FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Grandma's Marathon Announces Bayfront Lineup, Changes To 2021 Race Plan
Local Bands Highlight Post-Race Celebration at 45th Anniversary Race
(DULUTH, MINN.) --- Five local groups will take the stage at Bayfront
Festival Park on Saturday, June 19 as part of the 45th annual Grandma's
Marathon weekend, it was announced today.
The all-day celebration, which is free and open to all ages, was moved to
Bayfront this year from its traditional place near the finish line in Canal
Park. Rock-a-Billy-Revue will kick the off the live show at 9:00 a.m.
Saturday and be followed throughout the day by Boxcar, Whiskey Trail, and
Big Wave Dave & The Ripples.
"The past year has been extremely tough for so many in Duluth and our
surrounding communities, and we feel very fortunate and honored to have
received such generous support through the years," Finance & Operations
Director Linda Hanson said. "This is an opportunity not just to celebrate a
job well done but also to provide a huge thank you to everyone who has ever
been part of Grandma's Marathon. There is no doubt we would not be here
without each and every one of them."
Participants in both Grandma's Marathon and the Garry Bjorklund Half
Marathon will receive a free drink ticket after completing their race, and
those tickets can be redeemed all day Saturday at Bayfront Festival Park.
Beverages will be provided by Superior Beverages & Coca-Cola, and food will
be provided by Famous Dave's.
Bayfront Festival Park will be open from 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. on
Saturday, June 19. Sounds Unlimited will play music between sets, and a
full lineup of the day's live music is below:
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Rock-a-Billy Revue
12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Boxcar
3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Big Wave Dave & The Ripples
5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. – Whiskey Trail
7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. – Big Wave Dave & The Ripples
Boxcar will also play a live set on Friday, June 18 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30
p.m. following the 27th annual William A. Irvin 5K, which will start and
finish for the first time this year in Bayfront Festival Park. Admission
for that show is also free and open to all ages.
The musical lineup is one of several pieces Grandma's Marathon has added
back into its 2021 weekend plan following the recent loosening of the
state's COVID-19 restrictions. Another significant change will be that
masks or face coverings will no longer be required, though still strongly
encouraged, through most parts of the weekend's events.
"Grandma's Marathon is a large event that is still going to attract people
from all over the country, from all different walks of life, and
potentially with many different comfort levels," Marketing & Public
Relations Director Zach Schneider said. "We want everyone involved to feel
as comfortable and as safe as possible, so we encourage everyone to take
proper precautions in terms of masks and distancing even in areas it's not
technically required by the guidance."
The only area where masks or face coverings will still be required is on
the shuttle bus before and after the race, in keeping with current public
transportation guidelines.
A full, up-to-date copy of the 2021 Grandma's Marathon race plan can be
viewed here.
The 45th annual Grandma's Marathon weekend will be held June 17-19, 2021.
ABOUT GRANDMA'S MARATHON
Grandma's Marathon began in 1977 when a group of local runners planned a
scenic road race from Two Harbors to Duluth, Minnesota. There were just 150
participants that year, but organizers knew they had discovered something
special. Grandma's Marathon weekend draws approximately 20,000 participants
for its three-race event each June.
The race got its name from the Duluth-based group of famous Grandma's
Restaurants, the first major sponsor of the Marathon. Over time, the level
of sponsorship with the restaurants changed, but the name stayed the same.
Grandma's Marathon-Duluth, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit
organization with a 17-member Board of Directors and a nine-person,
full-time staff.
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