David Harris will be back in Balaton on Saturday for an encore.
David Harris? Who is this David Harris and why has he been in Balaton before?
He is an Emmy-award winner comedian from the Minneapolis area who performed in Balaton years ago for the Balaton Sportsman’s Club Fall Fun Night, and he is the headliner for Saturday’s “Balaton Bash,” a celebration put on buy the Balaton Area Chamber of Commerce.
“I Googled comedians in Minnesota, and his name was on the list, so I said, ‘Sure, I’ll try him out,’” Chamber President Brita Fricke said. “You want someone adult-friendly, not really R-rated. I called him up, and he asked if I knew who he was. I said no, and he said he was in our town, seven years ago maybe. He enjoyed being here years ago and was happy to come back.”
It’s been some time since the Chamber banquet has had entertainment, and while Harris will certainly put on a good show, the main purpose of the evening is to shine a light on some of the town’s outstanding residents.
“It’s a good night for the community to get together,” said Fricke. “We have people from different organizations give us an update on everything Balaton. You’re going to hear a little about
• ‘BASH’ IN BALATON
What: “Balaton Bash”
When: 5 p.m.
Saturday, April 11
Where: Balaton Community Center
Tickets: $30 at the door, or $200 for a table of 8.
Balaton and what’s been happening. We hear from our fire department, EDA, the Balaton Area Community Foundation, and we hear from our mayor or a city councilman.”
The most important part of the night, Fricke said, comes when the Chamber honors some special citizens, such as a volunteer who stood out, and some who rose above to make a difference in 2025.
“We have so many people in Balaton that have done so much for our community,” she said. “It’s just a time for Balaton to reflect; we ask for people to write in their nominations. It will be really exciting to see who this year’s winners are.”
And yes, everyone is invited. “We have different events for the kids, but as far as getting together and having a night out for adults in our town, we don’t offer a whole lot as a Chamber,” Fricke said. “We want to offer a night where adults can come and have a good night out. We’ve changed the name to the ‘Balaton Bash,’ because we’ve heard some remarks in the past like, ‘Oh, I thought it was just for Chamber members.’ No, it’s for everybody.”
The “Bash” at the Balaton Community Center begins at 5 p.m. with social hour, followed by dinner and the awards ceremony. Harris will take the stage at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the golf course, bank or from Fricke. Tickets are $30 per person, or $200 for a table (eight seats). Balaton Bay Golf Course is catering and will serve roast beef and loaded mashed potatoes with all the fixins, as well as dessert, of course.
