Summer in Minnesota doesn’t last very long. To make sure you’re taking full advantage – as a resident or business owner – we’ve compiled a list of area festivals. From Albertville to Zimmerman, here is your A-Z guide to local summer fun.
ALBERTVILLE
A city-wide garage sale will jumpstart the 32nd Annual Albertville Friendly City Days. The festival runs June 5-9 and includes such events as craft beer tasting, a 5K run and other sporting events, a fire department open house, a carnival, live music, the Grande Day Parade with marching bands and more than 100 floats, and more.
ANDOVER
The 24th Annual Andover Family Fun Fest will “celebrate the community in the most fun, interactive, and delicious ways” on July 12 and 13. Events include a medallion hunt, games, a classic car show, a 5K fun run/walk, street dances, Craft & Gift show, and more. Naturalists with the Minnesota Zoomobile will have critters in tow to present information that’s both entertaining and educational.
ANOKA
The self-proclaimed Halloween Capital of the World waits until fall for its big-time celebration, but Anoka still has plenty of events happening during T-shirt weather.
Wind down your weekend every Sunday from June through August with Concerts in the Park at Riverfront Memorial Park. From Americana to soul and everything in between – yes, even polka! – the represented musical stylings run the gamut. The park also will play host to Rockin’ on the Rum, a special concert series on select Wednesdays in June, July, and August.
More than 150 crafter booths will offer a unique shopping experience at the 21st Annual Anoka Riverfest and Craft Fair on July 13. You also will find food courts, live music, yard games, tractors and steam engines, and root beer floats. Yum!
Show up hungry and eat your way through the Anoka Food Truck Festival on July 20. Expect street food and global cuisine from more than 45 food trucks. Also enjoy live music, Henna tattoos, bean bag toss games, and a mechanical bull (maybe give that a try BEFORE filling your belly).
BLAINE
Join in Celebrating 50 Years at the Blaine Festival, June 28-30, at Aquatore Park. The festivities officially kick off with 50-cent (appropriate!) carnival rides on June 27 ONLY, along with live music, food, and a refreshment garden with beer, wine, and cocktails. The rest of the weekend’s events include daily street dances, a photo booth, live entertainment, and a firefighter challenge. Get your animal fix at the petting zoo, pig races, K-9 demonstration, and the not-so-ugly dog contest. You can expect a parade in there somewhere, along with SO. MUCH. MORE.
BROOKLYN PARK
Join in as residents “pay homage to the humble potato” at Brooklyn Park’s aptly named Tater Daze Festival, June 13-15. Events include a Spud Run (of course) and Kids Fun Run; head to the Community Activity Center for food, beer, and wine garden, local vendors, inflatables, Bingo, live music, and more.
BUFFALO
The Grand Parade in Buffalo is described on the city’s website as “one of the best parades in the area.” Experience it for yourself during Buffalo Days, June 9-16. This event also includes a carnival, live music, Movie in the Park, coronation of Buffalo royalty, and more. Amateur singers who live, work, or attend school in Buffalo can register their vocal cords for the Buffalo Sings contest, with the top two winners in each of two age divisions going on to compete in the Minnesota Sings contest in September.
CHAMPLIN
Celebrate the history behind Champlin at the Father Hennepin Festival, June 7-9, at Mississippi Point Park. Enjoy live music, ice cream socials, and CLIMB Theatre family plays. Adopt a duck (or ducks) and participate in the Duck Derby to win prizes. Other events include a carnival, open skating, a business expo, fireworks, a petting zoo, a parade, and so much more. Clues for the medallion hunt will be released on June 3.
COON RAPIDS
Like Anoka, the city of Coon Rapids offers a Summer Concert Series. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy an evening of free entertainment on most Thursdays from June 6 through August 8 at Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park.
The Coon Rapids 4th of July Community Celebration runs from July 2-4 at Boulevard Plaza. These three days of fun will include carnival games and rides, pull tabs, live music, Bingo, food and drinks, a car show, and a parade. Get your feet moving at the Firecracker 5K or 10K, and let the kiddos run off some energy in the Sparkler Dash.
CORCORAN
The 16th Annual Corcoran Country Daze will bring community members together on August 16 and 17. Enjoy food, music, and activities that include softball and volleyball tournaments, a car show, and a Country Mile Fun Run.
ELK RIVER
On July 6, Main Street in downtown Elk River will be abuzz with the sights, sounds, and smells of the 2nd Annual Elk RiverFest (naturally). Listen to live music, check out the vendor booths, enjoy food and drinks, turn loose the youngsters in the Kids Fun Zone, and stick around for fireworks.
HAMEL
From July 11-14, the Hamel Rodeo & Bull Ridin’ Bonanza will rustle up five performances, all of which will feature bareback and saddle bronc riding, tie-down and team roping, steer wrestling, barrel racing, and the Bull Ridin’ Bonanza. Tim “Wild Thang” Lepard and Team Ghost Riders also will perform a specialty act. The Saturday matinee will feature a Kids Calf Scramble and stick-horse races.
HANOVER
Oodles of events are planned for the 15th Annual Hanover Harvest Fest on August 3. Standard festival events such as a parade, food vendors, beer garden, and fireworks are on the docket, as well as Marketplace Music, a garden tractor pull, happenings on the Settlers Park Main Stage, and a visit from the North Memorial Air Care Helicopter.
HOPKINS
First organized in 1934 to boost the economy and community during the Depression, the city of Hopkins this year will celebrate its 85th Raspberry Festival from July 13-21. Anticipate bushels of fun with the Grande Day Parade, games for the family, a puppy parade, rugby tournament, arts and crafts fair, soap box derby, Raspberry Run, fireworks, and bunches more. Also, jam to live tunes with Music in the Park, and hunt for the Golden Raspberry when clues begin posting on July 9.
MAPLE GROVE
Virtually every event imaginable – and even some unimaginable – is represented at Maple Grove Days, which runs July 10-14. This five-day festival offers an art fair, inflatables, a fishing clinic, puzzle challenges, an outdoor movie, Zumba and yoga, bed races. Sports tournaments and dances and a medallion hunt. Entertainment on two stages. And more, more, more. Learn what’s trendy in the Duct Tape Fashion Show & Contest. Participants are encouraged to use any color of duct tape to create an outfit (accessories are optional); contestants will be judged on originality, creativity, workmanship, and the amount of duct tape used. Registration deadline is July 9.
MEDINA
Be a part of the Medina Celebration Day on September 21. In addition to a farmers market and business expo, the festival will include family activities such as Bingo, face painting, and pumpkin decorating. See drone demonstrations, be wowed by the canine abilities displayed at the search-and-rescue dog show, ride on an antique fire truck, and enjoy s’mores by the bonfire. Cap off the evening by watching the fireworks.
OSSEO
Osseo’s 43rd Annual Lions Roar Days celebration is sure to make some noise with loads of entertainment. Events on September 6 and 7 include music, a parade, food, beer and wine, pie- and pizza-eating contests, a dance contest, and more. Proceeds will be used for the betterment of the community.
OTSEGO
Rolling into town on September 14, the Otsego Prairie Festival & Car Show is the city’s largest community event and will feature activities for all ages and interests, including craft and vendor merchants, live music, food vendors, beer garden, kids’ activities, and more. Whether classified as street, modified, restored, or hot rod, the car show is open to all cars, trucks, and motorcycles.
PLYMOUTH
Though not celebrating a big festival, Plymouth does offer Entertainment in the Parks during summer months. You can hear live music on most Thursdays in June and July, and most Thursdays in August will feature a movie under the stars.
On August 1, the city hosts a Kid Fest, combining elements of a summer carnival and environmental fair. On hand for the festivities will be the Minnesota Zoomobile, Yo-Yo Master Dazzling Dave, and the Teddy Bear Band.
ROCKFORD
Riverside Park is the venue for Rockford River Days, August 9-11. This celebration of community offers events such as volleyball, Bingo, 10K/5K River Run, and more. You’re sure to find activities for every age.
ROGERS
Hairball and the Johnny Holm Band are just two of the live music draws to Rockin’ Rogers Days, June 20-23. Other events include a bean bag tournament, kids’ pedal tractor pull, carnival, beer garden, and more.
ST. MICHAEL
The 13th Annual St. Michael Daze & Knights Festival runs August 9-11. Hear live music, search for treasure in a pile of sawdust, test your skills in the Ninjas United obstacle courses (for adults and kids), play Book Bingo, move with flair in the Color Daze 5K Fun Run, and more. The festival also features a Bierstube event; enjoy a German meal and old-fashioned music while drinking from your bottomless beer mug.
ZIMMERMAN
Celebrate “a small town annual tradition – 49 years in the making” at the Wild West Days May 23-27 in Zimmerman. Enjoy live music, a rib cookoff, events for kids, beer garden, a parade with more than 100 entries, fireworks, and more.
The city will also celebrate its 26th Annual Wildlife Festival on September 28 at the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge. Go on a guided hike, take a horse-drawn wagon ride, and participate in family-oriented activities.
Whether you’re a resident looking to keep yourself or the kids entertained, or a local business building your brand through community involvement and engagement, we hope this guide to local fun will help you better plan your summer outings. Check out Prime Advertising & Design’s community guides for practical information in and around your neighborhood.
