At the heart of Minneapolis, The Basilica of Saint Mary rises along the skyline and serves as a recognizable part of our downtown landscape. But it’s more than just a place to rock out for two days during The Basilica Block Party—it’s also a spiritual, cultural and community center for many.
The Basilica of Saint Mary—America’s first Basilica—has stood as a The Building of Hope for more than a century. But for decades, we took it for granted and it was nearly destroyed due to neglect. Fortunately, our community realized the value of the building in time to save it. Now, it’s up to us to turn back the hands of time and restore The Basilica to its original glory.
Your ticket to The Basilica Block Party helps support The Basilica Landmark’s mission to preserve, protect and restore this historic building all year long. We are committed to ensuring The Building of Hope continues to welcome generations to come to rock out at the Block Party. Here’s how you can support The Basilica after the bands and beer disappear:
thebasilicalandmark.org
The Basilica Block Party began in 1995 as a fundraiser to help pay for the structural restoration of The Basilica of Saint Mary. Today, proceeds from the event benefit The Basilica Landmark, which preserves, restores and advances the historic Basilica of Saint Mary for all generations. In addition, a portion of all proceeds from The Basilica Block Party go to The Basilica’s St. Vincent de Paul outreach program, which provides services to those in need.
April 7
1 Night: $50; Both Nights: $90
April 7
1 Night: $50; Both Nights: $90
1 Night: $55; Both Nights: $100
1 Night: $60; Both Nights: $110
1 Night: $65; Both Nights: $110
Includes free parking (MCTC ramp adjacent to the Basilica), free catered food and free beverages in the McKinney Roe VIP area across from the PreferredOne stage only (on the west lawn of the Basilica), and access to indoor bathrooms throughout the evening. This ticket does NOT include access to the Great Clips FanZone, Kimo Sabe Skybox or any VIP area at the Great Clips stage.
$90 of this package is a tax-deductible contribution to The Basilica Landmark.
Includes free parking (MCTC ramp adjacent to the Basilica), free catered food and free beverages in the McKinney Roe VIP area across from the PreferredOne stage on the west lawn of the Basilica, access to the Kimo Sabe Skybox and Kimo Sabe Skybox bar at the Great Clips stage, access to indoor bathrooms near the PreferredOne stage and Block Legend-worthy premium restrooms near the Great Clips stage throughout the evening. This ticket does NOT include access to the Great Clips FanZone. $175 of this package is a tax-deductible contribution to The Basilica Landmark.
Includes a Basilica Block Party event shirt, free parking (MCTC ramp adjacent to the Basilica), free catered food and free beverages in the McKinney Roe VIP area across from the PreferredOne stage on the west lawn of the Basilica, access to the Great Clips FanZone, Kimo Sabe Skybox and Kimo Sabe Skybox bar at the Great Clips stage, and access to indoor bathrooms near the PreferredOne stage and Hall of Fame-worthy premium restrooms near the Great Clips stage throughout the evening. $255 of this package is a tax-deductible contribution to The Basilica Landmark.
(AVAILABLE BY PHONE at 800-514-3849 OR AT THE GATE ONLY)
Ages 5–12. Children under 5 are free.
Child tickets will NOT provide access to the Great Clips FanZone or any VIP area. To be admitted to those areas, children must have a Great Clips FanZone or VIP ticket.
Child tickets will always be available at the gate, even in the event of a sell-out. Child must be present when purchasing.
Package comes with 4 GA event tickets + vouchers to be redeemed for 4 Bud Lights.
Vouchers must be exchanged at the Food & Beverage ticket tents.
All tickets must be purchased for the same night and use the print at home option.
Early Bird: April 8 – May 31,
4 GA event tickets + vouchers to be redeemed for 4 Bud Lights: $248
Advance: June 1 – July 6 for Friday and July 7 for Saturday,
4 GA event tickets + vouchers to be redeemed for 4 Bud Lights: $268
Access to a standing room-only area in front of the Great Clips stage with a dedicated cash bar serving beer, wine and soft drinks, and dedicated portable restrooms. Ticket holders will be wristbanded and can come and go throughout the evening. This ticket does NOT include access to the Kimo Sabe Skybox or any VIP areas at the Great Clips or PreferredOne stages.
Hilton Minneapolis invites you to stay for a special discounted rate of $105 per night during the Cities 97 Basilica Block Party. For more information, visit their site
For sponsor information, please contact Jean Ryan, jean@jrimarketing.com or call 612-386-1055.
A tried-and-true partner of the Basilica Block Party, with over 20 years of participation so far.
North Memorial is committed to keeping our volunteers and music lovers happy and healthy!
Whether you’re working or playing or a little of both, McKinney Roe is your go-to spot for comfortable, uncomplicated enjoyment.
Our friends at Coca-Cola have been quenching the thirst of the Block Party since the beginning.
Better hearing is who we are. We provide personalized hearing solutions to connect people to their worlds.
Thanks to the City of Minneapolis + Minneapolis tap water for always keeping our music-loving masses hydrated.
Roadie matches people with stuff to send with drivers already headed in the right direction. The result is a cheaper, easier, greener delivery service.
Buy advertising on the Basilica Block Party Video Wall and reach a great demographic!
If you have any questions, please call 612-317-3457 or email us at blockparty@mary.org.
Now that you’ve seen all the good stuff the Basilica Block Party has to offer, don’t you want to help make it happen? We bet you do.
Note: Volunteer sign up closes at 5pm July 5th. Click the button above or contact the volunteer line at 612-317-3457. Or reach out to mschreiber@mary.org.
Online volunteer sign ups will open May 5, 2017. Slots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Please fill in all the required contact information — make sure your friends fill out a separate form, otherwise you won’t be accepted for the job and your friend’s sign up will be deleted too. Make sure you complete your volunteer sign-up by confirming the link sent to your email address. Otherwise someone else can take the shift you signed up for.
Questions can be directed to our volunteer coordinator Mikayla at 612-317-3457 or mschreiber@mary.org.
Most shifts run from 4-8 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. to event close. There are some shifts from 3:30 p.m. to event close. Late-shift volunteers are required to assist with event cleanup from 10:30 until the event is closed.
Plan on arriving 30 minutes prior to your shift and reporting to the Volunteer Center 15 minutes prior to your shift.
On the night you are volunteering, you do not need a ticket for admission. All volunteers can enter through the Volunteer Gate at 15th Street and Laurel Avenue.
Your bags will be searched upon entering. There is no place on the grounds to store them safely. Your name will be on a volunteer list. Bring your photo ID or driver’s license as you may need it for equipment checkout for your shift. You will also need a photo ID if you plan to purchase beer or wine after your volunteer shift. You may not under any circumstances consume alcohol while volunteering or while wearing your volunteer T-shirt.
Try to walk, bike, bus or carpool. If you plan to drive, arrive early to park in a downtown lot and walk to The Basilica. Parking will be available for a fee at the MCTC ramp, Dunwoody Institute lot west of The Basilica, the Walker Art Center and Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church.
Once through the Volunteer Gate, volunteers should report to the Volunteer Center located in the Great Hall on the 3rd floor of The Basilica School for check-in. Signs will indicate where you have to check in for your respective volunteer duties. Please stay with your group in your assigned area. T-shirts and equipment will also be handed out at check-in time. Please wear a lightweight T-shirt so that your volunteer shirt can be worn over it. After you have completed your shift, you will need to remove your volunteer T-shirt if you intend to stay on-site. THE SHIRT IS YOURS TO KEEP. A team leader or escort will meet you in the Volunteer Center and show you to your volunteer post.
Alcoholic beverages cannot be consumed before or during your shift. You may not wear your volunteer T-shirt and consume alcohol after your shift – please change into your street clothes or turn your T-shirt inside out.
Please do not bring backpacks. All bags/purses are subject to inspection.
Please do not bring recording equipment or cameras on-site.
Once you come on-site, if you need to leave for any reason, there is no re-entry.
The Basilica Block Party recycles and composts. As a representative we ask that you do as well.
Please contact Mikayla at 612-317-3457 or mschreiber@mary.org.
Have questions? Chances are, someone has asked them before. And gosh, do we have answers. Take a peek through our most frequently asked questions.
Starting at 12:01am each day of the event, people will be able to buy tickets online to print at home both Friday and Saturday at the gate ticket price of $65.
Tickets will be available at the gate beginning at noon on Friday & Saturday. They will be able to handle all types of tickets including regular Friday and Saturday, 2-night and kids. Sales at the gate are cash and credit card only. There are no fees if the tickets are bought at the gate. They will be sold at the face ticket value. Tickets will be $65 for a single night, $110 for a 2-night pass and $20 for a child ticket. Children must be present when purchasing a child ticket.
The gate tent will also be selling Friday & Saturday Star-, Legend-, Hall-of-Fame-, and FanZone- tickets and upgrades, subject to availability.
We anticipate that tickets will be available at the gate all of the night.
The party starts at 5 pm sharp.
Nope, sorry, once you leave the grounds, there is no readmission.
Wristbands are needed to purchase alcohol, but the wristbands are free. Look for a wristband station immediately after you enter the grounds.
Credit cards can be used to purchase admission tickets, merchandise, and food and beverage tickets.
Yep, there are ATMs outside the gate, and in three locations on the grounds.
Yes. You sure can.
That depends! Tickets for children ages 5-12 may be purchased for $20 at the front gate. The child must be with you to purchase the ticket. But, children under 5 are free. All children will need VIP tickets to enter all VIP areas.
Check out the Swag section at the event to get your BPP merchandise.
The show will go on, rain or shine. In the event of severe weather, information and instructions will be posted on our website, and through our social media accounts.
See the Directions section of our website. All the info you need will be right there.
Of course! There are bike racks available in the parking lot under the freeway, on 17th Street in front of the Basilica. They are first-come, first-served. No reserved spots here.
We have seating areas for individuals who require accommodation and a clear view of both the PreferredOne Stage and the Great Clips Stage. Temporary pedestrian ramps are installed to make it easier to navigate the curb at the Great Clips Stage. There is also parking in the MCTC ramp for those that need accessible parking. There will also be ADA portable restrooms around the grounds. These areas are marked on the map hand out you can get at the food and beverage ticket tents. If you need assistance on the grounds find a volunteer wearing a t-shirt that says “Safety”. It is their job to assist you.
Of course, we have an area where a mother can nurse their child, or pump. It is located in the Basilica School on 16th & Laurel in the lower level ADA restroom.
No, general admission tickets are not tax deductible. However, a portion of the price of VIP Packages is tax deductible. See more information on these type of tickets in the Tickets section of our website.
Yes! One of our great sponsors, the Hilton Minneapolis or several other options in downtown Minneapolis. There is a link to special pricing underneath the ticket area of this site.
Rides are free on Metro Transit with a special code located in the directions section of this website. Ride your bike! We will have bike racks available in the parking lot under the freeway, on 17th Street in front of the Basilica.
Take the Hennepin/Lyndale exit (Exit 231B). Go north (right) on Lyndale/Hennepin, and north on Hennepin to N 17th Street.
Take the Lyndale Avenue exit (Exit 231A) toward Hennepin. Stay in the left lane. Turn left onto Dunwoody Blvd.
Follow the I-94 West exit (Exit 17B). Go north (right) on Lyndale/Hennepin, and north on Hennepin to N 17th Street.
Take the I-94 West exit (Exit 17B). Stay in the right lane. Go north (right) on Lyndale/Hennepin and north on Hennepin to N 17th Street.
Take the Dunwoody Blvd exit (Exit 8A). Go east (right) on Dunwoody Blvd to N 17th Street.
FREE RIDES are available on Metro Transit for any Basilica Block Party ticket holder. Download your free pass now:
PUBLIC PARKING is available for $5 at the Minneapolis Community & Technical College (MCTC) parking ramp, located across the street from the Basilica. Other public parking is available within walking distance at the Walker Art Center, Dunwoody Institute, and other downtown area parking ramps.
Free parking is available at the MCTC ramp with the purchase of a VIP ticket. Present your VIP ticket at the entrance of the parking ramp.
