It's a Grand Old Day!
The kick-off to summer in Saint Paul
Guide to Grand Old Day
The official Kickoff to summer is back!
Since 1973, the Grand Avenue Business Association has put on Grand Old Day and it is truly a family-friendly event for all ages. Over 200,000 people converge along 30 blocks of Saint Paul’s iconic Grand Avenue, from Dale Street to Fairview Avenue, to celebrate the arrival of summer at the largest one-day festival in the upper Midwest.
What is it that draws in such a crowd? Over 150 food vendors, a family fun area, art district, festival gardens with live music, a parade and much more.
The only ones we'd advise you keep home for this one are your pups, as they may have a hard time with the large crowds—but bring them back to the Avenue in September for PAWs on Grand—an event specifically designed for the enjoyment of our four-legged friends.
Event Schedule
Mark your calendar for Sunday, June 2 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
7:30 a.m.
Grand Old Day 3K On-site Registration Opens
8:30 a.m.
Grand Old Day 3K
9:30 a.m.
Parade with Grand Marshal Peter Kenefick begins
11 a.m.
Entertainment and Activities Begin
- Live Music
- Beer Gardens and VIP Lounges
- Car Show (Hamline/Grand Avenues)
- Family Fun Zone (Kowalski's)
- FIRST Wrestling (U.S. Bank)
- Grand Market (Green Mill)
- Sports and Wellness District (Willwerscheid Funeral Home)
- Nonprofit and Artisans Corridor
5 p.m.
Last Call for Beer Gardens and the Entertainment District from Snelling to Lexington Ave closes
6 p.m.
Grand Old Day Ends
Tickets
General access to the event is free, but you will need to purchase a wristband to enter any of the 21+ festival gardens. Skip the day-of line and purchase your beer garden wristbands and Grand Stage VIP passes online.
Parking and Transportation
As you can imagine, a 30-block party doesn’t make for the easiest parking. We recommend making it easy on yourself by using Metro Transit, but you can also try your luck at the University of St. Thomas Anderson lot.
We can hardly wait for Grand Old Day to return - here are summer events you can enjoy in 2024. Share your photos with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter using the hashtags #MYSAINTPAUL!