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   Get ready for a summer filled with music, art, books, and family fun. The Northwoods Arts Council (NAC) is bringing another exciting season of events to Hackensack and the surrounding area, continuing its mission of “Bringing the Arts to Life.”

   The popular Lakeside Concert Series will once again provide the soundtrack to summer with twelve evenings of musical performances at the City Park Pavilion. Concerts will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday evenings through Labor Day weekend, offering audiences a wonderful variety of musical styles in a beautiful lakeside setting.

   One of the season’s highlights takes place on July 11, when Josh Duffee’s Lakeside Concert features his energetic ’80s New Wave tribute band, Class of ’82. Audiences are encouraged to come dressed in their favorite ’80s attire, sing along, dance, and relive the sounds of one of music’s most memorable decades while enjoying yet another side of Duffee’s musical talents. It’s sure to be one of the summer’s most anticipated performances.

   Whether you’re discovering a new favorite performer or enjoying familiar tunes, the Lakeside Concert Series offers the perfect way to spend a summer evening. Visitors are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chair, gather with family and friends, and enjoy great music by the lake. Concert schedules, performer information, and updates will be available on the NAC website. In the event of inclement weather, concerts will be moved to the Hackensack Community Center, except for the August 7 performance, which will be canceled if conditions require relocation.

   Mark your calendar for Saturday, August 8, and don’t miss Minnesota’s longest-running art and literature event, the 31st Annual Northwoods Art and Book Festival. This beloved community tradition will welcome visitors from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. along Lake Avenue east of Highway 371. The festival is free and open to the public, featuring 65 artists and 35 authors, with opportunities to browse unique artwork, meet talented creators, purchase books, and enjoy author signings throughout the day.

   Returning favorite artists will be joined by exciting new exhibitors, while award-winning authors representing a wide range of reading interests will share their work with festival attendees. A special presentation by author Jason Lee Willis will take place at 11 a.m. in the UCC Sanctuary. Willis, the author of more than twenty novels, will present “Exploring Minnesota’s Mythology.” A former high school English teacher who taught journalism, creative writing, and mythology, Willis now works as a freelance journalist, blogger, and podcaster, exploring storytelling through a variety of mediums.

   Families will find plenty to enjoy throughout the festival. Popular attractions such as the Hackensack Lions Safari Hunt, WonderTrek Children’s Museum activities, the Children’s Art Tent, and Pies by Guys will all return. Don’t forget the fabulous food trucks and adult beverages offered by Barrel and Vine and Rendezvous Brewing. The food court area will be filled with music throughout the day by festival favorite Wayne and the Boys. This festival truly offers something for everyone.

   The Northwoods Arts Council is grateful for the generous support of the Legacy Fund, which supports arts and cultural programming in Minnesota, as well as Five Wings Arts Council, Sourcewell, Itasca-Mantrap, the Hackensack Lakes Area Community Foundation, the Hackensack Lions Club, Paws and Claws, the City of Hackensack, and individual contributors.

   To volunteer, support upcoming events, or learn more about the Northwoods Arts Council, contact the NAC Committee at [email protected], visit northwoodsartscouncil.org, or follow the organization on Facebook.

   Mark your calendar and join us in Hackensack for a summer filled with music, creativity, community, and the arts.

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