What’s on in Minneapolis-St Paul

Minnesota Renaissance Festival

17 August — 24 September 2024

Jonathan, Minnesota

The Minnesota Rennaissance Festival is a month-long fair recreating life in 16th-century Europe. Held on a 22-acre (89,000 sq metre) field in Jonathan, Minnesota every autumn, the festival offers food, shopping, and entertainment all designed to be as authentic as possible to the era. Visitors can sample foods such as turkey legs and apple tarts or the favourite Barbarian Burger while they take in a round of jousting or catch medieval comedy with performers such as Zilch the Torysteller or popular comedians Puke and Snot. Visitors should pay a visit to the royal court, and they might even catch a real medieval wedding! Fair-goers are encouraged to come in costume, but if they don't have their own, they can find whatever they need in the fair's shops.

Website www.renaissancefest.com

Minnesota State Fair

22 August — 2 September 2024

State Fairgrounds, Falcon Heights

Dubbed the 'Great Minnesota Get-Together', the Minnesota State Fair is eagerly anticipated by locals every year, taking advantage of the beautiful late-summer weather to attract millions of people for food, music, rides, exhibitions, and more. The Midway offers dozens of rides and games for all ages, while the livestock competitions offer farmers the chance to show off their prized animals. The Fair started out as an event for farmers, so there are still machinery shows, but that has become secondary for most people with the concerts, exhibits, and shows. The real attraction is the food though, with Sweet Martha's Cookies, all-you-can-drink chocolate milk, Bloomin' Onions, and an amazing variety of food fried on a stick ranging from alligator to spaghetti and meatballs to cappuccinos.

Website www.mnstatefair.org

Anoka Halloween Parade

26 October 2024

Main Street, Anoka

The Anoka Halloween Parade is a big event in a little town. It was the first city to host a Halloween Parade in 1920, and has officially been designated the 'Halloween Capital of the World' by the US Congress. The city's festivities include a bonfire, beauty pageant, 5km race (in costume, of course), ball, 'Pumpkin Bowl' football game, haunted houses, wine tastings, home decorating contests and no fewer than three parades. The main event is the Grand Day Parade, held on the Saturday before Halloween. The parade features marching bands and drum corps, dance groups, local police and fire departments, and many other groups handing out candy to spectators as they march down Anoka's historic Main Street.

Website www.anokahalloween.com

Minneapolis-St Paul