Free Concerts and Festivals of Summer 2010

Good GOD does Minnesota have a ton of festivals and fairs!!!  Granted, we're limited to a few months a year when it even makes sense to have an outdoor event (few exceptions are out there, I know, but those don't count here). But I didn't realize just how many are out there. When I started this list I was NOT prepared for how long this blog would take me, so Bookmark this baby, share it with your friends, and reference this list ALL SUMMER LONG because I want this list to be really really helpful for you all out there, and thus worth my time! ;)

All of the events I've listed below are FREE! With the exception of the State Fair, all of the fairs and festivals are FREE ADMISSION! Many of them have free music and entertainment, too. Take your pick of art fairs, music festivals, parades, fireworks, specialty food and drink (although that part is not usually free), bicycle tours...it's endless! Some are kid friendly, some are not-so-much. I recommend following the links I've provided to gauge which events are up your alley. And as always, post additional festivals and fairs with free admission I may have missed! I focused more on what takes place in the Twin Cities so you won't see New Ulm's Beer festival or anything. Apologies, but I had to draw the line somewhere!

June
June 4-6 - Edina Art Fair, 50th and France Ave in Edina. Shop booths of 350 artists from all over the U.S. Entertainment stage includes music, cooking seminars, fashion shows of local boutiques.
June 6 - Grand Old Day, Grand Avenue of St. Paul. Parades, Music, Art booths, Food and merchandise vendors galore! Bring your ID and $10 for a wristband if you want to join the party at any of the Festival Gardens. Music can be heard (and personal space stays free of spilled beer!) if you choose to stay outside of the gardens but you might sacrifice a view of the stage.
June 11-13, and 16-20 - Nature Valley Bicycle Festival and Grand Prix, Various Twin City locations. Bikes galore! Cheer on World-Class cyclists as they speed through courses in the Twin Cities, watch Stunt Shows at the Uptown Throwdown, and visit the expos.
June 12 - Famous Dave's Blues Fest, Peavey Plaza in Minneapolis. Concert include living legends Hubert Sumlin and Pinetop Perkins. 10 acts on two stages.
June 17-19 - Twin Cities Jazz Festival, Mears Park in St. Paul. Headliners: John Scofield and Joe Lovano, who could each play the Dakota for $40-50 a head.
Jule 19-20 - Stone Arch Festival of the Arts, St. Anthony Main in Minneapolis. 250+ Artist booths, 4 Stages of Live music, food vedors.

July
July 3 & 4 - Minneapolis Red White and Boom!, St. Anthony Main in Minneapolis. 5k and half marathon, Music and a Movie, Live entertainment, Family activities, and--of course--Fireworks!
July 10 - Lakefront Blues Fest, Prior Lake's Lakefront Park. A rare chance to catch Johnny Lang for free!
July 10 - New Belgium Tour de Fat, Loring Park in Minneapolis. Trade your car for a bike, don an absurd costume, and join the bicycle parade! There are also performances and, of course, beer! The beer isn't free, but the money raised goes to a  "worthy cause." [I recently visited the NB Brewery in Fort Collins, CO and the staff there is a RIOT! We chatted with one of the fellows who leads the Tour-de-Fat and I plan to seek him out for the sheer entertainment I know he'll provide!]
July 16-24 - Minneapolis Aquatennial, Downtown Minneapolis. Block Party, Tennis Classic, Milk carton boat races, Fireworks.
July 18 - Bastille Day Block Party, Cafe Barbette in Uptown Mpls. Music by Mayda, Red Pens, The Magnolias, Eyedea & Abilities, and more. Proceeds benefit People Serving People.

August
August 7 - Pizza Luce's Lyndale Ave Block Party, Lyndale and 31st in Minneapolis. Acts TBD.
August 7 - Freedom Jazz Festival, Minnehaha Falls Park in Minneapolis. Just what the title says! Artists TBD.
August 6-8 - Uptown Art Fair*,  Hennepin and Lake in Uptown Minneapolis. One of the top 10 fine arts festivals in the country! Over 350 artists are selected to exhibit and sell work. Food vendors and people watching add to the fun.
August 7-8 - Loring Park Art Festival*, Loring Park in Minneapolis. Over 140 national and local artists. Food and People watching too.
August 7-8 - Powderhorn Art Fair*, Powderhorn Park in Minneapolis. Over 180 National and local Artists display and sell their work, plus food and people watching.
*Shuttle service between art fairs is provided FREE of charge, too!
August 13-15 - Irish Fair of MN, Harriet Island in St. Paul. Three stages of Live Music, Irish dancing, Irish food (think bangers and mash) and Irish Drink (think beer and whiskey), etc. Bring your Kilt for the "Best Legs in a Kilt" contest. If that's not enough, there's a Tug of War Pub challenge, Baking contest, and Matchmaking! Headliners TBD.
August 21 - Red Stag Supperclub Block Party, Red Stag in NE Mpls. Headliners: Cory Chisel and Heiruspecs and others. Street entertainment by North Star Roller Girls, Familia Skate Shop, and Spot Hula Hoop Contest.
August 26-Sept 6 - State Fair free stages. While entrance to the fair is not free, you can catch these great acts for no extra cost. Just think, people watching can only get better with great music to inspire new dance moves! Headliners include Rosanne Cash, zydeco vet Geno Delafose, Boys II Men, Trampled by Turtles and Martin Zellar. Also, go on a discount day to save a few more bucks: Thrifty Thursday (August 26) is $9 Adults and $6 Kids; Ticket Deal Tuesday (August 31) is $9 Adult and $8 Kids; Read & Ride Wednesday (Sept 1) is $9 Adult and $6 kids with valid public library card. Or pre-purchase adult tickets for $9 each and go any day.


Many of the Concert listings I got from an article from the StarTribune. To view the full article "Summer concerts: think big" on Star Tribune's website here.