Freeloader Friday: 103 Free Things To Do This Weekend

Freeloader Friday is your weekly guide to having fun no matter what your budget looks like. Each week we have a list of 100% free events like gallery parties, music, and films in the park, as well as free admission events like special happy hours, markets, and more.

FRIDAY

Twin Cities Vintage Bike Week

It’s vintage market season in the Twin Cities—and not just for clothes. Or housewares. Or records. It’s time, my friends, for another Vintage Bike Week! Friday is the Klunker ride—bring your own bevs and snacks for a 7 p.m. departure from One on One. Then on Saturday (11 a.m. - 3 p.m.) there’s the second-annual Bike Jerks swap meet and bike show at One on One, where you can “bring your pre-2000 bike for folks to ooh and ah over.” (If you want to sell, it’s 20 bucks for a table.) Folks’ll also be selling records, and they’ll have DJs spinning all day. And on Sunday, there’s a vintage MTB ride at Theo Wirth (meets noon at Angry Catfish). Find the full list of events and additional info here. —Em Cassel

Vigil for Reproductive Freedom

Hosted by UnRestrict Minnesota in downtown Minneapolis. 5:30 p.m. Diana E. Murphy U.S. Courthouse, 300 S. Fourth St., Minneapolis.

Early Voting Rally at Minneapolis Elections and Voter Services

Hosted by DFL Minneapolis. Find more info here. Noon. 980 E. Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis.

2022 Chroma Zone Mural & Art Festival

Few and Far, an international all-women street art collective, is in town for five days of live mural painting and events as they create a new mural, titled Garden Buddies. Related events include 45-minute walking mural tours at 10 and 11:30 a.m. at Workhorse Coffee and at 7 p.m. at Urban Growler Brewing on Saturday, plus an artist meet and greet Sunday at 1 p.m. at the mural site. Bro-Tex Inc., 800 N. Hampden Ave., St. Paul.

Pride Block Party at Bryant Lake Bowl

Performances by She's Burgers, Leslie Vincent, DJ Michel.Be, Grammas Boyfriend, LaLa Luzious, and Sunny Kiriyama; drinks from Pryes Brewing Co., Sociable Ciderwerks, Athletic Brewing (NA Beer); drag; ice cream and food; alcoholic slushies; and more. 6-10 p.m. Bryant Lake Bowl, 810 W. Lake St., Minneapolis.

St. Paul Art Crawl at the Rossmor Building

Check out work from over two dozen local artists. 6-10 p.m. Fri.; noon-8 p.m. Sat. RossmorArt, 500 Robert St. N., St. Paul.

"Unloved Creatures Three" Closing Reception

Featuring work by 13 artists: Eli Libson, Alex Kuno, Heather Renaux, Angel Hawari, DC Ice, Kao Lee Thao, John Sauer, Chuck U, John Bivens, Scott Seekins, Benja Wuest, Nicholas Harper, and Phaedra Odelle. 7-10 p.m. Rogue Buddha Gallery, 357 13th Ave. NE, Minneapolis.

Minnesota Sinfonia

Classical children’s concert. 7:30 p.m. Lake Harriet Bandshell, 4135 W. Lake Harriet Pkwy, Minneapolis.

Movies in the Park: Luca 

9:30 p.m. Franklin Steele Park, 1600 Portland Ave. S., Minneapolis.

June Residency: Molly Brandt

Live music in the beer garden. 6 p.m. Utepils Brewing, 225 Thomas Ave. N., Minneapolis.

Bird Muse Gallery Show

Featuring Jose Arrieta and Mario Bravo. 5-10 p.m. Lake Monster Brewing, 550 Vandalia St., St. Paul.

Love’s Labor’s Lost

Classical Actor’s Ensemble is back in the parks this summer to bring free theater to the masses. This year’s production is Shakespeare’s Love’s Labor’s Lost, a comedy poking fun at masculine desire while celebrating feminine intelligence. The plot: The young King of Navarre forces he and his friends to swear off “worldly pleasures” for three years of fasting and academia. His virtuous goal gets completely fucked, however, when a French princess and her crew show up in town to talk diplomacy. Horniness ensues, and—spoiler alert!—wins. Find times and locations at classicalactorsensemble.org. This week:

Friday: 7 p.m. at Normandale Lake Bandshell in Bloomington 

Saturday: 7 p.m. at Lake of the Isles

Sunday: 7 p.m at Cedar Lake’s East Beach

New Salty Dog, Teague Alexy

21+. 9 p.m. 331 Club, 331 13th Ave. NE, Minneapolis.

Hearing Horns

It’s a band with horns. 7 p.m. Minnehaha Falls, 4801 Minnehaha Ave., Minneapolis.

Pups, Pride, and Pints

With its location a few feet (and around the corner) from Loring Park, it’s pretty much mandatory that Lakes & Legends do something special for Pride. And so, they are. The dog-friendly brewpub will kick things off this Friday with a puppy party hosted by Bubbly Paws, where four-legged friends will score free pup cups. There will also be a photo area, and, most importantly, a best dressed competition for dogs. The party continues on Saturday and Sunday with special beer infusions, DJ tunes, local food trucks, and more with friends from Lavender Magazine. Free. 4-7 p.m. Lakes & Legends, 1369 LaSalle Ave., Minneapolis. –Jessica Armbruster

P.O.P at 50th & France: Katy Tessman and Katy Vernon

5 p.m. 3945 Market St, Minneapolis.

Friday Night Open Mic

21+. 10 p.m. The Comedy Corner Underground, 1501 S. Washington Ave., Minneapolis.

Adult Game Night

Featuring drunk specials, DJ tunes, and games, including giant Jenga, Uno, Connect 4, dominoes, and more. There’s also karaoke every 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month. Hyde Kitchen & Cocktails, 24 University Ave. NE, Minneapolis. 

TC Jazz Fest

Tonight’s two stages of music includes JazzMN featuring Lila Ammons, Emmet Cohen and Bruce Harris, Matthew Whitaker Quintet, Charanga Tropical, and Jack Brass Band. 4-9 p.m. Mears Park, 221 Fifth St. E., St. Paul.

More TC Jazz Fest Events: 

BZ3 Organ Trio, Pierre Lewis Organ Trio

7:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m. Urban Wok, 209 Fourth St. E., St. Paul.

Joel Shapira & Larry McDonough

5 p.m. Station 81, Union Deport, 214 Fourth St. E. #110, St. Paul.

John Penny

4:30 p.m. Memento Restaurant and Bar, 360 St. Peter St., St. Paul.

Ginger Commodore, Sarah M. Greer

5:30, 8 p.m. Metronome Brewery in Fingal’s Cave, 289 fifth St. E., St. Paul

Dale Alexander

7:30 p.m. Lost Fox, 213 Fourth St. E., Fourth Floor, St. Paul

Sophia Kickhofel Group, Joan Hutton & Sue Orfield: Take That Back, Jazz Festival Jam Session hosted by Graydon Peterson

6:30, 8, 10 p.m. KJ’s Hideaway, 408 St. Peter S., St. Paul.

Blue Ox Jazz Trio

6 p.m. Herbie’s on the Park, 317 Washington St., St. Paul

Jon Weber

7:30 p.m. Gray Duck Tavern, 345 Wabasha St. N., St. Paul.

Jon Weber

2 p.m. Episcopal Homes Stage, 1860 University Ave. W., St. Paul.

Tom Hunter

6 p.m. Dual Citizen Brewing Company, 725 Raymond Ave., St. Paul.

Jazz Central All Stars Featuring Mac Santiago

7:30 p.m. Dark Horse Bar & Eatery, 250 E. Seventh St., St. Paul.

Denny Malmberg Trio

7 p.m. Citizen Supper Club, Intercontinental Hotel, 11 E. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul.

Scottie Miller

9 p.m. Big River Pizza, 280 Fifth St. E., St. Paul.

Farmers’ Markets:

House of Hope Farmers’ Market

1:30 to 5 p.m. Fridays through October 28. House Of Hope Presbyterian Church, 797 Summit Ave. (parking lot on Portland Ave.), St. Paul; stpaulfarmersmarket.com.

Minneapolis Farmers Market

Arguably the city’s largest and most famous market, with hundreds of vendors weekly. 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily, EBT hours 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thu.-Sun. June through Oct. 312 E. Lyndale Ave. N. (near International Market Square), Minneapolis; mplsfarmersmarket.com.

Signal Hills Farmers Market

Featuring fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables sold direct from producer to consumer, located in the lot of West St. Paul’s Signal Hills Mall. 8 a.m. to noon Fridays, through October 28. 1225 S. Robert St., St. Paul; stpaulfarmersmarket.com.

West Broadway Farmers Market

Featuring local foods, arts, and community development, promoting healthy food access for North Minneapolis, with fresh produce, artisanal goods, grab-and-go eats, and locally grown plants. 3 to 9 p.m. Fridays, June 17 through Oct. 14. The Plaza @ the Capri, 2027 W. Broadway Ave. N. (Broadway and Oliver Street), Minneapolis; appetiteforchangemn.org/wbfm.

SATURDAY

50th Annual Twin Cities Pride

Twin Cities Pride is a little bit of everything. There’s a family-friendly picnic. There’s a gallery show. There’s a 5K. There’s music. There’s a parade. There’s beer. Just like the local LGBTQIA community there are a lot of different people involved and hence a lot is going on. But the big ol’ festival in Loring Park this weekend serves as an excellent starting point. Here you’ll find food trucks, community resources, performances, a beer garden, and more. Four stages will offer entertainment; the lineup includes Tina and the B Sides, Queer Circus, the von Tramps, theyself, and others. Sunday’s parade goes along Hennepin from Seventh to Spruce, ending in the park. For a full schedule of happenings, visit www.tcpride.org. Free. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Loring Park, 1382 Willow St., Minneapolis. June 25-26 –Jessica Armbruster

Free RPG Day 2022 

Open RPG playing all day. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Source Comics & Games, 2057 Snelling Ave. N., Falcon Heights.

New Brighton Chalk Walk Festival

Walk the path at Veterans Park and enjoy works along the path, with live music on Sat. from 4-6 p.m. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sat.-Sun. Veterans Park, 803 Old Hwy. 8, New Brighton.

June Stillwater Flea Market and Craft Expo

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sat.-Sun. 12300 40th St. N., Stillwater.

Bike Jerks Swap Meet & Bike Show

Check out bikes, shop vinyl, and more. Part of Twin Cities Vintage Bikes Week. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. One on One Bike Studio, 4461 Minnehaha Ave., Minneapolis.

Summer Social Vintage and Artists’ Market

With food trucks and more. Noon to 5 p.m. 3999 Rice St., Shoreview.

Healing Through Art: Diversity, Community & Belonging Fashion Show

Featuring a fashion show with white and blue shibori designs from local designer Jean Manrique, an art exhibition of local artists curated by Roho Collective, refreshments and cookies. 4:30 p.m. Grace Trinity Community Church, 1430 W. 28th St., Minneapolis.

Backyard Boombox 

Featuring tunes from Turch, Liam White, Odd Fashioned, Davilla, Pearlescent, Stereogo, Swank Loyd Right. 3-10 p.m. Insight Brewing, 2821 E. Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis.

Night Market at Forgotten Star Brewing Co.

Featuring live music from Dark Bunny and Grand Courriers, DJ sets from Brian Engel of Hipshaker, food, and over a dozen local vendors. 6-11 p.m. Forgotten Star Brewing, 38 Northern Stacks Dr., Fridley. 

“We Are Still Here” Closing Reception

This group exhibition features Native artists Ray Janis, Sheldon Starr, Missy Whiteman, and mentor artist Jonathan Thunder. You might recognize some works as being recently featured as digital billboards in downtown Minneapolis along Hennepin Avenue. 6-8 p.m. All My Relations Gallery, 1414 E. Franklin Ave., Minneapolis.

Muscle Car Bash

Gaze upon muscle cars. 4-7 p.m. Hennepin Technical College, 9000 Brooklyn Blvd., Brooklyn Park.   

MFR/Wicked Wort Cornhole Classic

A bracket-style tourney featuring prizes. 2-6 p.m. 4165 W. Broadway Ave., Robbinsdale.

Afton Strawberry Festival & Marketplace

Two-day outdoor fest features artists, vendor mart, strawberries, a business expo, food, live music, and family fun. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat.; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sun. 3418 St. Croix Trail S., Afton.

Planty Queens Grand Opening

Perhaps you’ve heard that pets are the new kids, and plants are the new pets? People who make memes and do viral tweets are saying this. Anyway, you’ve got a great excuse to pick up some new pets this weekend: Planty Queens are celebrating the grand opening of their brick-and-mortar in Northeast. This is an outdoor event with lots of local makers selling their wares—Smitten Kitten, Truly Clay, Burn Boss Candles, and Soft Seams Textiles, to name a few—plus food from Jilly Beans Ice Cream Truck, Nordeast Cookie Co., and Racket favorites Marty’s Deli and Bagel Taïm. And of course, there will be plants. Find all the info here. Free. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Planty Queens, 2800 Johnson Street NE, Minneapolis (across the street from Planty Queens).—Em Cassel

Raya and the Last Dragon

Movies start at dusk. Windom NE, 2251 Hayes St. NE, Minneapolis.

Quarterback Club (EP Release), Warcake, Serious Machine

10 p.m. 331 Club, 331 13th Ave. NE, Minneapolis.

MPLS Pet Market

Featuring local pet businesses and adoptable animals. Find more info here. Every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through August. 200 E Lyndale Ave N, Minneapolis, 

Celebrating Black Voices and Black Music: Chicago vs. Twin Cities

Showcase and open mic. 6-9 p.m. 900 Mt. Curve Ave., Minneapolis.

TC Jazz Fest

Today’s lineup on two stages of music includes Walker West Music Academy & MacPhail Center for Music, Zacc Harris Group, Bruce Henry and the Evolution Of African American Music, Brandon Goldberg Quintet, Treme Brass Band, Salsa del Soul, Selby Ave Brass Band with Thomasina Petrus, and Maryann and the Money Makers. Noon-9:30 p.m. Mears Park, 221 Fifth St. E., St. Paul.

More TC Jazz:

No Room For Squares, Red Hot Django Peppers

7:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m. Urban Wok, 209 Fourth St. E., St. Paul.

Lindsay Pedalty Trio

5 p.m. Station 81, Union Deport, 214 Fourth St. E. #110, St. Paul.

Lucia Newell and Joan Griffith, Grant West

2, 4:40 p.m. Memento Restaurant and Bar, 360 St. Peter St., St. Paul.

The David Milne Quintet, Peter Kogan Quintet

3, 7:30 p.m. Metronome Brewery in Fingal’s Cave, 289 fifth St. E., St. Paul

Kenne Thomas’s Lifeforce featuring Frank Catalano, Ted Olsen Group, Jazz Festival Jam Session hosted by Graydon Peterson

6:30, 8, 10 p.m. KJ’s Hideaway, 408 St. Peter S., St. Paul.

Blue Ox Jazz Trio

6 p.m. Herbie’s on the Park, 317 Washington St., St. Paul

Jon Weber 

2 p.m. Episcopal Homes Stage, 1860 University Ave. W., St. Paul.

Steve Clarke & the Working Stiffs

6 p.m. Dual Citizen Brewing Company, 725 Raymond Ave., St. Paul.

Jenny Klukken 

7:30 p.m. Dark Horse Bar & Eatery, 250 E. Seventh St., St. Paul.

Brazilian Jazz Trio

7 p.m. Citizen Supper Club, Intercontinental Hotel, 11 E. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul.

Maud Hixson

9 p.m. Big River Pizza, 280 Fifth St. E., St. Paul.

Farmers’ Markets

Apple Valley Farmers Market

8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays, through October 29. 7100 147th St. W., Apple Valley; stpaulfarmersmarket.com.

Fulton Farmers Market

Traditional and heirloom vegetables, fruits, breads, and pastries. 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays, through October 29. 4901 Chowen Ave. S., Minneapolis; neighborhoodrootsmn.org.

Lakeview Terrace Farmers’ Market

Formerly known as the Camden Farmers Market, this small market has teamed up with Robbinsdale to offer fresh produce and artisanal goods. 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays, through September 17. Find it on the northeast corner of Bottineau Blvd. (CR 81) and Lakeland Avenue in Robbinsdale, across from HyVee; thenewmpls.info/farmersmarket.

Midtown Farmers Market

Urban market serving produce and more to Powderhorn, Phillips, and Longfellow. In a new location this year. 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays through Oct.; 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays, through Oct. 2225 East Lake St., Minneapolis, facebook.com/MidtownFarmersMarket.

Mill City Farmers’ Market

Now outside through October! With local farmers, artisans, ceramics, giftables, food, and more. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mill City Museum, 704 S. Second St., Minneapolis.

Northeast Farmers’ Market

Featuring fruits, vegetables, plants, flowers, artisans, specialty foods, prepared foods, kids’ activities, live music, and community spirit. Find more info at northeastmarket.org. Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through October 15. St. Boniface Church, on the corner of University Avenue NE and Seventh Avenue NE, Minneapolis.

Richfield Farmers’ Market

Featuring live music, cooking demos, morning yoga, food, and more. Find info here. 8 a.m. to noon through October 15. 6335 Portland Ave., Richfield.

St. Paul Downtown Farmers’ Market

Lowertown’s pride and one of the state’s largest markets. 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays; 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays. Through Nov. 20. 290 5th St. E., St. Paul; stpaulfarmersmarket.com.

SUNDAY

TC Pride Parade

Sunday’s parade begins at 11 a.m., traveling along Hennepin from Seventh to Spruce, and ending in the park. For a full schedule of happenings, visit www.tcpride.org. 

Carlaoke

Karaoke with Carla. 8 p.m. White Squirrel Bar, 974 W. Seventh St., St. Paul.

Big Gay Sunday Patio Party at Up-Down

6 p.m. Up-Down Minneapolis, Up-Down Minneapolis, 3012 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis. 

Jazz on the Prairie

Classic big band. This is actually not part of TC Jazz Fest. 2 p.m. Lake Harriet Bandshell, 4135 W. Lake Harriet Pkwy, Minneapolis.

Funktion Junktion

Dance music from the 60’s and 70’s. 5:30 p.m. Lake Harriet Bandshell, 4135 W. Lake Harriet Pkwy, Minneapolis.

Game Night

Chris H. stops by with board games. Or bring your own. Noon to 5 p.m. LynLake Brewery, 2934 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis.

Open Mic Night

Music, poetry, comedy, whatever is welcome. Sign up at 4:30 p.m. The Cave at Keg and Case Market, 928 W. 7th St., St. Paul.

Farmers’ Markets

Inver Grove Heights Farmers Market

8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays, through October 9. 8055 Barbara Ave., Inver Grove Heights; stpaulfarmersmarket.com.

Kingfield Farmers Market

Featuring a large selection of local produce, artisanal crafts, and prepared foods in a new location this year at MLK Park. 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays, through Oct. 30. MLK Park, 4055 Nicollet Ave. S. (40th and Nicollet), Minneapolis; neighborhoodrootsmn.org.

Linden Hills Farmers Market

Featuring ethical meats, baked goods, ready-to-eat items, locally grown veggies and fruits, and live musical entertainment. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays, through Oct. 30. Settergrens of Linden Hills, 2813 W. 43rd St., Minneapolis; lindenhillsfarmersmarket.org.

Woodbury Farmers Market

8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays, through October 30. 8595 Central Park Pl., Woodbury; stpaulfarmersmarket.com.