Seasonal Events, Minneapolis

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This is a weekend tradition for many Twin Cities locals! The Minneapolis Farmers Market has been around since the 1800's but "only" in its current location since 1937. Three big, open-air sheds house over 200 vendors of gorgeous produce, flowers, meats, fish and other good stuff. Across the street is the Minnesota Farmers Market Annex - a privately owned operation that's not part of the larger market but adds to the amount of variety that's available to browse. The differences between the two will be obvious: one is heavy on produce, and the other leans to wearables, imports, accessories and the like.

The larger market is open every day but I recommend this for a weekend when all of the vendors are there. During peak produce months, the market draws 25,000 visitors every weekend so the earlier, the better! Die-hards arrive, market bags in hand, at the crack of dawn for first go at the goods and closest parking spots. Grab a cup of coffee and a warm pastry from one of the booths and wander the flowers, vegetables, local honey, roasted nuts, breads, tie-dyed shirts, Indian shawls, Mexican pottery, leather goods, preserves, spices, fruits, jerkies, cheeses and more.

The produce market is open from May to mid-November, 6:00 AM - 1:00 PM. The Annex opens in May, 6:30 AM - 1:30 PM, and closing time in the fall may depend on weather so check the website. Parking is free but will be a fight for a spot unless you're there very early or closer to closing. This is an inexpensive, fun morning for all two-legged family members but the 4-legged variety has to stay home - sorry. It's probably not a good place for those Humvee-sized strollers either as crowded aisles can get pretty tight.

Both websites have excellent directions and maps for getting there, parking, vendor lists, entertainment schedules and even a few recipes! The annex site (won't fit below) is: http://minneapolisfarmersmarketannex.com/index.html

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Huzzah! We probably do the fest every 3-4 years and it's always a good time just hanging out with the wenches, rat catchers, lords, ladies and fooles on a sunny fall weekend. It's not cheap, can be really muddy, and the bees (everywhere in late summer) are a damned nuisance but a few mugs of ale and a side-splitting session with Puke and Snot and you're good to go.

Your ticket gets you in the gate and covers most of the entertainment (stage shows, strolling acts, jousting, etc. ). Every weekend has a different theme and some special performances/activities. Mostly though, you come to eat, drink and make merry. And shop the arts and crafts booths. And eat. And drink. And make merry some more. There are some games and children's activities (like riding elephants) that cost extra but not much.

Crowds are mixed - families, seniors, young professionals, etc. - and certain of the stage shows may not be suitable for young ears but just like Shrek, most of the bawdier lines go right over the little darlings' heads. Don't worry, Mom, they'll warn you in advance if the content is truly R-rated.

Favorite performers: Puke and Snot (see pictures), and Zilch the Tory Steller. Hilarious and wickedly bawdy

Recommended buys: perfume from The Alchemist, fairy wings for tiny girls, wooden swords for small boys, Bathtub Boats for tub lovers of all ages, and hand-thrown ale steins/mugs for the big fellers.

Food: Queen's Apples, bread-bowl soups, tempura vegetables - yum

Weekends from mid-August through last weekend in September. Hours 9 AM - 7 PM. 2007 ticket prices were $19 Adult, $10 kids 6-12, Seniors $17. Check the website for online and advance discounts. Free parking (in a grassy field - be prepared to walk). They also offer a 2-hour, 6-course Feast of Fantasy dinner ($80 - includes your entrance fee and comes with some extra gifties). Reservations mandatory - check the website.

Tip: The faire grounds are in the far southwest suburbs so closest hotels would be in Shakopee, Chaska, Eden Prairie or Chanhassen.

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Every Christmas season the downtown Macy's has a holiday display for children in their 8th floor auditorium. They're based on a theme - such as The Nutcracker - have multiple vignettes and include fun animatronics. To be sure, you exit through a gift shop but the display itself is free. Best times to avoid the lines is during the weekdays or first thing on weekends. This thing has been around for nearly 50 years and is a hit with the tots. You can, with some planning, do this first and then find a place on the curb for the Holidazzle parades held during the weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas (see previous "Be dazzled!" tip.)

See the website for events at Macy's, although this one won't show up on their calendar until late in the fall.

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This is my very favorite of our summer festivals. Stone Arch Festival of the Arts is an annual 2-day event in June (Father's Day weekend) that's located on the riverfront in the St. Anthony Main district. This is walking distance across the river - via the historic Stone Arch Bridge - from downtown. The event includes live music, food, beer and wine gardens, an antique car show and works from around 250 artists. They do a nice job of selecting quality craftspeople so the jewelry, paintings, photography, ceramics and such is generally really good - not a lot of junk.

The other plus is the location: stretched along a nice green section of the river with fantastic views of the downtown skyline. There is a stretch of restaurants with outdoor patios along the street side, and you are only a couple of blocks from the bars and restaurants of the Northeast Minneapolis' Old St. Anthony Area on East Hennepin. The festival site also includes a section of Water Power Park, which is right on St. Anthony Falls. See the website for dates, hours, parking and other good stuff. Entrance and entertainment is free.

Related tips to this area (under my Minneapolis pages):
Off the Beaten Path: Nicollet Island, and One Great Walk on the Riverfront
Nightlife: Best Pubcrawl without a Car
Things to do: Historic Riverfront, and St. Anthony Main

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Downtown Minneapolis' Holidazzle Parade has been a beloved family tradition for nearly 2 decades. It takes place on Thursday - Sunday nights, between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and features brilliantly-lit floats and holiday-theme marchers. Everybody loves the Giant Walking Christmas Tree Bulbs! The parade runs along Nicollet Mall, between 12th and 4th streets, and starts at 6:30. This is a very popular event so be there early if you want to snag a good spot on the curb (bundle up!!!) or a warmer one in a skyway. You can also try and get a window seat at one of the Nicollet Mall restaurants but you'll probably only see the tops of the floats over the crowd.

The parade is free, although there is a "Hot Seats" package deal for seating on a heated viewing stand plus other extras. Reference the website for all current information on this year's parades.

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This is Minneapolis' biggest and best of the summer art fairs. It's been an institution since 1964 and the primary revenue-raiser for civic projects in the Uptown community. With around 450 exhibitors, it's an art-lover's heaven encompassing every medium you can think of - clay, paint, metal, fiber, wood, film and more. What you won't find is a crocheted cover for your toaster. Nope. This is a carefully juried exhibition/sale and one of the top ten fine art festivals in the US.

Even if you can't afford that drop-dead gorgeous raku vase, it's fun just to cruise the booths and drool. There are also vendors for food and drink, some free sampling, and Uptown bars, coffeeshops and restaurants are just steps away.

It's FREE, usually the first weekend in August (Fri - Sun) and an outdoor event so it can be VERY hot and VERY crowded (attendance runs around 300,000). Bring sunsceen and wear cool, comfortable clothes! Try to be there first thing in the morning, even before opening hours, for best parking (side street or maybe the Calhoun Square ramp) and avoiding the worst of the masses. This is also not a good event for kids so give it a skip if you have wee ones along - they'd be bored and unhappy.

Midwest Mountaineering is the coolest place to buy your climbing/backpacking/kayaking gear in the Twin Cities. Twice every year (late in April and early November) they hold their Outdoor Expo. It's a terrific sale (and I mean terrific) and there are all sorts of exhibits from preservation groups, camp food producers, new products and big names in the best gear (Suunto, Bell Canoes, etc.)

Last year I went every day Thursday through Sunday. I saw slide shows from NOLS and treks to Patagonia. I bought some now beloved gear too. EVERYONE will be there! It's like VT--even when I'm not travelling, I can dream!
Today I'll go to the canoe and kayak demo then I'll go to the store for the Preferred Customer Sale for some kayak accessories. It's time for a new boat! And I've got a new car so I'll be getting a roofrack to carry it all home! I'll go Saturday too. And maybe Sunday....

Once a year from about Aug 20 to Labor Day, the Minnesota State fair takes place at the fairgrounds straddling Minneapolis and St. Paul. It's renowned (perhaps infamous) for the wide selection of food.....most of it being on a stick. Some of it is over the top (ie deep fried candy bars, on a stick) but others are really pretty good. It's a good place to people watch, nightly entertainment is available, and there's also a mini-amusement park set up as well.
Where else can you see a life-sized sculpture of a person made out of butter???