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Freeloader Friday: 93 Free Things To Do This Weekend

ArtCars return! Aquatennial fireworks! Game nights at brew pubs! Music fests! A plant pop-up! A tarot swap!

6:58 AM CDT on July 22, 2022

Minneapolis Aquatennial

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.

Ghost Kitchen

FRIDAY

birdhole, Curb Appeal, Ghost Kitchen

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

Artepils: Arts + Music Celebration

Featuring live music in the beer garden all day, and local artists sharing and selling their wares in the taproom. Noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Utepils Brewing, 225 Thomas Ave. N., Minneapolis.

Friday Night Game Night 

Featuring Mario Kart and Wii Sports on a projector, giant cribbage and giant cards, cornhole and giant connect four on the patio, and board games (feel free to bring your own. too!) Plus adult slushies and La Costeñita food truck. 4-10 p.m. HeadFlyer Brewing, 861 E. Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis.

Worldwide Ukrainian Play Readings Project

This local leg of a global event will feature staged readings of Ukrainian plays written since the Russian invasion. While tickets to this performance are free, attendees are encouraged to donate to a cause benefitting the Ukrainian war effort or those affected by the Russian invasion: Come Back Alive, comebackalive.in.ua, the Ukrainian Emergency Performing Artists fund, uepaf.org.ua; Help the Children, voices.org.ua/donat. 7:30-9 p.m. 625 22nd Ave. S., Minneapolis.

Backyard Boombox: Sunset Dance Party

Local DJs playing house, disco, and remixes. 4-10 p.m. StormKing Brewpub and Barbecue, 618 N. Fifth St., Minneapolis.

Papa Bleu

Papa Bleu

Rock, hip-hop, and soul. 7-9 p.m. La Doña Cervecería, 241 Fremont Ave. N., Minneapolis.

Construction + Reconstruction

This group residency and exhibition by nine artists, curated by Wendy Frieze, illustrates how architects and designers review their works in progress. The residency, and opening reception, from 5-9 p.m. on Friday, will take place at two galleries: NE Sculpture, Casket Arts Building, 1720 NE Madison St., Minneapolis and Artspace @ Jackson Flats, 901 18 1/2 Ave. NE, Minneapolis. 

Minneapolis Aquatennial Cardio Class

Alchemy 365 hosts a free class. Check-in begins at 5 p.m.; bring your own mat.  Register here. 5:30-6:30 p.m. Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, 725 Vineland Place, Minneapolis.

Summer Sessions: Javier Trejo y Caballo Cosmico

Mexican Americana. 7-9 p.m. Keg and Case Market, 928 W. 7th St., St. Paul.

Blood Brother

Music. 5-7 p.m. Midtown Farmers Market, 2225 East Lake St., Minneapolis.

"Baptize, Chastise, Laugh, Die: New Work by Kate Iverson"

Baptize, Chastise, Laugh, Die Closing Party

Last chance to see this show by Kate Iverson! Our description from opening weekend: This mixed-media photo series comes with an awesome trigger warning for: butts, religious iconography, and mild drug use. Sold! 7-11 p.m. Corner Store Gallery, 501 22nd Ave. NE, Minneapolis.

DJ Chico Chi

9 p.m. to 1 a.m. LUSH Lounge & Theater, 990 NE Central Ave., Minneapolis. 

Addams Family 2 

The cartoon, not the beloved ‘90s flick with Christina Ricci. 9:30 p.m. Folwell Park, 1615 N. Dowling Ave., Minneapolis.

Pickle

Tunes on the patio. 6-9 p.m. 612 Brew, 945 Broadway NE, Minneapolis.

Encanto

Activities begin at 7 p.m., movie at dusk. El Rio Vista Recreation Center, 179 Robie St. E., St. Paul.

Twin Cities River Rats Aquatennial Water Ski Show
7 p.m. West Bank of the Mississippi River, between Broadway and Plymouth Avenues, Minneapolis.

Bend It at Brit's

Bend it at Brit's

A complimentary yoga hour on the rooftop with YogaFit. 6.30 p.m. The space opens up at 6 p.m. Brit’s Pub, 1110 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis.

Shakespeare at the Pub: The Tragedy of Richard III

Free outdoor Shakespeare by The Gray Mallard Theater Company. 6 p.m. Friday and Sunday. Optional reservations can be made via Eventbrite. Sociable Cider Werks, 1500 Fillmore St. NE, Minneapolis.

Taikollaborative, Women's Drum Center 

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

Bread: A Unique Pop-up Market

Featuring local vendors, restorative and wellness practitioners, community organizations, food, music, and ice cream. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mueller Park, 2509 Colfax Ave. S., Minneapolis.

Tre Aaron

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

Spirit of the Lakes Fest

Spirit of the Lakes Festival

Featuring yoga sessions, a wakesurf competition, parade, fireworks, kids’ fun, live music, food, and more. Find the complete schedule at spiritofthelakes.com. 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Surfside Park, 2670 Commerce Blvd., Mound.

Fridley Citywide Garage Sale & Trash to Treasure Day

Registration details to host a sale are available at FridleyMN.gov/CitywideGarageSale. Various locations Friday through Sunday. 

Penny Carnival

Featuring carnival games, face painting, a caricature artist, and more. 1-3 p.m. Perry Park, 3700 New Brighton Rd., Arden Hills.

Slice of Shoreview Days

Featuring a carnival, parade, vendors, live music, car show, and fireworks. Find more info at sliceofshoreview.com. 4-10 p.m. Friday; 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Island Lake County Park, 3611 Victoria St. N., Shoreview.

P.O.P at 50th & France: Annie Enneking / The Home Fires

5 p.m. 3945 Market St., 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.

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. 

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.

Minneapolis Aquatennial

SATURDAY

Aquatennial Fireworks and Pre-Fireworks Show Festivities

Events along West River Parkway include AquaJam, with skateboarders trying a variety of tricks (4-7 p.m.); the Aquatennial Night Market, featuring 30+ local makers (4-9:30 p.m.); plus food trucks, live music, and more in the area. Fireworks are at 10 p.m.

Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam Open House

Explore at your leisure and learn a bit of local history. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saint Anthony Falls Lock and Dam, 1875 W. River Pkwy, Minneapolis.

Twin Cities Carifest
Featuring Caribbean food, music, arts, crafts, and a traditional carnival parade with colorful costumes and dance. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. West River Road, between Plymouth Ave. & Broadway Ave., Minneapolis.

Amazing.
Amazing.Artcar + Artbike Parade

The 28th ArtCar + ArtBike Parade

Bring a lawn chair and watch artsy vehicles make their way around the lake. 6 p.m. Bde Unma/Lake Harriet, Minneapolis.

Violet’s Gluten Free @ V-fest Saint Paul

This health and wellness festival includes live music and entertainment, healers, fitness demonstrations, vendors, food for sale, a youth section, prizes, and more. Noon to 5 p.m. ARTS-Us, 1221 Marshall Ave., St. Paul.

Twin Cities Record Show

Shop albums, 45 RPM records, CDs, and music memorabilia. Noon to 4 p.m. Able Seedhouse & Brewery, 1121 Quincy St. NE, Minneapolis.

Wild Vintage Collective Grand Opening

Wild Vintage Collective Grand Opening

A curated vintage and antique mall with space for 30+ dealers. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. 7270 Commerce Cir. E., Minneapolis.

The Great Tarot Swap

Bring an old tarot card deck you’re not feeling to swap with someone. There will also be a metaphysical market in the back alley behind the shop. Free; or $20 without a tarot deck! Noon to 3 p.m. Saturday-Sunday . We the Starborne, 593 Hamline Ave., St. Paul.

Art on the Edge Festival

Featuring more than 60 visual art and holistic vendors, from painters and potters to psychics and yogis, and a secret garden space behind Everett & Charlie with live music, author readings, and more. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 2720 W. 43rd St., Minneapolis.

DJ A-Quil

SaturDAY Party w/ DJ A-Quil

4-9 p.m. Graze Provisions + Libations, 520 N. Fourth St, Minneapolis.

Friend Dog

Vinnie Donatelle’s solo project. 4-6 p.m. Minneapolis Cider Company, 701 SE Ninth St., Minneapolis.

Everybody Press: A Literary Party

Featured readers include Emma Alice Johnson, Joe Koch, and Brad Liening, plus live music from Venus De Mars. 4-6 p.m. Duck Duck Coffee, 1830 E. 38th St., Minneapolis.

Uncle Muskrat

Fire pickin’ tunes. 6 p.m. Finnegans Brew Co., 817 5th Ave. S., Minneapolis. 

The Eye of The Storm Show

Music. 7-10 p.m. 612 Brew, 945 Broadway NE, Minneapolis.

Yo! A Tribute to Yo! MTV Raps

Old-school rap and inspired drinks. 8 p.m. Up-Down Minneapolis,  3012 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis. 

Karaoke at Morrissey's

9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Morrissey's Irish Pub, 913 W. Lake St., Minneapolis.

Soul 

9:30 p.m. Elliot Park, 1000 E. 14th St., Minneapolis.

Planty Queens

Twin Cities Houseplant Event

Makers’ markets are a regular thing around town these days, and it’s awesome. But what about a market that’s 100% plants? Well, now we have that, too, thanks to Planty Queens. The northeast Minneapolis shop opened earlier this summer, but they’ve also been organizing pop-ups at brew pubs and other bars. At Saturday’s event you’ll be able to shop from 20 local plant people selling things like dirt, planters, pottery, and all kinds of flora. Plus, you can grab some food truck eats and shops with a cocktail in hand. Free; you can register here. 5-9 p.m. Twin Spirits Distillery, 2931 Northeast Central Ave., Minneapolis. –Jessica Armbruster

The Chord and the Fawn, Phantom Island, Coax From Chuckanut

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

Johnny Sincerelys Traveling Blues Orchestra

With Good Time Gals. 8 p.m. White Squirrel Bar, 974 W. Seventh St., St. Paul.

Minneapolis Pops Orchestra

7:30 p.m. Saturday; 5:30 p.m. Sunday. Lake Harriet Bandshell, 4135 W. Lake Harriet Pkwy, Minneapolis.

Healing Hearts Dog Adoption Event

Hang with adoptable dogs. 1-4 p.m. Forgotten Star Brewing, 38 Northern Stacks Dr., Fridley. 

Starry Skies North Volunteer Mixer & Social

Fight against Light Pollution: Starry Skies North Volunteer Mixer & Social

You can also hang with dark-sky enthusiasts at Forgotten this Saturday. 3-6 p.m. Forgotten Star Brewing, 38 Northern Stacks Dr., Fridley. 

Sunny Sauceda

Tex-Mex tunes. The lineup also includes Dos Coronas, Prestigio del Norte, Grupo Mio, and Los Rebeldes. Noon to 5 p.m. Mall of America,  Huntington Bank Rotunda.

Hopkins Food Truck Festival

Featuring over 45 food trucks, fashion/clothing trucks, a vintage record truck, photo booth truck, and pet truck. Other activities include life-size Jenga, a mechanical bull, bean bag toss, henna tattoo artists, live music onstage, and a psychic tarot reader. For updates and more information, visit hopkinsfoodtruckfestival.com. Noon to 10 p.m. Mainstreet, between 11th Ave. N. & 8th Ave. S. (near Clocktower Plaza), Hopkins.

July Stillwater Flea Market and Craft Expo

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. 12300 40th St. N., Stillwater.

Night Market II

Over a dozen local vendors in the beer garden, with food and live music from Pit Stop and the Cold Casuals and vinyl DJ sets from The Ring Toss Twins. 6-11 p.m. Forgotten Star Brewing, 38 Northern Stacks Dr., Fridley. 

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.

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.

Irish Diplomacy

SUNDAY

Irish Diplomacy 

Tunes outside. 3-5 p.m. Mojo Coffee Gallery, 2205 California St. NE, Minneapolis.

Dreaming Big

A celebration of the kid-friendly book Dream Big, Little Peanut! by Shelby Voeltz. Featuring a bounce house and several experience tents with scenes from the book. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 3038 Minnehaha Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55406-1932, United States

Carlaoke

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

Nantania, Ticket to Brasil

Samba and Latin jazz. 2 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.

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