Festival comes to West End Saturday

Head to the West End of Cloquet on Saturday for a free outdoor, pedestrian-friendly street festival featuring artists, entrepreneurs, shopping and an outdoor food court with live music.

Aimed at giving residents a feel for what the historic West End used to be, the West End Flourish is also a reminder of what it could be in the future.

That’s the goal, said Ivan Hohnstadt, Pine Knot News advertising manager and the orchestrator of Saturday’s second annual West End Flourish event.

“We want people to see and enjoy the West End,” he said.

Avenues B and C will be closed from Broadway to Arch Street from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Nearly 60 vendors are coming.

There’s a car show on Avenue B (entry is only $5; enter from Broadway starting at 10 a.m.). Avenue C will be lined with booths offering information, activities and items for sale, along with exhibitions, live music, and local organizations sharing resources.

The local businesses that already make their home there — from Common Ground at Broadway to the Nest Wellness Studio at 207 Ave. C — invite people to come and see what they have to offer.

Wentworth Park will host several children’s activities, with bouncy houses, Shooting Stars Dance, two Scout troops and a barrel train that will take kids and adults for rides around the park.

Parking is available on adjacent side streets and nearby parks, including Veterans, Dunlap Island and Spafford parks. The festival will be on, rain or shine.