Renaissance Festival, photo by Jennifer Arocha
Renaissance Festival
Plus: Don't miss out on all the shows and concerts happening in the Twin Cities.
Minnesota Renaissance Festival
August 19–October 1
Hear ye, hear ye, ‘tis the season again to cosplay Medieval times in Shakopee! Don your best knight, fairy, and royalty garb, grab a glass of mead, take in a jousting show, gnaw on a turkey leg—generally live your best 16th-century life until October. Remember, parking rules are different this year: You must prepurchase a parking pass or take a shuttle to the fest. Tickets start at $15.50, Minnesota Renaissance Festival Grounds, 12364 Chestnut Blvd., Shakopee, 952-445-7361, renaissancefest.com
Minnesota State Fair
August 24—September 4
It's that time of year again: State Fair season is back! Things are looking pickley this year, with all the new foods on the menu. Know that we'll be there on day one for our take on what to eat this year. Plus, read up on all of our latest State Fair coverage and sign up for a new daily State Fair newsletter and text tips to make this the Best Fair Ever. Your Pronto Pup has been waiting. Minnesota State Fairgrounds, 1265 Snelling Ave. St. Paul, mnstatefair.org
Arctic Monkeys
August 25 and 26
The Armory is going back to 505 with this two-night performance from Arctic Moneys with Fontaines D.C. opening both nights. Whether you're reliving your Tumblr era with AM or rocking out to their new album The Car, this concert has it all for indie rock fans. 500 S. 6th St., Mpls., 612-315-3965, armorymn.com
JVKE
August 25
From the TikTok For You Page to the Billboard Hot 100, viral pop artist JVKE is heading to First Avenue to perform his fresh, focused hits, with singers Hariz and Maisy Kay in tow as openers. Doors open at 6 p.m,, show starts at 7 p.m. First Avenue, 701 1st Ave. N., Mpls., 612-338-8388, first-avenue.com
The Chicks @ the State Fair Grandstand
August 25
Country legends The Chicks are bringing their 2023 world tour to the Grandstand. Known for twangy favorites like "Cowboy Take Me Away" and "Wide Open Spaces," the country girl group delivers can't-miss performances. They will be accompanied by indie trio Wild Rivers. Tickets are currently sold out, but keep an eye out for extras. Minnesota State Fair, Fairground Grandstand, 1265 Snelling Ave., Falcon Heights, mnstatefair.org
The Lyrical Artwork of Jim Denomie
July 8–March 24
A new exhibition at Mia surveys the artwork from the latter half of the late Native American painter’s career. Denomie often humorously depicted what it’s like to be Native in modern society, drawing from history, pop culture, Anishinaabe traditions, and his own lived experience to create thought-provoking paintings. Free. Minneapolis Institute of Art, 2400 3rd Avenue S., Mpls., 888-642-2787, news.artsmia.org
Shane
July 15–August 27
In a new take on the Old West, Shane (in partnership between the Guthrie and Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park) hits the riverfront theater for six weeks this summer. The title character, a solitary figure with a secret or two, rides into Wyoming in the late 1880s in search of work on a farm—and ends up getting more than he could have ever bargained for. Guthrie Theater, 818 S. 2nd St., Mpls., 612-377-2224, guthrietheater.org
ReVisión: Art in the Americas
July 1–Sept. 17
Around 130 works of art from the Denver Art Museum’s Ancient and Latin America collections are on loan to Mia this summer. Learn about the creation of the Americas through works of various media in this one-of-a-kind exhibit—it’s a stunner. Mia contributors and youth 17 and under get in free; general admission is $20. Minneapolis Institute of Art, 2400 3rd Ave. S., Mpls., 888-642-2787, new.artsmia.org
Photo by Caitlin Abrams
Como Zoo
Como Conservatory’s Summer Flower Show
May 6–October 1
Sure, gardens abound during Minnesota’s warmer months—but almost nowhere has the concentration of blooms quite like the Sunken Garden. Walk through impressive displays of impatiens, petunia, verbena, Angelonia, torenia, pentas, Blue Siberian iris, and punches of hosta and foliage—that 75-degree glass bubble might just feel air-conditioned some days. Free. Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, 1225 Estabrook Dr., St. Paul, 651-487-8200, comozooconservatory.org
Wild Nights at the Minnesota Zoo
Every other Thursday from May 25–September 14
Ever wanted to check out the zoo after hours? Wild Nights, the Minnesota Zoo's 18+ festival series, is your chance to do just that. Roam the trails, enjoy the exhibits, partake in a silent dance party, and listen to music by local bands including Yam Haus, Kiss the Tiger, and Gully Boys. Tickets start at $30. 13000 Zoo Blvd., 952-431-9200, Apple Valley, mnzoo.org
Skyline Mini Golf
May 18–Oct. 1
It's official: mini golf is back at the Walker. Take in views of the sculpture garden while practicing your putting skills. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for members and anyone under 18. Walker Art Center, 725 Vineland Place, Minneapolis., 612-375-760. walkerart.org
Pacita Abad at the Walker Art Center
April 15–Sept. 3
The first major retrospective of the Philippines-born artist’s career is debuting at the Walker Art Center, with more than 100 of her works (most of which haven't been displayed in the U.S. previously). The artist saw no distinction between her colorful life and art, famous for her trapuntos quilted paintings, her work spans tapestries that depict masks, aquatic scenes, and the immigrant experience. Admission is $15 for adults, free for members. Walker Art Center, 725 Vineland Place, Mpls., walkerart.org
