January
Late January: St. Paul Winter Carnival. A gala winter
festival—the nation's oldest and largest—that encompasses ice-carving and
snow-sculpting contests, a chili cook-off, snow volleyball, parades and the
coronation of a carnival king and queen. For more information, call
651-223-4700, 763-566-5108, or toll-free 800-488-4023.
February
Early February: St. Paul Winter Carnival. A gala winter
festival—the nation's oldest and largest—that encompasses ice-carving and
snow-sculpting contests, a chili cook-off, snow volleyball, parades and the
coronation of a carnival king and queen. For more information, call
651-223-4700, 763-566-5108, or toll-free 800-488-4023.
March
Mid March: Winter Jazz Fest. Twelve hours of jazz on five stages from
more than 100 regional and national guitarists, singers and performers of bop,
blues, big band, salsa, swing, chanteuses, and funk. Millennium Hotel, 1313
Nicollet Ave. For information and tickets, call 612-288-2060.
Mid-Late March: Cities Festival of Jewish Film. Screenings of
contemporary international films with Jewish themes, including documentaries,
shorts and feature-length films. Dolly Fiterman Theater, Sabes Jewish Community
Center, 4330 S. Cedar Lake Road, St. Louis Park, Oak Street Cinema, 309 S.E. Oak
St., Minneapolis, and other venues. For information, call 952-381-3554 or
952-381-3400.
April
Early-Mid April: Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival. The
largest festival of its kind in the Upper Midwest attracts at least 120 entries
from more than 50 countries. Screenings at various cinemas. For information,
call 612-627-4430 or 612-627-4431.
Late April: Festival of Nations. Minnesota's largest ethnic event
showcases approximately 100 different groups with international food, dance
performances by more than 75 groups, cultural exhibits, folk-art demonstrations
and an international bazaar with gifts from 50 regions around the world.
RiverCentre, 175 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul. For information, call 651-647-0191.
Continues through early May
July
Early-Mid July: Taste of Minnesota. The state's largest outdoor festival
features several stages with top national musicians performing, food from across
the state, fireworks, children's activities, the Bridging the Arts festival and
more. Harriet Island and along the Mississippi River in St. Paul. For
information, call 651-772-9980.
Mid-Late July: Aquatennial. The "Official Civic Celebration of
Minneapolis" draws more than 800,000 visitors with numerous concerts, a
torchlight parade, block party, water-ski show, dancing, sporting events
(including regattas, a triathalon and tennis and beach volleyball tournaments),
culminating in one of the largest fireworks shows in the country. Various venues
throughout the city. For information, call 612-331-8371.
Mid- August: Twin Cities
Black Film Festival.
In the Twin Cities' busy film-festival schedule, this annual festival focuses on
films of African-American interest, screening feature-length and short
narratives, documentaries, experimentals and animations. Various cinemas.
August
Early-Mid August—Minnesota Fringe Festival. Cutting-edge and innovative
performing and visual arts, theater and comedy take center stage with at least
750 performances at 20 venues throughout downtown Minneapolis. For information,
call 612-872-1212. For tickets, call 612-604-4466.
Early August: Metris Uptown Art Fair. Ranked among the top 50 art shows
in the country, this annual event showcases works by more than 385 artists,
nighttime entertainment, 20 food vendors and other activities. Uptown
neighborhood, Minneapolis. For information, call 612-823-4581.
Late August: Minnesota State Fair. One of the largest fairs in the
country, complete with live entertainment, arts and crafts, food, a lumberjack
competition, horse show and simulated NASCAR racing. Minnesota State
Fairgrounds, 1265 N. Snelling Ave., St. Paul. For information, call
651-642-2200. For tickets, call 651-288-4467. Continues through early September.
October
Mid- October:Central Standard Film Festival. This film festival presents
independent films that reflect the geographical diversity of American regional
filmmaking. Screenings of more than 50 features and shorts at various cinemas in
Minneapolis and St. Paul. For information, call 612-338-0871.
November,
Mid-Late November: Minneapolis/St. Paul LGBT Film Festival. Screenings
of features, shorts and documentaries about life and issues surrounding the gay
and lesbian community. Oak Street Cinema, 309 Oak St., Minneapolis, and other
venues. For information, call 612-627-4430 or 612-627-4431. For tickets, call
612-331-3134.
Mid-Late November: Broadway in Minneapolis brings popular Broadway
musicals to the Twin Cities. Historic Orpheum Theater, 910 Hennepin Ave. For
information and tickets, call 612-673-0404, or toll-free 800-859-7469. Continues
through early August
December,
Early-Late December: Hill House Holidays.
The James J. Hill House is dressed for the season, with dramatizations of family
and servant life during circa-1900 holiday preparations. Weekends throughout
December. 240 Summit Ave., St. Paul. For information, call 651-297-2555.
Spectator Sports
Twin Cities' sports fans are rewarded with pro teams in baseball, football,
basketball and hockey. Tickets to Vikings games are usually sold out in advance,
and Wild tickets are somewhat harder to get. Seats for the Timberwolves and the
Twins are often easier to come by.
Baseball
Minnesota Twins
Major League baseball April-early October in the Metrodome. 501 Chicago Ave. S.,
Minneapolis. Phone 612-375-1116 or 612-338-9467 for tickets. Toll-free
800-328-9467.
Basketball
Minnesota Timberwolves
The T-Wolves play November-April in the Target Center. 600 First Ave. N,
Minneapolis. Phone 612-337-3865 or 612-339-4695.
Football
Minnesota Vikings
The NFL's Vikings play October-December in the Metrodome. Most games are
sold out. 501 Chicago Ave. S., Minneapolis. Phone 612-338-4537.
Hockey
Minnesota Wild
The Wild's season runs October-mid April with games in the Xcel Energy Center.
For tickets by phone, call Ticketmaster at 651-989-5151 or visit the Minnesota
Wild box office Monday-Saturday 10 am-6 pm. 175 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul.
Phone 651-602-6000
