Basilica Block Party announces return from hiatus, will relocate to Boom Island Park
MINNEAPOLIS — Organizers of the Basilica Block Party say the two-day festival will be returning this summer, but with some significant changes.
The festival is relocating from its longtime spot next to the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis to Boom Island Park. It'll also be held later in the summer, from Aug. 2 to Aug. 3.
Boom Island's capacity will be 30,000 people. The original location could fit only 16,000 to 17,000 people. There will be two stages instead of three, one for the headliners and another for local acts.
The music is the draw, but the ticket sales are crucial to the church, especially after missing two years.
"Many people don't realize that this event is a fundraiser for the Basilica Landmark. So, the proceeds go toward the restoration of the landmark itself and also help our St. Vincent de Paul program that directly provides assistance to people experiencing homelessness in our community," said Emily Grondahl, the Basilica Block Party Chair.
The block party, which started as a fundraiser in 1995 to help restore the Basilica of St. Mary, was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It returned to smaller crowds in 2021, before it went on hiatus in 2022.
A lineup has not yet been released. Some of the more recent headliners include Motion City Soundtrack (2021), Kacey Musgraves (2019) and Death Cab For Cutie (2016).
