About This Event
Opera on the River 2026
"A Festival Evening of Music"
📅 Saturday, July 25, 2026
📍 Lowell Park South, Stillwater, MN
Rain Venue: Trinity Lutheran Church
Join us for a spectacular double-header evening on the banks of the St. Croix River
— two world-class performances, one unforgettable night.
SHOW 1 — Mick Sterling Presents: A Billy Joel State of Mind 🎵 4:45 PM | FREE General Admission
Twin Cities concert producer and vocalist Mick Sterling kicks off the evening with A Billy Joel State of Mind — The Songs of Billy Joel, a high-energy 15-piece tribute show featuring full band, horns, strings, and vocalists. Learn more at www.micksterlingpresents.com.
SHOW 2 — Opera on the River Grand Concert 🎶 7:30 PM | FREE General Admission
The grand finale of the 2026 Summer Series and Minnesota's leading outdoor opera event, drawing more than 3,000 attendees each year. Enjoy beloved opera and musical theatre repertoire performed by a stellar cast of national and regional artists with a chamber orchestra.
Featuring: Meghan Kasanders, soprano Christina Pezzarossi Ramsey, mezzo-soprano Adrian Kramer, tenor Colin Ramsey, bass Andrew Sun, conductor Jeffrey Madison, emcee Chamber orchestra Opera on the River Vocal Competition 1st Place Winner
General admission is free and open to the public for both performances. Bring blankets, chairs, and picnic baskets!
VIP Ticket Options:
🎫 Billy Joel VIP — $55 per person VIP Experience for A Billy Joel State of Mind only. Includes reserved front-and-center seating, cocktail table, and gourmet buffet. VIP gates open at 4:00 PM.
🎫 Opera on the River VIP — $70 per person VIP Experience for the Opera on the River Grand Concert only. Includes reserved front-and-center seating, cocktail table, and gourmet buffet. VIP gates open at 6:45 PM.
🎫🎫 Combined VIP Pass — $100 per person (Best Value — Save 20%!) One ticket, both shows, all night long. Your Combined VIP Pass covers the full VIP Experience for the entire evening — premium front-and-center seating, cocktail tables, and a gourmet buffet for both A Billy Joel State of Mind and the Opera on the River Grand Concert. VIP gates open at 4:00 PM.
🌟 Space is limited — the VIP Experience sells out each year. Reserve your seats today!
About This Event
Opera on the River 2026
"A Festival Evening of Music"
📅 Saturday, July 25, 2026
📍 Lowell Park South, Stillwater, MN
Rain Venue: Trinity Lutheran Church
Join us for a spectacular double-header evening on the banks of the St. Croix River
— two world-class performances, one unforgettable night.
SHOW 1 — Mick Sterling Presents: A Billy Joel State of Mind 🎵 4:45 PM | FREE General Admission
Twin Cities concert producer and vocalist Mick Sterling kicks off the evening with A Billy Joel State of Mind — The Songs of Billy Joel, a high-energy 15-piece tribute show featuring full band, horns, strings, and vocalists. Learn more at www.micksterlingpresents.com.
SHOW 2 — Opera on the River Grand Concert 🎶 7:30 PM | FREE General Admission
The grand finale of the 2026 Summer Series and Minnesota's leading outdoor opera event, drawing more than 3,000 attendees each year. Enjoy beloved opera and musical theatre repertoire performed by a stellar cast of national and regional artists with a chamber orchestra.
Featuring: Meghan Kasanders, soprano Christina Pezzarossi Ramsey, mezzo-soprano Adrian Kramer, tenor Colin Ramsey, bass Andrew Sun, conductor Jeffrey Madison, emcee Chamber orchestra Opera on the River Vocal Competition 1st Place Winner
General admission is free and open to the public for both performances. Bring blankets, chairs, and picnic baskets!
VIP Ticket Options:
🎫 Billy Joel VIP — $55 per person VIP Experience for A Billy Joel State of Mind only. Includes reserved front-and-center seating, cocktail table, and gourmet buffet. VIP gates open at 4:00 PM.
🎫 Opera on the River VIP — $70 per person VIP Experience for the Opera on the River Grand Concert only. Includes reserved front-and-center seating, cocktail table, and gourmet buffet. VIP gates open at 6:45 PM.
🎫🎫 Combined VIP Pass — $100 per person (Best Value — Save 20%!) One ticket, both shows, all night long. Your Combined VIP Pass covers the full VIP Experience for the entire evening — premium front-and-center seating, cocktail tables, and a gourmet buffet for both A Billy Joel State of Mind and the Opera on the River Grand Concert. VIP gates open at 4:00 PM.
🌟 Space is limited — the VIP Experience sells out each year. Reserve your seats today!