Staff photo by Clay Schuldt Transit Authority: A Chicago Tribute band plays “Saturday in the Park” for Thursday’s pre-blast audience. See more photos on page 8A.

NEW ULM–Pre-celebration for Bavarian Blast 2019 started Thursday evening with performances from Heide & the Good Ole Boys, Transit Authority: A Tribute to Chicago and Rumours & Dreams: The Music of Fleetwood Mac. 

By 7 p.m. approximately 500 people had come through the festival gates despite the humid weather. Bavarian Blast board member Dodie Wendinger said it was a good start.

“I think it is going well,” she said. “It is hot, but people are coming in left and right.”

Friday marks the official start of Bavarian Blast. Music Starts on the main tent stage at 11 a.m. with the Concord Singers, followed by Squeezebox with Mollie B, Alpensterne and Bockfest Boys. The Wild Angels will play at 7:30 p.m. and Neil Diamond cover band “I am, He Said” will perform at 10:30 p.m.