“Grand Old Day is St. Paul’s marquee event — the day we show off everything our city and surrounding neighborhoods have to offer, all centered along the economic and cultural corridor of Grand Avenue.

At the very least, it is the unofficial kickoff to summer.

But for many longtime St. Paul residents, myself included, it is something much more personal: a tradition tied to some of our earliest childhood memories.

Many of us remember scrambling for candy during the parade, taking pictures with the Vulcans, and carrying a melting ice cream cone from Grand Old Creamery while walking the avenue with friends and family. Grand Old Day has always felt uniquely St. Paul — local, welcoming, and rooted in neighborhood pride.

But Grand Old Day is not only a reflection of our past. It is also a display of what St. Paul is today.

It highlights the small businesses investing in Grand Avenue, the musicians and performers bringing energy to our city, the community organizations serving residents year-round, the elected officials helping shape St. Paul’s future, and the thousands of patrons whose support keeps the avenue lively and thriving.

That’s why I developed the official Grand Old Day app — to help residents and visitors better experience our city and recognize the businesses, artists, and community leaders putting their talents on display that first Sunday in June.

The app allows users to browse live music schedules, food vendors, family activities, business promotions, and event maps in one place. Users can bookmark performances and attractions they want to attend and receive reminders when events begin. Participating businesses can also share exclusive deals and promotions directly through the app throughout the day.

The app is accessible directly through any mobile web browser at GrandOldDay.app, but those who want a more interactive experience can also install the app directly from their browser and turn on push notifications for live event updates, performance reminders, and exclusive festival deals.

The Grand Old Day app is powered by Ambit Media, a St. Paul-based civic media platform designed to help residents stay connected to the small businesses, local newspapers, community organizations, and elected officials who shape our city every day. After Grand Old Day is over, the same technology helping people navigate Grand Old Day can also help residents stay engaged with their communities year-round — check it out at www.Ambit.community

Grand Old Day is more than a memory from childhood or a display of today’s local leaders, but a day to bring the 200,000 people together and celebrate the traditions and values that bind those people together. I hope you’ll join me on June 7th at Grand Old Day, and will continue using Ambit Media afterward to be an engaged member of this community the remaining 364 days of the year.”