Freeloader Friday: 59 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

AfroLatinidad Vibras de la Diaspora

Join LatinoLEAD and Borikén Cultural Center for an evening of family-friendly music, art and dance celebrating local Afro-Latinx excellence with percussionist Beto Torrens, artist-in-residence Bembé Drum & Dance, and more. RSVP is free but also required: click here. 5:30 p.m. La Doña Cervecería, 241 Fremont Ave. N., Minneapolis.

West St. Paul Pride Skate Party

Rollerskate and BYOB (cans are allowed in the park!). This event is free, but folks are encouraged to donate to prochoiceminnesota.org. 6-8:30 p.m. Harmon Park Rink, 230 Bernard St. W., West St. Paul.

A Terrible Parable: Adam Little 

See new work and meet with the artist at the opening reception from 6-10 p.m. Rogue Buddha Gallery, 357 13th Ave. NE, Minneapolis.

American Underdog: A Kurt Warner Story

It’s a sports movie! 9:30 p.m. Hiawatha School Park, 4305 E. 42nd St., Minneapolis.

Minnesota Orchestra

Featuring Sousa marches, film tunes, and classical hits. 7:30 p.m. Lake Harriet Bandshell, 4135 W. Lake Harriet Pkwy, Minneapolis.

Friday Art-Making in the Garden

Featuring free art-making activities for kids ages 4 and up. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Walker Art Center, 725 Vineland Place, Minneapolis.

The Sparks, The Symptones, Haute Boys

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

Andy Ulseth

7 p.m. Minnehaha Falls, 4801 Minnehaha Ave., Minneapolis.

P.O.P at 50th & France: Roe Family Singers and Katy Vernon

5 p.m. 3945 Market St, Minneapolis.

Johnny Sincerely’s Traveling Blues Orchestra

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

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. 

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 Newell Park in St. Paul

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

Sunday: 7 p.m at Old Log Theatre in Excelsior

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 

Hip Hop BBQ - Patio Launch

Featuring ‘90s and ‘00s hip-hop tunes, BBQ from Rib Tip Express, two new beer releases (Can I Sip It?, a strawberry daiquiri sour ale, and On a Good Mixture, a New England IPA), slushy beer, bonfires, and corn hole. 3-9 p.m. Insight Brewing, 2821 E. Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis.

Boom Days

Don’t worry, fireworks haters: This is a whole different kind of Boom Day. On July 8 and 9, Boom Island Brewing Company is celebrating its 11th year with a lineup of live music, food trucks, artists, and, of course, beer. The fun starts Friday, but Saturday is the big ol’ celebration—that’s when the Belgian-inspired brewery is hosting a “puppy hour” with Secondhand Hounds and Orangetheory will be on site doing some warm-up exercises for kids (that will probably also have the benefit of tiring said kids out). Free. Noon to 9:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Boom Island Brewing Company, 5959 Baker Rd., Minnetonka. Full schedule and more info here.—Em Cassel

Voltage Controller Vol. 7

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

Lovely Dark, Killed By Kiwis, Services

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

Minneapolis Pops Orchestra

7:30 p.m. Lake Harriet Bandshell, 4135 W. Lake Harriet Pkwy, Minneapolis.

Art Is For Everyone: Maker's Market Exhibit Finale

A pop-up market featuring jewelry, paintings, pottery, buttons, clothing, sassy cross-stitch, bodycare, natural soap, and more. Noon to 4 p.m. Gamut Gallery, 717 S. 10th St., Minneapolis.

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. 

Anoka Riverfest & Craft Fair

Shop from vendors and eat food. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 2100 First Ave. S., Anoka.

Yoga at Union Depot

Hosted by Studio 9-to-5. Bring a mat and some water; sign up here. 9 a.m. Union Depot, 214 Fourth St. E., St. Paul.

Young Frankenstein

A Gene Wilder and Madeline Kahn classic. 9:30 p.m. Lake Nokomis, 4800 E. Nokomis Pkwy., Minneapolis.

MacPhail Faculty Concert

5:30 p.m. Water Works Park and Pavilion, 333 First St. S., 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, 

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

Open Streets Minneapolis: Franklin Avenue

Open Streets are a lot like a block party, except instead of closing a side street these events shut down main drag. We’re talking Lyndale Avenue, Minnehaha, Lake Street, West Broadway, and, this weekend, Franklin Avenue. During each celebration the streets will be closed to cars but open to you, where you’ll find a variety of things to see and do, including sidewalk sales, parking lot concerts, chalk-art making, pop-up skate parks, impromptu yoga sessions, and summer beer patios. Of particular interest for this installment: The Seward Coop 50th anniversary block party, where you’ll find a killer burger deal, fresh fruit, kombucha pours, live music from Malamanya, live screenprinting, staff art fair, bounce house, and more. Find the complete Open Streets schedule here.—Jessica Armbruster

Utepils Cycling’s Five-Year Anniversary

Featuring a ride, beer, and other fun. 10 a.m. ride (meet before), events through 4 p.m. Utepils Brewing, 225 Thomas Ave. N., Minneapolis.

Rock the Cradle

Featuring concerts, pop-up performances, a disco dance floor, and more for kids outside Mia. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Minneapolis Institute of Art, 2400 Third Ave. S., Minneapolis.

Queer Clothing Swap & Free Market

Bring a box of stuff you don’t want that’s still cool/useful, set it on a table, and shop other boxes that might have something you need. 1-4 p.m. 1500 6th St. NE, Minneapolis.

L. A. M. (Little Asia Market) Pop-UP

Featuring all kinds of artists and makers, plus food trucks (Jaba Noodles and Union Hmong Kitchen), DJ tunes, dance, and taiko performances. 1-6 p.m. Arbeiter Brewing Co., 3038 Minnehaha Ave., Minneapolis.

Dusty’s Daze

Dusty’s Daze are here again, to misquote FDR’s campaign song (or Led Zeppelin, I guess). What does that mean for you? A solid schedule of outdoor local music all day long and into the night—12 hours of music in fact. The event is hosted by DJ Brian Engel and DJ Mitch Kersten all day; acts include raw garage rockers Low Rats, melodic garage rocker Monica Laplante, and veteran garage rockers Run Westy Run. (You may notice a theme.) At nine the action moves indoors for the Riffin’ Trio, which is made up of “members of Cactus Blossoms, Champagne Confetti, Craig Finn, HALEY, Halloween Alaaska…” The ellipsis has got me intrigued. $5 to drink. Noon to midnight. Dusty’s, 1319 Marshall St. NE, Minneapolis; more info here.—Keith Harris

Please Do Not Meat Me: A Vegan “Meat” Raffle

Buy raffle tickets for a change to win big vegan eats from Herbivorous Butcher. Meanwhile, Cornbread Harris will play music inside. 5 p.m. Palmer’s Bar, 500 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis.

North Loop Food Truck Fest

You’ll find a beer garden, a picnic in the park, and more food trucks than ever before at this year’s North Loop Food Truck Fest. Not much to add here besides “free entry,” so allow us to lazily copy-paste from the massive list of some of this year’s participating trucks: ASIAN INVASION/CHOPSTIX, Thai Thai Street Food, KCM EggRolls, Taqueria Espartaco, The Corn Monkeys, Over the Coals, Kenny’s, Meatball Wagon, iPierogi Food Truck, Thumbs Cookies, K-Town Street Foods, O’Cheeze, Nautical Bowls, Original Hockey Mom Brownies, Lu’s Sandwiches, True CBD, Sumo Egg Rolls, BEATEATS, Chicks on Wheels, Youniverse Foodie Waffles. Wow. That really is a lot of trucks. Find more even info here. 11:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Free. Heritage Landing, 751 3rd St N, Minneapolis. —Em Cassel

Sesay

Rhythmic tunes. 2 p.m. Lake Harriet Bandshell, 4135 W. Lake Harriet Pkwy, Minneapolis.

Minneapolis Pops Orchestra

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.