60 of the Best Things to Do in Minnesota
60 of the Best Things to Do in Minnesota
By Erica Wacker
Whether you're into art or animals, food or ice fishing, or all the annual festivals that keep our calendar kicking, there's no shortage of things to do in Minnesota throughout the year. Here are 60 events — five musts per month — we look forward to every year. Dates are subject to change, so be sure to confirm the latest details online.
John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon / Credit: Andy Witchger
JANUARY
Art Shanty Projects
Minneapolis
Temporary art installations and sporadic live performances infiltrate a frozen Minneapolis lake for a month.
Ely Dark Sky Festival
Ely
This two-day winter festival features a variety of indoor and outdoor events hosted by area organizations. Learn about astronomy, astrophotography, winter recreation, and the wonders of the northern night sky.
John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon
Duluth
The longest sled dog race in the lower 48 (nearly 400 miles!) starts in Duluth and is a qualifier for the Iditarod in Alaska.
Minnesota Ice Festival
Eagan
The centerpiece of the Minnesota Ice Festival is what Eagan hopes will be the world’s largest ice maze. Spanning an awe-inspiring 18,000 square feet, it promises to be a stunning centerpiece, challenging guests to navigate its icy, LED-lit paths while marveling at its scale and artistry. Other features include an ice slide, food trucks, themed ice bars, and an ice skating rink.
World Snow Sculpting Championship
Stillwater
Teams from around the world travel to Stillwater to create one-of-a-kind snow sculptures and compete for prize money and the coveted title of World Champion. This judged event is sanctioned by Finland's Association Internationale de Sculpture sur Neige et Glace and includes a weekend full of family-friendly activities and a crowd-sourced people's choice award.
St. Paul Winter Carnival / Credit: The Great Northern Festival
FEBRUARY
City of Lakes Loppet
Minneapolis
Cross-country skiers of all ages can participate in the City of Lakes Loppet Ski Festival in Minneapolis, which also features skijoring (skiing with dogs) and a fat tire bike race.
Gull Lake Frozen Fore
Brainerd Lakes Area
Use your snowmobile as a golf cart and play nine holes on Gull Lake, followed by a tent party with live music and an ice bar.
I.C.E. Fest
Little Falls
Watch as Little Falls attempts to regain the solar-powered record for the World's Largest Ice Carousel on top of a frozen lake. Curling, skating, fat biking and igloo building round out the on-ice fun.
Kites on Ice
Buffalo
Kites of all colors, shapes and sizes fill the air above a frozen lake in downtown Buffalo. Watch the pros perform aerial ballet with their kites, or build your own on-site.
Saint Paul Winter Carnival
St. Paul
One of St. Paul's biggest seasonal events, the Winter Carnival has been celebrating the city's snow-dusted side since 1886, and drawing more than 100,000 people a year in the process.
St. Patrick's Day Parade in St. Paul
MARCH
Bockfest
New Ulm
Seize the changing seasons with Schell’s beer, brats, live music, and bartenders adding a touch of caramel to your Bock beer with a quick poke from a warm, crackling fire.
Celtic Festival
Moorhead
Celebrate traditional Celtic culture, food, music and more at the Hjemkomst Center in Moorhead, where bagpipes and kilts are par for the course.
International Festival of Owls
Houston
Owl lovers flock to this Houston festival to get up close with live owls, eat owl-themed treats and watch the kids hooting contest.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Celebration
Crosslake
The Crosslake area has been celebrating 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
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.
"Art in Bloom" at the Minneapolis Institute of Art / Credit: Charles Walbridge
APRIL
Art in Bloom
Minneapolis
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. Learn more.
Farm Babies
Apple Valley
Piglets, goat kids, chicks and bunnies up the cute factor at the Minnesota Zoo’s family farm every day in April.
MSPIFF
Minneapolis
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.
Minnesota Craft Beer Festival
Minneapolis
Find more than 100 breweries on site to try. The day is filled with music, games, and samples of some of the country’s best beers. Learn more.
WorldFest
Marshall
Held in Marshall and presented by Southwest Minnesota State University, an annual celebration of world cultures includes a cultures expo, stage performances and foods from around the globe.
Head to the West Side of St. Paul for the city's Cinco de Mayo parade and festival / Visit Saint Paul
MAY
100 Mile Garage Sale
Various Locations
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.
Art-A-Whirl
Minneapolis
Join Art-A-Whirl for the largest open studio tour in the country! Connect with over 1,200 artists, explore galleries, local restaurants, and breweries, and listen to live music, all for free.
Cinco de Mayo
St. Paul
St. Paul celebrates Hispanic/Latino culture with a family-friendly festival spanning six blocks known as the District del Sol.
Festival of Birds
Detroit Lakes
Detroit Mountain serves as headquarters for birding workshops, field trips, exhibitors and more during the annual spring migration.
Trout Days
Preston
A parade, family bike ride, petting zoo and pancake breakfast add to the fun of this trout-themed festival in Preston.
JUNE
Twin Cities Pride 2022 / James Perovich, Courtesy of Meet Minneapolis
Judy Garland Festival
Grand Rapids
Judy Garland’s hometown of Grand Rapids sings her praises all year-round, but especially during the annual festival that celebrates the actress and her most iconic film.
Paul Bunyan Days
Akeley
Pay homage to everyone’s favorite lumberjack with a Paul Bunyan look-alike contest, art show, minnow races and more in downtown Akeley.
Studio Hop
Wilmar
Local Willmar artists open their work spaces up to the public at this annual celebration of everything from photography to pottery.
Twin Cities Pride Festival
Minneapolis
Minneapolis welcomes revelers from all walks of life for a community-oriented celebration with a family picnic, festival, parade and rainbow run in Loring Park.
Water Ski Days
Lake City
The birthplace of waterskiing toasts its gravity-defying invention with water ski shows, a parade and three days of festivities.
A piece from Good Wolf Bowls at Ely's Blueberry/Arts Festival
JULY
Blueberry/Arts Festival
Ely
Peruse original art and handcrafted items from more than 250 exhibitors at this outdoor festival in Ely, which also features blueberry pie and pancakes, and activities for the kids.
Hot Dog Nite
Luverne
More than 15,000 free hot dogs are dished out at this long-running Luverne event, which happens the same weekend as a wiener dog race and low rider-led beauty pageant.
New London WaterDays
New London
Festivities at the annual community festival in central Minnesota range from canoe and kayak races to a hog roast and tennis tournament.
Sinclair Lewis Days
Sauk Centre
The Nobel Prize-winning author’s hometown of Sauk Centre hosts five full days of activities, including a treasure hunt, concerts in the park and the Miss Sauk Centre Pageant.
Wilder Pageant
Walnut Grove
Another famous Minnesota author, Laura Ingalls Wilder, is the subject of live outdoor performances for three weekends in July.
The Midway at the Minnesota State Fair / Paul Vincent
AUGUST
Grand Portage Rendezvous Days Celebration Pow Wow
Grand Portage
This American Indian cultural gathering is sponsored by the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (Ojibwe) and celebrates with dance, song, and family celebration. The Pow Wow includes traditional foods, music, and craft stands, along with other community events.
Heritage Days
East Grand Forks
Celebrate the history and culture of the Red River Valley in East Grand Forks with an antique tractor pull, parade and historical reenactments.
Minnesota Renaissance Festival
Shakopee
Journey back in time at this long-standing, seven-week festival in Shakopee, where revelers will be in good company among mermaids, knights, fairies, pirates and other colorful characters.
Minnesota State Fair
St. Paul
The granddaddy of them all — check out our complete guide here — is the second-largest state fair in the country, renowned for its exhibits, grandstand performances and just about any food you can think of served on a stick.
Potato Days
Barnsville
Named one of the “Top 9 Strangest Food Festivals in the World” by Wanderlust Magazine, Barnesville’s beloved Potato Days is an iconic event in northwest Minnesota that includes French fry feeds, lefse cookoffs, a street fair, and all the potato dishes you could dream of.
A young dancer in powwow regalia at the Mahkato Wacipi / Karla Caspari
SEPTEMBER
Art Along the Lake
Grand Marais
Take in the fall beauty along the North Shore of Lake Superior as you tour artists' studios and galleries from Tofte to Hovland.
Defeat of Jesse James Days
Northfield
Witness a thrilling reenactment of the attempted bank raid that led to the demise of the notorious James-Younger Gang in downtown Northfield.
Grape Stomp & Fall Festival
Alexandria
Held at Carlos Creek Winery in Alexandria, the fall harvest celebration centers around a grape stomp competition, with live bands, art and food vendors, and a “man cave” for the beer drinkers.
Mahkato Pow Wow
Mankato
A three-day event honoring the Dakota people with traditional music and dancers, food and handicrafts in Mankato’s Land of Memories Park.
MinnesoThai Festival
St. Louis Park
The Thai Council of MN follow a summer full of Sunday markets at Wat Promwachirayan with St. Louis Park's most popular street food festival. Come for the spicy papaya salads, stay for the drag show and fire dancers!
A group of friends toast their steins at Schell's / Paul Vincent
OCTOBER
Anoka Halloween Grande Day Parade
Anoka
The Halloween Capitol of the World's amazing grand day parade is not to be missed. Come for the costumes and stay for the charming downtown shops, restaurants, and festive decorations.
Jack O Lantern Spectacular
Apple Valley
Part pumpkin patch and part art installation, find thousands of illuminated carved pumpkins on display at the Minnesota Zoo.
Oktoberfest
New Ulm
New Ulm hosts one of the best Oktoberfests in the country, with two full weekends of Schell's beer, live polka and German food.
Twin Cities Book Festival
St. Paul
Join hundreds of bibliophiles and find your next read. Hear from writers, publishers, and find activities for readers of all ages. Learn more.
Twin Cities Marathon
Minneapolis-St. Paul
Considered one of the prettiest urban marathons in the country, the annual race is worth the trip even if you’re just a spectator.
Bentleyville Tour of Lights
NOVEMBER
Bentleyville "Tour of Lights"
Duluth
A 128-foot animated tree, dozens of light displays and visits from Santa bring 200,000 people to Duluth’s Bayfront Festival Park between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve.
Festival of Trees
Ely
See dozens of decorated trees, bid on your favorite for a local charity, shop from a variety of local vendors, and get into the holiday spirit.
GLOW Holiday Festival
St. Paul
Featuring over a million lights, the Enchanted Forest, Vixen’s Zip Line, Giant Slide, and more, this is a walk-through event at CHS Field in the Lowertown area of downtown St. Paul.
Hmong New Year
St. Paul
Sample some delicious food and enjoy a wide variety of entertainment at this three-day celebration of Hmong culture in St. Paul.
Night We Light
Bemidji
Known as the first city on the Mississippi, Bemidji brightens up the winter nights with an illuminated parade and tree-lighting ceremony the day after Thanksgiving.
Northfield's annual Winter Walk event
DECEMBER
Dark Sky Festival
Grand Marais
Cook County is home to some of the darkest skies in the world. Every year, explorers, adventurers, artists, and photographers from around the world travel to Cook County to experience the northern lights, the Milky Way, and the wonders of the northern night sky. Celebrate our world-class dark sky this annual festival. Learn more.
Holidazzle
Minneapolis
Holidazzle is bringing festive cheer to Nicollet Mall. With interactive light displays, live music, shopping from local vendors, mini-golf, and of course, a visit from Santa. Don’t miss this Minnesota holiday tradition. Learn more.
Kiwanis Holiday Lights
Mankato
Walk or drive through these popular free lights display in Mankato. See thousands of holiday lights, listen to holiday music, and get into the festive spirit. The local community accepts and appreciates non-perishable food and cash donations. Learn more.
Winterfest
Luverne
Find handmade gifts at the craft show and take in performances at the historic Palace Theatre in southern Luverne the first weekend in December.
Winter Walk
Northfield
Stroll through charming downtown Northfield by candlelight, where you’ll find Santa, Rudolph, horse-drawn wagon rides, carolers and holiday shopping galore.
Find more things to do in Minnesota.
Erica Wacker is a Midwesterner through and through, growing up in Illinois, going to college in Wisconsin, and settling down in Minnesota. She loves to run, travel with her family, and go to concerts to relive her youth.