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. For our picks of the week's best events, price be damned, click here.
FRIDAY
I See Flowers
An exhibition of paintings and drawings by Duk Ju L. Kim, a Chicago-based artist who recently lost her home and gallery to a fire. 7 to 9 p.m. NE Sculpture, Casket Arts Building, 1720 NE Madison St., Minneapolis.
Larissa Loden Store Opening
Featuring a ribbon cutting, swag bags, live music, in-store promotions, and more. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mall of America, Level 2 West.
The Clay Squared Gallery’s Grand Opening
Check out the newly renovated storefront space and gallery from mixed media sculptor Layl McDill. 6-8 p.m. Flux Arts Building, 2505 Howard St. NE, Minneapolis.
Flamingo's Divine Vintage Weekend
The irregularly open, multi-room vintage shop is up and running this weekend for three days. Noon to 6 p.m. Fri.-Sun. Flamingos Divine Vintage, 3404 Cedar Ave., Minneapolis.
Rich People Garage Sales
We may have taken some liberties with the title of this event, whose organizers prefer “South Lake Minnetonka Community Wide Garage Sales.” But you, the savvy city rat with a salary that doesn’t exceed $125,000, know what’s up: Blue-blood denizens of the metro’s toniest ‘hood unloading their glitzy wares at prices even the hoi polloi can afford. Just imagine the unwanted air fryers, Trek bikes, ‘80s speakers, dishware, and trousers that abound inside these McMansions—all at rock-bottom prices! So far 15 families have signed up, though expect more to be added today (registration ended at midnight). Free. 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday-Sunday; find more info here.—Jay Boller
Minneapolis Farmers Market
Featuring 50+ vendors. Find more info at mplsfarmersmarket.com/lyndale-market. 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wed.-Fri.; 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sat.-Sun. 312 E. Lyndale Ave. N., Minneapolis.
Grand Lilac, Flowerstalks, The Envies
10 p.m. 331 Club, 331 13th Ave. NE, Minneapolis.
Jiggs Lee Invasion
8-11:30 p.m. Schooner Tavern, 2901 27th Ave. S., Minneapolis.
Unattractive Giant Monster Album-Release Show
With Linus and Pink Tower. 8-11 p.m. White Squirrel Bar, 974 W. Seventh St., St. Paul.
The Jugg Sluggers
7 p.m. Padraigs, 945 Broadway NE, Minneapolis.
Fulcrum Market (formerly Bunside)
Vintage and handmade items. 2-7 p.m. Fri.; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat.-Sun. 2756 Hennepin Ave. S., Minneapolis.
Friday Night Open Mic
21+. 10 p.m. The Comedy Corner Underground, 1501 S. Washington Ave., Minneapolis.
SATURDAY
Collect Call 5
In the fifth iteration of this series, over 37 art patrons share selections from their collections. 6-9 p.m. Soo Visual Arts Center, 2909 Bryant Ave. S., Minneapolis.
Olive You: Queer Art for Palestine
Local artists Bibi & Mija host this outdoor market with chalking, food, and tunes. A percentage of sales from each vendor will go towards Operation Olive Branch. Noon to 5 p.m. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Ave., Minneapolis.
Mothers Day Makers Market
Featuring 19 local artisans. Noon to 5 p.m. Boom Island Brewing Company, 5959 Baker Rd., Minnetonka.
Minneapolis Sculpture Garden Art Fair
Is the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden one of the most underutilized parks in Minneapolis? In a weird way, it kinda is! There's a popular attraction with an iconic art piece (hey there, Spoonbridge and Cherry) seated right next to another iconic institution (hey, Walker Art Center), so Minneapolis Parks & Rec don’t have to do much to get people to visit. But they’ve been working on making it more of a Minnehaha Falls-type situation, with plans to add a food stand and host more events. One example: This weekend’s art fair, brought to you by the folks at the Minnehaha Falls Art Fair. There will be over 150 creatives setting up shop and selling wares, from Mother’s Day-worthy gifts to shark-shaped bath bombs for the kids (or me). For the plant moms, a botanical market will pop up by the Cowles Conservatory, with terrarium making, plant sales, and plant-themed makers. Also crucially important: there will be food trucks, a food tent, and a beer and wine garden (yay to weekend day drinking). Free. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sat.; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sun. Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, 725 Vineland Place, Minneapolis; find more info here.—Jessica Armbruster
Nerdish Creations, Local Nerdy Craft Show
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bloomington Eagles #3208, 9150 Old Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis.
North Loop Neighborhood Art Walk
Check out special art shows and receptions at Form + Content Gallery, Traffic Zone Center for Visual Arts, Art at 801, Gallery One TractorWorks, and Veronique Wantz. 6-9 p.m.
Open Studios at Traffic Zone Gallery
Check out 23 open studios. 5:30-9 p.m. Traffic Zone Center for Visual Art, 250 Third Ave. N., Minneapolis.
Hennepin County Fix-It Clinic
Bring your busted appliances, clothing, electronics, mobile devices, and more and chat with experts on how to fix it. Noon to 4 p.m. Hope Presbyterian Church, 7132 Portland Ave., Richfield.
56 Brewing Tunes 9
Things kick off with face painting and yard games, followed by a cornhole tourney, tattoo pop-up from Weird Ink Society, and live music. Will there be special beer releases? There will be. How about beer pong? That'll be happening, too. Food trucks Thai Thai Street Food, Amazing Momo, and Chunk Chunk Ice Cream will be handling the chow; dogs and kids are welcome. Free. Noon to 10 p.m. 56 Brewing, 701 SE Ninth St., Minneapolis; find more info here.—Jay Boller
Kevin Beaudin
Paintings and sculpture. 7-11 p.m. Dutch Bar, 2512 NE Central Ave., Minneapolis.
Ellie Kingsbury and Jan Spencer de Gutiérrez
Featuring art by two artists, plus music by Ryan Picone Quartet. 6-9 p.m. 801 Gallery, 801 N. Washington Ave., Minneapolis.
Twin Cities Record Show
The Minneapolis-St. Paul Music Expo regularly throws pop-ups for vinyl-craved crate diggers, and today that means taking over Minneapolis Cider Co.’s taproom. Organizers promise a “fresh and exciting mix” of albums from its rotating cast of sellers; the host’s in-house crepe creator, Breizh Crêperie, will be dishing up LP-shaped treats for hungry collectors. If you wanna make a whole day of it, we recommend helping this nice fella part with his vast collection of albums. Free. Noon to 4 p.m. Minneapolis Cider Co., 701 SE Ninth St., Minneapolis; find more info here.—Jay Boller
Golden Embers
New work by by Tara Costello. 7-10 p.m. Rosalux Gallery, 315 W. 48th St., Minneapolis.
1850 Pop-up
Featuring over a dozen local artists, nonprofits, and businesses, plus plants, adoptable dogs, tarot readings, and vegan baked goods. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 1850, 1850 E. 38th St., Minneapolis.
Everyday Ejijii’s One-Year B-day
Featuring sales, guest vendors, bubbly, pastries, and other fun all day. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Everyday Ejijii, 4501 S. 34th Ave., Minneapolis.
Selby West St. Paul’s Spring Fling
Featuring deals throughout the neighborhood shops, sidewalk sales, live music, free treats, kids’ fun, and giveaways. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aim for the corner of Selby Avenue at Snelling Avenue in St. Paul.
Mother's Day Maker’s Pop-up
Shop vintage, ceramics, plants, and baked goods. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Haus Theory, 2182 Third St., White Bear Lake.
Market Collective MN Makers Market
Beer and shopping, a classic combo. Noon to 5 p.m. Insight Brewing, 2821 E. Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis.
Minneapolis Vintage Market
Vintage vendors sell clothing and housewares, plus coffee, food vendors, and a pop-up photo booth round out the event. Noon to 4 p.m. St. Louis Park ROC, 3700 Monterey Dr., St. Louis Park.
Voltage Controller
3 p.m. 331 Club, 331 13th Ave. NE, Minneapolis.
RuDeGiRL, Mind Out of Time
10 p.m. 331 Club, 331 13th Ave. NE, Minneapolis.
Early Show: Dominic ‘Dom’ Acito
With New Seven. 1-4 p.m. White Squirrel Bar, 974 W. Seventh St., St. Paul.
The 241’s
Country. With The Hilltop Pines, Redwing Blackbird. 8 p.m. White Squirrel Bar, 974 W. Seventh St., St. Paul.
Mill City Summer Farmers’ Market
The market moves outdoors for the warmer season. Featuring local farmers, artisans, makers, and artists. More info at: millcityfarmersmarket.org. 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mill City Museum, 704 S. Second St., Minneapolis.
Hurricane Harold’s All Star Revue
8-11:30 p.m. Schooner Tavern, 2901 27th Ave. S., Minneapolis.
Sockeye Sawtooth
5 p.m. Padraigs, 945 Broadway NE, Minneapolis.
The Question
7:15 p.m. Padraigs, 945 Broadway NE, Minneapolis.
Open Mic Comedy
7:30-10 p.m. The Joint, 913 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis.
Lowertown Winter Farmers Markets
Lowertown’s pride and one of the state’s largest markets. 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. 290 5th St. E., St. Paul; stpaulfarmersmarket.com.
SUNDAY
Family Day: The Shape of Time
Celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month with art making and performances at Mia. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Minneapolis Institute of Art, 2400 Third Ave. S., Minneapolis.
Mother’s Day Market
Featuring local markers, DJ tunes, and Books & Brews, a children's book fair. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Surly Brewing Co., 522 Malcolm Ave. SE, Minneapolis.
Odd Market
Indoor maker’s market featuring a dozen local artists and vintage sellers, including clothes, paintings, vintage books, stickers, totes, and jewelry. Noon to 4 p.m. Odd Mart, 2520 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis.
Mom-A-Rama
Featuring 20+ makers, an awkward family photo station, special menus, and a free Mom-osa for every mom (biological, chosen, honorary) while supplies last. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Market at Malcolm Yards, 501 30th Ave. SE, Minneapolis.
NE Farmers Market Opening Day
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays through October 12. St. Boniface Church, corner of University Avenue NE & Seventh Avenue NE, Minneapolis.
Linden Hills Farmers’ Market
Another farmers’ market returns this weekend! Find more info here. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 29. Settergrens’s Parking Lot, 2813 W. 43rd St., Minneapolis.
Emmy Woods & The Red Pine Ramblers
7 p.m. 331 Club, 331 13th Ave. NE, Minneapolis.
Early Show R&R Sunday
With Jeff Ray and Mike Dowling. 1-4 p.m. White Squirrel Bar, 974 W. Seventh St., St. Paul.
St. Paul Songwriter Rounds
7 p.m. White Squirrel Bar, 974 W. Seventh St., St. Paul.
