VBF 2013 Festival Information

Vintage Band Festival

Administrative assistants Carly and Katie with some heavy metal

Background Information

This is an exciting international music event,  celebrating the music and the instruments of past eras. The VBF is  held in Northfield, Minnesota, the historic, charming river town known for its colleges, art, pubs, restaurants, and music.

Festival Features

  • The performances take place in many outdoor locations all around Northfield. Sites include Bridge Square, Way Park, Odd Fellows Park, Northfield Retirement Center, Riverside Park, Veterans’ Memorial Park, Central Park, and others. In case of inclement weather, alternate indoor sites will be announced.
  • Festival events are presented free of charge. Festival goers, however, are strongly encouraged to make donations to help us with expenses. In exchange, they receive an official cloisonné designer pin, access to the dance and vaudeville show,  and our gratitude.
  • Many attendees bring a bicycle and a folding chair. This is the best way to get around to the concert sites. A sun umbrella is also useful.
  • Some of the bands are  dressed in 19th Century clothing-and some festival goers do the same.
  • Northfield has fantastic food available from the numerous restaurants and coffee shops. Most of the pubs and restaurants will have live vintage band music in the evenings.
  • Hotels, motels, and B&Bs in Northfield and nearby communities.
  • Dancing! There will be a Vintage Dance at the Northfield Ballroom on Saturday night.
  • Vaudeville!- an evening of slapstick, pet tricks, silent movies with the North Star Cinema Orchestra.

Cannon River in Northfield

Tourist Information

For further tourist information, contact:

Northfield Convention and Visitors Bureau
Toll Free: 800-658-2548

2013 Festival Ensembles

As we did in 2010, we plan on inviting one or two bands that are not based in North America. The rest of the lineup will consist of nationally recognized vintage bands, midwestern vintage ensembles, and an assortment of Minnesota-based brass bands and community bands. Invitations will begin in fall 2012 and  we’ll begin publicizing the roster very early in 2013.

Performance Locations 2013

  • Bridge Square
  • Northfield Ballroom
  • Odd Fellows Park
  • Central Park
  • Way Park
  • Riverside Park
  • Northfield Ballroom
  • Veterans’ Memorial Park
  • Northfield Retirement Center
  • Contented Cow Pub
  • VFW Club
  • J. Grundy’s Rueb’n'Stein
  • Eagle’s Club Hall

And in these nearby communities:

  • Faribault
  • Cannon Falls
  • New Prague
  • Red Wing
  • Chatfield
  • Minneapolis
  • New Ulm

  • The 2013 Vintage Band Festival was held in conjunction with the Historic Brass Society’s Early Brass Festival.The Vintage Band Music Festival is a part of a summer schedule of arts activities in Northfield  which feature graphic arts, dance, theater and music.