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Summer starts in Golden Valley, some say
Golden Valley looks to be the first city out of the blocks as festival season starts.
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FRIDAY
6 p.m. Community picnic
6 to 7 p.m. DJ (rock 'n' roll)
7 to 9:15 p.m. Battle of the bands. Six teen bands will compete to win prizes. The winner will perform again Saturday night.
9:15 p.m. Fireworks
9:30 p.m. Battle of the bands winner announced
SATURDAY
8 to 10 a.m. Pancake breakfast fund-raiser at Calvary Lutheran Church, 7520 Golden Valley Road
9:45 a.m. Parade starts at Boone Avenue and Golden Valley Road
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fun Square (kids' games)
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Art show displaying artwork for sale by about 45 local artists
2 to 5 p.m. Classic cars on display
11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Local music
11 a.m. to noon Winner of the battle of the bands performs
Noon to 1 p.m. Armstrong Senior High jazz band
1 to 2 p.m. Paul Christian (rock and roll)
2 to 3 p.m. Everett Smithson (rockabilly, zydeco)
3 to 4:30 p.m. Paul Mayasich and the Benderheads (blues, rock)
4:30 to 6 p.m. Boyd Lee of Bojono (acoustic, folk, bluegrass)
7 to 10 p.m. Street dance with music by Charanga Tropical (Cuban jazz/salsa)
* Location: Friday's events will be at Brookview Park, at the southwest corner of Hwy. 55 and Winnetka Avenue. Saturday's events will be at Golden Valley City Hall Campus, one block northeast of Hwy. 55 and Winnetka Avenue.
More from West Metro
Golden Valley is kicking off the 2008 festival season in the Twin Cities this weekend with its annual Golden Valley Days celebration, featuring music and art, a parade, a battle of the bands contest, a street dance, a beer tent and lots of food.
Five years ago, Golden Valley Days was created by a group of volunteers who thought the city needed a festival of its own. The Golden Valley Community Events Fund came together with a commitment to return an old tradition to the community -- one similar to the Lilac Day Festival, which started in 1939 and became a 20-year fixture on the Twin Cities scene.
The idea behind Golden Valley Days is to bring together the community to celebrate local art and music.
"It's amazing what a gathering like this does for people's sense of place," said Luke Weisberg, co-chairman of the events fund. "It never ceases to amaze me the enthusiasm it generates. People like having something going on their hometown."
Festival organizers hope the timing of Golden Valley Days will attract those eager to get outside, rain or shine. "We choose this cold, rainy weekend in May because we are trying to be the first on the calendar in terms of other festivals," Weisberg said.
As many as 3,500 people are expected to attend.
Coming upThe summer fun is just beginning. In next week's West Extra section, look for an expanded guide to west-metro-area parades, carnivals, fireworks and fried food.
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