One of the largest annual events in North Minneapolis just got bigger due to the inclusion of Open Streets.
Harvest Fest, which began four years ago to celebrate the reopening of the Lowry corridor in North Minneapolis, has joined forces with Open Streets Minneapolis to expand the reach of and participation in the event. Open Streets Minneapolis, an initiative of the Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition, has coordinated an event on South Lyndale Avenue the past two years.
“We are excited to combine Harvest Fest with Open Streets Minneapolis. The residents of North Minneapolis and surrounding neighborhoods have always been the heart of Harvest Fest and there is no better way to further involve the community than by including Open Streets Minneapolis,” said one of Harvest Fest’s founders, Darryl Weivoda, owner of North End Hardware and The Lowry Café.
Open Streets events are designed to help promote environmentally friendly transportation choices, such as walking, bicycling and mass transit. They are also held to promote good public health by encouraging active, healthy lifestyles. The events close a long section of a street to motorized transportation thereby giving families and neighbors the opportunity to come together to mingle, have fun and shop in a safe, car-free environment.
Harvest Fest/Open Streets will close 1.5 miles of North Lowry Ave. from Victory Memorial Parkway to Fourth St. The event, which takes place on Saturday, September 29, starts at 11 a.m. and ends at 6 p.m. It will include all the traditional Harvest Fest fare such as live music, an art fair, car show, food vendors and multiple kid zones. Added, thanks to Open Streets, will be a KMOJ stage with live music, a complete urban agricultural node, healthy eating exhibits, youth-orientated music, fitness classes, creation of a community mural and other happenings yet to be announced.
“We are thrilled to be part of Harvest Fest and thereby continue to expand the reach of Open Streets Minneapolis and all of the good things associated with walking, biking and other forms of non-motorized transportation,” said Colin Harris, vice president of the Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition.
Harvest Fest/Open Streets is being sponsored in part by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota as part of Prevention Minnesota, Blue Cross’ long-term health improvement initiative that works to tackle the root causes of preventable heart disease and cancer.