ROCK THE BAYFRONT
When the race is over, the fun’s just beginning on Grandma’s Marathon weekend!
With a move to Duluth’s Bayfront Festival Park the party’s as big and as fun as ever for our participants, volunteers, supporters, and the entire community!
There’s something for everyone – families and kids included – starting Friday afternoon and going strong through Saturday night, with live music and entertainment at Bayfront Festival Park beside the waters of the Duluth Harbor.
Whether you’re in need of space to lay out with the family following your big run or a just a fun night out with friends, Grandma’s Marathon weekend has got you covered.
You may come for the run, but you’ll stay for the fun!
2025 ENTERTAINMENT DETAILS
When the race is over, the fun’s just beginning on Grandma’s Marathon weekend — and it’s FREE and open to the public!
There’s something for everyone – families and kids included – starting Friday afternoon and going strong through Saturday night, with live music and entertainment at Bayfront Festival Park beside the waters of the Duluth Harbor.
You may come for the run, but you’ll stay for the fun!
BAYFRONT FESTIVAL PARK
350 Harbor Drive
Duluth, MN 55802
DECC PARKING RAMP & BAYFRONT FESTIVAL PARK LOT
350 Harbor Drive
Duluth, MN 55802
Paid parking on race weekend is available for $10 at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC) parking ramp and the Bayfront Festival Park open lot.
Metered and other paid parking is available in Canal Park or downtown Duluth, which is approximately one-half mile away from the DECC. NOTE: To crossover I-35, or to help protect pedestrians from cold or inclement weather, there is an indoor skywalk system that connects downtown Duluth to the DECC facilities.
BIKE VALET
Skip the traffic when exploring Duluth! To help make our event a more accessible biking destination, we will offer a bike valet on both Friday and Saturday of race weekend. Just like a coat check, we’ll tag your bike and provide you with a claim stub. When you’re ready to move on, come get your bike, and off you go!
This complimentary service is available at the following times and locations on race weekend:
Friday, June 20
12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. — Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC), near Entrance A
Saturday, June 21
6:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. — Corner of Buchanan Street & Lake Avenue
RIDE THE BUS
Use the Duluth Transit Authority (DTA) to ease the stress of moving around town on race weekend! NOTE: Be sure to utilize the DTA Trip Planner to plan your weekend activities.
SKYWALK ACCESS
Use the indoor skywalk system to cross Interstate-35 and access the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC). Enter the skywalk in downtown Duluth at the Holiday Center (207 W. Superior Street).
For answers to some of the most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Grandma’s Marathon race weekend, please click HERE.
FRIDAY ENTERTAINMENT
FREE | Open to the Public
Park Open from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. | Last Call for Alcohol at 7:30 p.m.
BOXCAR
1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Boxcar is a collaborative country rock ’n’ roll party band from Duluth full of rail-jumping and whiskey-drinking tunes. Blake Shippee plays rhythm guitar and leads the vocals, with Rick Bruner on drums, Andy Lipke and Mississippi Mike Wolf sharing lead guitar, Gordon
Lewis on bass and Brian Wells on keyboard.
CLOUD CULT
5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Cloud Cult began as Craig Minowa’s solo studio project after the unexpected loss of his son and has grown with an evolving lineup of string, brass, and rock musicians. Known for incorporating live painting into their concerts, Cloud Cult were dubbed by The Wall Street Journal as pioneers of multimedia artistry.
The common thread through what Cloud Cult does as a collective is to explore the medicinal powers of music and art in life’s journey through pain, love, and catharsis.
Pitchfork
“Insane genius. Records this casually monumental are rare indeed.”
Denver Post
“It’s impossible not to
be moved.”
SATURDAY DAYTIME ENTERTAINMENT
FREE | Open to the Public
Park Open from 7:00 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. | Last Call for Alcohol at 11:30 p.m.
BOXCAR
9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
SHANE MARTIN BAND
11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
FATHER HENNEPIN
1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
BREANNE MARIE &
THE FRONT PORCH SINNERS
2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
SYDNEY HANSEN
4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
WOODBLIND
6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
SATURDAY NIGHT ENTERTAINMENT
RAFE CARLSON
8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Fast-rising Country artist Rafe Carlson is striking a chord with fans from the Midwest to Nashville and everywhere in between with his high-octane, energetic live shows, guitar driven tracks, and unapologetic, Skynyrd-esque attitude.
Right at the intersection of modern Country and Southern Rock, Rafe’s lyrics nod to his upbringing in the frigid Northwoods of Minnesota.
BIG WAVE DAVE AND THE RIPPLES
10:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Big Wave Dave and the Ripples is an eight-piece funk and soul band that got its start in 2010, gaining an audience by playing an irresistible mix of freezing hot blues, deep soul and soaking wet rock and roll.
From performing at poolside barbecues to collaborations with the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra, Big Wave Dave and the Ripples are party masters that can fill a dance floor with funky fun originals and spot-on classic covers.
Bayfront Festival Park will be open and selling food and beverages beginning at approximately 7:00 a.m. on Saturday (race day)
to accommodate our Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon finishers and the general public.
Sounds Unlimited will provide professional DJs to play music between the live acts, and Sound Central will provide the weekend’s audio system.
Bullyan RV will provide top-of-the-line RVs for our musicians to relax and enjoy before and after their performances throughout the weekend.
