ARTS & CULTURE Fringe Festival Credit: Desi Heart Crust by SAATH, photo by Barb McLean EVENTS & FESTIVALS Festival Time: Celebrate Art, Culture & Local Traditions Minnesota festivals are bonafi de cultural experiences brimming with worldly art, music, food and fun. MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL ART EVENTS Summer is prime time for art fests. In June, Chalkfest Maple Grove celebrates the ephemeral art form with 3D chalk art plus live entertainment, food and fun activities for kids. This free event features artists from around the world and draws more than 25,000 spectators. In August, Minnesota Fringe presents 1,000+ artists performing theater, comedy, dance and storytelling at various venues in Minneapolis and St. Paul. The 11-day event is one of the largest performing arts festivals in North America. Also in August, the Uptown Art Fair in Minneapolis showcases the work of 150 artists across 12 mediums in the hip, refreshingly unconventional Uptown community. 46 | EXPLORE MINNESOTA .COM Other notable art events include Art-A-Whirl® in May, an open studio tour encompassing over 100 locations in Northeast Minneapolis; the Stone Arch Bridge Festival , which brings more than 200 artists to the Minneapolis riverfront in June; and the juried Fine Arts Competition at the Minnesota State Fair , typically kicking off in mid to late August. performances, foods and artisan wares embodying African, Asian, Latino and Caribbean traditions. Similarly, Walker’s Ethnic Fest in early September presents music performances and craft and food vendors from around the globe. BLACK HISTORY & CULTURE EVENTS Numerous Juneteenth events on or around June 19 celebrate the end of slavery in the U.S., including a block party on West Broadway in Minneapolis and family activities at various Minneapolis parks, with food trucks, music, a parade and more. In August, Little Africa Fest showcases African art, fashion, food, music and dancing in Hamline Park near an area of St. Paul with a growing number of African INTERNATIONAL FESTIVALS Pelican Rapids stages an International Friendship Festival in late June with entertainers, artists and exhibitions representing a variety of Minnesota communities, from Vietnamese and Native American to Mexican and Haitian. In mid-July, Worthington International Festival displays the state’s rich ethnic diversity with dance
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