Minnesota's Best Spring Events
Minnesota's Best Spring Events
In the spirit of our robust yearly roundup, here is a breakdown of the best Minnesota events this spring. Check out more seasonal trip ideas, our complete festivals and events calendar, and surveys of our theater and music scenes.
MARCH 2025
A poker gets plunged into a pint at Schell's BockFest
International Festival of Owls
Houston
March 7-9
Owl lovers flock to this Houston festival to get up close with live owls, eat owl-themed treats, and watch kids compete in a hooting contest.
Bockfest
New Ulm
March 8
Seize the changing seasons with beer, brats, live music, and bartenders adding a caramel note to your pint with a quick poke from a warm, crackling fire.
Celtic Festival
Moorhead
March 15
Celebrate traditional Celtic culture, food, music and more at the Hjemkomst Center in Moorhead, where bagpipes and kilts are par for the course.
St. Patrick's Day Parade in St. Paul
St. Patrick's Day Parade and Celebration
Crosslake
March 15
The Crosslake area has celebrated St. Patrick’s Day since the '70s with a two-mile parade, live music, fun runs, meat raffles and more.
St. Patrick's Day Parade
St. Paul
March 17
Dubbed the “Greatest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the Nation”, St. Paul’s iconic parade has been held since 1967. Catch this lively celebration smack dab in the center of downtown.
Maple Fest
Chaska
March 22
Learn about the 18 maple trees that are spread throughout the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum’s 1,200-acre property, as well as ongoing research on the nutty butterscotch notes of black walnut syrup. Swing by in between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. if you’d like to load up on pancakes at an all-you-can-eat breakfast and tap a tree of your own at one of six activity stations.
APRIL 2025
"Art in Bloom" at the Minneapolis Institute of Art / Credit: Charles Walbridge
MSPIFF44
Minneapolis
April 2-13
With more than 200 films from around the world and an array of exciting parties, panels and filmmaker networking events and discussions, the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival is an excellent way to see local, national and international films in one spot.
Art in Bloom
Minneapolis
April 24-27
Free and open to the public, Art in Bloom exhibits imaginative floral interpretations of selected works of art from Mia's permanent collection, created by more than 100 individual and commercial florists. Take a free guided tour, find family-friendly activities and more.
Minnesota Zoo's Farm Babies event
Minnesota Craft Beer Festival
Minneapolis
April 26
Sample the specialties of more than 100 breweries during a day filled with music, games, and some of the country’s most acclaimed beers.
Farm Babies
Apple Valley
April 26-May 18
Piglets, goat kids, chicks and bunnies up the cute factor at the Minnesota Zoo’s family farm every spring.
MAY 2025
Head to the West Side of St. Paul for the city's Cinco de Mayo parade and festival / Visit Saint Paul
100 Mile Garage Sale
Various Locations
May 1-4
More than a dozen towns — extending from Winona to Red Wing — clean out their attics, garages, and basements to create the most spectacular garage sale around. Bargain hunters can find treasures, rain or shine.
Cinco de Mayo
St. Paul
May 2-3
St. Paul celebrates Hispanic and Latino culture with a family-friendly festival spanning the six St. Paul blocks known as the District del Sol.
Songkran Festival
St. Paul
May 10-11
Two days of street food, live performances and such one-off wonders as a fashion show and papaya salad eating contest transform the State Capitol into the spot to celebrate Thai New Year.
Art-a-Whirl / Credit: Minneapolis Northwest Tourism
Festival of Birds
Detroit Lakes
May 15-17
Detroit Mountain hosts birding workshops, field trips, exhibitors and more during the annual spring migration.
Trout Days
Preston
May 16-17
A parade, family bike ride, petting zoo and pancake breakfast add to the fun of this trout-themed festival in Preston.
Art-A-Whirl
Minneapolis
May 16-18
Join the largest open studio tour in the country and connect with over 1,200 artists while exploring local galleries, restaurants and breweries and watching free live music.
Check out live music and theater this spring.