Prior Lake Rotary’s Lakefront Music Fest drew an estimated 30,000 music fans to the city during the past weekend.
Fans of rock music came to see headliner Billy Idol in person, along with George Thorogood and The Destroyers and Jefferson Starship on Friday night. Featured artists for country night included Karley Scott Collins, Jackson Dean and Keith Urban.
Despite the heat, the event went as planned with only one minor glitch: the plane that was bringing country star Urban to the Twin Cities from Nashville encountered electronic issues and delayed his arrival by close to an hour. The vast majority of attendees stuck around for the headliner’s performance that capped off the evening and event.
“They had to charter another plane at the last minute to get from Nashville to Minnesota,” according to Michelle Jirik, Lakefront Music Fest Event Director. “They were in the park at 10:48 p.m. and on stage at 10:50. We were very fortunate Keith was able to make it in and provide one of the best shows we have seen.”
This was the 17th year the music fest has been hosted by Prior Lake Rotary and serves as its main fundraiser. Jirik said its 100 members, along with thousands of volunteers from the community and throughout the Twin Cities area are responsible for its ongoing success. She adds that a small army is needed to set up the venue in the days prior to the fest’s opening and then put the park back in short order for local residents to enjoy.
Lakefront Music Fest has been the local Rotary club’s main fundraiser since 2010. The majority of proceeds raised through the years have been donated to dozens of local nonprofit organizations and others throughout the world. During the weekend event, it was also announced that the club donated $200,000 to the City of Prior Lake to help fund improvements for Lakefront Park.
“We are fortunate to have so many passionate club members who are willing to put in many hours throughout the year and have a lot of fun doing it,” Jirik said. “We have also appreciated the volunteers who show up every year to help us in making it a great musical event for our guests.”
Tickets are already on sale for the 2027 Lakefront Music Fest that is scheduled for July 9-10. For more information, go to: lakefrontmusicfest.com
Photos by Adam Grim / Adam’s Travel Photography
