Photo: Maple Grove Lions
The Maple Grove Lions is gearing up for another high-octane night of ’80s classics with its annual Rock’n the Grove concert on September 19. Central Park’s gates open at 3 p.m. and Rival 5 takes to the stage at 4 p.m., followed by St. Paul and The Minneapolis Funk All Stars. Hairball, back as the headliner, will close out the evening with its classic rock hits and dazzling pyrotechnics.
“Every time [Hairball has] been here, we never know which setlist they’re going to give us,” Lion Ken Kumpula says. From Van Halen to KISS, Journey to Queen—and maybe a few Prince numbers sprinkled in—Hairball keeps both the organizers and the crowd guessing where the setlist will go next. “It’s always fun to see what they’re gonna bring us each year,” Kumpula says.
New in 2026, Rock’n the Grove is also introducing a VIP section at the front of the stage that includes one food ticket, two drink tickets and a private bar. Kumpula also notes there will be new food vendors in the mix, including The Twisted Scoop (read: classic ice cream flavors with a boozy twist) alongside returning favorites like the Lookout Bar and Grill food truck.
One of Kumpula’s favorite memories from last year’s Rock’n the Grove was standing on the pavilion stage and looking out at the crowd. “I’m looking at that, and I’m thinking, ‘We provided entertainment for 3,000 people,’” he says. “I just stood there for a little bit staring at that, and I thought, ‘This is pretty cool.’” The Maple Grove Lions aims to bring just as much joy to this year’s festivities, which in turn helps the nonprofit reinvest the funds raised into the community.
Learn more about Rock’n the Grove 2026 at maplegrovelions.org.
