A Daily Thing to Do in Minnesota for July and August

Plan your summer with these festivals, free community events, and markets across the state
Summer in Minnesota

Summer may seem short in Minnesota, so make the most of it. Here is a calendar of community festivals, cultural events, recreation ideas, and other happenings for each day in July and August. Most are free, many are outdoors, and some run over multiple days (as noted in parentheses)—so check the websites for details before soaking up the fun.

July

July 1: Ham Lake Freedom Festival, Ham Lake

July 2 (1-2): Hovland Arts Festival, Hovland

July 3: Freedom Day Celebration and Parade, Nisswa

July 4: Fourth of July fireworks, statewide

July 5 (through 8): Karl Oskar Days, Lindstrom

July 6 (through 9): North Mankato Fun Days, North Mankato

July 7 (through 9): Prairie Island Indian Community Summer Wacipi-Powwow, Welch

July 8 (& 1): Lanesboro Farmers Market, Lanesboro

July 9: Extravaganza at the Village of Yesteryear, Owatonna

July 10 (7-16): Pan-O-Prog, Lakeville

July 11 (7-14): Sweetheart Days, Hackensack

July 12: Picnic in the Park, The Commons, Minneapolis

July 13 (Thursdays): Swing Night at the Caves, Wabasha Street Caves, St. Paul

July 14 (12-16): Sinclair Lewis Days, Sauk Centre

July 15: Emily Day, Emily

July 16 (13-16): Lutsong Music Festival, Lutsen

July 17 (through 22): New London Water Days, New London

July 18 (1-Sept. 3): Pacita Abad exhibit, Walker Art Center, Minneapolis

July 19 (through 23): Minnesota Original Music Festival, St. Peter

July 20 (through 22): Gem Days, Owatonna

July 21 (20-23): Hoyt Lakes Water Carnival, Hoyt Lakes

July 22 (19-22): Minneapolis Aquatennial, Minneapolis

July 23 (21-23): Foreston Fun Days, Foreston

July 24 (through 28): Bike MS: Ride Across Minnesota, Ottertail to Long Prairie

July 25 (& 11, 18, Aug. 1): Rockin’ Robbins, Willmar

July 26 (through 30): FinnFest, Duluth

July 27 (& Aug. 24): Hot Summer Nights Cruise In, Waterville

July 28 (through 29): Riverboat Days, Wabasha

July 29 (through 30): Loring Park Art Festival, Minneapolis

July 30 (& 29): Minnesota Pottery Festival, Hutchinson

July 31: Opera Under the Stars, Mill Ruins Park, Minneapolis

August

Aug. 1 (July 30-Aug. 6): Lake Lillian Fun Days, Lake Lillian

Aug. 2 (1-6): Clearwater Heritage Festival, Clearwater

Aug. 3 (& July 6): Downtown Thursday, Owatonna

Aug. 4 (through 6): Buffalo Bill Days, Lanesboro

Aug. 5 (4-6): River City Days, Red Wing

Aug. 6 (4-6): Canadian Days, Little Canada

Aug. 7 (3-13): Minnesota Fringe Festival, Minneapolis

Aug. 8 (through 13): Mower County Free Fair, Austin

Aug. 9 (& 2 / July 12, 19, 26): Rhythm on the Rails, Shakopee

Aug. 10 (& 3, 17, 24/July 13, 20, 27): Lowertown Sounds, Mears Park, St. Paul

Aug. 11 (through 13): Irish Fair of Minnesota, St. Paul

Aug. 12 (9-12): Kandiyohi County Fair, Willmar

Aug. 13 (11-13): Grand Portage Rendezvous Days Celebration Pow-wow, Grand Portage

Aug. 14 (11-14): Leech Lake Regatta, Walker

Aug. 15 (through 20): Steele County Fair, Owatonna

Aug. 16 (through 20): Swift County Fair, Appleton

Aug. 17 (through 20): Ki Chi Saga Days, Chisago City

Aug. 18 (through 20): Summerfest, Sleepy Eye

Aug. 19 (18-19): Art and All That Jazz Festival, Burnsville

Aug. 20 (18-20): Goodview Days, Goodview

Aug. 21: Summer Camp Nature Art Sketchbook, Anoka

Aug. 22: Pop-Up Dog Park, The Commons, Minneapolis

Aug. 23 (& 2, 9, 16, 30/July 5, 12, 19, 26): Eagan Market Fest, Eagan

Aug. 24 (through Sept. 4): Minnesota State Fair, Falcon Heights

Aug. 25 (through 27): Raymond Harvest Festival, Raymond

Aug. 26: Milaca Homegrown Music Festival, Milaca

Aug. 27: Cuyuna Crusher, Cuyana Country State Recreation Area, Ironton

Aug. 28: Jigsaw Junkies, Water Works Park and Pavilion, Minneapolis

Aug. 29: Old Guys Play the Blues concert, Loring Park, Minneapolis

Aug. 30 (Wednesdays through September): Ham Lake Farmer’s and Artisan Market, Ham Lake

Aug. 31 (through Sept. 4): Duluth Superior Pride, Duluth

As Travel Editor of Minnesota Monthly, Amy creates impactful, surprising, timely and insightful content that reflects the Spirit of Minnesota. An award-winning newspaper and magazine editor based in the Twin Cities, Amy has decades of experience guiding coverage of luxury living, arts and culture, style and travel topics across multiple platforms. She has interviewed personalities ranging from Prince to Roger Goodell and has stories to tell.