ARTS & CULTURE IRISH PARADES & FAIRS On or around March 17, Minnesotans look forward to beloved St. Patrick’s Day traditions, such as the state parade through downtown St. Paul and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Celebration hosted by Crosslake in Central Minnesota. The festivities continue in August, when the Irish Fair turns Harriet Island into a St. Paul version of the Emerald Isle with traditional Irish music, dance and food. LATINO CELEBRATIONS One of the nation’s largest Cinco de Mayo celebrations takes place on or around May 5 along Cesar Chavez Street in St. Paul, where many Latino-owned restaurants and businesses are located. Highlights include six blocks of Mexican food, music, dancing and cultural activities along with a dazzling parade and a not-to-be-missed jalapeno-eating contest. Minnesota State Fair Minnesota State Fair AUGUST 21 – SEPTEMBER 1, 2025 More than rides, the Fair brings a fascinating cultural mix you can’t fi nd anywhere else. Each summer, a million-plus people attend the Minnesota State Fair, which takes place at the State Fairgrounds in St. Paul. It’s the country’s largest state fair by average daily attendance. NORDIC FESTIVALS Minnesota celebrates its Norwegian and Swedish ancestry with several annual festivals. Each June, the American Swedish Institute’s Midsommar Celebration in Minneapolis marks the longest day of the year with fl ower head wreaths, Swedish music, dancing around the maypole, foods and handicrafts. Syttende Mai (Seventeenth of May) events take place in Minnesota towns settled by Norwegians, including Spring Grove, Milan and Sunburg. Other noteworthy Nordic festivals include: NordicFest in Thief River Falls, Finn Fest in Duluth, Flekkefest in Elbow Lake and NordicMidsummer Fest in Burnsville. MUST-SEE ATTRACTIONS Whatever you’re into – fried foods, fi ne art, farm equipment – you’ll fi nd it at the Fair. The array of exhibits and activities make it one of the most eclectic places on Earth. Discover food-based art like butter sculpting and “crop art” (mosaic masterpieces made of crops like rice and beans). Or gaze at newly hatched chicks, suckling piglets and lambs just discovering their legs. NATIVE AMERICAN POW WOWS The Ojibwe and Dakota nations of Minnesota hold colorful, stirring Pow Wows (or Wacipi) that celebrate their customs. See p. 43 for a calendar of major Pow Wows that are open to the public; the largest are held in the summer. EATING & DRINKING Foodies fl ock to the Fair for favorites like Pronto Pups (don’t call them corn dogs), but intriguing new foods debut each year. Wash it all down with beer from breweries across the state like Stillwater’s Lift Bridge, St. Paul’s Summit and New Ulm’s Schell’s. Cinco De Mayo Parade Credit: Visit Saint Paul LIVE ENTERTAINMENT Animal shows are a big draw. For the 4-H Llama-Alpaca Costume Contest, the animals and their owners dress up in coordinating costumes and strut their stuff. Hundreds of performers take the stage all day long, and every night wraps with a big show at the Grandstand, featuring national touring acts like Ludacris, Chance the Rapper, Blake Shelton and Nate Bargatze. 48 | EXPLORE MINNESOTA .COM See the beginner’s guide to the Minnesota State Fair at exploreminnesota.com/article/ minnesota-state-fair-guide
Explore Minnesota Travel Guide 2025 Explore Minnesota Travel Guide: Page 48
