St. Michael Daze and Knights, the community’s annual festival to celebrate the waning days of summer, is set to kick off Friday with food, inflatables and plenty of music.
The weekend starts Friday night as the inflatable midway opens at 5 p.m. and will run until 9 p.m. Wristbands are available now at St. Michael City Hall until 5 p.m. today or 8 a.m.-2 p.m. tomorrow, cash or check only. Cost is $25 Friday and Saturday or $15 Saturday only.
Friday’s action continues with the beer garden and concession area opening at 5 p.m. The St. Michael Royal Court will also host a spaghetti dinner at 6 p.m. for $8 or $5 for kids and seniors.
The FYCC will host a Book Bingo from 6:30-7:30 in the expo tent, and Ninjas United will offer a sneak peek of their obstacle course from 7:30-9 p.m. Cost is $5 per run, with kid and adult courses available.
Entertainment for the evening is provided by the band Outside Recess, which bills itself as a rock ‘n roll cover band from central Minnesota that plays a wide variety of high energy rock ‘n roll from the 70s, 80s, 90s and today. Their playlist includes hits from bands like Journey, Poison, REO, Bon Jovi, Mellencamp, STYX, Prince and more. The show takes place from 8 p.m.-midnight and is for ages 21 and up only. There is a $5 cover charge.
Saturday events will begin bright and early, starting with the 3rd Annual 5K Color Run, which has same-day registration starting at 7 a.m. and the race beginning at 8:30 a.m. You can also preregister through today on the event’s website.
The Classic Car Show will be held from 10 a.m. at 3 p.m. in front of the Marketplace Grocery Store. There will be prizes in several categories.
Let your artistic side show in the annual Chalk Walk, sponsored by shop St. Michael and others. Grab a square on the south side of St. Michael City Hall around 9:30 a.m. and the contest will run until 10:30 a.m. Several prizes will be awarded with grab bags for almost everyone who participates.
The inflatables pop up again around 11 a.m., running through 9 p.m. Concessions along the midway will open at 10 a.m.
The annual Parade, which runs from Town Center Drive onto Edgewood and, finally, Frankfort Parkway, starts promptly at noon. Dozens of entrants are registered representing local businesses, politicians and youth sports groups. It’s a great way to support the community.
Saturday’s music begins at 4 p.m. at the St. Michael Lions Club’s Bierstube. Bierstube takes place in the Expo tent and will feature a tradition German dinner, bottomless mugs on sale starting at noon and classic German polka music. The event will also have a clown and is good for all ages.
The weekend closes with fireworks at dusk and the pop/rock/dance cover band Flash Mob Band under the big tent from 8 p.m. to Midnight (again, a 21 and up show with a $5 cover).
Other Saturday events include:
Ninjas United Obstacle Course runs – $5 per course run, trophies awarded for fastest times by age category
Business Expo – 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. under the tent
Bean Bag Tourney – 10:30 a.m. registration, 11 a.m. start. Cash prizes
Craft show/Farmer’s Market 10-3 next to the Business Expo tent
Pedal Pull – 10 a.m. by City Hall, for ages 4-11
Sawdust Pile Treasure Hunt – sponsored by First American Bank, starts at 10:30 a.m.
Fire Department Demos – post-parade Saturday on 43rd Place.
KRWC Radio Show 2-4 p.m. with music, fun and prizes
Petting zoo – 5:30-8 p.m. Sponsored by Park Nicollet Clinic
For more information and locations on all of these events, check out the St. Michael Daze and Knights Website. The event is also on Facebook, where you can post pictures and leave messages for this year’s organizers.