A Guide to Summer Art Fairs and Festivals in Minneapolis
Here's your chance to see and discover the artistic side of Minneapolis and its neighborhoods.
May
Art-A-Whirl
May 19-21, 2023
Celebrate the thriving art scene in the Northeast neighborhood of Minneapolis with this 3-day festival. Featuring over 1,000 artists at more than 60 locations, this is your chance to mingle and meet local artists. This event is the largest of its kind in the country and includes opportunities to see and buy art from all types of different artists including painters, jewelers, photographers, and woodcarvers. Local Northeast Neighborhood business also like to get in on the act too by hosting unique events and art installations. See our recommendations for things to do at Art-A-Whirl.
Check out what else there is to do in Northeast Minneapolis!
June
Stone Arch Bridge Festival
June 17 & 18, 2023
Located at one of Minneapolis’ of the most scenic and iconic spots, the Stone Arch Bridge Festival is a weekend all about art and music. Here you’ll find three different stages with live music, over 200 local artists demonstrating and selling their creations, the Art of the Car show, Stone Arch Beer Sampler, and plenty of local food trucks to keep you going! They also have a family activities stage with performers and interactive theater so your kids will have a blast. The festival grounds will span the riverfront area on W. River Parkway from 11th Ave S. to N. 4th Avenue.
Check out what other fun things to do in the area during the Stone Arch Bridge Festival.
July
Minnehaha Falls Art Fair
July 14-16, 2023
Celebrate dozens of local artists at the Minnehaha Falls Art Fair. Peruse a wide variety of mediums including paintings, ceramics, textiles, screen-printing, woodworking, photography, and more.
Lynlake Street Art Series
July 15 & 16, 2023
The LynLake Street Art Series returns for its sixth year July 2023. This free celebration of LynLake’s art scene will feature live street and performance art, food and drink specials throughout Lynlake, a gallery show with featured artists and more!
Art on the Edge Festival
July 22, 2023
10am-5pm
A new kind of art fair is coming to town. Art on the Edge, a “festival where art meets metaphysical,” takes place Saturday, July 23, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Minneapolis neighborhood of Linden Hills. More than 60 visual art and holistic vendors, from painters and potters to psychics and yogis, will gather along West 43rd Street east of Upton, as well as in a “magical secret garden” space behind Everett & Charlie art gallery. Event goers will enjoy live music, author readings and book signings, a psychic gallery reading with internationally renowned Brazilian soul healer Jurema Silva, and other experiences.
FLOW Northside Arts Crawl
July 2023
North Minneapolis takes the spotlight at this self-guided art crawl of pop-up galleries, live art performances, store front displays, murals and more. Put on by the West Broadway Business Area Coalition to celebrate this vibrant neighborhood and community, the crawl is a complete interactive experiences featuring art-making activities, dancing, and real-time art creations. And of course, food trucks and beer gardens will be readily available to keep the energy going. Enjoy a perfect summer day walking along West Broadway from the Mississippi River to Penn Ave. while discovering the talents of this North Minneapolis neighborhood.
Loring Park Art Festival
July 29, 2023 10am-6pm
July 30, 2023 10am-5pm
“An urban oasis of art and culture,” the Loring Park Art Festival integrates creativity, artwork, visual expression and community for a brilliant event that more than meets our summer standards. The weekend offers participating artists from around the country a chance to exhibit their work while attendees have the opportunity to connect, chat and purchase their favorite pieces. Held in Loring Park, a charming residential area and greenspace just south of downtown, you’ll find yourself reveling in live music, mouth-watering food, and games and activities for all ages. Oh, and a lot of art! Plus there’s a beer garden – because we just can’t seem to say no to the words “craft beer” here. You’re one of the few who actually can say no to craft beer? Try a local soda or kombucha for your fizzy drink fix.
August
Minnesota Fringe Festival
August 3-13, 2023
Minnesota Fringe connects adventurous artists with adventurous audiences by creating open, supportive forums for free and diverse artistic expression. Through their summer festivals and dynamic year-round programming, Minnesota Fringe is an artistic disruptor for local and national artists — to take bold risks, develop new ideas, and hoist themselves to the next rung of their artistic ladder.
As the producer of the largest performing arts festival in the Midwest for 25 years, Minnesota's annual Fringe Festival event fills nearly 50,000 seats with audiences viewing dozens of works at hundreds of performances by more than 1,000 artists on a variety of stages in late summer. Fringe also produces the Minnesota Family Fringe with multi-generational productions for kids and families interested in new and adventurous work.
Powderhorn Art Fair
August 5 & 6, 2023
Over 200 artists from 26 states and 216 cities, more than 20 food vendors and nearly 20,000 attendees: welcome to the Powerhorn Art Fair! Shop the works of hundreds of local and regional artists while filling up on the finest our food trucks have to offer. New and returning art demos, both a community and youth showcase and activities for all ages round out this summer experience - and did we mention food? We’re pretty into food here. Sweet or savory, take your pick. Located in Powderhorn Park, a pleasant city retreat in the heart of South Minneapolis, we’ve got to say…it’s a pretty fantastic way to spend all or part of your summer day.
Uptown Art Fair
August 4-6, 2023
One of the most popular and well-known displays of art in Minneapolis, the Uptown Art Fair hosts more than 350 artists on Hennepin and Lake. Find art from all around the world by artists whose work run the gamut, including sculpture, painting, ceramic, jewelry and more. While you’re there you can also check out the youth art fair, which gives young artists a chance to showcase their talent.
Downtown Minneapolis Street Art Festival
August 12-13, 2023
This signature downtown art experience put on by the Mpls Downtown Improvement District will celebrate street art in all its forms. The Festival is free and brings together artists from the worlds of visual, performing, craft and food arts and unleashes them together for the first time onto the streets of downtown for all to enjoy. Festival-goers will relish in several arts-centered experiences, including chalk art installations, a short film showcase, several live performances, and an outdoor craft market. Additionally, there will be food and beverage vendors on-site to fuel the fun.
September
Jackalope Art Fair
September 23 & 24, 2023
Enjoy a weekend of shopping and craft beer as Jackalope takes over Boom Island Park. Featuring 100 local, hand-selected artisans, shoppers can expect to find trendsetting indie goods including original fashion and jewelry design, paper goods, innovative home décor and housewares, art, photography, food, plus much more.
LoLa Art Crawl
September 23 & 24, 2023
10am-4pm
The LoLa Art Crawl is a friendly neighborhood art tour among the bungalows, gardens, and small indie businesses of the Longfellow neighborhood of Minneapolis. LoLa artists and makers show and sell their work at homes and businesses throughout the neighborhood, with many sites hosting two or more artists together. All sites, both indoors and outside, are open to the public at no cost to visitors.
