Arts festivals 2020
January
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(Jan. 18 – 19)Art Shanty Projects
Minneapolis, MNFrozen Lake Harriet hosts two dozen artist-designed ice houses and lots of fun art antics. Check for scheduled events and ice conditions.
April
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(Apr. 2 – 9)Wisconsin Film Festival
Madison, WISee 150 independent films from Wisconsin and around the world in seven theaters in and around State Street.
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(Apr. 24 – 26)Bluff Country Studio Art Tour
Northeast IA/Southeast, MNTake a spring drive through southeast Minnesota and northeast Iowa and visit artists in and around Winona, Lanesboro, Spring Grove and Harmony in Minnesota and Decorah in Iowa.
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(Apr. 24 – 26)Behind the Arts Studio Tour
Racine and Kenosha, WIVisit more than 85 artists at 45 studios, in Racine on Saturday and in Kenosha on Sunday. On Friday evening, there's a Preview Party.
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(Apr. 24 – 26)St. Paul Art Crawl
St. Paul, MNTour the studios of more than 300 artists in 17 buildings in the Lowertown and downtown neighborhoods.
This year, it's a virtual crawl.
May
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(May 1 – 3)Earth Arts Spring Art Tour
Upper St. Croix Valley, WIVisit artists at 28 studios and sites in and around St. Croix Falls, Osceola and Amery.
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(May 15 – 17)Art-A-Whirl Studio and Gallery Tour
Minneapolis, MNMore than 500 artists take part in this tour of 60 locations in the northeast Minneapolis arts district.
In 2020, the festival is online.
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(May 29 – 30)Street Faire at the Lakes
Detroit Lakes, MN
June
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(Jun 5 – 7)Fresh Art Spring Tour
Lake Pepin, WI
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(Jun 5 – 7)Spring Art Tour
Mount Horeb, WIArtists open their studios in Mount Horeb and other towns in the Wisconsin River valley: Mazomanie, Black Earth, Cross Plains, Blue Mounds and Verona.
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(Jun 5 – 7)Iowa Arts Festival
Iowa City, IAThis free downtown festival features an art show, a Global Village, a Culinary Row and music and dance. Sunday is Children's Day, with 10 booths of hands-on activities.
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(Jun 13 – 14)Wells Street/Old Town art fairs
Chicago, ILTogether, the Wells Street Art Festival and nearby Old Town Art Fair two fairs have more than 500 exhibitors and draw 110,000 visitors.
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(Jun 26 – 28)Des Moines Arts Festival
Des Moines, IAThis big, juried arts fair at Western Gateway Park downtown includes street theater, live music and a film festival.
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(Jun 27 – 28)Afton Strawberry Festival
Afton, MNThis village on the St. Croix River offers an art fair, music, games, raptor demos and a strawberry shortcake-eating contest.
July
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(Jul 11 – 12)Phelps Mill Festival
Phelps, MNThere's a juried arts and crafts fair, children's activities and music in this bucolic, tucked-away park along the Otter Tail River, next to an 1889 brick and clapboard mill that's open for tours.
The hamlet of Phelps is just west of Otter Tail Lake and north of Underwood.
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(Jul 11 – 12)Art Fair On/Off the Square
Madison, WI
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(Jul 11 – 12)Grand Marais Arts Festival
Grand Marais, MNThis juried art show along the Lake Superior harbor includes children's activities, art demonstrations, a pie social and live music.
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(Jul 17 – 19)Highland Fest
St. Paul, MNThis street fair in St. Paul's Highland Park neighborhood includes an arts fair, music, carnival rides, wiener-dog races and an all-Ford car and truck show.
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(Jul 18)Stockholm Art Fair
Stockholm, WIThis hamlet on Lake Pepin, a favorite day trip destination for Twin Citians, becomes a shopping mecca during this big fair.
August
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(Aug. 1 – 2)Powderhorn Art Fair
Minneapolis, MNThis juried art festival in Powderhorn Park, in south Minneapolis, attracts more than 200 artists and is not far from the big Uptown Art Fair, on the same weekend.
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(Aug. 7 – 9)Uptown Art Fair
Minneapolis, MNThis 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.
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(Aug. 14 – 16)Oronoco Gold Rush
Oronoco, MNThe antiques show and flea market in this friendly little village just north of Rochester off U.S. 52 includes more than 400 vendors and 1,200 booths. There's also pancakes for breakfast, homemade pie and music.
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(Aug. 21 – 23)Edina Art Fair
Edina, MNThe juried show in this posh southern Minneapolis suburb draws 375 exhibitors and 60,000 people.
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(Aug. 28 – 30)Artstreet
Green Bay, WIArtists, performers and craft and food stands fill streets downtown near the Fox River.
September
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(Sep. 26 – 27)Spirit of the St. Croix Art Festival
Hudson, WIMusic, food and a juried art show along the St. Croix River, in Lakefront Park.
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(Sep. 26 – 27)Stone Arch Bridge Festival
Minneapolis, MNOn 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.
Moved ahead from Father's Day weekend.
October
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(Oct. 2 – 4)Northeast Iowa Artists' Studio Tour
Decorah area, IADrive through bluff country to see 56 artists at 43 sites around Decorah, Burr Oak, St. Lucas, Waukon, West Union, Cresco, New Albin, Lansing, Elgin and Clermont.
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(Oct. 3 – 4)Rivertown Fall Art Festival
Stillwater, MNThis juried arts festival along the banks of the St. Croix River includes music and food vendors.
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(Oct. 16 – 18)Southwest Wisconsin Fall Art Tour
Southwest, WIThis popular studio tour includes artists at studios between Mineral Point, Spring Green, Dodgeville and Baraboo.
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(Oct. 24 – 25)Earth Wood & Fire Artist Tour
Lake Mills, WI
November
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(Nov. 14 – 15)Art & Gift Fair
Madison, WIThis event at the Museum of Contemporary Art and Overture Center features fine art, music, treats and the Rediscovered Art & Treasures Sale.