Annual Events & Festivals - Annual Events
Festivals abound year-round in the Twin Cities. In the winter elaborate festivities like the Holidazzle Parade and the St. Paul Winter Carnival stave off cabin fever. With the coming of spring, just about anything can kick off a festival, from an abundance of wildflowers blooming to charitable functions and building restoration projects. Entire city blocks are roped off for block parties in the summer, and the streets are filled with cars decorated with seashells, ribbons, sculptures, and big painted flowers. Just about every tiny town in the state holds at least one spring and summer festival, complete with parades, concession and merchandise kiosks, and live music.
The following calendar lists only events that have been around for a while and that we expect will continue to be around.
1. St. Paul Winter Carnival
City: Minneapolis, MN
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (651) 223-4700
Description: The St. Paul Winter Carnival is by far the coolest celebration in the Midwest and one of the oldest winter festivals in the country. More than 50 events—including amazing snow and ice-sculpture exhibits, live music, and sporting events such as a 5K run and half marathon, and softball on ice—are a part of this annual festival, with the crowning events being the King Boreas Grande Day Parade and the more decadent evening Vulcan Victory Torchlight Parade.
2. Twin Cities Food & Wine Experience
City: Minneapolis, MN
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (612) 371-5800
Address: 1301 Second Ave. South
Description: Although tickets for this annual event get into the pricey range (over $50), you are likely to get your money’s worth even if you don’t come hungry. About 300 Twin Cities restaurants; local, national, and international wineries; and other exhibitors serve up their gourmet specialties to the masses. Additional events (at an additional charge) include wine seminars and wine lunches at restaurants throughout the Metro.
3. St. Patrick’S Day Parade
City: Minneapolis, MN
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (651) 292-3225
Description: St. Paul’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade picks up at Fourth and Wacouta Streets and heads west all the way down Fourth Street, ending at Rice Park. The parade features Irish music and performers, and food, drink, and merchandise kiosks are set up along the parade route for the remainder of the day.The parade is all part of St. Paul’s annual Irish Celebration, paying homage to the many Irish immigrants who settled in the city. Entertainment, crafts, Irish foods, and beer (Irish and otherwise) are all part of the festivities, centered around Landmark Center in downtown St. Paul.
4. Minneapolis–St. Paul International Film Festival
City: Minneapolis, MN
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (612) 331-3134
Description: In 20-plus years, Minnesota Film Arts’ Minneapolis–St. Paul International Film Festival has gone from a weekend-long event to the present high-water mark where about 150 flicks from more than 60 nations are screened during three full weeks in April. The festival’s participating theaters include the Oak Street Cinema, Bell Auditorium, Riverview Theater, Crown Theatres Block E, and other Twin Cities film houses.
5. Ironman Bicycle Ride
City: Minneapolis, MN
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (651) 251-1495
Description: An annual event for more than 40 years, the Ironman Bike Ride takes 5,000 participating bicyclists through 30-mile, 62-mile, or 100-mile scenic tours through the Minnesota countryside.
6. Cinco De Mayo Fiesta
City: Minneapolis, MN
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (651) 222-6347
Description: The Cinco de Mayo Fiesta lights up the District del Sol on the west side of St. Paul, across the Robert Street Bridge from downtown (for visitors, the “west” side of St. Paul is actually south of downtown). More than 100,000 people fill the streets of the Hispanic neighborhood to take in Mexican entertainment and food and to watch the Cinco de Mayo Parade.
7. In The Heart Of The Beast Mayday Parade
City: Minneapolis, MN
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (612) 721-2535
Description: For more than 30 years, In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre’s annual MayDay Parade has been as true a sign of spring returning to the Twin Cities as robins choosing their mates. The brilliantly colored ensemble of friendly and scary creatures on stilts, children dressed as flowers, and other magical images travels along Minneapolis’s downtown Bloomington Avenue and ends in a colorful pageant in Powderhorn Park, where puppets sail across the pond in boats. This funky celebration of spring will fill an entire day with dance, music, fun, and food all along the parade route.
8. Alive After Five Concert Series
City: Minneapolis, MN
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (612) 338-3807
Description: Unwind after the workday with good food and music on the mall throughout June. Local and touring bands can be seen at the plaza for free, and drink and food kiosks are set up close to the stage.
9. Bastille Day Block Party
City: Minneapolis, MN
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (612) 827-5710
Description: Barbette’s French ambience spills out into Lake Street each June for a block party that features not only favorite musicians but also burlesque performers, circus acts, theater troupes, skateboarders, and roller girls. Watch your toes—and your head—as you raise a glass to the spirit of ’89.
10. Grand Old Day
City: Minneapolis, MN
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (651) 699-0029
Description: More than 200,000 people show up for this granddaddy of Twin Cities celebrations with everything from a Strongest Man and Woman on Grand contest to local bands performing on multiple stages. Lots of food vendors and merchant kiosks, and various family attractions are featured during the event, as well as the 10 a.m. Kiddie Parade followed at 10:30 by the Grand Old Day parade.The festival engulfs 30 city blocks and is packed with more than 150 outdoor vendors offering every delicacy imaginable, from Cokes, pizza, and corn dogs to gyros, egg rolls, and Jamaican beef.
11. Edina Art Fair
City: Minneapolis, MN
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (952) 922-1524
Description: More than 400 local, regional, and national artists whose works include clothing, dolls, woodcarving, and more are featured at this annual festival.
12. Mill City Museum Summer Music
City: Minneapolis, MN
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (612) 341-7555
Address: 704 South Second St.
Description: The Mill City Museum makes use of its courtyard to host favorite local acts like Jeremy Messersmith, Roma di Luna, and Caroline Smith and the Goodnight Sleeps.
13. Red Hot Art Festival
City: Minneapolis, MN
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (612) 874-2840
Description: Works by local emerging artists are showcased at this event, along with food, music, and other entertainment.
14. Rock The Garden
City: Minneapolis, MN
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (612) 375-7600
Description: This annual birthday party for the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is not actually held in the garden—it’s on the grassy hill where the Guthrie used to be, just across the street. The Walker partners with 89.3 The Current for this event, which features a daylong lineup of local and national bands in one of the most anticipated shows of the year. Watch the Walker’s news channels for the springtime announcement of the lineup, and move quickly when tickets go on sale—they don’t last long.
15. St. Anthony Main Summer Music Series
City: Minneapolis, MN
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Address: 219 SE Main St.
Description: Throughout the summer, weekends, and July 4, you can catch live music for free on the stage outside Tuggs Tavern, located right across the street from the Mississippi River.