Friday, August 22
All’s Fair
WHAT: Minnesota State Fair
WHERE: MN State Fairgrounds, St. Paul
WHEN: 6 a.m.
Minnesota, your wait is over: It’s the first weekend of the Great Minnesota Get-Together! New fair foods include a bacon-wrapped turkey leg and beer gelato, and you can get your groove on when Aretha Franklin and special guest the Four Tops appear at the Grandstand. Bring the family—and come hungry. Get details and a full schedule at mnstatefair.org.
Musical Mischief
WHAT: Book of Mormon
WHERE: Orpheum Theater, Mpls.
WHEN: 8 p.m.
This irreverent comedy from the creators of South Park follows the journey of two Mormon missionaries who are sent to Uganda, where they attempt to convert a severely irreligious village while fighting off danger, despair, and an evil warlord. Note: This isn’t exactly your conventional musical; Sound of Music lovers beware. Tickets at orpheum-memphis.com.
Saturday, August 23
Chipotle Charm
WHAT: Chipotle Cultivate Food, Ideas, and Music Festival
WHERE: Loring Park, Mpls.
WHEN: 11 a.m.
As if we didn’t already love Chipotle enough, this Saturday they will be hosting the Cultivate festival in Loring Park. Check out all-day activities including concerts, chef demos, a kid’s zone, and exhibits about how food is made. Find event schedules at chipotlecultivate.com.
Train Tracks
WHAT: Trains that Passed in the Night: The Photographs of O. Winston Link
WHERE: Weisman Art Museum, Mpls.
WHEN: 11 a.m.
This gallery exhibition features the photography of O. Winston Link, an artist adept at capturing the complexities of factories and industrial plants. The exhibit depicts the final years of steam railroading in America, which Link believed was an essential part of “the good life” in our country. Get details about the nostalgic show at weisman.umn.edu.
Sunday, August 24
Ahoy!
WHAT: Sunday Champagne Brunch Cruise
WHERE: Hudson, WI
WHEN: 12 p.m.
Spend a breezy Sunday afternoon cruising along the St. Croix River, enjoying a two-hour boat ride and buffet brunch, bubbly included. Take in some of the beautiful landscapes of Wisconsin and Minnesota, and enjoy the summer while it lasts—because come January, this is the kind of thing you’ll want to remember. More information at stcroixrivercruises.com
Punk in the Park
WHAT: King Arthur: A Picnic Operetta
WHERE: JD Rivers Children’s Garden, Mpls.
WHEN: 4 p.m.
Henry Purcell’s baroque opera King Arthur gets a whole new spin as the Mixed Precipitation theater company takes its show to community gardens around the Twin Cities. Besides incorporating punk music from the Sex Pistols and the Clash, the performance will be serving up some tasty treats. Find out more at mixedprecipitation.org.
