Explore Minnesota Weekly Events Update - Aug. 30, 2017

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Explore Minnesota Weekly Events Update - Aug. 30, 2017   
    

Minnesota State Fair Ferris wheel and evening crowd, photo by Robert Ferdinandt

Highlights this week include:
Sept. 2-3, Winona
Big Muddy Brew 'N Que

Aug. 24 - Sept. 4, St. Paul
Minnesota State Fair

Sept. 1-4, McGregor
Wild Rice Days

Sept. 1-4, Rollag
Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion

Aug. 30 - Sept. 3, Duluth
Duluth-Superior Pride

 

[Northeast] [Northwest] [Central] [Twin Cities] [Southern]

 

Southern Minnesota

Sept. 2, Albert Lea
Run Like Hell – The Ultimate Pink Floyd Experience
Run Like Hell celebrates the sights and sounds of one of the world's most successful and influential bands of all time. This band of six accomplished musicians and vocalists meticulously recreate the unique sound and spectacular visual show of Pink Floyd. Marion Ross Performing Arts Center. 507-377-4371

Sept. 2-3, Winona
Big Muddy Brew 'N Que
The 2nd Annual Big Muddy Brew 'N Que is a barbeque competition featuring local restaurants competing in a sanctioned "Competitive Series" Kansas City Barbeque Society barbeque competition. BBQ-lovers will also enjoy live music by numerous acts, wine & microbrew tastings, arts and crafts fair, children's activities, bean bag tournament, and great food and refreshments. Levee Park. 507-452-2272

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

Sept. 7-10, Northfield
Defeat of Jesse James Days
The townspeople of Northfield Minnesota re-enact the James-Younger Gang's notorious 1876 bank raid on the town, making this the largest all volunteer event in the nation! Highlights include Bank Raid Re-Enactments, live music under the Big Top Event Tent, carnival rides & games, Horseshoe Hunt, arts & craft fairs, parade, pedal tractor pull, rodeo, Raider Derby, antique tractor and truck pulls, theater performances, Bingo on Bridge Square, car show, vintage baseball, and much more! 507-645-5604, 507-645-9268

Sept. 8-10, Kellogg
Watermelon Festival
Highlights of the 2017 Watermelon Festival include the Watermelon Crawl 3K & 5K Run/Walk, carnival rides & games, Burn Out, vendor market, vintage tractor rides, Kids' Sawdust Scramble, Grande Parade, firemen's water fights, and free watermelon after the parade! 651-565-4158

Sept. 14-17, La Crescent
Applefest
The 69th Annual Applefest celebrates the history of the community and its apple industry. Enjoy apple specialties, the tapping of the Red Apple Keg, live music by numerous acts at the King Apple Tent, arts & crafts show, car show, flea market, orchard tours, and the King Apple Parade. Abnet Field on the south side of town. 507-895-2800

Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

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

Sept. 1 - Oct. 31, Stillwater
Aamodts Apple Farm Fall Fun
Everyone will enjoy the many fall activities including tractor trikes, hay bale maze, wagon rides, goat farm, apple-picking, treasure hunt, and more. Some activities offered only on specific days. Aamodts Apple Farm. 651-439-3127

Sept. 2, Minneapolis
Brit's Pub Pole Vault Competition
Watch athletes compete in the Pub Pole Vault throughout the day at Brit's Pub. At night, professional athletes will take to the rooftop and compete for the first annual Brit's Pub Vault Crown, and over $5,400 in winnings! Brit's Pub in downtown Minneapolis. 612-332-3908

Sept. 2-4, Elk River
Threshers & Combines Weekend
Celebrate Labor Day weekend and the culmination of the grain growing season at Kelley Farm. Help the farmers bring grain bundles in from the fields, thresh the grain in an 1856 Cox and Roberts horse-powered threshing machine, bag up the grain and rake away the straw. Then compare that experience to a modern combine. Visitors can also discover the story of flour and gluten in the new Learning Kitchen and sample treats made from a variety of grains. Oliver Kelley Farm. 763-441-6896

Sept. 3, Columbus
Labor Day Weekend Cookout at Running Aces
The Labor Day Weekend Cookout features great food including brats, burgers and corn on the cob, along with live horse racing! Running Aces. 651-925-4600, 651-925-4587

Sept. 8-10, St. Paul
Energy Fair
Celebrate clean energy and sustainable living through interactive workshops, exhibits, live music, inspiring keynote speakers, family fun, great local food, and more! Learn new skills, build community, and take action towards a more sustainable future. Admission is free to workshops and exhibits. Harriet Island Park. 715-592-6595

Sept. 9, White Bear Lake
Taste of White Bear Lake
Enjoy a fall afternoon in the beautiful surroundings of the Pine Apple Tree Orchard while sampling some of the finest foods and spirits in the White Bear Lake area. Jacobson's Pine Tree Orchard. 651-357-6109

Sept. 9-10, Edina
Edina Fall Into the Arts Festival
The 2017 Edina Fall Arts Festival will feature the artwork of more than 250 artist and food vendors along the brick and paved walkways of Centennial Lakes Park. Centennial Lakes Park becomes what some artists have called “one of the most beautiful venues in the country.” 952-903-5729

Sept. 9-10, Sunrise Township
Hay Days
Besides world record setting grass drag races, Hay Days provides a full weekend of entertainment and enjoyment for all ages. Hundreds of racers from across the country, Canada and even Europe, travel to Hay Days for the grand-daddy of snowmobile grass drag racing. In addition to the drag races, check out sled and ATV dealers, the Swap Meet, and raffles. Hay Days location. 763-214-0235, 651-257-1177

Sept. 9-24, Stillwater
Take Me To The River
Celebrate the arts along the St. Croix River over three weekends filled with art fairs, open studio tours and music festivals. Take Me To The River features twelve major events at various venues along the St. Croix River Valley between Hastings and Taylors Falls. 651-439-1465

Upcoming Twin Cities' concerts and performances:
Pentatonix at the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand in St. Paul, Aug. 30
Usher at the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand, Aug. 31
Aventurera at the Historic State Theatre in Minneapolis, Sept. 3
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
Taj Mahal & Keb' Mo' at the Historic State Theatre, Sept. 6
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
Rober McGuinn at the Pantages Theatre in Minneapolis, Sept. 14
KARD: "Wild Kard" 2017 1st Tour in America Pt. 2 at the Historic State Theatre, Sept. 15
The Australian Bee Gees Show: A Tribute to the Bee Gees at the Ames Center, Sept. 15
The Scott Brothers House Party at the Pantages Theatre, Sept. 15
Aladdin - The Hit Broadway Musical at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis, Sept. 15 - Oct. 8
Matchbox Twenty & Counting Crows at Treasure Island Resort & Casino, Sept. 16
Prophets of Rage 93X: Twenty at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Sept. 16
Apocalyptica Plays Mettallica By Four Cellos at the Pantages Theatre, Sept. 17
Gorillaz at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium at St. Paul RiverCentre, Sept. 20
Home Free at the Pantages Theatre, Sept. 23
Starboy: The Legend of the Fall 2017 World Tour at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Sept. 24
An Evening with The Mavericks at the Historic State Theatre, Sept. 29
Tickets available through Eventful or Ticketmaster.

Central Minnesota

Sept. 1-2, Nimrod
Nimrod Labor Day Bull Bash
Watch as fifty bull riders compete during Nimrod's NFPB & Midwest Bull Riders Association Bull Riding Bash. This action-filled family show features two and a half hours of bucking bulls, as well as a chance for children to ride sheep, a barn dance and live music. Meech Bucking Bull Ranch, located 2 miles east of Nimrod. 218-639-3673

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

Sept. 2, Crosslake
Crosslake Original Craft and Flea Market
Check out excellent and unique shopping opportunities at Crosslake's Original Craft and Flea Market. Intersection of County Roads 3 and 103. 612-597-1827

Sept. 2-3, Pine River
Arts Off 84 Art Crawl
Arts Off 84 Art Crawl features over 80 juried artists along and adjacent to State Highway 84 from Pine River to Longville. Signs will be posted at official sites. 218-682-2916

Sept. 9, New London
Prairie Pothole Day 2017
This free family event is for anyone that enjoys the outdoors. Check out seminars, shooting sports, dog events, demonstrations, organizations, vendors and more. Stony Ridge Farm. 320-354-2418

Sept. 9-10, Little Falls
Arts & Crafts, Marketplace & Man Cave Fairs
The Arts & Crafts, Marketplace & Man Cave Fairs is one of the largest craft fairs in the upper Midwest with more than 600 arts, crafts and marketplace vendors, as well 50 food vendors. Free shuttle bus service is offered. Downtown Little Falls. The 13th Annual Antiques & Collectibles Fair will be held at LeBourget Park on the west bank of the Mississippi River. 320-632-5155

Sept. 16, Long Prairie
Minnesota Salsa Fest 2017
Celebrate all things related to salsa and enjoy food from local farm vendors, workshops, demonstrations, live music, a salsa contest, and of course, salsa tasting!
Todd County Fairgrounds. 612-991-1791

Northwest Minnesota

Sept. 1, Moorhead
Bonnie Raitt and Indigo Girls: Honor the Earth
The Indigo Girls and Bonnie Raitt co-headline a concert for the non-profit indigenous environmental justice organization, Honor the Earth. These Grammy-award winning artists once again join forces to advance Honor the Earth’s mission to create awareness and support for Native environmental issues and sustainable Native communities. Bluestem Amphitheater. 866-300-8300

Sept. 1-3, Cass Lake
Labor Day Traditional Pow Wow
You are invited to attend the Labor Day Traditional Pow Wow featuring grand entries, the grand feast, run/walk, and all of the beautiful regalia. Leech Lake Veteran's Grounds next to the Palace Casino. 218-536-0647, 218-547-3729

Sept. 1-4, Rollag
Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion
Every Labor Day weekend since 1954, generations of thresher men & 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

Sept. 7-15, Moorhead
Greater Moorhead Days
This celebration of Moorhead features a variety of events including the annual Greater Moorhead Days parade, a medallion hunt, History Through Song, Wings & Wheels Fly-in & Car Show, Zombie Fun Run, Kids' Fest, Water Tower Art, and Bridge Bash with food trucks, vendor booths, yard games, canoeing, kayaking and live music. 218-299-5340

Sept. 8-9, Walker
Ethnic Fest
The 25th Annual Ethnic Fest features ethnic music and performances on five stages, arts & crafts, parade and cuisine from around the world in downtown Walker. Many after-hours festivities will also be held at venues throughout town. 218-547-1313, 800-833-1118

Sept. 9, Crookston
King of Trails Citywide Garage Sales & Marketplace
Downtown Square in Crookston with feature all kinds of marketplace vendors, farm goods, artists and crafters, with garage sales held throughout the city. 218-281-4320

Sept. 16, Moorhead
German Kulturefest
Celebrate German heritage of Clay County with information on area history, a variety of performers, artists, craftspeople, great food, beer, science, imports, and classic films. Be sure to explore the German Village. Hjemkomst Center. 218-299-5452

Northeast Minnesota

Aug. 30 - Sept. 3, Duluth
Duluth-Superior Pride
Celebrate pride in the Twin Ports with an exciting group of exhibitors and vendors, fun games and activities for children & families, wide array of live music and entertainment, and two beer tents. Bayfront Festival Park. 218-761-0726

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

Sept. 2-3, Ely
Fest du Nord
Fest du Nord is a family-friendly music festival with concerts by many talented musicians. Also enjoy Bent Paddle beer and specialties from the Wilderness Wood Fire. YMCA Camp du Nord. 218-365-5677

Sept. 8-9, Hinckley
Grand RockTember V
RockTember, the loudest music festival returns with head-banging big hair metal bands performing outdoors in the Hinckley amphitheater. Grand Casino Hinckley. 800-745-3000

Sept. 8-10, Ely
Harvest Moon Festival
Enjoy more than 125 arts & crafts exhibitors, fun activities, great food and live entertainment celebrating the culture and heritage of Northeastern Minnesota. Free Admission. Whiteside Park. 218-365-6123

Sept. 15-17, Duluth
Hawk Ridge Weekend Festival
Celebrate the fall bird migration during the annual Hawk Ridge Weekend Festival and enjoy one of North America's best places to experience the fall bird migration through field trips, workshops, presentations, social gatherings, and more. Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory. 218-428-6209