Exchange Fair
What: Nicollet xChange
When: Aug. 8 and every Tuesday
Where: 901 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis
This weekly sustainability marketplace features food trucks, entertainment, and other activities along Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis over the lunch hour. Bring an item to exchange, such as clothing, electronics, or home goods, and receive a voucher to redeem for other goods.
Red River Valley Fest
What: Crookston Ox Cart Days
When: Aug. 14-20
Where: Crookston
The Red River Ox Cart Trails were northwestern Minnesota’s earliest highways, transporting both furs and settlers across the Red River Valley. For a full week, Crookston pays tribute to the people, oxen, and carts that used the trails. Events include ox cart races, a classic car show, and a torchlight parade.
Chisago City Celebration
What: Ki-Chi-Saga Days Celebration
When: Aug. 17-20
Where: Chisago City
This community celebration will include live music, movies in the park, fireworks displays, a skateboard competition, street dances, fishing contest, citywide garage sales, a grand day parade and a pie-eating contest.
Valleyfair
Cornucopia of Fun
What: Corn Fest
When: Opens Aug. 19, through Labor Day
Where: Valleyfair, 1 Valleyfair Drive, Shakopee
There’s nothing corny about this corn-forward food menu, corn games like Corn Chucking and Corn Hole along with others, crafts for kids, live bands, line dancing, corn-eating contests, and other entertainment.
RenFest Opens
What: Minnesota Renaissance Festival
When: Weekends through Oct. 1
Where: 3525 145th St. W., Shakopee
Parking concerns have been resolved, so the popular Minnesota Renaissance Festival is back for another season of 16th century European village life entertainment, starting this weekend and running through Oct. 1.
Hennepin Theatre Trust
Decades of Laughs
What: Brave New Workshop’s “Cheaper Than Hamilton”
When: Through Nov. 4
Where: Dudley Riggs Theatre, 824 Hennepin Ave., Minneapoli
Brave New Workshop celebrates three score and five years of promiscuous hostility and positive neutrality with a retrospective of their most popular sketches and songs from past performances.
