{"id":2447969,"date":"2026-06-06T17:32:12","date_gmt":"2026-06-06T17:32:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2447969"},"modified":"2026-06-06T17:32:12","modified_gmt":"2026-06-06T17:32:12","slug":"summer-fun-live-music-showcased-at-events-and-city-festivals-in-2026-west-central-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/summer-fun-live-music-showcased-at-events-and-city-festivals-in-2026-west-central-tribune\/","title":{"rendered":"Summer Fun: Live music showcased at events and city festivals in 2026 – West Central Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"

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You don\u2019t have to go to the Twin Cities to see live music. West central Minnesota is home to some talented local musicians you can see at various venues this summer, including special performances during other festivals and events for summer 2026.<\/p>\n

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\n<\/p>\n<\/picture>\n
Jeff Vetsch, center, and Todd Anderson, left, and Dempsey Schroeder, right, members of Jeff Vetsch and Friends, perform as part of New London’s fifth annual “Porchfest” on Saturday, June 7, 2025. <\/figcaption>

Tom Cherveny \/ West Central Tribune <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n

New London’s annual Porchfest will take place Saturday, June 20. The event began in honor of the late Bill Gossman, former mayor of <\/p>\n

New London.<\/a><\/p>\n

Porchfest is a celebration of music, musicians treat each house porch throughout town on Main Street and beyond as their own festival stage from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Headliners <\/b><\/p>\n

Annie & The Bang Bang!<\/a><\/p>\n

will perform on the Gossman Stage at 4 p.m.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Admission to the event is free but cash donations are accepted.<\/p>\n

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\n\"Percussionists<\/p>\n<\/picture>\n
Percussionists with the Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg Marching Saints won the applause of parade goers during Willmar Fests on June 21, 2025. <\/figcaption>

Tom Cherveny \/ West Central Tribune <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n

Various artists will also be playing during the evenings of Willmar Fests from June 24 to June 28. The events schedule is not available at press time, so check <\/p>\n

willmarfests.com<\/a><\/p>\n

for the latest updates.<\/p>\n

Past headlining events have included <\/p>\n

The Prairie Winds Concert Band<\/a><\/p>\n

and <\/p>\n

West Central Connection Chorus<\/a><\/p>\n

In Rice Park, <\/p>\n

Dred i Dred<\/a><\/p>\n

during the 2025 block party and a Beach party concert at Robbins Island Regional Park.<\/p>\n

\n
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\n\"Good<\/p>\n<\/picture>\n
Mark “Neo” Anderson of Good for Gary (left) and Willmar resident Jason Minke (right) rip into their saxophones at Rockin’ Robbins at Robbins Island Regional Park in Willmar, Minnesota, on Tuesday, July 22, 2025.<\/figcaption>

Evan Pederson \/ West Central Tribune<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n

The annual <\/p>\n

Rockin’ Robbins<\/a><\/p>\n

summer concert series, sponsored by the Willmar Rotary Club, puts on free concerts at Robbins Island Regional Park in Willmar. The concert series first began in 2016 to help raise money for projects and improvements to the park.<\/p>\n

Parking will be available at the park, but is limited. Handicapped-accessible and motorcycle parking is provided on site, and an ATV drop-off service to the seating area will be available. Bring your own chair.<\/p>\n

Willmar Bus will also be giving free park-and-ride shuttles to and from the park from these four sites: Willmar Community Center, Heritage Bank Building, Willmar Middle School and Kennedy Elementary School. Be sure to visit the Rockin’ Robbins <\/p>\n

website<\/a><\/p>\n

for more information on where to park.<\/p>\n

Free concerts will be held every Tuesday from July 14 to Aug. 4: Here is the band schedule:<\/p>\n

\n
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\n\"The<\/p>\n<\/picture>\n
The Montevideo Thunderhawks marching band led five marching bands through residential streets near the Montevideo High School during an annual Fiesta Days Marching Band competition in this undated photo.<\/figcaption>

Tom Cherveny \/ West Central Tribune file photo<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n

Three parades featuring regional high school bands will take to the streets in June.<\/p>\n

Benson<\/a><\/p>\n

hosts the annual <\/p>\n

Pioneerland Band Festival<\/a><\/p>\n

on Friday, June 12.<\/p>\n

High school bands will compete for cash prizes beginning at 6:30 p.m. that evening. The 2025 exhibition champion was Montevideo. Additional awards, including a people\u2019s choice award, will be handed out near the end of the program.<\/p>\n

The Litchfield Parade of Bands will take place on June 16 in <\/p>\n

Litchfield.<\/a><\/p>\n

Thirteen marching bands are expected to participate in the parade through town.<\/p>\n

Food trucks will be open all afternoon and the parade will start at 6 p.m. Visit the Litchfield Parade of Bands <\/p>\n

Facebook page<\/a><\/p>\n

for any updates.<\/p>\n

The 42nd annual <\/p>\n

Vikingland Band Festival<\/a><\/p>\n

will march through the streets of <\/p>\n

Alexandria<\/a><\/p>\n

on June 28, with the main parade set to step off at 1:30 p.m. More than 15 marching groups are set to take part.<\/p>\n

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\n\"People<\/p>\n<\/picture>\n
Concert-goers take in a live performance at the annual “Music in the Park” series at Pirrotta Park in Spicer, Minnesota, on July 14, 2024.<\/figcaption>

Spicer Beautification Committee<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n

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Summer concerts throughout west central Minnesota<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

The Willmar Area Senior Club has live music at the Willmar Community Center every Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is $3. Refreshments follow every performance.<\/p>\n

Prairie Winds Concert Band will once again provide free concerts in Rice Park on Wednesday evenings at 7:30 p.m. June 10, June 17, June 24, July 1. Bring a lawn chair. For more information, visit <\/p>\n

www.prairiewindsconcertband.com<\/a><\/p>\n

or Facebook at<\/p>\n

www.facebook.com\/prairiewinds.<\/a><\/p>\n

Eden Valley will host a music series at Friederichs Park. Performances will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Food will be served at 6 p.m. before every show. Music in the Park will be on Thursdays on June 11, June 25, July 2, July 9, July 23, Aug. 6 and Aug. 20. Visit <\/p>\n

edenvalleychamber.com\/music-in-the-park<\/a><\/p>\n

for additional information.<\/p>\n

Litchfield will have music in Central Park every Thursday from June 5 to Aug. 28 from 6 to 8 p.m. More information can be found by visiting the events page at <\/p>\n

Litchfield Visitors Bureau.<\/a><\/p>\n

The Community Ed Concert series in <\/p>\n

Paynesville<\/a><\/p>\n

will have live music every Thursday evening at Veteran’s Park. Exact times and dates were not available at press time. Call 320-243-7570.<\/p>\n

Granite Falls<\/a><\/p>\n

will feature live music at its monthly makers markets on the Riverwalk. The makers markets are scheduled for June 4 and July 2. Live music will also be featured at Memorial Park from 11 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25. A full schedule of events is still to come, so be sure to check <\/p>\n

prairiesquidfest.com<\/a><\/p>\n

for updates.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n\"Porchfest<\/p>\n<\/picture>\n
Joshua Pfohl performs with Roscoe’s Thursday Night Rollers during Porchfest in downtown New London on Saturday, June 1, 2024.<\/figcaption>

Macy Moore \/ West Central Tribune file photo<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n

\n
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\n\"Rockin<\/p>\n<\/picture>\n
Fans cheer on the Fabulous Armadillos during the final Rockin’ Robbins of the summer concert series on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023, at Robbins Island Regional Park.<\/figcaption>

Macy Moore \/ West Central Tribune file photo<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n

\n
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\n\"Parade<\/p>\n<\/picture>\n
The KMS Marching Saints perform during Parade of Bands in Litchfield on Tuesday, June 13, 2023.<\/figcaption>

Macy Moore \/ West Central Tribune file photo<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\n <\/p>\n\"West<\/p>\n<\/picture>\n

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\n By
\n West Central Tribune staff report<\/a>\n <\/div>\n
\n Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of “West Central Tribune staff report.” Often, the “West Central Tribune staff report” byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story.<\/i><\/p>\n

The West Central Tribune newsroom can be reached via email:
news@wctrib.com<\/a> or phone 320-235-1150<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n