Community Picnic ‘Opener By George’ Planned For Governor’s Fishing Opener

ST. CLOUD - There's less than two months to go until the Governor's Fishing Opener comes to the St. Cloud Metro Area. The 70th annual event runs from Thursday, May 11th through Sunday, May 13th.

Spokesman John Libert says one big community event that everyone can attend is the "Opener By George" picnic that Friday afternoon.

Other than just music, we're going to have food for anywhere up to 8,000 people.  We're going to  have chicken.  We're going to have a well-fed, happy, concert going on.

Libert says that entire event will be free. It starts at 4:00 p.m. that day.

Hundreds of media will also be in town doing their radio shows early that Friday morning

Minnesota's fishing opener officially begins at 12:01 a.m. that Saturday, but the Governor will be having his send-off ceremony around 7:45 a.m. that morning.