Basilica Block Party Plans 2022 Hiatus
The Basilica of St. Mary, Minneapolis today announced that its Cities 97.1 Basilica Block Party will take a planned one-year hiatus in 2022 to reimagine the event for future years.
“Live events have had to rethink their strategy and future because of Covid, and the Block Party is no different”, said Holly Dockendorf, special events manager, Basilica of St. Mary. “Taking a year off will give us time to rethink what the event could be and how to make it better for the future,” she added.
After taking a forced year off due to Covid in 2020, the Block Party was held in September 2021 with smaller attendance numbers. According to Dockendorf, “Compared to previous non-Covid years attendance was down in 2021 and that was expected, but because the pandemic continues with many uncertainties, we thought this would be a good time to take a hiatus.”
The Basilica Block Party, an annual fundraiser for the structural restoration of the nation’s first basilica, began in 1995 and has been held every summer on the grounds of the Basilica of St. Mary until 2020 when it was forced to cancel due to Covid. It is the largest music festival held in the city of Minneapolis.