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White Night Festival Moves to Prairie Village June 17

Last updated on 2011.07.11

White Night Festival | Madison Area Arts Council | Prairie Village, Lake County, South Dakota | Friday, June 17, 2011The Herman Area Arts Council may not have come to fruition, but Lake County's cultural center of gravity is shifting three miles closer to my house, at least for one night. The Madison Area Arts Council has announced that it is moving its White Night festival from downtown Madison to Prairie Village. The event, featuring outdoor music and arts, takes place Friday, June 17.

The MAAC was having some trouble getting the city commission to approve blocking off the south end of Egan Avenue in Madison for the White Night concert venue, a change that would have diverted through-traffic but increased visibility for the event. Commissioners suggested the MAAC consider moving White Night away from the proposed Main Street.

MAAC president Chris Francis initially hesitated to move the festival away from the Brickhouse, the council's headquarters just off Egan. But then the MAAC board apparently had an epiphany: Prairie Village and Lake Herman are the perfect place for a summer evening festival of music and the arts:

  • Scenery: Prairie Village is quaint. Lake Herman is beautiful.
  • Stages: Prairie Village offers ready-made stages for White Night events. MAAC is placing the bands down on the west end of the Village Main Street, at the railroad depot. The Lawrence Welk Opera House at the east end of Village Main will host speakers and presentations.
  • Built-in lodging and audience: Prairie Village has 200 campsites, and they've been drawing lots of campers all summer long. Now on that June weekend, folks can camp at the Village and get free (free!) musical entertainment Friday evening. Those campers can pitch their tents (or plug in their 40-foot RVs), stroll down Village Main, see artists, sit on the grass, enjoy some live music, and see the outdoor museum brought to life on a Friday night.

There are still plenty of logistics (food vendors? bathrooms? diaper-changing spots in easy walking distance? electricity for speakers and amps at the depot?) and advertising for MAAC and Prairie Village to work through. But plan ahead and put up those signs, and both entities could have a winning event on their hands.

White Night, Friday, June 17, Prairie Village—heck of an idea!

3 Comments

  1. Nick Nemec 2011.04.17

    Prairie Village is an underutilized gem. I still think the Village should collect municipal sales tax to help pay for improvements.
    One more good reason to schedule your summer festival at Prairie Village.....carousel rides!

  2. Lauri 2011.04.19

    I think it's a great idea! But sad that they couldn't get the support to keep the event downtown.

  3. caheidelberger Post author | 2011.04.19

    Leave it to Madison to look a gift horse in the mouth and turn it down. It would seem that having a fun outdoor cultural event that could drive business to Main Street bars and restaurants is less important than keeping the street open so people can drive straight to the bars.

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