Wanted: Someone to put on a fun event for people of all ages at Harriet Island over the July 4th weekend. Music, food and fireworks -- at least on one night -- are a must.
Contact: The City of St. Paul.
Two weeks after severing ties with Taste of Minnesota, St. Paul officials have put out a call for proposals for a new July 4th celebration at the riverfront park.
"The festival producer must have the proven ability to handle a successful public event that may have as many as 45,000 attendees per day," according to the city's request for proposals.
City officials want to "provide a source of entertainment and recreation" to residents and attract visitors. Expectations are that the event would be from one to three days, include food and beverage vendors, have live music and cost the city little to nothing. Also expected are fireworks on the night of July 4th.
The goal is to have a new event chosen by December.
"We're really curious to see how the marketplace responds," said Joe Spencer, Mayor Chris Coleman's aide for arts and culture. "What particular flavor or angle is something we're all really eager to see."
Taste of Minnesota was founded in 1982 to be a free festival for people who didn't go out of town to cabins or elsewhere. It had been held on Harriet Island for the past eight years.
