Spring and summer arts and entertainment: 20+ family-friendly community festivals and celebrations worth checking out in 2024
Strap on your walking sandals, folks!
We’ve got a packed spring and summer schedule of fun events for the whole family, from art festivals to cultural celebrations.
No major shake-ups this year, it seems; here’s a month-by-month schedule of the fairs and festivals to add to your calendar:
April
April 6 — Fraser Festival, RiverCentre: This fun event brings together music, movement, games, food and animals in ways that are inclusive for those with sensory-processing differences. The festival is also a fundraiser for the nonprofit Fraser, so attendees can preregister at fraser.org/events with a minimum donation of $1. The event runs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at RiverCentre downtown.
April 6 — The Capital City Village Bazaar Extravaganza, Union Depot: From the creators of the Selby Avenue JazzFest, this event brings together music, food vendors and a variety of local businesses and artists from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free; 214 E. Fourth St.
April 8 — Solar Big Year Eclipse Celebration, Bell Museum: Minnesota is not in the path of totality for the upcoming eclipse, but we’re close! We’ll get about 75% coverage, and the Bell is having a full day of sunny activities. “We’re unable to control the clouds,” the museum says — but the event will go on even if the weather does not cooperate. The event runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the peak of the eclipse will be around 2 p.m. Free; 2088 W. Larpenteur Ave.
April 11–25 — Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival: Most of the films during the 43rd annual festival are at The Main Cinema in Minneapolis, but some are screening at Landmark Center in downtown St. Paul. The festival includes about 200 films, plus plenty of panel discussions and filmmaker talkbacks. A six-pack of tickets runs $75, and other options are available at mspfilm.org/mspiff.
Multiple dates — The St. Paul Art Crawl: This biannual extravaganza features three weekends of open studios, food, live music and more. Hours may vary by location; stpaulartcollective.org.
April 12–14: Summit-Grand, West Side, Merriam Park, Little Mekong Cultural District
April 19–21: West Seventh, Cathedral Hill
April 26–28: Downtown, Lowertown (including Union Depot), Como, Payne-Phalen, Raymond Station
May
May 18–19 — Minnesota Songkran Festival, State Capitol: This celebration of the Thai new year returns with live music, dance, vendors and the annual spicy papaya-eating contest — not for the faint of heart! Free; no ticket required. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 18, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, May 19; 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd.
May 23–36 — Kickoff to Summer at the Fair, Minnesota State Fairgrounds: The early summer Fair preview is back with food, beer, vendors, the Milk Run 5K race, Giant Slide rides and other attractions. And maybe the best perk: free parking. Attendance is limited per day and tickets go on sale soon at mnstatefair.org.
May 31–June 1 — Flint Hills Family Festival, Ordway Center for the Performing Arts: The popular family fun event returns for the 24th year with acts including Brazilian musicians B2Wins, Cirque Kalabante, NOOMA, an Opera for Babies, Davina & the Vagabonds, 123 Andrés and plenty of other activities. Outdoor goings-on are free, and tickets to indoor performances are available at ordway.org/festival; 345 Washington St.
June
June 1 — St. Anthony Park Arts Festival: Centered on the St. Anthony Park Branch Library, this is the 55th year of the neighborhood art festival that also includes stellar book and plant sales, food and music. Local businesses are getting involved, too: The Carter Avenue Frame Shop commissioned artist Stefanie Kiihn to create an art map of the neighborhood that’ll be auctioned off on the library lawn. Free; 2245 Como Ave.
June 1–2 — Train Days, Union Depot: Seems like a reasonable place to celebrate locomotives! They’ll have model train setups and real rail cars to tour, plus other family activities like a bounce house, DJ dance area and crafts. Free; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both Saturday, June 1, and Sunday, June 2.
June 2 — Grand Old Day, across Grand Avenue: A parade! Food! Live music and street performances! Supporting local businesses on Grand Avenue! What more could you ask for?
June 8–9 — Asian Street Food Night Market — Sears lot on Rice Street and Aurora Ave: Inspired by night markets across Asia, a variety of organizations are putting on a version here with street food, music, dancing and a talent show. Free to enter; 3 to 11 p.m. Saturday, June 8, and 3 to 10 p.m. Sunday, June 9; 425 Rice St.
June 8–9 — Deutsche Tage, Germanic American Institute: It’s the 66th year of the annual German cultural festival with food, beer, music, dancing and more. A full list of vendors and performers is still in the works. The event is free and open to all ages; 301 Summit Ave.
June 15 — St. Paul Pride, Rice Park: The second annual festival dedicated to building opportunity for queer youth in St. Paul is expanding this year, with a parade and all-day activities. The day kicks off outside The Bulldog Lowertown by Mears Park at 10 a.m., then a parade from there to Rice Park at noon and a party lasting till 10 p.m. with music and food.
June 15 — Midsommar Celebration, American Swedish Institute: The annual celebration on the year’s longest day includes making flower crowns, singing, dancing around the maypole, and enjoying performances from groups like flute duo Twinflower and Celtic/Scandinavian/French trio the McNordiques. Advance registration is required: $15 for general admission, $12 for ASI members, $6 for kids, and free for those under 5. Flower crowns are an additional $10. The event runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and limited walk-up tickets will be available for $18 after 1:30 p.m. Details at asimn.org; 2600 Park Ave., Minneapolis.
June 22–23 — Little Mekong Night Market, Little Mekong Cultural District: This pre-COVID favorite is finally coming back! Food, arts, cultural performances and other small business events running from day into night — plus singing, Kpop and breakdancing competitions. Free; 5 to 11 p.m. Saturday, June 22, and 3 to 9 p.m. Sunday, June 23. Events run along the Little Mekong area on University Avenue, between Mackubin and Marion streets.
June 28–30 — Kaposia Days, South St. Paul: South St. Paul’s community celebration returns once again, with a full slate of events still yet to be unveiled. There’ll definitely be a parade, though, at 6:30 p.m. Friday, June 18, and a craft flea market from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 29 at Central Square. Last year’s festivities also included a bean bag tournament, fireworks, a pancake feed and more.
July
July 12–13 — West St. Paul Pride: West St. Paul’s LGBTQ pride festival is marking its fifth year with a Roll Into WSP Pride Skate Party on Friday, July 12, at Harmon Park, and the main Pride in the Park event on Saturday, July 13 — from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the West St. Paul Sports Complex; 1650 Oakdale Ave. More details will be posted at wsppride.com.
July 13–14 — St. Paul Food Truck Festival, Union Depot: More than 50 food trucks will converge on Lot C at Union Depot — but it’s not all food. Check out other truck-based commerce including clothing, vintage records, photo booth and pet supply, plus non-vehicular attractions like a mechanical bull and henna artists. Free; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. both days; 390 E Kellogg Blvd.
July 13 — Dragon Festival, Phalen Regional Park: Traditional Chinese Dragon Boats will take to Lake Phalen during this annual festival, and food and other cultural activities celebrating Asian-Pacific cultures are on the schedule, too. Free; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; 1600 Phalen Dr.
August
Aug. 4 — Little Africa Parade and Festival, Hamline Park: With live music, art, vendors and an African fashion showcase, this annual event is sponsored by African Economic Development Solutions, a local organization. Event runs from noon to 6 p.m.; 1564 Lafond Ave.
August 9–11 — Irish Fair of Minnesota, Harriet Island Regional Park: One of the country’s largest Irish festivals, St. Paul’s includes plenty of food, dance, music, cultural programming and a marketplace. Single-day tickets run $20 for adults, $12 for seniors and teens and free for kids; weekend passes are $45 for adults, $35 for seniors and teens and free for kids, but those prices all go up after Aug. 1. Visit irishfair.com.
Aug. 24–Sept. 4, The Minnesota State Fair: Of course we’re already thinking about it! About half the Grandstand shows have been announced as of this writing; we’ll be visited by Chance the Rapper, comedian Nate Bargatze, Blake Shelton, the Happy Together Tour 2024, Mötley Crüe and Kidz Bop Live.
Not happening
The Ramsey County Fair: In both 2022 and 2023, organizers announced the fair was set for a comeback — only for it to be abruptly canceled both years. This time around, the fair appears unlikely to return, and its long-term future remains uncertain.
