The Grand Forks Greenway will come alive this week when the third annual Greenway Takeover Festival dominates the green space north of the Sorlie Bridge.
The event near downtown Grand Forks is presented by HB Sound and Light in partnership with Altru Health System.
The four-day festival, which kicks off at 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5 , and runs through the afternoon of Sunday, Sept. 8, features entertainment, games, food and many other activities for children and adults. Live music again will play a major role at the festival, with 25 bands scheduled to perform during the four-day event.
The Greenway Takeover Festival main stage will feature Tim Mahoney on Thursday, Sept. 5; Cherry Poppin’ Daddies, on Friday, Sept. 6; and Everclear, on Saturday, Sept. 7. The Grand Forks Central High School choir will sing a song with Everclear, Lunski said. On Sunday, Sept. 8, Wild Hands will be on the main stage.
Last year, more than 14,000 people attended the festival, which covers 200,000 square feet of the Greenway, said Tricia Lunski who owns HB Sound and Light with her husband, Jamie. A Greenway Takeover Festival had long been a dream of Jamie’s, she said.
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“He’s always seen that space as a usable space for an event.”
Three years ago, her husband decided it was time to make his dream a reality.
“He said ‘It’s now or never,’” Lunski said.
The Greenway Takeover Festival is aimed at people of all ages, she said.
“We really make this family-friendly. We are introducing a ton more games this year,” she said. The games include Cornhole, a giant chess set and pool soccer.
This year, the Greenway Takeover Festival also will feature a stunt jump, a paid attraction in which people jump from a level 20 feet above the ground into a large pillow filled with air, Lunski said. Besides games, fiddlers of all ages, who will attend three scheduled practice sessions before the event, will be at the festival. Meanwhile, the North Dakota Ballet Company also will perform.
Activities at the Greenway Takeover Festival also include yoga, courtesy of Altru Health System, a Firehall Theater puppet show and Grand Forks Public Library storytelling.
A variety of food will be available with 12 food trucks on hand. Alcoholic beverages will be available and attendees who want to purchase a drink are required to have a wrist band.
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At 8 a.m. Sunday, Hope Covenant Church will have an ecumenical church service in a tent at the festival, Lunski said..
Gates to the Greenway Takeover Festival will open at 5 p.m. on Thursday and close at 10 p.m. Hours on Friday are from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; on Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and on Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
There is no charge for admittance to the Greenway Takeover Festival before 6 p.m. during its four-day run. After 6 p.m., admission is $5. Thursday is Military Appreciation Day and military personnel with a military ID will be admitted at no charge.
