Community Corner

Greenfield's Dan Jansen Family Fest Right Around the Corner

The annual Memorial Day weekend event begins Friday.

If Dan Jansen Family Fest looks largely the same as it has in past years, that’s because organizers have decided not to mess with a good thing.

The annual Memorial Day weekend festival at Konkel Park in Greenfield is in its 19th year and runs Friday, May 24 through Monday, May 27.

“We’re hoping people come out,” said Julie Rome, who has been on the Jansen Fest board for nine years and is now the board chair. “We’re expecting perfect weather, in the high 60s or low 70s.”

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A new band will hit the stage Saturday – Cherry Pie, a 1980s rock band – with return engagements from Rebel Grace on Friday and The Toys on Sunday.

There are also two new food vendors, Greenfield’s own Los Mariachis and Fireman Catering.

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“It’s an old fire truck that he has turned into a grill,” Rome said. “He has the lights going and the ladders raised. And you can see them cooking the food.”

Greenfield Fire Department’s “Survive Alive” house will be onsite from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, and there will be a Greenfield Police Department K-9 demonstration at 3 p.m. that same day.

There are festival ride specials on Saturday and Monday and a classic car show on Saturday, during which the Greenfield High School band program will be selling donuts as a fundraiser.

Proceeds from Jansen Fest have traditionally gone to funding projects throughout the city. This year, the board gave $30,000 to the city to spruce up an area of Konkel Park that will be used for the Greenfield Farmers Market. The donation will allow the city to put in some lighting and a paved path.

The paved path will also benefit future Jansen Fests.

“It will eliminate the need for us to bring in gravel for the festival, and it will make it easier for people with strollers and wagons to get around,” Rome said.

A ceremonial groundbreaking on the new Farmers Market location is slated for Thursday, 4:30 p.m., the day before Jansen Fest. City workers will begin construction of the path right after the festival concludes.


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