(Nov. 11, 2011) Minneapolis Experience the legacy of natural resources, arts and culture in Minneapolis as it hosts Legacy Destination Weekend Dec. 2-4. This urban Legacy Weekend will highlight the importance of arts, history and outdoor resources to the community that have been positively impacted from funding provided through the Clean Water, Land & Legacy Amendment.

Featuring local organizations such as the Guthrie Theater, Mill City Museum and American Swedish Institute along with sites like the beautiful Lake Harriet, all of these resources received funding from the Clean Water, Land & Legacy Amendment, an initiative approved by Minnesota voters in 2008 to provide financial support for a variety of conservation, parks and cultural programs. The Minneapolis Legacy Destination Weekend is part of a monthly series being held in communities throughout Minnesota to highlight local cultural and outdoor opportunities by drawing residents and visitors to an assortment of fun activities.

The Legacy Destination Weekends program is a partnership of Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, Conservation Minnesota and Explore Minnesota Tourism, the state's tourism promotion office.

A detailed schedule of events is available online at Minneapolis.org/legacy. Among the events on the Legacy Weekend schedule, consider these examples:

- Take a backstage tour of Guthrie Theater, world renowned for its theater and architecture. Plus, catch performances of A Christmas Carol and Charlies Aunt to experience the best of Minneapolis theater.

- The Reindeer Run around Lake Harriet is a quirky 5K or 1K for all age groups where holiday outfits are not required but admired. Proceeds of the race go to the Toys for Tots program, providing holiday gifts to underprivileged children.

- Mill City Museum will host the final round of the Star Tribunes annual Taste Holiday Cookie Contest. Get inspired for holiday baking when the finalists bake their winning recipes in the Mill City Museum Baking Lab. Visitors can drop in and meet the finalists, learn more about the history of the recipes, get baking tips for the holiday season and best of all, sample each of the winning cookies.

- Holiday Story Time at the American Swedish Institute, a cozy activity for children ages 2-10.

- The Walker Art Center will open its doors to the public for Wall-to-Wall Walker: A free 10-hour open house from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3. Highlights include art-making activities for all ages, a cooking demonstration, gallery tours, a digital scavenger hunt and amazing exhibitions featuring Graphic Design: Now in Production and Dance Works I: Merce Cunningham/Robert Rauschenberg. Make a night of it by checking out the best of British advertising at the British Arrows Awards followed up by drinks and snacks at the Walker Pub. Admission is free.

Minneapolis hotels are offering special rates for visitors staying in Minneapolis during Legacy Weekend. For a list of hotels and the packages they offer visit minneapolis.org/visitor/promotions-deals/deals.

ABOUT LEGACY FUNDS

The Guthrie, Walker, Minneapolis Institute of Arts and American Swedish Institute activities are funded, in part, by Legacy grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board, and the Mill City Museum activities are funded, in part, by a Legacy grant from the Minnesota Historical Society. The Legacy Parks & Trails Fund benefits Minneapolis Parks & Recreation as the Legacy Clean Water Fund tests Lake Harriet's water quality; and the Legacy Arts & Culture Fund provides resources to the Minneapolis Central Library for arts and history programming.

ABOUT MEET MINNEAPOLIS

Meet Minneapolis is a private, not-for-profit, member-based association. It actively promotes and sells the Minneapolis area as a destination for conventions and meetings, works to maximize the visitor experience and markets the city as a desirable tourist destination to maximize the economic benefit of the greater Minneapolis area.

Online: www.minneapolis.org

On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/meetminneapolis?ref=ts

On Twitter: http://twitter.com/meetminneapolis

MEDIA CONTACT

Kristen Montag, 612.767.8038, kristenm@minneapolis.org and Minneapolis_PR on Twitter