Cities
4 Free Summer Outdoor Music Series on the Iron Range
What better way to end an evening than a free open-air concert in the park? The Iron Range has a bunch of music in the park events and outdoor concerts for everyone to enjoy. Best of all, these music series stretch throughout the summer! So, whether visitors are resting after a day of exploring the trails at Giants Ridge or are fresh from an evening kayaking at the Redhead Mountain Bike Park, there’s likely a concert nearby for them to close out the day!
All the Iron Range music venues in parks featured here are also either adjacent to The Mesabi Trail or directly in the path. Itinerary-savvy cyclists should plan to arrive at one of these open-air concerts after a long stretch for a truly exquisite cool-down.
1. Music in Olcott Park
This open-air performance in Virginia, MN is located at Olcott Park! Performances take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from June through August for music around the park’s historic fountain. Grab a bite from a rotating cavalcade of food trucks that can always be found during the show while basking in the summer vibes at Music in Olcott Park!
2. Carl Schuster Park Performances
Located in downtown Biwabik and less than ten minutes from Giants Ridge, Carl Schuster Park performances occur every other Thursday around the pavilion during sunny days. In rainy days, find the musicians indoors at the community center. There are some great options nearby for food to take into the park as well, including Carlson’s Pasty Kitchen and Biwabik Pizza Co.
3. Bands, Brews & BBQ
The Minnesota Discovery Center puts on a show with various local artists on their gorgeous museum campus. BBQ and drinks are for sale by the pavilion on most Thursdays throughout the summer. Their opening date for 2025 is June 5th and will include a fluffy appearance from Cook Country Connection’s llamas.
With everything else to do at the Minnesota Discovery Center from their trolley tours and their extensive museum collections to kayaking, Bands, Brews & BBQ is a perfect wrap up for the day!
4. Bennet Park Mini Concerts
Finally, there is the mini-concert series in Hibbing’s Bennett Park! They have three dates scheduled for the summer of 2025 on the days of June 19th featuring Morning Bird, July 25th with the Tony Cuchetti Duo, and August 7th with Adessa and the Beat!
The City Band will also be playing in Hibbing’s Bennett Park on Wednesdays from June through August.
Open-air performances are a special treat that really make the summer season memorable. Make sure to add them to your Iron Range itinerary when planning to visit!
