St. Norbert’s Knights on the Fox kicks off 20th season next week
By Janelle Fisher
City Pages Editor
A summertime tradition now two-decades in the making, St. Norbert College’s Knights on the Fox concert series will kick off its 2023 season this Tuesday, July 11, with a performance from The Cougars.
This year’s concert series, Community Engagement Manager Annika Osell said, is something to celebrate — and for more reasons than one.
“Knights on the Fox is a summer concert series that has been a longtime favorite of community members since 2003,” she said. “This year, we’re celebrating our 20th season of Knights on the Fox. It’s definitely something that many consider to be a beloved summer tradition. We have lots of dedicated concert attendees every year.”
Knights on the Fox’s status as a beloved summer tradition was solidified by its dedicated attendees this spring, when community members voted the concert series into fifth place across the nation.
“This spring we were nominated for the USA Today 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards for 2023,” Osell said. “There’s a variety of different categories, and one of them is the best outdoor concert series. Through March and April, folks voted and we were happy to place fifth in the nation… So not only are we celebrating 20 years of Knights on the Fox, but we’re also celebrating being voted number five.”
As an alumni and now employee of St. Norbert College, Osell said she is also celebrating being a part of making sure an event she once enjoyed attending continues on for years to come.
“Knights on the Fox was a concert series that I attended growing up,” she said. “And now to be able to continue bringing entertainment and live music to our community at a place that is special to me is very exciting. I’m happy to continue the tradition moving forward into the future.”
Each year, Osell said the musicians selected to perform in the concert series represents a balance of new and upcoming bands and old favorites.
“I try to keep tabs on bands that I hear other places and also take recommendations if anybody has a band that they’ve heard and were like, ‘They would be a good fit for Knights on the Fox,’” she said. “We’re always looking to explore new bands, but we also want to lift up the fan favorites.”
This year’s line-up is no exception.
The Cougars, a longtime fan-favorite according to Osell, will kick off the series July 11.
St. Norbert alumni Garrett Thorn will is scheduled for the July 18 concert.
July 25, Business and Community Engagement Night, will feature a performance by FBI and the Untouchable Horns.
August 1 will bring the country and classic rock stylings of Fire on High.
The final concert of the season and Alumni Night, August 8, will host a performance by Brass Differential.
Because of the concert’s location on St. Norbert’s campus, Knights on the Fox concerts can be enjoyed both from on land and from on the water.
Regardless of how you’re arriving, Osell has some tips and tricks for making the most of your experience.
“If you’re arriving via land… parking lots are available off of Third Street and we also have handicap parking near Old St. Joseph Church,” she said. “People are welcome to bring lawn chairs and blankets, as well as carry-ins. Carry-ins are welcome, so if you want to bring a picnic and food and drinks, you’re more than welcome to do so and enjoy that before and throughout the concert. We also have our on-campus restaurants that will be open, so if people aren’t able to bring anything, they’re able to purchase food, snacks and beverages.”
For those arriving on the water, the docks at the Thompson Marina will be open, but Osell said aquatic attendees should be mindful of the locks schedule.
“If people are arriving or enjoying the concert from the banks of the Fox River, one thing to note is the De Pere locks will be closing promptly at 8z;30 p.m., so folks who are arriving via boat, that might impact them,” she said. “They’ll want to keep in mind the hours of the locks on Tuesday evenings.”
Regardless of how you get there, Osell said the Knights on the Fox experience is the same — community members coming together to enjoy the music and each other’s company.
“It’s just an opportunity for community members to come to campus and really enjoy a lot of entertainment on campus,” she said. “There’s so many different opportunities within the community and we’re glad that people choose to come and enjoy music on campus during the summer months… It’s exciting to see people coming to campus, bringing their families and meeting up with friends to enjoy the summer and being together… It’s just a really fun, casual atmosphere. I hope people will consider joining us this summer.”
All Knights on the Fox concerts are free to attend and begin at 6:30 p.m.
More details about the Knights on the Fox concert series can be found at snc.edu/community/communityprograms/kotf.html