Canadian Days 2019 - A Special Section published by Lillie Suburban Newspapers
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Celebrate St. Anthony at VillageFest
It takes a village to raise a festival, and thanks to the efforts of local volunteers, St. Anthony’s annual VillageFest celebration is on again for 2019.
Festivities will take place on Aug. 2, 3 and 4 — three days of fun, centered on an action-packed Saturday. Villagers and visitors of all ages will have a chance to get out, spend some time with their neighbors and celebrate their city.
Most of the events will be held at Central Park, located at 3503 Silver Lake Road NE, with a Friday evening parade taking place along St. Anthony Boulevard.
Kicking into gear
VillageFest will kick off at 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 2, with a classic car show at the northeast corner of St. Anthony Boulevard and Coolidge Street. Cool hotrods will act as an icebreaker for community gathering and family fun in the summer heat.
The first day also features the VillageFest Parade, which starts at 7 p.m. from St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, located at 2739 Stinson Parkway NE. The primary parade route will run along St. Anthony Boulevard between Stinson and Silver Lake Road.
Parade watchers will be treated to a wide variety of musical acts, including the Edison High School Alumni Marching Band and the Patriots Marching Band. For those of a more Celtic bent, the Brian Boru Irish Pipe Band is sure to please.
There will also be representatives from the Minneapolis Aquatennial celebration, the St. Paul Winter Carnival and St. Anthony Village High School’s very own RoboHuskie robotics team.
The festival will continue directly after the parade, with live music by The Elements. This classic rock’n’roll group will provide the backdrop for a street dance and celebration at the parade’s terminus, the St. Anthony Shopping Center, located at 2945 Pentagon Drive.
Saturday in the park
Saturday, Aug. 3 — the second day of VillageFest — is packed with family fun starting at 8 a.m. and running until 11 p.m. Inflatables, games and food vendors will be up and running in Central Park from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., with special children’s games going from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For those wanting to get an active start to the morning, there’s a 5K Fun Run leaving from the St. Anthony Shopping Center at 8 a.m., and a quarter-mile Tot Trot starting from the same location at 9 a.m.
Other friendly competitions include a kickball tournament from 10 a.m. to 5: 30 p.m., and a bags tournament at 2 p.m. For more information and to register, visit www.stanthonyvillagefest.com.
At noon, the festival’s beer tent will open in Central Park. Also starting at noon, there will be a silent auction, a kids’ show, a craft fair and a petting zoo, all in Central Park and all running throughout the afternoon. Additionally, from 1 to 4 p.m., there’ll be bingo in the park’s pavilion.
Something old, something new
For the first time this year there will be a VillageFest medallion hunt. Starting at 2 p.m. on Saturday, festivalgoers can scour Central Park looking for the hidden treasure. Then, at 3:30 p.m., the Kiwanis Club will bring back a longstanding tradition with their annual tennis ball roll-off.
“You can purchase a tennis ball from a Kiwanis member and then they roll it down the steps at Central Park,” explains festival chair Julianne Hunter of the longstanding tradition. “There are prizes for whoever’s ball goes the furthest.”
For those wanting a more active sport in the afternoon, there will be whiffle ball at 3:45 p.m.
Folk musician Papa John Kolstad will perform at 2 p.m., providing a backdrop for the fun and games. Then, at 4:30 p.m., NunnAbove will take the stage to play pop, along with possibly some rock and Christian music.
Pop and funk group In2ition will play from 7:30 to 11 p.m., and visitors can enjoy fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
VillageFest will wrap up on Aug. 4 with a Kiwanis waffle breakfast running from 8 a.m. to noon at St. Anthony Village High School, located at 3303 33rd Ave. NE.
For more information, including a complete schedule of events and registration forms, visit www.stanthonyvillagefest.com.
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