contest is scheduled for July 19 on the Third St. Stage.
As for the pros, another crowd favorite returning this year is Davina and the Vagabonds (blues/jazz), while event newbies Funktion Junction (a Motown feel) and Lehto & Wright (English Folk rock with an Irish touch) are shooting to make a local name of their own.
Marketfest music is all about variety, according to Homic.
“Our goal is to provide quality music for everyone,” she says. “You never know what you may hear at Marketfest; one night it's Motown and the next week we'll have big band. Our demographic is all ages. Marketfest is a big hit with families, and within families you have children, teens, mom and dad and the grandparents sometimes. What really lets me know that I've done my job is when people come up to me and say, 'that was an incredible band!’ I love it when I see a band that has never played the area before start showing up on the local venues’ entertainment calendar.”
Marketfest will run between 6-9 p.m. every Thursday night through July 26, rain or shine.
I like to say that White Bear Lake is an unknown gem in the Twin Cities area,” Homic says. “Once people visit - they'll become regulars before they know it.”
The Marketfest Music Lineup
June 14: Scottie Miller Band (Kowalski’s Gazebo Stage); The Everett Smithson Band (WBL Mitsubishi/Suzuki 3rd St. Stage)
June 21: So Big (Gazebo); White Bear Lake Teacher Band (3rd St.)
June 28: Funktion Junction (Gazebo); One in a Row (3rd St.)
July 5: Davina and the Vagabonds (Gazebo); Armadillo Jump (3rd St.)
July 12: Ramm with Horns (Gazebo); Shake Down (3rd St.)
July 19: High & Mighty (Gazebo); The Battle of the Bands (3rd St.)
July 26: Dirty Shorts Brass Band (Gazebo); Lehto & Wright (3rd St.)
