Minneapolis Events

Events

Event & Venue	Date (choose)
Recommended events

Ten Second Film Festival The Soap Factory	Sat., July 4	University	Festivals Film Fourth of July
It's hard to tell a complete story in only 10 seconds. Okay, actually, it's really, really hard. Think about some of the biggest Hollywood films ever. They are posterior-bruising long. For example, the Lord of the Rings Trilogy clocks in at an astounding 9.3 hours. In fact, nine of the top ten... More >>

TCBC's 28th Annual Watermelon Bike Ride Deluxe Corporation	Sat., July 4, 7:30am	Shoreview	Outdoors Sports - Participatory
Over in Shoreview, Twin Cities Biking Club's 28th Annual Watermelon Bike Ride will begin at 7:30 a.m. at the Deluxe Corporation where riders can sign up for 15-, 25-, and 55-mile routes for $30 per person (under 18 are free). Bikers can also enjoy a picnic lunch and snacks provided. For more... More >>

Tour D'Amico Preserve Village Shopping Center	Sat., July 4, 8:00am-4:00pm		Outdoors Sports - Participatory
Looking for something sporty to do this weekend before firing up the grill? This scenic bike ride should do the trick. Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the Tour D'Amico features 28-, 45-, and 65-mile routes throughout the western Twin Cities suburbs. Bikers should meet at the... More >>

Fantastic Fourth Minneapolis Sculpture Garden	Sat., July 4, 10:00am-3:00pm	Minneapolis (Downtown)	Family Events Festivals Fourth of July Outdoors
Part Free First Saturday, part Fourth of July celebration, the event this Saturday at Walker Art Center welcomes Minnesotans of all ages to enjoy the beauty of the Sculpture Garden. Decorate your bikes beforehand and ride them down to the Spoonbridge and Cherry at noon to participate in the Art... More >>

Farmers' Fourth of July Oliver H. Kelley Farm	Sat., July 4, 10:00am-5:00pm	Outstate	Family Events Festivals Fourth of July History Outdoors
The Fourth of July isn't just about drinking beer and watching glittery fireworks explode in the sky while Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA" blares from a radio. The holiday is as much about what America was as what it is now and what it will become. History geeks can celebrate a time when... More >>

Independence Day Celebration Historic Fort Snelling	Sat., July 4, 10:00am-5:00pm	Highland Park	Family Events Fourth of July History
Historic Fort Snelling is throwing a patriotic birthday party for history buffs. Guests can enjoy this an old-fashioned celebration marked with toasts, theater, old-time games, and dancing with historic characters. Special cannon salutes will give new meaning to red, white, and boom. More >>

St. Louis Park Fireworks Aquila Park	Sat., July 4, 10:00am	St. Louis Park	Fourth of July
Concessions and live music will be found at Aquila Park (www.stlouispark.org) at 10 p.m. They also wisely warn celebrants not to bring their dogs to the fireworks show, so leave Skippy at home. (photo by Dano) More >>

Rosefest Fireworks Central Park	Sat., July 4, 11:00am	Roseville	Fourth of July
Rosefest concludes with a daylong celebration in Central Park. The event starts at 11 a.m. with kids' activities, live music, and food until the fireworks light the sky at 10 p.m. over Lake Bennett. (photo by dcJohn) More >>

Red, White, and Boom! Main Street	Sat., July 4, 6:00pm-10:00pm	University	Family Events Festivals Fourth of July Outdoors
While the perennially epic fireworks display at Minneapolis's Red, White, and Boom might stir up feelings of patriotism and grandeur, the most quintessentially American aspect of the festival will be onstage rather than in the sky. Two musical acts slated to appear at the Father Hennepin Bluffs... More >>

Taste of Minnesota: Elvis Costello & the Imposters Harriet Island	Sat., July 4, 6:00pm	St. Paul (Downtown)	Music
In the past year Elvis Costello has collaborated with a number of artists ranging from Fall Out Boy to Jenny Lewis, but in taking some time for himself, the legendary singer-songwriter recently released a collection of new songs, Secret, Profane & Sugarcane. The roots-based album sways between... More >>

41st Manitou Days Fireworks Show Memorial Beach	Sat., July 4, 10:00pm	White Bear Lake	Fourth of July
The 41st Annual Manitou Days continues with a party at Memorial Beach where families can enjoy activities and fireworks at the sparkly hour of, yep, you guessed it, 10 p.m. (photo by travlinman43) More >>

Blaine's Blazin' Fourth Fireworks Spectacular National Sports Center	Sat., July 4, 10:00pm	Blaine	Family Events Festivals Fourth of July Outdoors
Not interested in fighting traffic and crowds to sit on concrete and watch fireworks with drunk city folk? No worries. Plenty of community parks are hosting small to moderate parties and humble to spectacular fireworks displays to dazzle your eye rather than crush your patriotism. Blaine's... More >>

Africa! Minnesota Zoo	Daily from Sat., May 23 until Mon., September 7	Apple Valley	Family Events
Did you know that ostriches do not bury their heads in the sand? Or that zebra stripes are unique like human fingerprints? How about that giraffes are the insomniacs of the savannah, needing only about 20 minutes of deep sleep a night? These are just a few of the fun facts visitors can learn at... More >>

Frontier Preachers The Soap Factory	Daily from Sat., June 6 until Sun., July 26	University	Art Art - Galleries
In "Frontier Preachers," 11 artists from New Orleans reexamine the landscape surrounding their portion of the Mighty Mississippi. Curated by Jayme McLellan of Civilian Art Projects in Washington, D.C., this show explores the duality of the river. There's the bad: pollution, economic... More >>

Sweet Hair Poster Show Art Minion Gallery	Every week Saturday from Sat., June 13 until Sun., July 12	Northeast	Art Art - Galleries Parties & Receptions
You may not realize it, but hair is a very dynamic thing. It can be mythical (as seen in the tale of Samson and Delilah), it can be pop cultural (everyone knows someone who had the "Jennifer" in the '90s or the "Farrah" shag in the '70s), and there's even a musical named after that substance... More >>

The Graphic Art of Maestro Rufino Tomayo Katherine E. Nash Gallery	Every week Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday from Wed., June 17 until Fri., July 10	University	Art Art - Galleries
A noted painter of the previous century, Rufino Tomayo created abstract art that is as well known in that world as that of his contemporaries Jackson Pollock, Diego Rivera, and Wilhelm de Kooning. While Tomayo was marginalized in the Mexican art community during the 1930s for his lack of... More >>

Wang YanShu Chambers Kitchen	Daily from Thu., June 18 until Sat., August 8	Minneapolis (Downtown)	Art Art - Galleries
Beijing artist Wang Yanshu strives to work in colors only seen in dreams. In her current exhibit, "Dreamland," she explores a world that exists in the skies, clouds, and cityscapes of the mind. Her digital imagery features skies in shades of blue ranging from searingly intense to calm and... More >>

CONvergence Sheraton Bloomington Hotel	Thu., July 2, 10:00am-11:00pm more dates/times	Edina	Festivals
If you're a geek and you live in Minnesota, let's face it, you probably already know about CONvergence. After all, it's the biggest nerd hoedown the state has to offer. The convention features oodles of themed rooms from Star Trek to Guitar Hero, games of every stripe for anyone to join, and in... More >>

Taste of Minnesota Harriet Island	Daily from Thu., July 2 until Sun., July 5, 12:00pm-10:40pm	St. Paul (Downtown)	Family Events Festivals Fourth of July Outdoors
According to a recent press release, there will be 10 new food vendors at Taste of Minnesota this year (yay to Holy Land Deli, eh to BW3). What else is new? It will cost you $10 to attend the enormous festival, now in its 27th year. Although it remains to be seen what type of effect this will... More >>

Live Racing Canterbury Park	Every week Thursday, Friday from Fri., May 15 until Sun., August 30, 7:00pm-11:00pm more dates/times	Shakopee	Sports - Spectator
While there are many reasons to visit Shakopee, here's the big three: Valleyfair, the Minnesota Renaissance Festival, and Canterbury Park. We don't suggest you try to make it to all three in one day. One's gambling style may vary: Some go with their gut, others pick the horse with the funniest... More >>

Live Harness Racing Running Aces Harness Park	Every week Tuesday, Friday, Saturday from Fri., May 15 until Sun., August 9, 7:00pm more dates/times	Outstate	Sports - Spectator
Okay, so harness racing isn't quite as dramatic as chariot racing. There aren't any gold-painted wheelbarrows pulling men wearing spiked metal bracelets. Its fanbase also isn't as intense as those of other forms of horse racing. However, harness racing is still pretty neat. Horses pull their... More >>

The Skin of Our Teeth Minneapolis Theater Garage	Every week Thursday, Friday, Saturday from Thu., July 2 until Sat., July 25, 7:30pm more dates/times	Uptown/ Eat Street	Theater
In 2007, Girl Friday Productions staged a performance of Thornton Wilder's Our Town that managed to erase the apprehension that the work was eternally destined for middling, amateur treatment: With an ace local cast, it located haunting transcendence and immediacy, and put keisters in the... More >>

Karaoke Night U Otter Stop Inn	Daily, 9:00pm	University	Barhopping Music
The outside of U Otter Stop Inn features a mural of a dapper otter decked out in a top hat, suit, and bow tie, his googly eyes and martini glass saluting patrons knowingly. Step inside and you will find a long bar filled with disco balls, giant football helmets, and electric rodents drinking... More >>

Bondage A-Go-Go Ground Zero	Every week Saturday, 10:00pm	Northeast	Adult Barhopping Music
Are you still feeling guilty over that thing you did at your Fourth of July party? Still partying hard this weekend? Ready to go public with your leather fetish? Then tonight's Bondage A Go Go is the place for you. The long-running industrial/kink/fetish night goes above and beyond the typical... More >>

Hootenanny: A Community The Gallery at Fox Tax	Daily from Fri., June 19 until Fri., July 24	Northeast	Art Art - Galleries
For the past three years, writer and musician Jim Walsh has worked tirelessly to cultivate an intensely personal, constantly evolving event known as the Mad Ripple Hootenanny. What started as a one-off gig in the basement of Java Jack's coffee shop in south Minneapolis turned into a weekly... More >>