On Thursday, Sept. 5th, the fourth annual Bridge Bash took place on the Veteran’s Memorial Bridge between Fargo and Moorhead. The street was filled with college students, friends, and family who came together to enjoy the local food trucks, live music, free games, and photo booth provided by Jefferson Lines.
The event’s live music performance was by SLAMABAMA, a music group out of Birmingham, Alabama who covers a long list of country, pop and rock songs. Their band consists of four musicians; Rosanna Juliano as lead vocalist, Jasper Juliano as Lead guitarist/vocalist, Dennis Gilpatrick on the bass and vocals, and Alec Garcia on the drums. They played songs such as “Chicken Fried” by The Zac Brown Band, “Lover” by Taylor Swift, “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X, and “Take Me Home Country Roads” by John Denver. The music group has one album of their own, “Planting Flowers on the Moon,” which includes ten original songs.
While attendees listened to the live band, food was provided by a variety of food trucks from the local area. They included Poke Bowl, Twisted Spork Mobile Food, AfroLatino Tacos, Northern Brain Breeze, and more. All college students were admitted for free and many of our fellow Cobbers attended the big event.
Sophomore Kaiah Sotebeer was there for her first time.
“I really like it—it is fun to see the different schools come together. Also, getting good food and free stuff,” she said.
Another Concordia student, Mary Renee was there with her friends for the second year.
“I like the free stuff and time with my friends,” she said.
The Bridge Bash is a way for the community to come together and a great back to school event for students from the tri-college area. Along the bridge were a variety of businesses advertising and bringing people in by having free pens, clips, and multiple drawings for a chance to win items. The event is a way for people to support local businesses and get more information about their services.
The event would not be possible without sponsors and one of this year’s was Matt’s Automotive Service Center, located in Fargo, ND and Moorhead, MN. They focus significantly on customer service, being a family business, and so they try to end every customer with a high five or a hug. There are also a variety of women in their business, which you do not see as often enough says Alejandra Saavedra, a marketing assistant at Matt’s Automotive Service Center.
This is their third year being at the Bridge Bash and this year they decided to sponsor the event.
“We wanted to support Moorhead the way they have been supporting us,” Saavedra said. They also wanted to make sure students who do not know about them get the chance to learn more about their business and the variety of services they provide.
The event was put on by the Downtown Community Partnership, which is a nonprofit development corporation for the downtown district including both Fargo, ND, and Moorhead, MN. Their mission statement is “to bring together and support the businesses, promoters, advocates, and visionaries of historic Downtown Fargo and its future by connecting and partnering within our community and beyond,” and their vision is “for Downtown to be a thriving, vibrant, innovative, sustainable heart of the region.”
This is why so many businesses can be found at the Bridge Bash. They are given the opportunity to interact with their community and provide more information about their business.
Not only does Downtown Community Partnership put on the Bridge Bash, but they do other events such as the Red River Market, the Pens and Pints Writing Crawl, the SoMa Block Party, Corks and Canvas-Art and Wine Walk, and many more. You can find these events listed on either their Facebook page, Downtown Fargo, or on their website at https://downtownfargo.com/events/.
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