Weekend Festivals

One thing I used to do on this blog was to write about festivals in Minnesota. Every Friday during the summer, I am going to give you a list of some things you can do in and around Minnesota to enjoy what cities and towns have to offer.

Maybe you are a music person and you like to go to music festivals. If art is your thing then an art festival might be in the offing. Maybe sports are your thing and you want to know about local sporting events. Or maybe you just want to experience a bit of Americana and see what small towns, suburbs, and big cities are doing to celebrate their town.

What is happening June 19th - 21st.

In the Cities:

Stone Arch Bridge Festival June 20-21: Come and enjoy the Mississippi waterfront in Minneapolis and listen to music, enjoy art, and people watch. Of course there will be food there for you to eat. Here is a link to more information https://stonearchbridgefestival.com/

If you prefer St. Paul and you love Jazz.

Twin Cities Jazz Festival June 19 - 20: Head over to Mears Park in Saint Paul to enjoy one of the Midwest's largest free jazz events. Here are some of the musicians who are performing Yellowjackets, JazzMN Orchestra, Yogev Shetrit Trio, Sullivan Fortner Trio, and many others. Check out this link for more information https://www.twincitiesjazzfestival.com/

If you prefer to avoid Minneapolis and St Paul check out these two that are closer to the cities.

Buffalo Days June 14-21: Maybe you like to see a city you've never seen go to Buffalo MN besides taking in these events see how many Buffalo statues you can find. Head to Sturges Park in Buffalo for a multi-day family celebration featuring a beer garden, DJs, and a free carnival. https://www.buffalochamber.org/event/buffalo-days
Cottage Grove Strawberry Festival June 18-21: How about visiting Cottage Grove for the Strawberry Festival. Located at Kingston Park in Cottage Grove enjoy live music, food, and family fun to kick off the summer harvest. https://www.cottagegrovestrawberryfest.com/

There are a number of Juneteeth Celebrations. Check out the internet for a local one near you.

Outstate:

If you are outside the metro area there are always a number of festivals happening in small towns around the state. Here are a few happening this weekend.

Grand Marais June 19-21: If you want to visit Lake Superior in one of the cutest small towns (My Favorite) then come to Grand Marais for the Summer Solstice and Wooden Boat Festival. It is sponsored by the Boat House Folk School and will display many crafts and you can enjoy the longest day of the year at one of the most beautiful places on earth. https://northhouse.org/events/summer-solstice-festival-2026

Virginia MN June 20-21: Land of the Loon Festival staying up north in Virgina MN you can celebrate the diversity of the area by enjoying a wide range of ethnic foods, arts & crafts, and music from around the world. Located in Olcott Park come and enjoy the fun and check out the iron range while you are there. https://www.landoftheloonfestival.com/

Pine River MN June 19-20: If you are a Country Music fan you will want to attend the Rocks n' Cows Country Music Festival. A weekend full of relaxing, camping, food, and of course country music. A few of the artists who will be performing: Mark Petersen Band, Moonlight Mile, Dalton Dailey, Tennessee Jet, and many others. Location is at the Cass County Fairgrounds in Pine River. https://www.rocksncowsfest.com/

If you don't live in Minnesota check out areas around your location for festivals near you. As the summer goes on I try to include one from outside of Minnesota.

Look for more festivals next Friday on my Blog.

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