Like the majority of events that were scheduled for last summer, Detroit Lakes' Thursday Trucks & Tunes event took 2020 off due to state-mandated coronavirus safety restrictions.
But with DL's Noon Rotary Club taking over sponsorship, the popular summer gathering returns to the City Park this Thursday, June 17, when a plethora of food trucks will be serving up local favorites — along with beer, wine and desserts — from 5 to 8 p.m. in the main parking lot. Meanwhile, across from the parking lot, the City Park Bandshell will be hosting free, live music from the Jessica Vines Band throughout the evening as well.
- Related: Learn more about the Detroit Lakes Noon Rotary Club , Food Truck Fridays, and the club's other community projects at dl-online.com .
"The Holmes Theatre, along with local food trucks, started up Trucks & Tunes in 2019," said Noon Rotarian Annmarie Lacher. "But it ended up being a little bigger than they anticipated."
With pandemic safety restrictions shutting down most large-scale concert events last summer, Thursday Trucks & Tunes took the year off, and another event, Food Truck Fridays (which did not include live music), was added to the schedule. That event was hosted by the Noon Rotary Club, which was looking for new ways to raise funds for its charitable endeavors.
"We had to cancel our community blood screening last year," said Lacher, noting that it had traditionally been the club's biggest annual fundraiser — and it has not yet been scheduled for a 2021 return.
So when discussions began regarding whether to bring back Trucks & Tunes, the Noon Rotarians decided to take on sponsorship of that event as well. Though the Holmes Theatre is still involved with booking the live entertainment, the Rotarians are now handling the overall planning and logistics.
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"The club hopes this will not only allow this great event to continue and grow in our community, but also become a new fundraising opportunity," said Lacher.
With that in mind, the Rotarians will be selling raffle tickets at all Trucks & Tunes events this summer, as well as at Food Truck Fridays (they can also be purchased at any time from club members).
The Rotary raffle tickets are $10 each, Lacher said. There will be 20 prizes distributed through the raffle, including $1,500 cash, a Rave paddleboard, and a Weatherby Vanguard rifle, with the drawing to take place Sept. 16. Proceeds will benefit Trucks & Tunes as well as other future Rotary service projects.
Trucks & Tunes 2021 by inforumdocs on Scribd
Though Thursday Trucks & Tunes will not be a weekly event like Food Truck Fridays, it will be taking place on July 1, 22 and 29 as well as Aug. 12 and 26. The music schedule is as follows:
- June 17: The Jessica Vines Band
- July 1: The Cropdusters Country Bluegrass Blowout
- July 22: The Moody River Band
- July 29: Matt Aakre
- Aug. 12: The Pat Lenertz Band
- Aug. 26: Tim Eggebraaten & Friends
All Thursday Trucks & Tunes events will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. in the City Park. Bring your own lawn chair or blanket for the concert, as seating at the bandshell is limited. There is no admission fee, though the cost of food and beverages may vary from truck to truck.
If you go
What: Thursday Trucks & Tunes
When: Thursday, June 17, 5 to 8 p.m.
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Where: Detroit Lakes City Park
Info: Hosted by the Detroit Lakes Noon Rotary Club. No admission fee, though cost of food and beverages may vary from food truck to food truck. Live music provided by the Jessica Vines Band. Additional events scheduled for July 1, 22 and 29 as well as Aug. 12 and 26. Rotary raffle tickets on sale for $10 each; drawing is Sept. 16. Watch for updates on the Detroit Lakes Noon Rotary Facebook page .
