Minnesota Festivals
Events and Celebrations

Minnesota festivals events and celebrations offer residents of Minnesota and visitors to Minnesota year round opportunities to explore our diverse culture and heritage.

Events and celebrations occur year round. Each year begins with Minnesota's celebration of winter, the Saint Paul Winter Carnival, and progresses through our many summer festivals and on to the Minnesota State Fair and the Minnesota Renaissance Festival.

In between you will find special events where you can experience our wonderful music, food and fun as well as our rich cultural diversity.

There are Minnesota festivals and events that occur in almost all parts of the state and we will link to as many of those as possible on this page and other pages of this site. Plan ahead to attend your favorite festivals and events by reserving a hotel near the festival.

This page offers descriptions of major Minnesota festivals and events that occur primarily in the Twin Cities Metro area.

**Scroll to the bottom of this page to add a Minnesota festival event or celebration that you want others to know about.
Every area of Minnesota has unique festivals, events and celebrations that feature their unique heritage and cuisine or a particular Minnesota activity. Unless you are a resident of a particular small town or area of the state, you may never hear of some of these wonderful festivities. We make it a practice to travel to as many of these local celebrations as possible to experience the wide diversity Minnesota offers.

Visitors are treated to a year round offering of Minnesota festivals, events and celebrations. Below are some of the major annual festivities, fairs, & special events that take place throughout Minnesota.

Saint Paul Winter Carnival

Saint Paul Winter Carnival: is called "the coolest celebration on earth." Plan now to attend the next annual celebration of winter.

In 1885 a New York Times reporter wrote that Saint Paul was the "Siberia of America" and questioned whether it was fit for human habitation. Offended by this attack on their Capitol City, the Saint Paul Chamber of Commerce decided to not only prove that Saint Paul was habitable but that it's citizens were very much alive during winter, So was born the Saint Paul Winter Carnival. Each year the Carnival offers over 100 events including parades, cultural celebrations, ice and snow sculpting, and a giant snow slide.

Festival Of Nations

RiverCentre
175 West Kellogg Blvd.
Downtown St. Paul

The Festival of Nations is one of the nation's largest and longest-running multi-ethnic events. It has been presented since 1932 by the International Institute of Minnesota.

Find more information about the Festival of Nations.

Irish Fair of Minnesota

On Harriet Island on the banks of the Mississippi River in St. Paul
FREE ADMISSION

A three-day celebration of Irish heritage: with music, dance and family activities. Billed as one of the most family-friendly events in the Twin Cities and one of the most authentic Irish festivals nationwide.

More information about the Irish Fair

Wefest

Attend Wefest!

At the Soo Pass Ranch Detroit Lakes, Minnesota

World's largest outdoor country music festival---a tradition every year since 1983---held every August in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.

Each summer, about 50,000 people camp out in one of the many campgrounds and listen to an all-star lineup of popular country singers and entertainers.

Get more information and see this year's lineup of country stars.

Minnesota State Fair

Minnesota State Fair: We call it "The Great Minnesota get-together." Some of my earliest memories are of the tastes, sights and smells of the state fair that is matched by no other!

As we raised our family the Minnesota State Fair days were set aside every year. No matter where we lived in the state, we traveled to "the cities" to attend. There were years when our kids were in 4-H and had projects entered. Our artist daughter won ribbons for her art and our sons for woodworking.

Minnesota Renaissance Festival

This fall festival is held just south of Shakopee off Highway 169. The Minnesota Renaissance Festival is one of the largest attended themed events in the country, and features more than 275 merchants, live entertainment, games, food and fun in a 22-acre, 16th-century village. Additions to this year's festival include belly dancing, an Arabian horse show, and yoga lessons. To find out more, dial 952-445-7361, or visit Minnesota Renaissance Festival

Explore Minnesota's Fall Festivals

Minnesota Winter Festivals

Minnesota Festivals and Events
Around the State

Please share your festivals, events and announcements. To be sure that your posting will be published, please write a complete review of the event that includes the date and time, the location, activities available, food (if any) available for purchase or for free. We would love to have you include a photo if one is available.

We do not publish one or two line postings as they are of little value to our readers. Thank you!

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