Unofficially, Summer in Minnesota starts once the snow is mostly melted, and runs until long after it’s too cold to enjoy a jump in the lake. With only so many good weekends of weather each year, there’s no lack of events and festivals to get you outside all weekend long. Check out the 2023 lineup of annual food, art & cultural events to celebrate.
Events without announced dates are found under the month they were scheduled in 2022
Check back for more events, updates & details
April
Record Store Day
Saturday, Apr 22, 2023
Keep an eye out for festivities at your local record store, such as Electric Fetus & Hymie’s Vintage Records
Details TBD
May
May Day Parade at Powderhorn Park
Formerly a single day parade and festival celebrating May Day (May 1st), HOBT is planning multiple smaller celebrations throughout the month. 2023 Details TBD.
Night Nation Run Twin Cities
The Night Nation Run is the World’s 1st Running Music Festival. The course will be filled with Live DJs, Light Shows, Bubble Zones, Neon and Black Lights. Cross the finish line into an Epic Main Stage After Party featuring Headlining DJs.
6:00 pm – Gates Open
7:00 pm – Pre-Party BeginsRE-PARTY BEGINS
8:30 pm – First Wave Starts
Location: Allianz Field
Address: 400 Snelling Ave N, St Paul, MN 55104
Registration: $70 | All Ages, Kid’s Under 8 Free with Adult Registration
Art-A-Whirl
May 19 – 21, 2023
In it’s 28th year, with 1,000+ NEMAA member artists, galleries and businesses, Art-A-Whirl is the largest open studio tour in the country.
It takes place the third weekend every May. In addition to the open art studios, restaurants, breweries, and distilleries will play host to art markets, demonstrations, interactive activities, live music, and of course, food and drink.
Friday: 5pm – 10pm
Saturday: Noon – 8pm
Sunday: Noon – 5pm
Free
All Ages (Breweries & Distilleries May Differ)
Minnesota Songkran Festival
May 27 – 28, 2023
Celebrate Songkran, the Thai New Year in front of the State Capitol. Organized by the Thai Cultural Council of Minnesota.
Saturday: 10 am – 9 pm
Sunday: 10 am – 6 pm
Location: Minnesota State Capitol
Address: 75 Rev Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard., St Paul, MN 55155
Free | All Ages
June
St. Anthony Park Arts Festival
June 3, 2023
Featuring 70+ juried artists as well as a community area, plant sale, art activities, food, music and a used book sale.
Location: Como and Carter Avenues, St. Paul
10 am – 5pm
Art in the Hollow
Saturday, June, 3rd, 2023
Kick off summer with art and a stroll through Swede Hollow Park
10am – 5pm
Location: Swede Hollow Park
Parking: Saint Paul Brewing, 688 Minnehaha Ave E, St Paul, MN 55106
Free | All Ages
GrillFest
June 3 – June 4, 2023
Check out new grills, discover new recipes and learn to BBQ like a pro. Ticket’s are all-inclusive of food & drink.
Saturday & Sunday: 1 – 5 pm
Location: CHS Field
Address: 360 N Broadway St, St Paul, MN 55101
Get Tickets: $65
Upper Deck Golf at Target Field
June 8 – 10, 2023
Upper Deck Golf is coming to Target Field. Drive from tees in the upper deck, or putt on custom greens down on the field. Your experience will begin and end at the clubhouse festival, featuring food, drink & live music.
Ticket Waitlist Currently Open
Excelsior Art on the Lake
June 10 – 11, 2023
Excelsior Art on the Lake features 120 artists showcasing original works, typically attracting 18,000+ art enthusiasts and collectors. The event also features live music and food.
Saturday: 10 am- 6 pm
Sunday: 10 am- 4 pm
Free | All Ages
St. Paul Summer Beer Fest
June 10, 2023
Sample beer from over 50 breweries in a commemorative tasting glass at the MN State Fairgrounds. Enjoy live music, tasty food, and bid on a silent auction benefiting the YMCA of St. Paul.
Location: Minnesota State Fair Grounds
Address: 1265 Snelling Ave N, St Paul, MN 55108
Ticket Link TBD | 21+
Deutsche Tage (German Days)
June 10, 2023 – June 11, 2023
Join the the 65th annual Deutsche Tage at the German-American Instutute in St. Paul. Enjoy authentic German food, drinks, music, cultural presentations and exhibits. This year’s theme is German Innovation with a focus on advocacy in the areas of education and sustainability.
Saturday: 11am – 9pm
Sunday: 11am – 5pm
Location: GAI Haus and grounds
Address: 301 Summit Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55102
Free | All Ages
Stone Arch Bridge Festival
June 17 – 18, 2023
Saturday: 10am – 7pm
Sunday: 10am – 5pm
Location: W. River Parkway from 11th Ave S to N. 4th Avenue
Free | All Ages
Midsommar At the American Swedish Institute
Saturday, June 17, 2023
Hosted on the 3rd Saturday of June every year, Come make a fresh-flower head wreath, sing songs, listen to live music, and dance around the midsommarstång (maypole) at ASI. Midsommar celebrates the summer solstice, the longest day of the year.
Location: American Swedish Institute
Address: 2600 Park Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55407
Ticket Details TBD | All Ages
Juneteenth Celebration
Monday, June 19, 2023
Details on various celebrations around the Twin Cities TBD
Free | All Ages
Twin Cities Pride Festival
June 23 – June 25, 2023
This year marks the 51st annual Twin Cities Pride Festival and features BIPOC and LGBTQ+ vendors, food, a beer garden, and live musical performances.
Friday: 6pm – 9pm
Saturday: 10am – 7pm
Sunday: 10am – 6pm
Location: Loring Park & Parade Park
Free | All Ages (including Beer Gardens). Must be 21+ to purchase alcohol. $5 wristbands available
Uptown Food Truck Festival (Hopkins)
Saturday, June 24, 2023
Enjoy a day of food, music and beer on Hopkins Historic Mainstreet.
11am – 9pm
Location: Main Street, Hopkins, MN
Free | All Ages
Twin Cities Jazz Festival
June 23 – 24, 2023
Celebrating 25 years in 2023, the Twin Cities Jazz Festival brings together music lovers for a weekend of performances from local and international jazz masters.
Located at Mears Park in Lowertown St. Paul
Address: 221 5th St E, St Paul, MN 55101
Free | All Ages
Young The Giant @ Surly Brewing Festival Field
Tuesday, June 27, 2023
5pm – 10pm
Surly Brewing Co.
Address: 520 Malcolm Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414
Find Tickets: $49.50 | 18+
Chroma Zone Mural & Art Festival
Dates & Details TBD
Free | All Ages
July
Carifest
July 21 – 22, 2023
2023 is the 30th annual celebration of Caribbean culture & heritage. Carifest features live reggae, soca & chutney performances, delicious food and a Carnival parade.
Perfectly situated on the Mississippi River, Carifest is an ideal spot to watch the Aquatennial fireworks the moment the Carifest headliner performance ends.
Address: 2002 W River Rd, N Minneapolis MN 55411
$10 | All Ages
Minneapolis Aquatennial
July 19 – 22,2023
The Minneapolis Aquatennial is the official civic celebration of the City of Minneapolis. This multi-day festival includes the Torchlight Parade and closes out with a fireworks display over the Mississippi River courtesy of Target. Not just any fireworks display, it’s one of the top 5 in the entire United States every year.
Free | All Ages
St. Paul Food Truck Festival
Sunday July 22, 2023
Enjoy a day of food, music and beer at Union Depot in Lowertown St. Paul.
11am – 9pm
Location: Union Depot, Lot C
Address: 390 E Kellogg Blvd, St Paul, MN 55101
Free | All Ages
Hmong International Freedom Festival
July 1 – 2, 2023
Join in the festival and sports spectacle of the 41st annual Hmong International Freedom Festival. Sports include sepak takraw (like volleyball but without the use of hands and arms), soccer, volleyball, flag football and tuj lub (also known as top-spin).
Ticket Details Coming Soon | All Ages
Lowertown Blues & Funk Fest
Dates & Details TBD. Typically Mid-July
Rosé Fest
Dates & Details TBD
21+
August
Uptown Art Fair
August 4 – 6, 2023
Join the festivities, and support the arts at the 59th annual Uptown Air Fair.
Friday: Noon – 7pm
Saturday: 10am – 7pm
Sunday: 10am – 5pm
Address: 3001 Hennepin Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55408
Free | All Ages
Irish Fair
August 11 – 13, 2023
Every second weekend of August, the Irish Fair invites you to celebrate all things Irish at one of the largest Irish Fairs in the United States.
Location: Harriet Island Regional Park
Address: 200 Dr Justus Ohage Blvd, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55107
Tickets: $15 | All Ages
Anoka Food Truck Festival
Saturday, August 19, 2023
Perfect for our neighbors in the Northwestern Suburbs, St. Cloud and beyond, the Enjoy a day of food, music and beer in Downtown Anoka.
11am – 9pm
Location: Downtown Anoka, MN
Free | All Ages
Minnesota State Fair
August 24 – Labor Day, September 4, 2023
It wouldn’t be summer without at least 1 trip to the Great Minnesotan Get Together. Check out a show at the bandstand, try new foods on a stick, and more over this 10 day fair that is one of the largest in the country.
Address: 1265 Snelling Ave N, St Paul, MN 55108
Tickets | All Ages
Cat Video Festival
Dates & Details TBD
Little Africa Festival
Dates & Details TBD
All Ages
Pizza Luce Block Party
Date & Details TBD. Typically the second weekend of August
Address: 119 N 4th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55401
Located in the Parking Lot across the street from Pizza Luce
Fringe Festival
Dates & Details TBD
September
Fiesta Latina
Saturday, September 16, 2023
12 – 4pm
Location: CLUES St. Paul
Address: 797 East 7th St., St. Paul MN 55106
All Ages
All Summer Long
Minneapolis Music & Movies in the Park
Locations, Dates, Movies & Performances TBD
All Ages
St. Paul Movies in the Park
Locations, Dates, & Movies TBD
All Ages
St. Paul Music in the Park
Locations, Dates, & Performances TBD
All Ages
Lowertown Sounds
Locations, Dates, & Performances TBD
All Ages
Sunken Garden at the Como Zoo & Observatory
Spring Flower Show
March 25 – April 30, 2023
Summer Flower Show
May 6 – October 1, 2023
All Ages