Minnesota's Best Spring and Summer Events
Whether you're into sun-kissed concerts, food-driven festivals, or Star of the North essentials that revolve around everything from State Fair standards to restless marathon runners, there's no shortage of things to do in Minnesota this spring and summer. Here are some of our favorites.
CAN'T MISS CONCERTS
The Blind Boys of Alabama
Dakota
April 3
Six-time GRAMMY winners The Blind Boys of Alabama continue to spread their singular gospel music, more than 80 years into their storied career.
Jack White
Palace Theatre
April 7-8
Having rocked his smallest local room in years (First Avenue) last fall, Jack White makes a swift return to St. Paul at the slightly larger — a capacity of 2,500 people rather than 1,550 — Palace Theatre.
AC/DC
U.S. Bank Stadium
April 10
The North American leg of AC/DC’s Power Up Tour brings the band’s nine-year break from the Twin Cities — and the road itself — to a close.
Nubya Garcia
Dakota
April 11
British jazz breakthrough Nubya Garcia plays downtown Minneapolis’ longtime home for life-affirming live music.
Goldie
Fine Line
April 17
Jungle’s biggest star brings his live band to life along with nods to his aptly named, nearly 30-year-old debut “Timeless”.
Kendrick Lamar & SZA
U.S. Bank Stadium
April 19
The Super Bowl’s latest halftime show headliner hits the ground running alongside his frequent collaborator (including the recent No. 1 single “Luther”) and former Top Dawg Entertainment labelmate.
My Morning Jacket
The Armory
April 20
About a month after their first album in four years (“Is”) drops, My Morning Jacket plays their biggest local show yet.
Paul Simon’s A Quiet Celebration
Orpheum Theatre
April 20-23
Living folk legend Paul Simon turns the trials of his recent hearing loss into a tender, spellbinding residency buoyed by the booming acoustics of the Orpheum Theatre.
Charli XCX
Target Center
April 26
Brat summer ain't dead; it simply got an arena-sized glow-up. And we're ready for the kick-off of its close-up.
Deerhoof @ 31
Walker Art Center
May 1
One of indie rock’s most restless bands tackles one track from each of their 19 albums in a special one-night-only performance.
The Hold Steady
Various Minneapolis Venues
May 1-4
Former Minnesotan Craig Finn leads his longtime band through a four-day celebration of their breakthrough album “Separation Sunday”.
Deafheaven
Varsity Theater
May 3
Having recently joined the big leagues of heavy metal and hard rock (Roadrunner Records) for their new album “Lonely People with Power”, Deafheaven returns to what earned their rep in the first place: searing live shows.
Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds
The Armory
May 4
While he played a pared-down, piano-driven set in Minneapolis a few years ago, Nick Cave hasn’t tapped his tightly wound Bad Seeds for a Twin Cities tour de force in more than a decade. If you’re into music that’s menacing and majestic in equal measure, this one's a must.
Lucy Dacus
Palace Theatre
May 5-6
The first of two opportunities for Boygenius fans to see its members seize other creative avenues in May. (While Lucy Dacus is playing a couple solo gigs at Palace Theatre, Julien Baker’s First Avenue performance on May 11 is an extension of her new country effort with TORRES.)
Sturgill Simpson
The Armory
May 6-7
Back in October, GQ asked, “Is Sturgill Simpson the Greatest Live Act in Music Right Now?” Get where they’re going with that loaded question at a two-night Armory stand that features no opening act and starts promptly at 8. (As the venue says on its site, “if you’re on time, you’re late.”)
The Magnetic Fields
The Fitzgerald Theater
May 9-10
Stephin Merritt’s prickly indie pop band spreads its spectacular opus (“69 Love Songs”) over two nights at The Fitzgerald Theater.
Sharon Van Etten
Palace Theatre
May 10
Singer/songwriter Sharon Van Etten and her newly anointed band (The Attachment Theory) lean into the post-punk lashings of their self-titled debut and 16 years of shape-shifting solo material.
Gang of Four
Fine Line
May 10
Dance-rock's grandads (drummer Hugo Burnham and frontman Jon King) recruit Ted Leo and Belly/L7 bassist Gail Greenwood for their final tour and the 45th anniversary of their highly influential album “ENTERTAINMENT!”.
Katy Perry
Target Center
May 13
Katy Perry’s first tour in seven years rolls through town about a decade after her record-breaking appearance at Super Bowl XLIX’s halftime show.
Post Malone
U.S. Bank Stadium
May 20
Much like Beyoncé, Post Malone recently indulged his country inclinations with the Tim McGraw-and-Dolly Parton-blessed left turns of “F-1 Trillion”. Building on that theme is “The BIG ASS Stadium Tour” with fellow crossover phenom Jelly Roll.
2 Chainz
Orpheum Theatre
May 24
Minneapolis’ Orpheum Theatre is just one of four stops on the massive rapper’s spring tour.
Hippo Campus
Surly Brewing Festival Field
May 31
Local band Hippo Campus helps Minneapolis’ biggest craft brewer kick off its outdoor concert season. (“An evening with CAKE” is also confirmed for May 29.)
Sessanta V 2.0
Xcel Energy Center
June 1
Maynard James Keenan’s 60th birthday celebration returns for another round of live collaborations between Primus and Keenan’s two main projects outside of TOOL (A Perfect Circle and Puscifer).
Breakaway Music Festival
Allianz Field
June 6-7
A thunderous takeover of the festival grounds outside Allianz Field featuring such EDM stars as Tiësto, John Summit and Alison Wonderland.
Alison Krauss & Union Station
The Ledge Amphitheater
June 8
Alison Krauss — a recurring collaborator of Robert Plant and 27-time Grammy winner — performs with the bluegrass band she first joined in 1989. Waite Park’s one-of-a-kind amphitheater will also host road trip-worthy shows from the likes of ZZ Top (June 12), Darius Rucker (July 24), and “Weird Al” Yankovic (September 11) before summer’s over.
Bloc Party & Metric
The Armory
June 9
Two indie-rock titans revisit their biggest records ("Silent Alarm" for Bloc Party and "Fantasies" for Metric) and greatest hits.
The Weeknd
U.S. Bank Stadium
June 14
Super Bowl halftime show star The Weeknd plays his first Twin Cities show since 2017 — a considerable jump in capacity from the Xcel Energy Center (around 14,000 people) to U.S. Bank Stadium (as many as 73,000).
Sleigh Bells
Fine Line
June 14
The harbingers of hyperpop stars like 100 gecs and Dorian Electra support their first spring-loaded record since 2021.
James Taylor
Xcel Energy Center
June 17
An easygoing evening with the Hall of Famer and his All-Star Band.
Justice
The Armory
June 17
Fresh off their first album in eight years and a King of Pop-sampling collab with The Weeknd (“Wake Me Up”), the French-house phenoms play a rare live show in the airplane hangar-sized Armory.
Devo
Palace Theatre
June 18
Wes Anderson’s secret weapon (film composer Mark Mothersbaugh) gets back to his day job in Devo, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023.
Arooj Aftab
Fine Line
June 21
To give you an idea of just how boundless Arooj Aftab’s sound is, her latest album (“Night Reign”) cribs its moonlit cues from Pakistani folk and bebop jazz, and features everyone from Moor Mother to Elvis Costello.
Dispatch
Surly Brewing Festival Field
June 22
Dispatch brings recent collaborator John Butler (see: the recent single “Trinket”) along for a feel-good stop at Surly Brewing’s sprawling outdoor space.
Trampled by Turtles
Bayfront Festival Park
July 6
Yet another excuse to plan a day trip to Duluth: the annual hometown hero arrival of Trampled by Turtles, right along Lake Superior.
The Music of Prince
First Avenue
July 10
Prince’s longtime band (The New Power Generation) honors his otherworldly music, an apropos primer for the fall launch of “Purple Rain”.
The Swell Season
Orpheum Theatre
July 16
Oscar-winners Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová continue to workshop their long-awaited third LP on the road.
Minnesota Yacht Club Festival
Harriet Island
July 18-20
Mega concert promoter C3 Presents (Austin City Limits, Lollapalooza) follows the maiden voyage of Minnesota Yacht Club with an even more expansive lineup and all the added bonuses of what has quickly become the state’s biggest festival.
The Lumineers
Xcel Energy Center
July 25
Alt-folk duo The Lumineers unveil their fifth album alongside such hit singles as “Ho Hey,” “Ophelia” and “Stubborn Love.”
Pixies
Palace Theatre
July 31-Aug. 1
The indie rock vets stage a short residency in St. Paul, featuring album-length performances of “Bossanova” and “Trompe le Monde” on day one and a “classic Pixies set” complete with new material on day two.
Ghost
Xcel Energy Center
Aug. 2
Sweden’s most flamboyant band of guys and ghouls reminds us how unhinged rock shows can be.
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Fine Line
Aug. 7
“Hamilton” star Daveed Diggs leans into his first love: experimental hip-hop buoyed by the brash electronic beats of clipping. co-producers William Hutson and Jonathan Snipes.
Nine Inch Nails
Xcel Energy Center
Aug. 17
Maybe it’s because his acclaimed film scores (“The Social Network,” “Soul,” “Challengers”) alongside bandmate Atticus Ross have become a hot commodity over the past 15 years, but Trent Reznor’s first love hasn’t left Minnesota’s ears ringing since 2013. That finally changes with the St. Paul stop of Nine Inch Nails’ “Peel It Back” tour, an absolute must for the many old and new fans of the industrial-rock icons.
Def Leppard
Minnesota State Fair
Aug. 26
The finale of a cheese curd-optional State Fair schedule that includes Old Dominion (Aug. 21), Melissa Etheridge and Indigo Girls (Aug. 24), and a golden oldies package (Aug. 25) headlined by The Turtles.
Deftones
Target Center
Aug. 29
While they’ve been a cornerstone of the alt-metal scene since the ‘90s, Deftones are arguably at the peak of their powers thanks to a growing number of social media-savvy fans that have discovered their dynamic, atmospheric take on aggressive music.
FESTIVALS & EVENTS
"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 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.
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.
Festival of Birds
Detroit Lakes
May 15-17
Detroit Mountain hosts birding workshops, field trips, exhibitors and more during the annual spring migration.
Art-a-Whirl in Minneapolis/ Lane Pelovsky Courtesy of Meet Minneapolis
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.
Judy Garland Festival
Grand Rapids
June 19-22
Judy Garland’s hometown of Grand Rapids sings her praises all year round but really amps things up during the annual festival that celebrates the actress and her most iconic film.
Water Ski Days
Lake City
June 26-29
The birthplace of waterskiing toasts its gravity-defying invention with water ski shows, a parade and three days of festivities.
Twin Cities Pride 2022 / James Perovich, Courtesy of Meet Minneapolis
Twin Cities Pride Festival
Minneapolis
June 27-29
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.
Paul Bunyan Days
Akeley
June 28
Pay homage to everyone’s favorite lumberjack with a Paul Bunyan look-alike contest, art show, minnow races and more in downtown Akeley.
Hot Dog Nite
Luverne
July 10
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.
Wilder Pageant
Walnut Grove
July 11-12 and July 18-19
"Little House on the Prairie” author Laura Ingalls Wilder is the subject of live outdoor performances for two weekends in July.
The Grand Portage Annual Powwow and Rendezvous / Credit: Stephan Hoglund
Sinclair Lewis Days
Sauk Centre
July 16-20
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.
Blueberry/Arts Festival
Ely
July 25-27
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 family-friendly activities.
Heritage Days
East Grand Forks
Aug. 7-10
Celebrate the history and culture of the Red River Valley in East Grand Forks with an antique tractor pull, parade and historical reenactments.
Rendezvous Days Celebration Pow Wow
Grand Portage
Aug. 8-10
This Tribal gathering is sponsored by the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (Ojibwe) and celebrates with dancing, music, and family activities. The Pow Wow also features traditional foods and craft stands, along with other community-oriented programming.
Minnesota State Fair's iconic Corn Roast stand / Paul Vincent
Minnesota Renaissance Festival
Shakopee
Aug. 16-Sept. 28
Journey back in time at this long-standing, seven-week festival in Shakopee, where it's right to revel among mermaids, knights, fairies, pirates and other colorful characters.
Minnesota State Fair
St. Paul
Aug. 21-Sept. 1
The granddaddy of great festivals — 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
Barnesville
Aug. 23
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, and a street fair.
Find more things to do this spring and summer, or plan ahead for the greatest hits of fall and winter.