Dragons, live music, food on a stick, jousting, ethnic dancing, log throwing, parades, ice sculptures: these are just a few of the unique activities you will find at Twin Cities festivals.

Minnesota State Fair
Where: Minnesota State Fairgrounds, Falcon Heights
When: August

Founded in 1859, this primarily agricultural fair is an annual Midwest summer tradition. All sorts of food on a stick, home improvement, farm equipment, live entertainment, deep fried cheese curds, farm animals, new inventions, crafts, automobiles, recreational vehicles, a midway of rides, and over a million visitors are always a part of the Minnesota State Fair.
Official Minnesota State Fair web site

St. Paul Winter Carnival
When: January-February
Where: Downtown St. Paul

The Winter Carnival, launched in 1886, is the country’s oldest and most well-known winter festival. Held annually from late January through early February, this 12-day festival gives hearty Minnesotans a chance to celebrate and make use of snow, ice, and wind-chill. The theme is the folklore legends of King Boreas, the ruler of snow and ice, and his rival Vulcanus, the deity of fire. King Boreas and Queen of the Snows have declared Minnesota their paradise and fight against Vulcanus who attempts to melt down the festivities. Parades, ice sculptures, ice castles, and the Indoor Fun Fair are featured parts of this festival and attract an average of 1.5 million people every year.
Official St. Paul Winter Carnival web site

Festival of Nations
When: April
Where: Downtown St. Paul

Founded in 1932, this is the state’s largest multi-ethnic celebration centered around food, music, dance, folk art, and crafts from all over the world.
Official Festival of Nations web site

Minneapolis Aquatennial
Where: Downtown Minneapolis
When: July

Since 1939 this festival has celebrated the area waters of Minneapolis. Activities include a milk-carton race, two big parades, fireworks, a downtown block party, an arts and crafts fair, kids' activities, and a sand sculpture competition.
Official Minneapolis Aquatennial web site

Uptown Art Fair
Where: Lake St. at Hennepin Ave. South Minneapolis
When: August

One of the largest art shows in the Upper Midwest, this fair attracts over 500 artists and over 350,000 visitors. Food, live music, street performers, children’s activities, and crafts are all a part of the attraction. Since 1960.
Official Uptown Art Fair web site

Scottish Country Fair
Where: Macalester College, 1600 Grand Ave. St. Paul
When: May

This is probably the only place where you can see men in kilts throwing telephone poles. Besides the athletic activities, the fair, launched in 1971, also has bagpipers, highland dancing, a parade, sheep herding and living history demonstrations, art fair, kids activities, and, of course, food.
Official Scottish Country Fair web site

Gay and Lesbian Pride Festival
Where: Loring Park, Minneapolis
When: Late June

This two day festival consists of a parade, which processes down Franklin and Lyndale avenues, and a celebration in Loring Park with entertainers, artists, craftspeople, and food vendors. Since 1972.
Official GLBT Pride- Twin Cities web site

In the Heart of the Beast May Day Parade
When: the Sunday nearest May 1.
Where: Bloomington Ave. S, near E. Lake St. Minneapolis

In the Heart of the Beast is a Minneapolis puppet theater troupe that organizes this festival, which began in 1974. This is the time to see 15-foot puppets marching down the street, outrageous custom bicycles being ridden in death-defying ways by the people who built them, with the whole event culminating in a spectacular pageant in Powderhorn Park. Following the pageant are many local music groups, and in the park are many booths featuring arts and crafts, various activist organizations, and many kinds of food. More than 25,000 people come to watch this parade.
Official Heart of the Beast May Day Parade web site

Minnesota Crafts Festival
Where: College of St. Catherine, St. Paul
When: June

Since 1975, this festival has taken place typically on the last weekend in June. Craftspeople come from around the country to display and sell their artistry in ceramics, glass, wood, fiber, and metal.

Minnesota Renaissance Festival
Where: Renaissance Festival Grounds, Hwy 169, Shakopee
When: August

Jousting, old-style musicians, food, jugglers, revelry, and comedy with a Renaissance flair give this festival a unique atmosphere. Since 1976.
Official Renaissance Festival web site

Hmong New Year
Where: River Center in St. Paul and Metrodome in Minneapolis
When: Dates vary from year to year

This major Hmong celebration which used to mark the end of the harvest season with three days of music, singing, dancing, games, courtship, and food. In addition there is a coronation of the Miss Hmong Minnesota, vocal, dance, and talent contests. Celebrated in Minnesota since 1976.
Official Hmong New Year web site

Sommerfest
Where: Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis
When: July and August

Since 1980 the Minnesota Orchestra has hosted this festival of music and food. It runs for four weeks in July and August.
Minnesota Orchestra web site

Twin Cities Juneteenth Celebration
Where: Theodore Wirth Park, Minneapolis
When: June

Since 1986, this event includes a 5K run, live music, a parade, kids' activities and an African American Marketplace with hundreds of food and crafts vendors. This is a celebration of June 19, 1865, when the African-American slaves in Texas finally learned they had been freed from bondage.

St. Patrick’s Day Parades
When: St. Patrick’s Day (March 17)
Where: St. Paul and Minneapolis

Both cities hold parades on Patrick's Day; the one in St. Paul is said to be the largest.

Grand Old Days
Where: Grand Ave., St. Paul
When: June

This is the biggest one-day street festival in the Midwest. Held annually on a Sunday in June, it features bands, street entertainers and plenty to eat and drink. Other features include a special kiddy parade and family area. A highlight of this festival is the Grand Day Parade.

Midsommar Celebration
Where: American Swedish Institute, 2600 Park Ave. Minneapolis
When: June

This traditional Scandinavian-style summer celebration features crafts exhibitors, Swedish folk dancers, a real Maypole and much food and music. It is a welcoming of summer in Scandia tradition.
American Swedish Institute web site

SummerFolk
When: June
Where: Hyland Hills Park, Bloomington

Red House Records, a St. Paul-based producer of folk and urban-folk music recordings puts on an annual festival to showcase its talent. Past artists in this festival have included Greg Brown, Shawn Colvin, Claudia Schmidt, John Gorka, Peter Ostroushko, and many other nationally known artists.
Red House Records web site

All-Star Festival of the Blues
Where: Municipal Stadium, 1771 Energy Park Dr. St. Paul
When: July

Since 1990, this event has been sponsored by the Upper Mississippi Blues Society and has brought some of the bluest performers in the country to the Twin Cities. Past stars have included Lowell Fulson, Anson Funderburgh and Big Jay McNeely. Also present are various food and arts and crafts vendors.
Minnesota Blues web site

Minnesota Heritage Festival
Where: Nicollet Island, Minneapolis
When: July

This is a celebration of the state’s cultural diversity and heritage. Activities include exhibitions, dancing, historic tours and demonstrations, sports tournaments and a fireworks show. A lumberjack show, three music stages and an international bazaar of crafts from around the world are special highlights.

A Taste of Minnesota
Where: State Capitol Mall, St. Paul
When: July

The most spectacular fireworks show in town is just one of the attractions of this annual Independence Day weekend celebration. Annually, about 35 area restaurants come together to offer an incredible array of food. Other events include arts and crafts, puppet shows and other kids‚ events.
A Taste of Minnesota web site

European Oktoberfest
Where: E. Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis
When: October

This European celebration, held in September and October, is brought to the Anthony district of Minneapolis and its restaurants which represent the cuisines of Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Romania, Italy, and Russia. The culinary festival is enlivened by ethnic bands and folk dancers.

Folkways of Christmas
Where: Murphy’s Landing, Shakopee
When: December

This is a recreation of the 19th century celebrations of Christmas and Hanukah by Polish, German, Czech, Scandanavian, and Jewish immigrants. From Thanksgiving till the end of December you can tour the exhibits and imagine what life in these households may have been like for the Holidays.

Chinese New Year
When: Varies according to the lunar calendar
Where: Refer to local papers for locations of celebrations in the Twin Cities

The Chinese months are determined by the lunar calendar. Each month begins on the darkest day. The New Year typically starts on the first day of the month and proceeds until the fifteenth when the moon is at its brightest. This year is the Year of the Horse. Each year is marked by one of the following animals: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig.
Chinese American Association of Minnesota web site

Celebrate Northeast (formerly known as the Eastside Community Parade)
When: June
Where: Along Central Avenue, from 28th Street NE to 18th Street NE, Minneapolis

This is an old-fashioned community parade celebrating Northeast Minneapolis.

Irish Fair
When: August
Where: Harriet Island St. Paul

This celebration of Irish heritage includes popular Irish musicians like Eileen Ivers and Gaelic Storm. Here you'll find food, dancing, games and activities of a truly Irish flavor.
Minnesota Irish Fair web site

Cinco de Mayo
Where: St. Paul-Distrito del Sol on Concord Street
Bloomington-Mall of America Sam Goody Central Rotunda
Minneapolis-Saturday on Lake St.,
Loring bar and Cafe 1624 Harmon Place
Heart of the Beast, May Day Parade, Powderhorn Park 15th Ave. South and 35th St.
When: May 4-6

An important patriotic holiday which celebrates the battle of Pueblain (1862) when the Mexicans were greatly outnumbered by the French.