Freeloader Friday: 50 Free Things To Do This Weekend

Garage sales, brewery parties, and art crawls are all free.

8:00 AM CDT on May 13, 2022

Big Barn Craft Fair

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.

Too $hort rapping, Melle Mel doing a pull up: They're both in town this week.

FRIDAY

High Desert Modern Vintage Clothing Swap

Featuring a free community clothing swap, vintage for sale, guest vendors Black Nvni and Harlow James (plus-size vintage), and more. Find more details here. 3-7 p.m. Ivy Arts Building, 2637 S. 27th Ave., Minneapolis.

St. Paul Art Crawl: Lowertown

The St. Paul Arts Crawl used to be a three-day event. This year, however, it’s morphed into a five-week festival, concentrating on a specific neighborhood or artists’ space each weekend. This week the fun is in Lowertown, one of the biggest legs of the series. There are 10 main participating locations, including the Northern Warehouse, Tilsner Artist Lofts, 262 Studios, the Union Depot, and the Northwestern Building. Come see what Lowertown artists have been up to during the winter months, shop from guest artists and pop-up vendors, and take in live music and performances. Up next: The final installment will take place at the Rossmor Building June 24-25. Find more details at stpaulartcollective.org. Free. 5-9 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Through Sunday –Jessica Armbruster

La Mama Diabla, Skalectric Company

Latin rock and ska punk on the patio. 6-11 p.m. 612 Brew, 945 Broadway NE, Minneapolis.

Bad Weather Arcade

Featuring three days of arcade games, special beer releases, food trucks, and live video-game music on Saturday. Free; $5 for unlimited arcade gaming (free for kids 12 and under). 3 p.m. to midnight Friday; noon to midnight Saturday; noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. Bad Weather Brewing, 414 Seventh St. W., St. Paul.

Family Friday

Drum and dance from Baba Jesse & Resounding Rhythms. 5-7 p.m. Midtown Global Market, 920 E. Lake St., Minneapolis.

Art 4 Shelter

This free art show and sale features pieces priced at $30 and $90, benefitting Simpson Housing Services. Featuring a benefit reception from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, and family day exhibition 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will also be online auctions. Visit simpsonhousing.org/art-4-shelter-2 for more info. Glass House, 145 Holden St., Minneapolis.

Maifest 2022

Featuring beer, food and live music. With Chris Kelly, Demitri Rallis & Friends, Jacuzzi Puma, and The Soul Shack Friday; Trainwreck Duet, Mikel Wright & The Wrongs, Dan Ristrom & The Big Throwdown, and Danny Tanner and The Full House Saturday. 1 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. Excelsior Brewing Company, 421 3rd St. S., Excelsior.

The Northerly Gales

Celtic and Americana tunes. 9 p.m. The Dubliner Pub, 2162 University Ave. W., St. Paul.

Friday Night Open Mic

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

Ta-coumba T. Aiken: Awakening

Ta-coumba T. Aiken’s artwork is part of the Twin Cities. His pieces have been displayed throughout Hennepin Theatre Trust buildings, his collab with Seitu Jones is embedded in the sidewalks of the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, his large-scale etched glass mural, Flow, can be found in the Capitol River Watershed District in St. Paul. His pieces, which include paintings, drawings, murals, sculptures, and other kinds of media, play with the abstract while also speaking to ancestry, activism, and Black histories. For “Awakenings,” his latest exhibition, the Lowertown-based artist will feature paintings and works on paper. It should serve as a nice sneak peak into what lies ahead for him, as he was was recently named a 2022 Guggenheim fellow. There will be an opening reception on Friday, May 13, from 5 to 7 p.m. Dreamsong, 1237 Fourth St. NE, Minneapolis. Through June 25 –Jessica Armbruster

Valors, Kill Palace, Loss Leader

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

Unloved Creatures Three

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. 6-11 p.m. Rogue Buddha Gallery, 357 13th Ave. NE, 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.

SATURDAY

Bird Muse Gallery

Featuring photography by Jose Arrieta and work by Colombian painter Mario Bravo. 4-7 p.m. La Doña Cervecería, 241 Fremont Ave. N., Minneapolis.

Open Season: Spring Brewery Party

Featuring burgers and pizza from Parlour and Red Wagon, drinks from Up Coffee and Meteor, a bonfire with s’mores, tons of beer releases and re-releases, and music by rock ‘n’ roll cover bands. Free; $5 drink wristbands benefit Community Driven. 1-10 p.m. Falling Knife Brewing Company, 783 Harding St. NE, Minneapolis.

Wave Cage, Bird Room

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

Voltage Controller Vol. 5

Electronic, ambient, and experimental tunes with Mount Singers and Ryann Daisy Swimmer. 3 p.m. 331 Club, 331 13th Ave. NE, Minneapolis.

Johnny Sincerely's Traveling Blues Orchestra, Red Eye Ruby

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

Grand Micro Spring Art Fair

Featuring 22 local artists selling their wares on Grand Avenue lawns, including candles, jewelry, pottery, paintings, and more. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 1381 Grand Ave., St. Paul.

The Northerly Gales

Celtic and Americana tunes. 7 p.m. Merlin’s Rest Pub, 3601 E. Lake St., Minneapolis.

Hmong Day Food Truck Festival

Featuring food and live music/open mic at 8 p.m. on Saturday. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Smokin' Ninjas Food Truck Lounge, 879 Rice St., St. Paul.

Atomic Beat

Classic ‘80s rock. 612 Brew, 945 Broadway NE, Minneapolis.

Festival of Garage Sales 2022

Community-wide garage sale throughout the area. Stop by to pick up a map, and visit online for more info. 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jonathan Association, 111000 Bavaria Rd., Chaska.

WILD VNTG MRKT: Spring Fling

Monthly event features local vintage and home goods, food trucks, and music. Find more info here. Noon to 6 p.m. Wild Things Antiques, 7269 Commerce Cir. W., Minneapolis.

Two Rivers Vintage Outdoor Flea Market

Featuring over 25 vendors on the lawn, special sales, open house areas to explore, and more. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The BIG White House, 1900 S. Third Ave., Anoka.

Market Collective MN Makers Market

Shop from BIPOC and queer vendors and allies. 2-6 p.m. Wabasha Brewing, 429 Wabasha St. S., St. Paul.

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.

Minneapolis Vintage Market

Shop from a variety of local vendors. Free; $10 for 11 a.m. early bird admission. RSVP is required, you can do that here. Noon to 4 p.m. St. Louis Park Rec Center, ROC, Aquatic Park, 3700 Monterey Dr., St. Louis Park.

Twin Cities Record Show

Indoor/outdoor sale includes 45 RPM records, CDs, and music memorabilia. Noon to 4 p.m. Able Seedhouse, 1121 Quincy St. NE, Minneapolis.

Free E-Waste Recycling Event

Get rid of your old tech crap at this free drop off event. Find more info here. Noon to 5 p.m. Allianz Field, 400 Snelling Ave. N., St. Paul.

Minnesota Tabletop Market

Makers markets and antique marts aren’t just for vintage clothes, furniture, or artisanal items. The Twin Cities even have one for board games. This Saturday, the Minnesota Tabletop Market returns, with folks selling second hand board games, role playing books, and miniatures from eras of yore. You can also score new board games from local makers, who also often show up to these events. Added bonus? You can bust out your new find in the brewpub and play your inaugural game while drinking a cider and snacking on crepes from the food truck stopping by. Free. Noon to 3 p.m. Minneapolis Cider Company, 701 SE Ninth St., Minneapolis. –Jessica Armbruster

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,

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.

2022 Hennepin County Master Gardener Annual Plant Sale

Featuring over 10,000 plants to give forever homes to. Find more info here. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hopkins Pavilion, 11000 Excelsior Blvd., Hopkins.

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.

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. Every Saturday 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.

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.