Minnesota State Fair rides at sunset; photo by Mary I.
Highlights this week include:
Aug. 27 & 28, Austin
ArtWorks Festival
Aug. 25 - Sept. 5, St. Paul
Minnesota State Fair
Aug. 25-28, Pine River
Lakes Bluegrass Festival
Aug. 26-27, Barnesville
Potato Days Festival
Aug. 26-27, Duluth
The Tribute Fest
And be sure to check out the amazing line-up of county fairs this weekend!
[Southern] [Minneapolis-St. Paul Area] [Central] [Northwest] [Northeast]
Southern Minnesota
Aug. 26-27, Albert Lea
Big Island State BBQ Championship
The 9th Annual Big Island BBQ and State Steak Cook-off features a variety of competitions, chili & appetizer tastings, kids' cooking contest, live music by numerous acts, free harmonica clinic with a free harmonica for all ages, and awards ceremonies--prize money awarded for chili, chicken, brisket, ribs, BBQ sauce and dessert. Freeborn County Fairgrounds. 507-402-6371
Aug. 26-28, Rochester
The Original Rochester Greek Fest
This celebration of authentic Greek culture includes mouth-watering Greek foods, Hellenic music, Greek dancers, Greek Orthodox Church tours, locally-baked Greek pastries, and The Taverna featuring a special menu of unique foods and a creative selection of cocktails. Sts. Kosmas & Damianos Greek Orthodox Church. 507-282-1529
Aug. 27 & 28, Austin
ArtWorks Festival
ArtWorks Festival celebrates local, regional and national visual, performing, literary and culinary artists with a wide array of fine craft artwork, performances, readings and great food! Also enjoy many family activities and artist demonstrations. Historic Downtown Power Plant. 507-434-0934, 507-437-4563
Sept. 2-5, Tracy
Box Car Days
The 89th Annual Box Car Days celebration includes carnival rides and games, BBQ Cook-off, Grande Parade, live music, street dance, Build-Your-Own Burger Feed, Human Foosball, beer gardens, and a variety of tournaments. 507-629-4021
Sept. 2-5, Dundas
Rice County Steam and Gas Engines Show
This annual event features steam & gas tractor exhibits, a flea market, swap meet, consignment auction, and Barta Pedal Tractor Pull. Dundas Showgrounds. 612-816-3131
Sept. 10, Jackson
Prairie Winds Kite Fly
The Prairie Winds Kite Fly showcases spectacular show kites flown by professional kite flyers from seven states. Children will also enjoy making their own kite, the kids' candy drop, scavenger hunt, concessions, kite sales, and lots of kite flying. Jackson Municipal Airport. 507-847-3867
Minneapolis-St. Paul Area
Feb. 19 - Sept. 5, St. Paul
Mummies: New Secrets from the Tombs
Get a rare, up-close look at nearly 20 mummies from ancient Peru and Egypt in this stunning exhibition. St. Paul is one of only four cities on this exclusive tour. Don’t miss it! Science Museum of Minnesota. 651-221-9444
June 17 - Sept. 5, St. Paul
Blooming Butterflies Returns!
Back by popular demand, Blooming Butterflies features a thriving butterfly habitat in a colorful 2,500 square foot greenhouse. This interactive exhibit houses over 100 species of butterflies from around the world. Como Park Zoo & Conservatory. 651-487-8201
June 23 - Aug. 27, Apple Valley
Music in the Zoo
Music in the Zoo features an incredible and eclectic lineup of high profile headliners, iconic musical luminaries, and up-and-coming buzz bands. Your concert ticket gets you into the zoo prior to the concerts so you can check out the incredible animals as well! Complete lineup. Weesner Family Amphitheater at the Minnesota Zoo. 800-514-3849
Aug. 20 - Oct. 2 (Saturdays & Sundays plus Labor Day & Sept. 30), Shakopee
Minnesota Renaissance Festival
The Minnesota Renaissance Festival features 16 stages of live entertainment, 7 themed weekends, live armored jousting, amazing food and drink, and 250 artisan booths. Minnesota Renaissance Festival grounds. 952-445-7361
Aug. 25 - Sept. 5, St. Paul
Minnesota State Fair
Also known as the Great Minnesota Get-Together, the Minnesota State Fair features 12 days of food on a stick, agricultural exhibits, parades, entertainment, midway rides & games, animals and so much more! Minnesota State Fairgrounds. 651-288-4400
Aug. 27, Harris
The Vines Bluegrass Festival
The Vines Bluegrass Festival features five bluegrass bands performing throughout the day, as well as a concert by headlining band, The High 48s. Also enjoy wine, craft beer, non-alcoholic beverages and food by Tiki Tim's Food truck. North Folk Winery. 651-674-7548, 612-226-6242
Sept. 1 - Oct. 31, Stillwater
Aamodts Apple Farm Fall Fun
Depending on the weekend, just some of the fall family activities include hay wagon rides, Honeycrisp Express kids' train rides, hay bale maze, apple picking, apple treats in the apple barn, and John Deere tractor trikes. Aamodts Apple Farm. 651-439-3127
Sept. 3, Taylors Falls
Wine and Chocolate Cruise
Enjoy fine chocolate, local Winehaven wines and a romantic dinner at sunset aboard an authentic paddlewheel riverboat on the scenic the St. Croix River. 651-465-6315, 651-465-6365
Sept. 3-5, Elk River
Threshing Weekend
Join the Kelley farmhands as they bring grain bundles in from the fields, thresh the grain in an 1856 horse-powered Cox and Roberts Tthreshing Machine, help bag up the grain and rake away the straw. Oliver Kelley Farm. 763-441-6896
Upcoming Twin Cities' concerts and performances - tickets available through Eventful or Ticketmaster
Don Henley at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul, Aug. 25
Charlie Wilson with special guest Fantasia at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul, Aug. 26
Jay Leno at Mystic Lake Casino Hotel in Prior Lake, Aug. 27
Dixie Chicks DCX World Tour MMXVI at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul, Aug. 27-28
Happy Together Tour 2016 at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul, Aug. 29
G-Easy at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul, Aug. 30
Demi Lovato & Nick Jonas at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul, Aug. 31
Alabama with special guest Levon at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul, Sept. 1
Minnesota Vikings vs. Los Angeles Rams at the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Sept. 1
The Minnesota Show with Garrison Keillor at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul, Sept. 2
The Current's Music On-A-Stick featuring Weezer at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul, Sept. 3
Minnesota State Fair Amateur Contest Finals at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul, Sept. 4
Trace Adkins at Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, Sept. 4
Bonnie Raitt with special guest The Richard Thompson Trio at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul, Sept. 5
Blink 182, A Day to Remember & All American Rejects at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Sept. 8
The Australian Pink Floyd Show at the Historic State Theatre, Sept. 8
Ween at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium at St. Paul RiverCentre, Sept. 15
Blake Shelton at the Xcel Energy Center, Sept. 16
Festival Palomino -Trampled By Turtles & Guests at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Sept. 17
WWE Presents NXT Live at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium at St. Paul RiverCentre, Sept. 18
Leon Bridges at the Historic Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis, Sept. 28
Central Minnesota
Aug. 25-28, Pine River
Lakes Bluegrass Festival
The Lakes Bluegrass Festival features the best in national touring and Minnesota bluegrass bands, along with professional emcees, a top-notch sound system and beautiful stage under a huge tent. Enjoy over 40 professional bluegrass shows, and learn to play or brush up your skills at one of the free bluegrass workshops on banjo, fiddle, mandolin, guitar, bass, dobro and harmony singing. Cass County Fairgrounds. 218-587-4000
Aug. 26-28, Verndale
England Prairie Pioneer Days
Experience history with mini rendezvous demonstrations, steam engines, threshing machines, antique tractors & farm machinery, gas engines, flea market goods, musical entertainment, model farm displays, exhibits & museum displays, a parade and worship service. The children will also enjoy a kiddie coin hunt, barrel train rides, petting zoo and playground! England Prairie Pioneer Club. 218-640-2795
Aug. 27, Paynesville
From the Heart Craft and Art Show
Come see amazing crafts and creations by 100 vendors, and enjoy children's activities, bluegrass music, and lots of kettle korn. 320-493-9153
Aug. 27-28, Donnelly/Morris
Donnelly Threshing Bee
The 51st Annual Donnelly Threshing Bee features vintage tractors and machinery, a large parade, horse pulling contest, tractor pull, Tractor Olympics, kids' games, classic car show, open air church service, threshing and other demonstrations, tours of historic structures, dance, coronation, and much more. Donnelly Threshing Bee grounds. 320-246-3337
Sept. 2-3, McGregor
McGregor Wild Rice Days
Every Labor Day weekend thousands of people come to enjoy the fine arts & crafts, great food & music, fun games & activities, and festive parade during McGregor Wild Rice Days. 218-768-3692
Sept. 2-3, Nimrod
Nimrod Labor Day Bull Bash
The 14th Annual Nimrod Labor Day Bull Bash features live bull riding action, Muttin' Bustin', and live music each night. Free camping is available. Meech Bucking Bulls. 218-639-3673
Sept. 10-11, Little Falls
Little Falls Arts & Crafts & Market Place
Little Falls is host to one of the nation's largest arts & crafts show. Enjoy handmade crafts from more than 600 artists from across the nation, as well as specialty foods from roughly 50 vendors. Downtown Little Falls. 320-632-5155
Northwest Minnesota
June 10 - Sept. 10, Akeley
The Woodtick Theater Show
The Woodtick Band is back for their 25th season of foot-stompin', hand-clappin', fun, lively musical entertainment at the famed Woodtick Musical Theatre. 218-652-4200
Aug. 26-27, Barnesville
Potato Days Festival
This fun family festival celebrates the significance of the potato to the region. Enjoy a wide array of potato specialties including Norwegian Lefse, potato pancakes, French fries, potato sausage, German potato dumplings, and more! Other highlights include mashed potato wrestling, potato sack fashions, the Miss Tator Tot Pageant, children's games & barrel rides, a kiddie parade, the Search for the Golden Potato, mashed potato eating contest, potato car races, and potato picking, cooking, sacking & sculpting contests! 218-354-2888
Aug. 26 - Oct. 10, Warroad
Country Corn Maze
Country Corn Maze presents their 2016 "Road Trip" corn maze! Visitors will enjoy this eight-acre corn maze, as well as farm animals, hayrides, pumpkin patch, campfires and more! 218-469-3390
Aug. 27, Baudette
Walleyefest & Pay It Forward
Enjoy a walleye fish fry, special guest speakers and great music. Lake of the Woods County Fairgrounds. 218-634-1174
Sept. 3-4, Cass Lake
Wii Gitchie Ni Mi Dim Annual Traditional Competition Pow Wow
This traditional Pow Wow features grand entries, competitions, beautiful regalia, great food and Native American craft vendors. Veterans Memorial Pow Wow Grounds. 218-308-3680
Sept. 3-4, Longville
Arts Off 84 Art Crawl
Watch for the many Art Crawl signs guiding you to artist studios along scenic Highway 84 between Longville and Pine River. This juried event features high end art forms as well as quality handcrafted items by local artists. 218-363-2630
Sept. 10, Walker
Ethnic Fest
The 24th Annual Ethnic Fest features ethnic music, crafts and cuisine from around the world, with performances on four stages. 218-547-1313, 800-833-1118
Northeast Minnesota
Aug. 26-27, Duluth
The Tribute Fest
Don't miss this amazing line-up of tribute bands performing the best of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Elvis, Johnny Cash, Def Leppard, AC/DC, Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Foo Fighters, Journey, Tom Petty, Led Zepplin! The Tribute Fest was set up to raise awareness and funds for homeless veterans in the state of Minnesota. Bayfront Festival Park. 218-422-8210
Aug. 26-28, Embarrass
Embarrass Region Fair
This three-day event is loaded with family fun including a Mud Run, demolition derby, dog show, horse show, exhibit barn, craft & food vendors, the Flying Finn 10K Run, Team Penning competition, and much more. Timber Hall/Embarrass Fairgrounds. 218-984-2009
Aug. 27-28, Pine City
Children's Weekend
Enjoy toys, games and tests of skill while learning about the values of trade goods and pelts, and the canoe routes used by the traders. Costumed interpreters and hands-on activities will teach children about the roles of the different groups who came together in the fur trade. North West Company Fur Post. 320-629-6356
Sept. 1-4, Duluth
Duluth-Superior Pride
Celebrate pride in the Twin Ports over Labor Day Weekend with the Mayor’s Reception & Weekend Kickoff Party, family picnic, Vinyl Party, Party X, Hummingbird Family 5K, Pride’s Block Party, Youth Pride, worship services, Pride Parade, Fruit Float, The Foo Foo Choo Choo, and annual Drag Show Fundraiser. 218-761-0726
Sept. 3-4, Ely
Fest du Nord
Enjoy two afternoons of family-friendly concerts at the YMCA's Camp du Nord with performances by the Okee Dokee Brothers, Jeremy Messersmith, Koo Koo Kanga Roo, the Roe Family Singers, and many more! Complete details. 218-365-5677, 651-645-6605
Sept. 9-11, Ely
Fall Harvest Moon Festival
This three-day festival features arts and crafts by more than 125 artists and crafters, as well as great food, live entertainment and activities for all ages. Over 10,000 people typically join in the fun! Whiteside Park. 218-365-6123
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