30+ years running! Featuring must-see national acts and standout local opening artists, these free, un-ticketed outdoor music events are held on five consecutive Sunday evenings in downtown Rochester, Minnesota along the Zumbro River.
Stellar music, gorgeous green space, plus local food vendors and giveaways. These shows are for everyone, and we hope to see you in the park!
Save the dates - we'll see you next year! 2025 dates:
July 13, 2025
July 20, 2025
July 27, 2025
August 3, 2025
August 10, 2025
*** SOLD OUT *** Avey Grouws Band
- Rochester Community Celebration | Drive-In Concert
Date: 08/22/2020 7:00 PM
Location: John Withers Sports Complex Rochester, Minnesota 55902
Intro Text
*** SOLD OUT *** AVEY GROUWS BAND • Iowa Blues Challenge Winners, and International Blues Challenge Semifinalists, Avey Grouws Band, play hard with their brand of blues/rock/americana. Grit, power and talent mixed with humor and a whole lot of playfulness, Their debut album hit #10 on the Billboard Blues Album Chart.
*** SOLD OUT *** Avey Grouws Band | Rochester Community Celebration | John Withers Sports Complex | August 22 @ 7pm | FREE! | Presented by Riverside Concerts, Rochesterfest, & KTTC.
Excerpts from this show to be broadcast LIVE on KTTC-TV
AVEY GROUWS BAND • Iowa Blues Challenge Winners, and International Blues Challenge Semifinalists, Avey Grouws Band, play hard with their brand of blues/rock/americana. Grit, power and talent mixed with humor and a whole lot of playfulness, Their debut album hit #10 on the Billboard Blues Album Chart.
Rochester Civic Music/Riverside Concerts is proud to provide the music for a Rochester Community Celebration on Saturday, August 22. 5 bands, 5 stages, 4 drive-in style parking lot shows, one audience-less live broadcast, featuring artists from near and far, diverse in style, culture, and genre. Followed by a grand finale fireworks display!
With so many of our traditional community events being canceled for the summer of 2020, a collaborative group has decided to offer an all-inclusive City Celebration that maintains social distancing and follows the Minnesota Department of Health Guidelines. The Rochester Community Celebration will take place August 20th – 23rd, 2020. It is an event created to include all and give back a positive event to our greater Rochester community. It is the mission of the collaborative group to improve and promote community relationships through this event
Reservations for the Drive-In Concerts are available NOW online at riversideconcerts.com or by calling 328-2200. These events are "drive-in" style concert experiences where you watch the show from your vehicle, while maintaining adherence to social distancing guidelines. While these events are free, attendance is by reservation only. Reservations will be distributed on a first-come first-served basis. You will receive email confirmation of your reservation. Complete safety guidelines, parking information, and directions will be sent with your ticket. Printed Reservation Confirmation email must be displayed on front dash night of the show to gain access to the show.
Safety Guidelines: 1) Do not arrive at the concert area any earlier than 30-minutes prior to the start time (any cars waiting to gain access will be asked to leave and come back) 2) Only vehicles displaying a valid reservation will be admitted to the event. 3) Each household should be in a separate car. 4) Carpooling does not comply with social distancing guidelines. 5) People with COVID-19 symptoms (cough, fever, shortness of breath, etc.) should not attend. 6) Attendees should remain in their cars. 7) No reserved spots. Parking attendants will direct your vehicle to an available space. 8) Cars will be parked with one empty space between them to maintain a minimum safe distance of 6 feet. 9) There should be no passing of objects or physical contact between vehicles. 10) Bathrooms facilities will not be provided for the public. 11) Alcoholic beverages are not permitted
CART captioning will be available here or via QR code in the park. Please bring a data-connected digital device (phone, tablet, laptop) to access this streaming service.
Assistance with CART will be available at the Public Music tent. Please contact Public Music for questions about additional accessibility accommodations.
Where
All concerts take place in Mayo Park, located in downtown Rochester behind the Mayo Civic Center. Concertgoers are encouraged to walk, bike, or roll to the shows if possible.
when
Save the dates - we'll see you next year! 2025 dates:
July 13, 2025
July 20, 2025
July 27, 2025
August 3, 2025
August 10, 2025
Music will begin at 7 p.m. and conclude between 9:30 and 10 p.m.
Food vendors will be onsite at 6 p.m. Come early to get food from local vendors and choose your spot in the park!
cost
Concerts are free and open to the public!
Meet & Greets
Interested in meeting the headliners? We partner with local radio stations to give away FREE backstage passes. Check here for information about how to win a pass.
Giveaways
On opening night, stop by the Think Bank tent to receive a FREE, limited edition Riverside Music Series t-shirt! Shirts are available in limited quantity - arrive early to be sure to get one!
And at each concert, Think Bank gives away a FREE electric guitar autographed by the headliner. Enter the giveaway by completing a survey by 7:45 p.m. on show day. Surveys can be completed at the Think Bank tent, by visiting the survey webpage, or by scanning a QR code at the event. Must be present to win.
Directions & parking
Mayo Park is directly accessible from nearby walking paths and bike trails, and concertgoers are encouraged to walk, bike, or roll to the shows if possible.
Ample free parking is available nearby, with public ramps, on-street meters, and City-owned surface lots all free to use on weekends and evenings. Accessible parking is available in all public parking ramps, and several designated accessible parking spaces are available on Civic Center Drive. Additional information about parking is available on the Mayo Civic Center website.
Seating
Space in the park is available on a first come, first served basis. Come early to choose your spot! We do not allow the use of ropes or stakes to reserve space.
We encourage you to bring lawn chairs or blankets to the events; seats are not provided.
items to bring
Coolers, food, drink, lawn chairs, blankets, and other items to make your experience more comfortable are welcome and encouraged. Please leave grills and pets, with the exception of service animals, at home.
concessions
Local food and beverage vendors will have a variety of options for sale. Vendors will be onsite at 5 p.m.
Smoking
Smoking, including e-cigarettes, is strictly prohibited in Mayo Park.
Restrooms
Restrooms inside the Mayo Civic Center will be available for use. Entrances to the indoor restrooms are on either side of the stage through doors marked 16 and 19.
Additional portable toilets are located in the park near the food vendors.
Weather Policy
Concerts will take place outdoors rain or shine. Ponchos are preferred over umbrellas to keep sightlines unobstructed. In the case of threatening weather, the concert may be delayed, postponed, or, as a last resort, cancelled.
For weather related updates the day of the event, please check our event updates page or social media accounts.
Soliciting
In order to make our events enjoyable for all, we respectfully request that public and private parties refrain from campaigning or soliciting at the Riverside events. We appreciate your consideration.
Down by the Riverside has been sponsored by Think Bank since 2008.
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.