Explore West St. Paul Days returns June 6-9

Jake Spitzack
Staff Writer

Boisterous cheering and laughter will resound throughout the streets as summer kicks off with Explore West St. Paul Days, held June 6-9. The 4-day event features many opportunities to celebrate all that West St. Paul has to offer, including its parks, businesses and organizations, and, most importantly, its people. This is the third consecutive year the City of West St. Paul has stepped up to make the event possible. It’s largely funded through sponsorships, and this year’s Diamond Partner – contributing $20,000 – is the South Robert Street Business Association.

The event is the latest iteration of Celebrate West St. Paul Days, which had been organized by an 8-member nonprofit board for nearly three decades before being cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The following year the board made the hard decision to disband because of a sharp decrease in sponsorship and volunteers. After two years without the signature summer festival, the City of West St. Paul not only revived it but increased the budget from $30,000 to support more paid acts at some events. Last year, the celebration cost $50,000, with $43,000 covered by sponsors. This year, the cost will be closer to $65,000 with about the same amount supported by sponsors. The City’s community events fund will foot the bill for the rest. The celebration is expected to break even in the next few years. Here’s the schedule of events. Details were accurate as of press time. For more information, visit explorewsp.com.

Silent Disco
Get your groove on in a way that is respectful to neighbors, 7-9 p.m., Thursday, June 6, at Augustana Lutheran Church, 1400 Robert St. S. Open to all ages, it will feature a live DJ and DJ lights, and free snacks and glow in the dark accessories. Attendees will receive a pair of Bluetooth headphones when they arrive and sync them to one of three receivers, each playing different genres of music. Headphones change color based on which receiver they’re tuned in to.

PopROCKS Concert & Fireworks
The band PopROCKS will perform 6:45-9:45 p.m., Friday, June 7, at the West St. Paul Sports Complex, 1650 Oakdale Ave. The energetic performance includes dance party jams, flashy choreography and special effects. Arrive at 6 p.m. to purchase a pre-concert meal and drinks, and see a demonstration from the West St. Paul Police Department’s two K-9s, Cecil and Bear. The following food trucks will be onsite 6-9:45 p.m.: California Dip & Eat, Dine-1-1, KCM Egg Rolls and Original Hockey Mom Brownies. A fireworks show will begin at 9:45 p.m., immediately following the concert.

West St. Paul Parade
View colorful floats, marching bands, emergency vehicles and more during the festival’s parade, which gets rolling at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, June 8. It departs from the intersection of Runge Lane and Charlton Street and travels north along Charlton to Bernard Street West at Harmon Park. A quiet zone (no lights, horns or sirens) is located on Charlton Street between Langer Circle and Emerson Avenue West. Immediately following the parade is WestFest.

WestFest
Shop from artisan vendors, view and purchase artwork by local artists, speak with environmental experts and more, noon-3 p.m., at Harmon Park, 230 Bernard St. W. Food trucks will be onsite 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. They include Jajja Wellness Tonic and Ugandan Pancakes, and Hers & His Food Co.

Spring Giveaway
Anyone is free to peruse and take home a wide variety of free items, 2-3 p.m., at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, 1575 Charlton St. The event features door prizes and free hot dogs. Those who would like to give things away must register for a round table or parking space by June 7. There is no charge to register but space is limited. Multiple people can share the same table or parking space. Set up begins at 1 p.m.

Explore 1800 Oakdale Ave.
El Destino Market and Clothesline Laundromat, 1838 and 1834 Oakdale Ave., are hosting a community event 2-6 p.m., Saturday, June 8. It will feature a bouncy house, face painter 4-6 p.m., and free churros and games. El Destino will sell tacos for $2 and Clothesline will offer free washes. The laundromat will also hold drawings for a total of $700 in laundry coupons. Performers include DJ Sonido Fiesta, 2 p.m.; Mariachi Son De Morelos, 3 p.m.; Northern Fire Dynamic, 4 p.m.; Two Rivers ALMAS group folkloric dance, 5 p.m.; and Los Alegres Bailadores, 5:30 p.m.

Raddatz Dance Open House
Enjoy free dance classes, snow cones, prizes, bounce house and more, 3:30-5:30 p.m., Saturday, June 8, at Raddatz Dance Studio, 121 Butler Ave.

Food Trucks and Free and Easy Concert
Fill up at the food trucks starting at 6 p.m. and groove to tunes at the Free and Easy concert 7-10 p.m., Saturday, June 8, at the West St. Paul Sports Complex, 1650 Oakdale Ave. Sizzling Wagon, Scoops Ice Cream, Hers & His Food Co., and El Taco Loco will provide the eats. Free and Easy performs covers of classic artists and bands such as Michael Jackson, Chicago and Prince, and modern chart-toppers like Bruno Mars, Chris Stapleton and Justin Timberlake.

West St. Paul Rider
A community bike ride will depart from Garlough Park, 1800 Charlton St., at 8:30 a.m., Sunday, June 9. The 6.5-mile route is a loop that highlights West St. Paul’s parks. A water and snack break will be offered at the halfway point. The event is free but registration is required. For more information or to register, visit weststpaulreader.com/rider.

Take a Kid Fishing
The state’s Take a Kid Fishing weekend is June 7-9. Ages 16 and older may fish for free without a license if accompanied by a youth age 15 or younger. Fishing poles will be available from noon-3 p.m., Sunday, June 9, at Thompson County Park, 1200 Stassen Dr. Also onsite will be free stations to practice knot tying, baiting a hook, casting and more. No registration required.

Juneteenth BBQ
The Residents of Color Collective (ROCC) is hosting a Juneteenth barbecue and celebration event 2-5 p.m., Sunday, June 9, at the West St. Paul Sports Complex, 1650 Oakdale Ave. It will feature arts and crafts, games, music, food, resources for mental health, housing and food services, and more.

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