Brainerd’s International Raceway is getting ready to rock. Tomorrow they open their gates to the 2nd Lakes Jam music festival. The two and a half day event give the center of the state a big named music festival in their backyard.

Lakes Jam owner, Jerry Braam, says, “We all got together and this area was kind of starving for a big concert event. Because they have them in Walker, they have them in Detroit Lakes, down in the cities. This is the center part of the state. Brainerd is the center of the state of Minnesota. If you think about going to resorts, you think about having a good time, people think of the Lakes Area. And where’s the Lakes Area, Brainerd.”

Mike Stanford, Brainerd concertgoer, says, “Well I like it. You don’t have to travel like normally 60 miles up to Walker or 40 miles down to Royalton. You know it’s nice to be right here close to home.”

15 music stars artists will rock Lakes Jam’s stages. This year’s acts were sought out to bring a wide range of concertgoers to Brainerd.

Co-owner of Huff Entertainment, Carolyn Huff, says, “Everybody’s listening to all kinds of music and so we really want to cater and tap into that. And that’s why you see the variety in the lineup. And we’ve also wanted to mix it up with artists that will appeal to the young audiences as well as the older audiences.”

Lakes Jam plans on making their future festivals the Lakes Area kickoff to summer and so far they’ve seen concert-goers make their trip more than just the two and a half day event.

Huff says, “As a week in the Brainerd Lakes Area, where Lakes Jam is just three days of their week. The other parts of the week they go out to the golf courses to the pools to the water parks. There’s just a lot going on.”

B-I-R’s will open their main gates to campers tomorrow morning at 8 A.M.

By — Lakeland PBS

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