Native American dancer
Highlights this week include:
Aug. 18-20, Rochester
Gold Rush
Aug. 11-20 (Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays), Anoka/Ramsey
Game Fair
Aug. 18-20, Onamia
Mille Lacs Band's Annual Pow Wow
Aug. 16-20, Crookston
Ox Cart Days
Aug. 17-20, Winton/Ely
Boundary Waters Blues Festival
Statewide, there are more than 40 county fairs offered throughout Minnesota during the month of August alone -- check out Minnesota's County Fairs 2017 to learn of upcoming fairs!
Southern Minnesota
Aug. 15-20, Owatonna
Steele County Free Fair
This is Minnesota's largest free county fair! Enjoy the daily grandstand and stage entertainment, 500 commercial exhibits, agricultural and 4-H exhibits, 30 midway rides, lumberjack shows, lumberjack kids' camp, petting zoo, pig races, Gandy's Old Iron Show, 1960s car show, and over 100 food concessions! Steele County Fairgrounds. 507-451-5305
Aug. 18-19, Sleepy Eye
Buttered Corn Days & Parade
Celebrate Sleepy Eye's 56th Annual Buttered Corn Days with free buttered sweet corn, a Burgers & Beer Garden, pie & ice cream, 1919 root beer, live music, children's activities, craft vendors, Dad's Belgium Waffle Breakfast, 15K bike ride around Lake Sleepy Eye, BBQ Rib Contest, Classic Car Show, and Grande Parade with nearly 100 entries. Allison Park. 507-794-4731
Aug. 18-20, Rochester
Gold Rush
Gold Rush is an indoor/outdoor event featuring roughly 1200 vendors from across the United States in 10 buildings, 3 Graham arenas, and spread out on 52 acres of the Olmsted County Fairgrounds also known as Graham Park. 507-269-1473
Aug. 19, Henderson
Henderson Hummingbird Hurrah
Celebrate the ruby-throated hummingbird and learn all about the amazing little birds, how to attract them, and keep them coming back. A licensed hummingbird bander will catch and band birds, allowing you to see them up close. There will also be garden tours, speakers, book signing sessions, children's activities, and a Hummingbird Mall. Remember your camera! 507-665-6570
Aug. 25-26, Albert Lea
Big Island State BBQ/Steak/Chili Championship
The 10th Annual Big Island BBQ/Steak/Chili Cook-off showcases the Nation's best BBQ cooks from 7 states, with prize money awarded for best-chili, chicken, brisket, ribs, BBQ sauce and dessert! In addition to great BBQ fare, enjoy a flea market, live entertainment, kids' cooking contest, and beer gardens. Freeborn County Fairgrounds. 507-402-6371
Aug. 26-27, Austin
ArtWorks Festival
The 6th Annual Artworks Festival celebrates visual, performing and literary artists with fine artwork by numerous artists in four galleries, demonstrations, continuous music indoors and out, family art activities, a Bubble Blast, and readings by many authors. Downtown Austin and Historic Downtown Power Plant. 507-434-0934, 507-437-4563
Sept. 2-4, Dundas
Rice County Steam and Gas Engines Show
The Rice County Steam and Gas Engines Show includes a flea market/swap meet, consignment auction, Barta Pedal Tractor Pull, steam & gas tractor exhibits, horse-drawn wagon rides, grain threshing, blacksmithing and much more! Dundas Showgrounds. 612-816-3131
Minneapolis-St. Paul Area
Aug. 11-20 (Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays), Anoka/Ramsey
Game Fair
The 36th Annual Game Fair, a fun-filled sporting event for the entire family, will be held outdoors on 80 acres of woods and water. All outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy the many exhibits, competitions, speakers, seminars, celebrity guests, contests, and vendors. Children's activities include slingshots, air rifles, archery and darts. Fairgoers are encouraged to bring their dogs as long as they're leashed! Armstrong Ranch Kennels. 763-427-0944
Aug. 18-20, Chisago City
Ki Chi Saga Days
Chisago City's Ki-Chi-Saga days features the area's largest arts and crafts fair, food booths, live entertainment, dances, family movie night, parade, car show, Frankie’s fishing tournament, 5K & 10K Fun Runs, inflatables park, fireworks, pie-eating contest and many other activities. Most events at Moberg Park. 651-257-5464, 651-257-1177
Aug. 18-20, Victoria
Victoria Volksfest
Victoria's annual people's festival celebrates friends and family fun with live music by numerous bands, large craft and merchant fair, games, children's activities, fireworks, classic cars, great food and beer gardens. Downtown Victoria. 952-300-8408
Aug. 18-20, Shakopee
2017 SMSC Wacipi
The SMSC Wacipi is a contest pow wow, where dancers and drummers compete in categories and age groups. The SMSC Wacipi draws nearly 1,000 dancers and thousands of visitors each year. The SMSC Wacipi Grounds near Mystic Lake Casino Hotel. 952-445-8900
Aug. 18-20, Nowthen
Nowthen Threshing Show
In existence for over 40 years, the Nowthen Threshing Show attracts thousands of visitors every year due to hundreds of rare and historic antique tractors, small engines, steam engines, trucks, cars, implements and tools, as well as the many unique exhibits, Parade of Power, demonstrations, and wide variety of food and entertainment. Visitors can also tour the old restored school, church, log buildings, and train depot, and get their hands dirty plowing behind a team of oxen. Nowthen Threshing Show grounds. 763-295-2600
Aug. 19, Scandia
Spelmanstamma at Gammelgarden Museum
This immigrant fiddle fest is a long held Swedish tradition where fiddlers gather on a lovely day, play tunes and teach each other new music amid 1850's Swedish historic log buildings. Celebrate the immigrant fiddle with musical entertainment, dancing, children's activities, arts & crafts vendors, and great food. Be sure to visit the historic buildings, and exhibits too. Bring your own instrument and join the fun. 651-433-5053, 651-433-5054
Aug. 19, Buffalo
Buffalo Arts & Crafts Festival
Downtown Buffalo will host over 160 artists and crafters displaying and selling their unique, hand-crafted items. 763-682-4902
Aug. 19, St. Paul
St. Paul Food Truck Festival
This is one of the Twin Cities most popular and delicious free events, with more than 40 food trucks, live music and DJs, craft beer, and games and giveaways! Mears Park. 763-220-2380
Aug. 19 - Oct. 1, Shakopee
The Minnesota Renaissance Festival
See why the Minnesota Renaissance Festival is the largest Renaissance Festival in the United States with an annual attendance of 300,000! Enjoy an artisan marketplace with over 250 artists, live entertainment, games & rides, Faire Food, artist demonstrations, and different themes each weekend. Family-friendly activities include the Fairy Wing Forest, Mermaid Cover, Dr. Thora Pandora’s Chemistry Experience, children's costume contest, the grand march parade, children's knighting ceremony, fairy wand-making, a live unicorn, the Wizard's Flight School Zip Line, Merlin's Magic Quest, and the King Arthur Obstacle Course! Renaissance Festival Grounds. 952-445-7361
Aug. 24 - Sept. 4, 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, live entertainment, rides, animals and more. Minnesota State Fairgrounds. 651-288-4400
Aug. 25-27, Woodbury
Woodbury Days
Woodbury Days highlights include children's activities & entertainment, carnival rides & games, parade, fireworks, a petting zoo, Bingo, 3M Rod & Custom Car Show, vendor booths, and music by GB Leighton and The Dweebs -- a weekend of fun, sun, great food and community. Ojibway Park. 651-735-0409
Aug. 25-27, Norwood/Young America
Stiftungsfest
Enjoy musical entertainment under the "Big Tent" by old-time and polka bands from across the United States and Germany. Other events include softball tournaments, the Fireman's Challenge, 5K Fun Run, Sheephead Card tournament, Kids' Carnival, arts & crafts fair, beer gardens, car show, variety of food vendors and the amazing "Stiftunsfest" hamburgers! Willkommen Park. 952-467-1812
Upcoming Twin Cities' concerts and performances:
Logic Presents Everybody's Tour at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium at St. Paul RiverCentre, Aug. 16
Justin Bieber at the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Aug. 18
Melissa Ethridge at Treasure Island Resort & Casino in Welch, Aug. 18
Kendrick Lamar with YG & D.R.A.M. at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Aug. 19
Minnesota Fan Fest - A Celebration of Comics, Creators & Collectibles, Aug. 19-20
Lady Gaga at the Xcel Energy Center, Aug. 21
Nickelback with Daughtry at the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand, Aug. 24
Jim Gaffigan at the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand, Aug. 26
Brad Paisley at Treasure Island Resort & Casino in Welch, Aug. 26
Toby Keith with 3 Doors Down at the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand, Aug. 27
Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons at the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand, Aug. 28
John Mellencamp: Sad Clowns & Hillbillies Tour at the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand, Aug. 29
Pentatonix at the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand, Aug. 30
Usher at the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand, Aug. 31
MSF Amateur Talent Contest Finals at the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand, Sept. 3
Sam Hunt with Lanco & Ryan Follese at the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand, Sept. 4
Justin Moore at Mystic Lake Casino in Prior Lake, Sept. 8
U2: The Joshua Tree Tour 2017 at the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Sept. 8
YES featuring ARW at Treasure Island Resort & Casino in Welch, Sept. 8
The Australian Bee Gees Show: A Tribute to the Bee Gees at the Ames Center, Sept. 15
Matchbox Twenty & Counting Crows at Treasure Island Resort & Casino, Sept. 16
Prophets of Rage 93X: Twenty at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Sept. 16
Tickets available through Eventful or Ticketmaster.
Central Minnesota
Aug. 18-20, Onamia
Mille Lacs Band's Annual Pow Wow
American Indian dancers from across the country will participate in traditional dances and drum ceremonies. Daily Grand Entries feature dancers dressed in brightly colored regalia. Also enjoy princess and brave contests, great food, crafts, raffle drawings, parade, and a fun run. Iskigamizigan Pow Wow Grounds on the west side of Mille Lacs Lake, 12 miles north of Onamia on Highway 169. 320-532-7539
Aug. 19, New London
New London Music Festival
The 19th Annual New London Music Festival delivers high-quality music and entertainment the whole family can enjoy. Along with fun children's activities and favorite food vendors, enjoy refreshments by the Goat Ridge Brewing Co., and an after-party in Goat Ridge’s backyard. Neer Park. 320-212-4405
Aug. 19-20, Ironton
Cuyuna Crusher - MN Mountain Bike Series Races & Festivities
Join more than 500 mountain bike riders, their friends and families, and lots of onlookers during the 10th Annual Cuyuna Lakes Crusher races! Festivities begin a day earlier, on Saturday, Aug. 19, with live music, the Cuyuna Crusher Happy Hour, great food, Yoga on the Beach, a car show, arts & crafts, children's games, Loon-Calling contest, water wars and more. On Sunday, check out all of the races, and don't miss the Red Dirt Church at the Pennington trail head beach. 218-546-8131
Aug. 24-27, Pine River
Lakes Bluegrass Festival
The 12th Lakes Bluegrass Festival is a family-friendly event for a day, an evening or camping all weekend. Featured are the best in national touring and Minnesota bluegrass bands, along with professional emcees, top-notch sound system, beautiful stage and a big tent. Enjoy over 40 professional bluegrass shows over the 4-day weekend, as well as free bluegrass workshops for a variety of instruments, impromptu jam sessions, and great food vendors. Cass County Fairgrounds. 218-587-4000
Aug. 26, Onamia
Happy Together Tour
Celebrate the groovy sound of the sixties and seventies with The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie, Chuck Negron formerly of Three Dogs Night, The Association, The Cowsills, The Box Tops, and The Archies' Ron Dante. This is an evening of hit after hit, like “Happy Together,” “Joy to The World,” “Mama Told Me Not to Come,” “Sugar, Sugar,” "The Letter," and many more. Grand Casino Mille Lacs. 800-745-3000
Sept. 1-4, McGregor
Wild Rice Days
Check out this end of summer festival featuring arts & crafts vendors, games for kids, live entertainment, parade, mud volleyball tournament, digital scavenger hunt, corn feed, water wars, bungee trampoline, paint ball blast, wild rice pancake breakfast, Wild Rice 5K, and much more! 218-768-3692
Northwest Minnesota
Aug. 16-20, Crookston
Ox Cart Days
Bring family and friends and partake in our various exciting activities such as bed races, tractor pulls, Rib Fest, Corn and Brat Feed, Classic Cruisers Car show, parade, street dance, games, pageants, dodgeball tournament, lip sync and air guitar contests, and live entertainment from local performers. Complete details.
218-281-4320
Aug. 17-19, East Grand Forks
Heritage Days
The annual Heritage Days festival celebrates the history and culture of the region with an antique tractor pull, craft show, parade, live music, dance, car show, horse show, children's games, historical reenactments, demonstrations, community dinner and guided tours of the historic buildings. Heritage Village. 218-791-6764
Aug. 18-19, Ulen
Ulen Turkey Barbecue Days
Turkey-lovers from across the country will gather in Ulen to feast on nearly 3,000 pounds of delicious turkey roasted on the “World’s Longest Spit” during Ulen's Turkey Days! Other highlights include live entertainment, games, golf scramble, parade, fireworks, 5K walk/run, street fair, car/tractor/motorcycle show, and more. 218-596-8849
Aug. 25-26, Barnesville
Barnesville Potato Days
Visitors from across the country head to Barnesville each year for the zany potato activities, taste-tempting potato specialties and small town hospitality during the annual Potato Days celebration. Just some of the many highlights include mashed potato wrestling, the crowning of Miss Tator Tot, Potato Car races, barrel rides, the many unique potato foods, Potato Cook-off, National Lefse Competition, Spud Bowl, Golden Potato Scavenger Hunt, and potato-peeling, eating and sculpting contests. Complete details. 218-354-2888
Aug. 26, East Grand Forks/Grand Forks
Blues on the Red Music Fest
Party in downtown East Grand Forks and Grand Forks while you enjoy an evening of great Blues music by top musicians around the country. Also enjoy amazing food vendors selling delicious BBQ, burgers and beverages. Town Square. 701-746-0444, 701-757-4051
Sept. 1-4, Rollag
Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion
Every Labor Day weekend since 1954, generations of threshermen & women get together to relive the tradition of the good ol' days and bring the past to life for the enjoyment of young and old alike. Thousands of spectators and volunteers attend to see hundreds of demonstrations and exhibits spread out over 210 acres. Other highlights include parades, live music, Style Show, square dancing, and Sparks Shows. Emerson-Brantingham engines will be featured in 2017. Steamer Hill. 701-212-2034
Northeast Minnesota
Aug. 17-20, Winton/Ely
Boundary Waters Blues Festival
Spend four great enjoying some of the best blues music by top musicians from across the country and beyond. The stage is set against the beautiful backdrop of Fall Lake, in the heart of the Superior National Forest. This family friendly, “back yard blues party” atmosphere features concerts by a dozen acts, as well as campfire jam sessions. The Long Branch. 218-349-5520
Aug. 18-20, Two Harbors
Silver Creek International Ukulele Carnival
Check out this weekend of music and fun! Ukulele players from all over the world attend this event for the workshops and activities, but the public is welcome too. Enjoy a public concert, six M.U.G. (Massed Ukulele Group) songs, Gooseberry Falls Church Service, lunches, dinners and socials. Silver Creek Town Hall. 218-834-6200
Aug. 19-20, Duluth
Art in Bayfront Park Art Fair
This two-day art fair located on the beautiful Duluth lakefront provides art lovers with quality artwork and fine crafts from more than 100 local and regional artists. Work includes jewelry, painting, photography, ceramics, metalwork, glass and more. There will be a Log Rolling Pool both Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. 218-727-8100
Aug. 25-27, Embarrass
Embarrass Region Fair
This three day event is loaded with family fun including craft and food vendors, parade, Classic Field of Dreams Car & Truck Show, dog show, horse show, Mud Run, demolition derby, Flying Finn 10K Fun Run, inflatables, tournaments, and tons of exhibits in the Exhibit Barn. Timber Hall. 218-984-2009
Aug. 25-27, Duluth
The Tribute Fest
The Tribute Fest is a four day music festival centered around professional tribute bands that aims to raise money for and awareness of homeless veterans. Enjoy the songs of Pink Floyd, AC/DC, Lynard Skynyrd, Guns N Roses, REO Speedwagon, The Beetles, The Doors, and The Eagles on Friday and Saturday, with great county music songs by Toby Keith and Jason Aldean on Thursday! Come early for the cardboard boat races on Wednesday, Aug. 23. Bayfront Festival Park. 218-422-8210
Sept. 1-4, Crane Lake
Labor Day Weekend Festivities
Labor Day Weekend festivities include a fish fry, end-of-season discounts and sidewalk sales, pancake breakfast, guided hike, zip lining, evening dance, and the 4th annual Crane Lake 5K Walk/Run. Venues throughout Crane Lake. 218-993-2901
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