Local News

Good-bye to the summer

Shirley’s Park holds Labor Day Weekend concert

NEW ULM -- Clear skies and classic country sounds brought crowds together at Shirley's Park and Country Retreat on Saturday as campers, local residents, and music fans gathered for the campground's annual Labor Day weekend concert.

The free outdoor event offered a well-rounded slate of regional talent, featuring acoustic story-driven country during the afternoon and a full-band rock-and-country set in the evening, alongside local food truck vendors and lakeside recreation.

Jessi Havemeier, manager at Shirley's Park, said the annual gathering continues to serve as a bridge between seasonal residents and the surrounding community.

“There’s a mix,” Havemeier said. “There’s a bunch of public out here, but there’s also a lot of campers as well.”

Havemeier, who has helped coordinate activities at the park for five years, said that community response to the annual concert series has grown steadily, drawing visitors who return each season to enjoy live entertainment along the water. To support the event and offer attendees a keepsake, the park made branded merchandise available for purchase.

“We’ve had merchandise for last year and a half,” Havemeier said. “We just restocked. We got some new shirts this time. We’ve got some pink ones for the little girls.”

Havemeier said that Printwear Graphic made the shirts, adding that the park makes a deliberate effort to keep purchasing local whenever possible.

When it came to selecting the afternoon’s featured artist, Havemeier turned to local buzz.

“She’s just been trending on social media,” Havemeier said of singer-songwriter Kayla Daniels. “We’ve seen her around and reached out, and it just worked out. She’s from Minnesota, just right up the road here in Hanska.”

The music kicked off at 3 p.m. with an acoustic performance by Daniels. Daniels, who grew up in nearby Tracy, Minnesota, recently returned to live in Hanska after several years performing in Nashville.

During her three-hour set, Daniels treated listeners to a mix of classic country covers and storytelling. A highlight of her performance was a rendition of “I Want to Be a Cowboy’s Sweetheart,” complete with traditional yodeling that drew applause from the crowd.

During her time in Tennessee, Daniels played daily on the Broadway strip at historic venues like Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, Rippy’s BBQ, and Honky Tonk Central while focusing on expanding her songwriting catalog.

“I went down there basically to write songs, and I had a publishing deal,” Daniels said. “I didn’t have a record deal. I got a publishing deal, and it was just for a year.”

After gaining valuable experience in the Nashville music scene, Daniels made the move back home to southwest Minnesota. Since returning full-time, she noted that her focus has shifted back to writing and performing throughout the region, where community support for live music remains strong.

“It has been a lot better here since I started doing it full time again,” Daniels said.

Following Daniels' set, the energy picked up as the County Line Band took the stage. Led by frontman and guitarist Brady Moryn, the southern Minnesota group brought a full-band production featuring electric guitar, bass, and drums set under outdoor stage lighting.

The band delivered a versatile repertoire spanning outlaw country classics, ’90s country hits, modern country, and rock favorites that kept the evening crowd entertained well after sunset.

In addition to the live stage entertainment, local food vendors were on hand to feed the crowd throughout the day, including Backstreet Market, Legacy BBQ, and a lemonade stand. Campers in golf carts moved along the access roads as families and visitors gathered near the stage area. Parking was plentiful.

Throughout the afternoon and evening, attendees made full use of the summer weather and waterfront setting. Dozens of concertgoers spread out across the shaded, tree-lined grounds on lawn chairs, folding chairs, and picnic tables to take in the live performances under the canopy of mature oak trees. While many relaxed on the grass, others spent the afternoon swimming, cooling off in the water, or floating nearby. 

The event attracts a variety of spectators who enjoy the music from the water, with pontoon boats, fishing boats, and kayaks often anchoring offshore near the stage area to allow boaters and swimmers to take in the live performances. 

Havemeier described this unique viewing experience, "We've seen people bring their boats up and sit in their boats off offshore, bring kayaks over.”