Music & Entertainment
Thursdays just got a little more fun!
Live Music & Entertainment
Marketfest brings live music to Downtown White Bear Lake every Thursday night during the summer. With two stages showcasing a wide range of musical genres, including rock, blues, jazz, country, and more, there’s something for everyone. Between sets, local community organizations take the stage with entertaining intermission performances.
Limited seating available, or you are welcome to bring your own chairs/blankets while you enjoy the best outdoor entertainment summer has to offer!
Special Thanks to our 2026 Stage Sponsor
Thursday, June 18
Midnight Lounge Jazz Band
6:00 - 9:00 pm
Gazebo Stage
7:00 pm Intermission - White Bear Dance Center
Band Description Midnight Lounge Jazz Band plays popular vintage Jazz dating back to the 1960s, featuring a female vocalist.
Minty Hippo
6:00 - 9:00 pm
3rd Street Stage
7:15 pm Intermission - TBD
Band Description Minty Hippo is a 6 person band with a passion for performing. An ever evolving garage band from Minnesota that dabbles in pop, rock and indie music.
Thursday, June 25
Dirty Shorts Brass Band
6:00 - 9:00 pm
Gazebo Stage
7:00 pm Intermission - Richter Piano
Band Description A New Orleans style brass band that is a blend of jazz , blues and Dixie with a strong beat and a street corner feel. We love having a good time as much as anything else!
American Bootleg
6:00 - 9:00 pm
3rd Street Stage
7:15 pm Intermission - TBD
Band Description Twin Cities based cover band American Bootleg is best described as a high energy tribute to Rock and Roll. Veterans of various Minneapolis bands, the 4-piece group brings 40+ years of collective stage experience. With a setlist spanning SIX decades, American Bootleg plays songs you know and love - plus some you've forgotten about.
Thursday, July 2
Salsa del Soul
6:00 - 9:00 pm
Gazebo Stage
7:00 pm Intermission - TBD
Band Description We play high-energy dance music styles of the Spanish-speaking Caribbean!
The Comebacks
6:00 - 9:00 pm
3rd Street Stage
7:15 pm Intermission - TBD
Band Description We are a female-led cover band putting a soulful, rootsy spin on pop, rock, and retro favorites, from 70s Americana to 90s alt to today’s reimagined hits. We take songs you forgot you loved and make them feel brand new! We’re known for creative, high-energy arrangements that get crowds singing along.
Thursday, July 9
Good News Big Band
6:00 - 9:00 pm
Gazebo Stage
7:00 pm Intermission - TBD
Band Description Get ready to swing with one of the top big bands in the Twin Cities! The Good News Big Band is a Minneapolis-based jazz orchestra delivering a riveting mix of modern and classic swing. For over 25 years we've performed on nearly every area stage featuring our signature show and premier vocalists in town. It's always a good time with good news.
Rafe Carlson
6:00 - 9:00 pm
3rd Street Stage
7:15 pm Intermission - Heatbox
Band Description Rafe Carlson is one of the Midwests largest independent country acts, with 90,000,000 views online, 60,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, and a history opening for the biggest names in country and rock.
Thursday, July 16
Rare Form
6:00 - 9:00 pm
Gazebo Stage
7:00 pm Intermission - Heatbox
Band Description Rare Form is a 5-piece band that includes former members of well-travelled Twin Cities bands. We’ve come together with the idea of sharing our love for music and positive vibes with friends, family, co-workers, and anyone who enjoys a Rockin’ good time.
The Dead Century
6:00 - 9:00 pm
3rd Street Stage
7:15 pm Intermission - TBD
Band Description The Dead Century works in the deeply personal, loose-cannon narratives of The Hold Steady, the Replacements, and Bruce Springsteen--loud guitar and thoughtful lyrics, the nexus of chaos and joy. The band is the collaborative effort of brothers Nick and JP Check, and their friends, Austin Peterson and Rob Muehlbauer.
Been Better is the band's latest effort. The very first draft of this tune was a product of the hyper-anxious early days of the covid lockdowns, but the sentiment is no less timely and urgent: better days are on the way, even if they can't get here soon enough. Been Better was engineered and produced by Andy Thompson (Semisonic, Taylor Swift, Dessa) at Creation Audio, Minneapolis. Alec Ness of Ness Audio handled the mastering.
Thursday, July 23
Alex Rossi & The Root City Band
6:00 - 9:00 pm
Gazebo Stage
7:00 pm Intermission - Royal Regalers
Band Description Hailing from Minneapolis, Alex Rossi is a vocalist, guitarist and songwriter who has been performing professionally for over 15 years. With strong roots in blues, soul and funk, Rossi has created his own unique and recognizable sound from his diverse musical background.
Briggsy
6:00 - 9:00 pm
3rd Street Stage
7:15 pm Intermission - TBD
Band Description Briggsy fills the sound of percussion and background vocals as well as lead and rhythm guitar by using a loop pedal to support his one man band style covers of popular music. From James Taylor and Kenny Loggins to Whitney Houston and Kpop Demon Hunters
Thursday, July 30
White Bear Big Band
6:00 - 9:00 pm
Gazebo Stage
7:00 pm Intermission - Heatbox
Band Description The White Bear Big Band is a classic 17 piece jazz/swing band, playing variety of big band styles.
Dark Horse Blues Band
6:00 - 9:00 pm
3rd Street Stage
7:15 pm Intermission - TBD
Band Description This Twin Cities-based ensemble has a long history in the Minnesota blues and soul scene. Historically, the band has performed at iconic venues such as Famous Dave’s Blues Club in Uptown Minneapolis and the Fridley American Legion, often featuring prominent local musicians like Dylan Salfer and Moses Oakland.