St. Paul’s Grand Old Day could turn into Grand Old Days this June.

The Grand Avenue Business Association is proposing that the annual daylong street celebration, which typically takes place on a Sunday, kick off on Saturday, according to the association’s executive director, Jon Perrone. Related Articles St. Stanislaus’ longtime priest the Rev. John Clay leaves legacy of love. He died Sunday at age 94

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Saturday would be more like Sunday’s tamer cousin, Perrone said, with events scheduled only inside Grand Avenue businesses and live music limited to two locations: the parking lots at Billy’s on Grand and the Wild Onion. The street would not be shut down on Saturday. Activities would take place from noon to 9 p.m.

The giant block party would unfold as usual on Sunday, although the association is hoping to change the closing time for festival gardens that day from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Music still would end at 6 p.m., as would the rest of the festivities.

“Saturday would really just be for the businesses on the avenue,” Perrone said, comparing the vibe to the Grand Meander that takes place during the holiday season. “There would be shopping, events inside businesses, sidewalk sales.”

The changes, Perrone said, would help the association pay for more police and restrooms during the celebration. It also will make it easier to clear the streets on Sunday.

“That way we can empty out the avenue first and then the gardens second. …That gives us more oversight of people exiting (the festival),” Perrone said.

Grand Old Day brings in about 60 percent of the Grand Avenue Business Association’s annual budget. It makes most of its money at the free event by charging for 21-plus wristbands to access the festival gardens inside the event’s entertainment district.

None of this year’s changes can occur without approval from the Summit Hill Association, which will vote on the proposed changes Thursday evening, said Mark Peschel, president of the Summit Hill Association.

The Summit Hill Association is operated by a 21-member board and serves as the city’s district council for that area.

The council is hosting a public meeting at 7 p.m. Monday at Linwood Community Center to gauge residents’ sentiments toward the changes. Peschel said he has no idea what kind of turnout to expect.

“It’s hard to say. We are having the meeting because when we talked about this at our last board meeting there were clearly people who thought this was a big deal,” Peschel said. “I don’t honestly know if we will have people come out in vocal opposition or not. … I kind of doubt it will be as contentious as the parking meters on Grand, but who knows.”

One potential concern is that residents will oppose having the disruptions associated with the event spread over two days.

Way back when, the celebration reportedly spread over three days, Perrone said, adding that at some point in its history it was reduced to two days and then finally to one. He said he didn’t know when those changes took place.