Weekend Getaway: Celebrate Grand Old Day with the Minnesota RollerGirls

June 5, 8:18 AMMinneapolis City Guide ExaminerLori Wilson

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Grand Old Day: Photo by Mulad

By the time the morning sun rolls over Grand Avenue in St. Paul, Minn., this popular city street is already buzzing like a Monday morning espresso shot. Come this Sunday, it will be the place to be for bands, local artists, the MN RollerGirls, St. Paul Rugby Club and more to come together as part of the "Grand Old Day" festival. The city's best shopping district celebrates their 36th annual kick-off to summer festival on Sunday, June 7, 2009.

This long avenue in St. Paul spans 30 blocks with a blend of small shops, restaurants, and historic homes completely unique to the Twin Cities. Grand Avenue is exactly like the quaint quintessential area that other suburbs tried to emulate with their outdoor specialty boutique malls. Grand Avenue is hardly lacking in historical context, however. It is packed with independent stores and restaurants where fashion, art, coffee, and dining all come together in an urban-meets-hometown conglomerate contradiction. 

See a full listing of all restaurants, bars, and shops here.

Grand Old Day certainly lives up to its name as the largest one-day festival in the Midwest. If you seek a relaxing Weekend Getaway with a quiet patio and cup of coffee, you may not find it on Grand Avenue this Sunday. But for everyone else, head over to historic St. Paul this weekend for a jam-packed party fit for all ages. The festival begins at 7:45 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m.

This year's parade theme is "It's Grand to be Green". Guests are encouraged to walk, bike, run, or take public transportation to the event. Metro Transit offers a free shuttle from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. along Summit Avenue between Cretin and Dale. Shuttles will pick up at the St. Thomas ramp at Grand Avenue and Cretin and will stop along Summit on the street corners of Cretin, Fairview, Saratoga, Syndicate, Oxford, Victoria, Grotto and Dale. The festival's individual districts line these blocks for easy pick-up and drop-off. Download a free Transit Pass and find out where to park your car or bike at the festival.

Grand Old Day is divided into event Districts throughout several St. Paul blocks:

• Entertainment District: Features eight festival gardens with more than 20 bands, including Tim Mahoney and gb Leighton. Admitted persons must be 21 years or older with wristband. Beverage sales begin at noon. Dale Street to Lexington Avenue.
• Art District: Enjoy local and regional fine art, jewelry and craft at the Grand Old Day Art Fair (Saratoga Street to Snelling Avenue); street performers and art car display. Hamline Avenue to Saratoga Street.
• International District: Sample multi-cultural food and enjoy music and performance with dance and drumming shows, "throat singing", salsa lessons, and more. Dunlap to Syndicate Street.
• Sporting District: Interactive games include the St. Paul Saints Speed Pitch, the Timberwolves basketball challenge, MN Thunder soccer team, Tae Kwon Doe demos and more. Meet the Minnesota RollerGirls and watch the All Stars scrimmage at 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Wheeler Street to Fairview Avenue.
• Family Fun District: Grand Old Day kids parade, games, pony rides, petting zoo, mini golf, Teen Battle of the Bands, and more. Snelling Avenue to Cambridge Street. 

Read the full 2009 Roster schedule here. Grand Old Day always falls on the first Sunday of June.

Directions: From Interstate 94, take the Snelling, Lexington or Dale exits and travel south. It's less than a mile to Grand Avenue.  From 494 take the Highway 5 exit towards St. Paul. Highway 5 will turn into West 7th. Turn left on Snelling or Lexington and follow north to Grand Avenue. View a full map of Grand Avenue here.

   Plan the rest of your Summer Weekend Getaways