ROCK THE BAYFRONT
When the race is over, the fun’s just beginning on Grandma’s Marathon weekend
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
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.
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
BAYFRONT FESTIVAL PARK
350 Harbor Drive
Duluth, MN 55802
The Black Woods Group will be the official and exclusive food distributor at Bayfront Festival Park on Grandma’s Marathon weekend.
Superior Beverages is the official beer and drink provider of Grandma’s Marathon. Available throughout race weekend, including at Bayfront Festival Park:
Alaskan Brewing Co. | Bud Light | Bud Light Seltzer | Odell Brewing Co. | Blake’s Hard Cider
Non-alcoholic beverages from the following distributors will also be available throughout race weekend, including at Bayfront Festival Park:
Coca Cola | Dasani | Duluth Coffee Company
Advantage Emblem & Screen Printing is the official merchandiser of Grandma’s Marathon and will be at the Essentia Health Fitness Expo and Bayfront Festival Park on race weekend selling race swag and merchandise.
To purchase Grandma’s Marathon merchandise outside of race weekend in Duluth, please visit our official online store.
DECC PARKING RAMP
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.
FRIDAY ENTERTAINMENT
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
Park Open from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.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 MARTIN &
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.
