If you’re looking for a great weekend of music while benefitting the Cambridge Fire Department, consider attending the fourth-annual Fire on the Rum musical festival.
The Fire on the Rum will be held June 10-11 at the Isanti County Fairgrounds in Cambridge. The organizer of the event, the Cambridge Fire Relief Association, is the fundraising entity of the Cambridge Fire Department. Funds raised from Fire on the Rum go toward the purchase of equipment, training and other fire department sponsored events.
General admission tickets for both nights is $40. A general admission ticket for only June 10 is $20, and a general admission ticket for only June 11 is $30. A general admission ticket for both nights for those ages 13-20 is $15.
Premium and primitive camping sites are available at the fairgrounds during the festival. The camping gate opens at noon on June 10. For more information on camping and pricing, visit www.fireontherum.com.
“Ticket sales are going really well, and it appears we are selling more than last year at this point,” said Cambridge Fire Department Capt. Dave Matchinsky. “We have tickets sales from all across the area, and as far as Chicago. We are excited about this year’s event.”
The lineup for Friday, June 10, includes The Plott Hounds at 6 p.m., The Devon
Worley Band at 8 p.m. and Chris Hawkey at
10 p.m. The main gate opens at 4 p.m. on
June 10.
The lineup for Saturday, June 11, includes The District at 5 p.m., The Farmer’s Daughters at 7 p.m., The New Black 7 at 9 p.m. and Josh Thompson at 11 p.m. The main gate opens at 3 p.m. on June 11. The band Bad Girlfriends will perform on both days between sets on the Beer Barn Stage.
“Some of the bands we have this year we have had in years past and have had great response from them,” Matchinsky said. “The Devon Worley Band is full of energy, and Chris Hawkey will make a great headliner on Friday night. Josh Thompson on Saturday night will also be a terrific show.”
New this year is an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast beginning at 9 a.m. June 11 at the fairgrounds, being held with the Dalbo Fire Department. There will also be a bloody mary and screwdriver bar available during breakfast. 
Also new this year is the first firefighter waterball tournament. Teams of three firefighters and regional fire departments will be participating in this tournament, which also starts at 9 a.m.
During the Fire on the Rum, new this year will be the selling of 16-ounce canned beer and 16-ounce koozies. There will also be a variety of food and merchandise vendors on-site, as well as the return of Oscar the mechanical bull from North Country Bull Rides. An ATM will be on site, and concertgoers are allowed to bring lawn chairs. No outside food or beverages are allowed inside the event.
Matchinsky said this year the event has once again teamed up with the Cambridge-Isanti Area Softball Association Cambridge Softball Classic. There will be a shuttle bus available for ballplayers to get to and from the festival.
For discount Cambridge Classic team ticket packages and camping information, contact Fire on the Rum through its Facebook page for a special promotional code for online tickets.
Matchinsky noted the major sponsors of this year’s event are Leaf’s Towing, Chilson Jewelers and Zylstra Harley-Davidson. He also wants to thank the following for providing assistance during the event: Isanti County Sheriff’s Office, Cambridge Police Department, Isanti County Safety and Rescue, Isanti County Mounted Patrol, Isanti County Explorers, Cambridge Police Reserves, and Stacy-Lent Fire Department and Allina Ambulance for providing medical services.
For more information on Fire on the Rum and to order tickets online, visit www.fireontherum.com. The Isanti County Fairgrounds is located at 3101 Highway 95 NE, Cambridge.