Freeloader Friday: 34 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

Single Family Homes in the Year 3030? 

Photographer Lyn Corelle explores homes, garages, gardens, and more in south Minneapolis with images taken in fall/winter of 2020 and ‘21. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; 1-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Pancake House, 4553 S. 34th Ave., Minneapolis.

Year of the Tiger: Lunar New Year Celebration

This two-day celebration includes beer releases (a sour Plum Acid Factory and the vanilla honey ale Bee Sting), traditional drumming on Saturday at 2:15 and 3:45 p.m., food from Jabà Noodle (Friday) and Parlour (Saturday), and more. Noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Arbeiter Brewing Co., 3038 Minnehaha Ave., Minneapolis.

​​Old St. Anthony Night Market

Shop local with Minneapolis Craft Market’s V-Day installation. It’s free, but you need to RSVP here. 6-10 p.m. Machine Shop, 300 Second St. SE, Minneapolis.

Midwestern Standard, Jackson Atkins, Jeff Larson

21+. 9:30 p.m. 331 Club, 331 13th Ave. NE, Minneapolis.

Valentine's Weekend Chocolate Stout Flight

This four-stout tasting includes the Chocolate Covered Strawberry Stout, Dublin Dry Stout, Coffee Stout, and BA Lost Moon 2021. Friday through Monday. Pryes Brewing Company, 1401 West River Rd. N., Minneapolis.

Sinatra to Slayer

Vinyl tunes with DJ Shane Kramer. 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Dusty's Bar,  1319 Marshall St. NE, Minneapolis. 

RuPaul’s Drag Race Viewing Party

Hosted by B. Louise. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Black Hart of St. Paul, 1415 University Ave. W., St. Paul.

Friday Night Open Mic

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

SATURDAY

The Black Market: BBIB Market

Shop clothing, beauty items, jewelry, food, and more from local BIPOC-owned businesses. Reserve a free ticket at theblackmarketmpls.com. 2-6:30 p.m. The Lab - Pilot Facility and Taproom, 767 N. Eustis St., Minneapolis. 

North Loop Valentine's Day Craft Beverage Crawl

Stop by any of the six participating breweries–Number 12 Cider, Modist Brewing Company, StormKing Brewpub, Fulton Beer, Inbound BrewCo.--for a crawl card that unlocks special deals and more. Saturday and Sunday. Fulton Brewing Production, 2540 Second St. NE Minneapolis.

Second Saturday at Casket Arts

Featuring open studios and more at the Caskets Arts Building, the NE Sculpture/Gallery Factory, and the Carriage House. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Casket Arts Building, 681 17th Ave. NE, Minneapolis.

Northrup Nights

Once a month, artists, artisans, makers, and more open up their studio spaces for a variety of sales, demonstrations, gallery receptions, and more. There are four floors of spaces and hundreds of artists working out of the building, so you never quite know what you will see here. Some things you will see if you stop by on Saturday night: “SweetArt Salon: Close to Home,” a group exhibition celebrating the (bitter)sweet things in life, including resilience in trying times, being good neighbors, and supporting each other in the community. Kohlman & Pryor Gallery will host a public reception tonight from 7 to 9 p.m. for its fifth installment of its color series. This one is all about blue, a color that was pricey to use during the Renaissance and is getting harder to find these days because of supply chain issues. Another fun fact: according to the gallery, blue paintings are more likely to sell over any other color. Free. 6 to 10 p.m. Northrup King Building, 1500 Jackson St. NE, Minneapolis. –Jessica Armbruster

Institute of Hearts

Pick up a paper heart at the info or guest desks and place it in front of your favorite piece in the museum. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Minneapolis Institute of Art, 2400 Third Ave. S., Minneapolis.

Shred the Love

Love is a lie, and if you know that to be true then the annual “UnValentine’s Day” event Shred the Love is where you’ll meet your like-minded cohort. Looking for closure? You’ll have an opportunity to destroy love letters, emails, and photos, or write a nasty letter to your ex. Need to hit something with a stick? (Don’t we all?) Whack away at a pinata. Desperately need to know what happens next? There’s a lottery to win an onsite palm reading. Ready to make your next mistake? Meet someone while indulging in your choice of two-for-ones: tap beer at East Lake Brewery, chocolate drizzled cream cheese wontons from Pham’s Rice Bowl, margaritas and mojitos at Salsa a la Salsa (which some are calling one of the 12 most underrated bars in the Twin Cities), or cake jars from The Kitchen. 3 p.m. Midtown Global Market, 920 E. Lake St., Minneapolis; find more info here.—Keith Harris

Valentine’s Market Collective

Shop local vendors. With DJ tunes and food from Jaba Noodles. Noon to 5 p.m. Modist Brewing Company, 505 N. 3rd St., Minneapolis.

612 Brew’s Ninth Anniversary

With food from Tandoor, evening tunes from Atomic Beat at 6 p.m., $9 crowlers all day, 20% of merch all day, and half-price beers from noon to 2 p.m. 612 Brew, 945 Broadway NE, Minneapolis.

Gus the Bard

8 p.m. Dubliner’s Pub, 2162 University Ave. W, Minneapolis.

Terrarium Art Fest: The Lovers' Art Market

A pop-up Valentine's themed art fest with handmade goods, vintage items, original art, and live music. 1-7 p.m. 755 Prior Ave. N., St. Paul.

Gabe Barnett’s Birthday Bash

With The Dang Ol’ Tri’ole, Rosie, Chris Cashin, Talk Soon. 21+. 9:30 p.m. 331 Club, 331 13th Ave. NE, Minneapolis.

Gentleman Speaker, Pseudo Genius, Sparkling Review

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

Six Nations Rugby

Featuring Wales vs. Scotland at 8:15 a.m., and France vs. Ireland at 10:45 a.m., plus $5 Guinness, Heineken, Strongbow specials during the games. Brit’s Pub, 1110 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis.

Free Saturday Yoga at Union Depot

Bring a yoga mat, water, and towel if you need them. 9 a.m. Union Depot, 214 Fourth St. E., St. Paul.

Mill City Farmers’ Market

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

SUNDAY

Eastlake Wing Bowl 2022

Watch the Super Bowl on multiple screens, including the jumbotron. With special wings and nachos from Manny’s Tortas and happy hour beers during the game. 5:30 p.m. Eastlake Craft Brewery, 920 East Lake St. (Midtown Global Market), Minneapolis.

Super Bowl Sunday at Brits

Featuring happy hour specials, surround sound, and the game on multiple screens. 5:30 p.m. Brit’s Pub, 1110 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis.

Super Bowl Sunday at Stanley’s

Watch the game upstairs. Drink specials include $2 off local canned beer, $3 Truly freeze pops, and $4 Pryes Pragmatic. 5:30 p.m. Stanley’s Northeast Bar Room, 2500 University Ave. SE, Minneapolis.

Super Bowl Sunday at BlackStack

Watch the game on the big screen with surround sound. With food from The Sizzling Wagon, drink specials, raffle prizes, and more. 5:30 p.m. BlackStack Brewing, 755 Pryor Ave. N., St. Paul.

Sensory Friendly Sunday

This monthly event is designed for kids, teens, and adults with sensory processing differences, autism spectrum, or developmental disabilities. The galleries will be closed to the general public, and there will be quiet spaces, fidgets, and sunglasses available. It’s free; but you’ll need to sign up at the Walker to reserve a time. 8 to 11 a.m. Walker Art Center, 725 Vineland Place, Minneapolis.

Typewriting Poetry Workshop

Let your poetry flow, via typewriter, with Clarence White. This workshop is free, or $5 suggested donation if you can. RSVP here. 1 p.m. Hennepin History Museum, 2303 Third Ave. S., Minneapolis.

Love Market

Featuring food, fashion, jewelry, and love. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. New Rules North, 2015 N. Lowry Ave., Minneapolis. 

Family Day: For the Love of Art

Featuring crafts, prizes, and free art totes. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Minneapolis Institute of Art, 2400 Third Ave. S., Minneapolis.

Game Night

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

Six Nations Rugby

Featuring England vs. Italy at 10:45 a.m., plus $5 Guinness, Heineken, Strongbow specials during the games. Brit’s Pub, 1110 Nicollet Mall, 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.