Shellabration will be hosting the 20th anniversary of its local concert events with Bret Michaels, former lead singer for Poison, along with Molly Hatchet and local band Lone Tree Revival.

Tickets will be available the night of the show and will be sold at two entry points. Will call tickets can also be picked up at the two entry gates.

Tickets are $50 the night of the show. Kids 12 and under are admitted free. Tickets can only be purchased with cash and all concessions are cash only. ATMs will be available on site.

Jim Reed, president of Shellabration, Inc, said he expects between 6,400 to 6,800 in attendance.

-Messenger photo by John McBride
Crew members run wiring for the staging area at Harlan and Hazel Rogers Sports Complex for Saturday night's Shellabration concert featuring Bret Michaels.

“I feel comfortable with that number based on past precedence,” said Reed. “But with a stellar weather forecast, maybe we could tip the needle above 7,000. That’s only happened four times in our history.”

Saturday’s concert will be Michaels’ last solo show this summer before he begins a major tour playing in stadiums and arenas with Poison and Motley Crue.

Reed said people coming to Shellabration will see and hear Michaels for as little as $40 a ticket (that was the initial price of tickets), while those going to the stadium concerts will pay $100 or more.

Bret Michaels

Poison, with Michaels as lead singer, has charted hits like “Every Rose Has Its Thorn,” “Nothing But a Good Time,” “Talk Dirty To Me,” “Unskinny Bop,” “I Want Action” and “Fallen Angel.”

-Messenger photo by John McBride
Crew members work to put together the main stage at Harlan and Hazel Rogers Sports Complex for Saturday night's Shellabration concert featuring Bret Michaels.

Michaels starred in “Rock of Love with Bret Michaels” and “Life As I Know It.”

He appeared on “Celebrity Apprentice” and won the competition, raising more than $300,000 for diabetes research in the process.

Molly Hatchet

Molly Hatchet, a southern rock band, is perhaps best known for the song “Flirtin’ With Disaster.”

Between 1978 and 1984, the band also released the hits “Dreams I’ll Never See,” “Whiskey Man,” “Gator Country,” and “Satisfied Man.”

Lone Tree Revival

Lone Tree Revival consists of local musicians. Dan Cassady is on trombone, Tim Miller on trumpet, Steve Nelson on saxophone, Sean Minikis on guitar and vocals, Jeremy Ober on guitar and vocals, Jeremy Pearson on bass and vocals and Dean Davis on drums.

Entry Gates

Gates for the general public will open at 5:30 p.m.

Lone Tree Revival will take the stage at 6 p.m. followed by Molly Hatchet around 7:30 p.m.

Bret Michaels will take the stage around 9:15 p.m.

This year, lights will be used to help direct spectators to seating areas when the sun sets.

Parking Lots

Parking will open at 2 p.m. Again this year, vehicles will exit the venue to the North if parked in the Harlan Rogers lot and to the South if parked in the airport lots Shuttles will run between the airport lots and Harlan Rogers before and after the show.

The main airport lot will be used first. If that is filled, then the lots south of the Air Guard will be used. Handicapped parking will be in the main Rogers parking lot. Drivers with handicapped placards will be directed to those spots. Handicapped seating will also be available near the stage at two different locations.

Buses and RVs may enter the Harlan Rogers lot at 10 a.m. and will be directed to the correct location for parking.

Merchandise

Reed said both Bret Michaels and Molly Hatchet will have merchandise available for sale at the venue. He said historically, Shellabration has been one of the better events for sales according to past artists.

History

The first Shellabration concert was held July 3, 2002, at the Oleson Park Bandshell. The Fab Four, a Beatles tribute group, was the headliner.

Over the years, the list of performers has included The Beach Boys, Three Dog Night, ZZ Top, Sammy Hagar, Chicago, Cheap Trick, 38 Special, Huey Lewis & The News, Styx, Foreigner, and REO Speedwagon.

Sponsorships

Reed added this has been a record year for sponsorships. He attributed that to several factors, including people wanting to get out again after COVID-19, the acts they’ve booked and the weekend date. He also said this being the 20th anniversary of the show was a factor.

“We have great community support that allows us to do a first-class event,” said Reed. “We are able to do it because of a great depth of sponsorships. We have such a great team that adds so many details that make it a great experience.”

Weather alert app

Dylan Hagen with Webster County Emergency Management has created an emergency alert app for this year’s Shellabration event at Harlan Rogers Park.

Anyone that is planning to attend the show this year can simply text Shellabration to 67283 and you will receive real-time weather alerts and updates including watches and warnings. Any other important information can also be sent out through the program.

Anyone who signs up for the alerts will be automatically opted out on June 12, the day after the concert.

Parking information

The Fort Dodge Police Department released the following information for anyone attending the Shellabration Concert at Harlan and Hazel Rogers Sports Complex this Saturday.

Parking

• Parking will be available in the Harlan Rogers Sports Complex main lot, the Fort Dodge Municipal Airport main lot and, if needed, the area south of the airport.

• Handicap parking will be available in the northern portion of the Harlan Rogers hard surfaced lot.

• Bus and large RV parking will be located near the Harlan Rogers main entrance.

• Parking along the shoulder of Nelson Avenue (Webster County Road P56), 170th Street (Webster County Road D14) and 160th Street (the road north of the complex) is prohibited. Any vehicles parked along the hard-surfaced portions of those roads that are deemed traffic hazards will be towed at the owner’s expense.

Departure following the event (approximately 10 p.m to 11:30 p.m.)

• Vehicles parked in the Harlan Rogers lot will be directed north along Nelson Avenue (P56) utilizing both lanes of traffic.

• Those in the west (southbound) lane will be directed west along 160th Street.

• Those in the east (northbound) lane will be directed north along Nelson Ave.

• Vehicles parked at the Fort Dodge Municipal Airport will be directed south along Nelson Ave. using the southbound lane only.

• During this time, all southbound traffic approaching 160th street at Nelson Avenue will be directed westbound until the area has cleared.

• All northbound traffic approaching 170th Street (D14) at Nelson Avenue will be directed eastbound until the area is cleared.

Other information

• No personal vehicles will be allowed north to Harlan Rogers to pick up attendees.

• Clearly identified cabs and shuttle buses will be the only vehicles able to enter for pickup along Nelson Avenue from the south. Cabs must be equipped with top lights indicating they are taxi cabs to be allowed north to Harlan.

• The police department would like to remind attendees to be aware of pedestrian traffic when exiting the area and those not attending the concert are urged to use alternate routes if possible.

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