MidwestWeekends.com — Your Travel Guide to the Upper Midwest

Events for "Minneapolis, MN"

January

  • Art Shanty Projects (Jan. 20 – 21)

    Minneapolis, MN

    This year, frozen Lake Harriet hosts two dozen artist-designed ice houses and lots of fun art antics. Check for scheduled events and ice conditions.

     

     


  • Winter Trails Day (Jan. 20)

    Minneapolis, MN

    Play outdoors on the beach at Fort Snelling State Park, near the airport. Try such sports as snowshoeing, skiing, skijoring, ice-fishing, quinzee-building, ice-sculpting and more.

    It's free and hosted by the Mississippi Park Connection and Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, and a vehicle sticker is required.


  • Super Bowl Live fan festival (Jan. 26 – Feb 4)

    Minneapolis, MN

    The free festival on Nicollet Mall, between 6th and 12th streets, features concerts, ice sculptures, a life-size snow globe for photos and drum and dance presentations every day at 5 p.m.

    There's also an 800-foot zip line across the Mississippi River. Online tickets sold out in less than 36 hours, but some walk-up tickets will be available.


  • Art Shanty Projects (Jan. 27 – 28)

    Minneapolis, MN

    This year, frozen Lake Harriet hosts two dozen artist-designed ice houses and lots of fun art antics. Check for scheduled events and ice conditions.

     

     


  • Art Sled Rally (Jan. 27)

    Minneapolis, MN

    Watch sledders or ride down a decorated hill at Powderhorn Park in your own wacky sled, which you can make at home or at free workshops at Powderhorn Park Community Center. There's also live music and hot chocolate.


  • City of Lakes Loppet (Jan. 27 – Feb 4)

    Minneapolis, MN

    For recreational skiers, the highlight of this big cross-country ski festival is the Feb. 3 Luminary Loppet on Lake of the Isles, with glowing ice pillars and "ruins.'' Afterward, there's a tent party with music.

    There are also classical and free-style races, ski games for children, a snow-sculpture contest and orienteering, ice-cycle, speedskating, snowshoeing and skijoring races, plus a beer garden and vendor village.

     

     


  • Lake Harriet Kite Festival (Jan. 27)

    Minneapolis, MN

    In addition to kite-flying, this event on popular Lake Harriet includes horse-drawn wagon rides, kids' ice fishing, arts, music and roasted marshmallows.


February

  • Art Shanty Projects (Feb. 3 – 4)

    Minneapolis, MN

    This year, frozen Lake Harriet hosts two dozen artist-designed ice houses and lots of fun art antics. Check for scheduled events and ice conditions.

     

     


  • Art Shanty Projects (Feb. 10 – 11)

    Minneapolis, MN

    This year, frozen Lake Harriet hosts two dozen artist-designed ice houses and lots of fun art antics. Check for scheduled events and ice conditions.

     

     


March

  • Easter at the Castle (Mar. 31)

    Minneapolis, MN

    The American Swedish Institute hosts an Easter egg hunt in the 33-room Turnblad Mansion. There will also be crafts, storytelling and Easter tree-decorating. Reserve by March 23.


April

  • Minneapolis/St. Paul International Film Festival (Apr. 12 – 28)

    Minneapolis, MN

    More than 350 films from more than 60 countries are shown at St. Anthony Main Theatre on the Minneapolis riverfront and at other venues.


  • Spring Outdoor Adventure Expo (Apr. 27 – 29)

    Minneapolis, MN

    A spring kickoff for outdoor enthusiasts, with presentations on outdoor adventures and destinations and a gear sale and auction of used canoes and kayaks.


May

  • May Day Parade and Festival (May 6)

    Minneapolis, MN

    This earthy, lighthearted Sunday-afternoon event in south Minneapolis' Powderhorn Park features the giant puppets of Heart of the Beast Theatre and a people's parade to the park.

     


  • Art-A-Whirl Studio and Gallery Tour (May 18 – 20)

    Minneapolis, MN

    More than 500 artists take part in this tour of 60 locations in the northeast Minneapolis arts district.

     


June

  • Northern Spark (Jun 15 – 16)

    Minneapolis, MN

    This year, the nighttime arts festival expands to two nights, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., with venues in downtown Minneapolis. 


  • Stone Arch Bridge Festival (Jun 15 – 17)

    Minneapolis, MN

    On the banks of the Mississippi, 250 artists show their wares around St. Anthony Main. There are also concerts, art for kids and a car show.


July

  • Red White and Boom (Jul 3 – 4)

    Minneapolis, MN

    There's live music and a movie Tuesday night. On the Fourth, there's a half-marathon, relay and 5K in the morning, and music and family activities from 6 to 10 p.m., followed by fireworks.

    Festivities are along the riverfront across from downtown.

     


  • Basilica Block Party (Jul 6 – 7)

    Minneapolis, MN

    Praise the Loud at this ticketed rock-music fest at the Basilica of St. Mary on the edge of downtown. 


  • Aquatennial (Jul 18 – 21)

    Minneapolis, MN

    The City of Lakes holds a Torchlight Parade, water-ski shows and Saturday fireworks.


  • ArtBike + ArtCar Parade (Jul 21)

    Minneapolis, MN

    Decorated bikes, cars and one Couchmobile will circle Lake Harriet at 6 p.m. Everyone is welcome to bring a decorated conveyance and join the parade; meet at 5 p.m. at the Rose Garden.


August

  • Uptown Art Fair (Aug. 3 – 5)

    Minneapolis, MN

    This large juried art fair in the Uptown neighborhood draws crowds. Use a Nice Ride bike or download a free bus/train pass to avoid congestion.


  • Powderhorn Art Fair (Aug. 4 – 5)

    Minneapolis, MN

    This smaller art festival in Powderhorn Park, in south Minneapolis, is not far from the big Uptown Art Fair.


  • Twin Cities Polish Festival (Aug. 10 – 12)

    Minneapolis, MN

    This celebration of Polish culture is on the St. Anthony Main riverfront across from downtown, with music, art, food and free polka lessons.


September

  • Monarch Festival (Sep. 8)

    Minneapolis, MN

    This festival at Lake Nokomis celebrates the monarch migration from Minnesota to Mexico and includes a costume parade, music, dance, art activities and monarch games.


  • Minneapolis Bike Tour (Sep. 16)

    Minneapolis, MN

    Ride 16, 25 or 32 miles on parkways along the Mississippi and the Chain of Lakes. Start and finish is Boom Island, along the river in northeast Minneapolis; there's a party afterward with food, music and beer.


November

  • Art Attack (Nov. 2 – 4)

    Minneapolis, MN

    In the northeast arts district, 250 visual artists team with musicians and writers for this free festival.


  • Outdoor Adventure Expo (Nov. 16 – 18)

    Minneapolis, MN

    The expo at the Midwest Mountaineering store on the West Bank includes dozens of speakers and seminars about skiing, sled-dog racing and ice-climbing as well as camping, backpacking and other year-round adventures.


  • Holidazzle (Nov. 23 – 25)

    Minneapolis, MN

    The fifth year of a downtown holiday village will be in Loring Park and feature free admission, with entertainment that includes ice-skating, holiday movies and band and choir concerts.

    There are fireworks at 7 p.m. the first Friday and the next four Saturdays.

     

     


  • Holidazzle (Nov. 29 – Dec 2)

    Minneapolis, MN

    The fifth year of a downtown holiday village will be in Loring Park and feature free admission, with entertainment that includes ice-skating, holiday movies and band and choir concerts.

    There are fireworks at 7 p.m. the first Friday and the next four Saturdays.

     

     


December

  • Holidazzle (Dec. 6 – 9)

    Minneapolis, MN

    The fifth year of a downtown holiday village will be in Loring Park and feature free admission, with entertainment that includes ice-skating, holiday movies and band and choir concerts.

    There are fireworks at 7 p.m. the first Friday and the next four Saturdays.

     

     


  • Holidazzle (Dec. 13 – 16)

    Minneapolis, MN

    The fifth year of a downtown holiday village will be in Loring Park and feature free admission, with entertainment that includes ice-skating, holiday movies and band and choir concerts.

    There are fireworks at 7 p.m. the first Friday and the next four Saturdays.

     

     


  • Holidazzle (Dec. 20 – 23)

    Minneapolis, MN

    The fifth year of a downtown holiday village will be in Loring Park and feature free admission, with entertainment that includes ice-skating, holiday movies and band and choir concerts.

    There are fireworks at 7 p.m. the first Friday and the next four Saturdays.