Porky's Groove Machine will entertain at 2nd Street Stage Aug. 16

The Park Rapids Downtown Business Association invites you to celebrate summer at 2nd Street Stage events Thursday evenings through Aug. 23. Porky's Groove Machine from Appleton, WI will entertain Aug. 16.

The free concerts will run from 6 to 8 p.m. with bands, a beer garden, cornhole tournaments and family activities on the second block of South Main. Bring your own lawn chair.

The beer garden will open at 5 p.m. for a social hour while you find your spot, listen to the sound check and greet neighbors and friends. Support this great event by buying an official 2018 button and receive $2 off all beverages purchased and a free stadium cup or koozie at the beer garden.

Smokey Hills Outdoor Store will sponsor Porky's Groove Machine, a licensed provider of environmentally sustainable nerd funk that is "ready to help you get on with your baddest self" (Maximum Ink Music Magazine, July 2017). With their tight playing, choreographed dance moves and ability to get audiences involved, they always bring a funky party that is sure to get crowds laughing, dancing and singing! The Groove Machine is Casey Frensz, tenor saxophone; Matt Lowe, trombone; Marshall Yoes, trumpet; Ilan Blanck, guitar; Nick Allen, bass; Eli Edelmann, percussion; and Luke Rivard, drums. Arrive at 5 for the social hour, sponsored by Edward Jones, and some of Pike's famous sweet corn.

To see the complete summer line up, go to http://www.parkrapidsdowntown.com.

Weekly stage sponsor is R.D. Offutt Farms. Thielen Motors is weekly sound sponsor. This activity is also made possible, in part, by a 3M grant and the voters of Minnesota, through a grant from the Region 2 Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.