Yonci spoke with Dakota Jazz Club Founder, Lowell Pickett, ahead of this year’s Dakota Block Party on 9/26/26.

Dakota Block Party 2026
When: Saturday, SEP 26, 2026 | 2–10pm
Where: Nicollet Mall
Cost: Free and open to the public

OUTSIDE ON NICOLLET MALL

Nicollet Stage Live Music Lineup:

• L.A. Buckner & BiG HOMiE at 2pm
• Nathan & The Zydeco Cha Chas at 3:30pm
• Liv Warfield at 5pm
• Dylan Salfer at 6:30pm
• Sounds of Blackness feat. Jamecia Bennett at 8:30pm

Treble Makers Kids’ Corner (Outside Tent):
The Treble Makers kids’ area returns with even more activities this year including:

• Kid-friendly songs from Papa Siama and Auntie Dallas at 2:15pm
• Kid-friendly songs from The Bazillions at 3pm
• Instrument “petting zoo”
• Face painting
• Doughnut decorating
• Tie-dye activities
• Sparkle hair extensions
• Sidewalk chalk art
• & More!

INSIDE AT THE QUINLAN ROOM BY DAKOTA

Inside the historic Young-Quinlan Building, the new Quinlan Room by Dakota adds more music and activities to this year’s Block Party. These activities will include:

• Music Education with MacPhail (2-5pm)
  • Performance from the MacPhail Faculty Ensemble
  • Music Education Fair
  • Electronic Music Lab
    • MacPhail Center for Music is one of the preeminent music schools in the country. As the nation’s largest community music school, MacPhail serves more than 15,000 students each year, spanning all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. Its Varsity Ensembles feature top student talent from around the area.
• Swing Dancing with the Southside Aces (6-9pm)
  • Including complimentary dance instruction from Shannon Butler at 6pm!
  • Founded in Minneapolis in 2003 by clarinetist Tony Balluff and sousaphone player Erik Jacobson, Southside Aces celebrates early jazz, ragtime and New Orleans traditions, drawing inspiration from the music of Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Sidney Bechet and other pioneers of the genre

• MPLS Craft & Vintage Market:
  Explore the craft and vintage market on Nicollet.

  Food:

  • Dakota Grill tent by Chef Asher Zulkosky
  • Food trucks from around the Twin Cities!

  Drinks:

  • Bar tent by Pryes & The Wine Company

  Dakota Merch Tent:

  • Located on Nicollet