Friday, July 3
Smells Like a Comedy Concert
WHAT: Weird Al Yankovic
WHERE: Mystic Lake Casino, Prior Lake
WHEN: 8 p.m.
Comedic artist “Weird Al” Yankovic is stopping by Prior Lake on his Mandatory World Tour, visiting over 100 cities throughout North America, Europe, and Australia. The tour follows his 2014 album Mandatory Fun. Over the past four decades he has won three Grammys and other accolades for his spot-on pop parodies “Eat It,” “Like a Surgeon,” “Yoda,” “Smells Like Nirvana,” and “Amish Paradise.” For ticket information, visit Mystic Lake Casino and Hotel.
Fireworks and Fun
WHAT: Summer Fete
WHERE: Normandale Lake Park, Bloomington
WHEN: 5 p.m.
Start your Fourth of July weekend at Normandale Lake Park. Festivities throughout the day include a kid’s carnival with inflatables and attractions, and a kid’s stage and main stage with musical acts throughout the night. Headlining the main stage are the Bloomington Medalist Band, Power of 10, and the Resonators. The fireworks show will begin shortly after dusk. For more information, visit Summer Fete.
Saturday, July 4
Running Red, White, and Blue
WHAT: Red, White & Boom! TC Half Marathon
WHERE: Father Hennepin Bluffs Park, Mpls.
WHEN: 6:30 a.m.
Runners, get ready to stride at the Red, White & Boom! TC Half Marathon and Relay. If you’ve still got energy to burn after 13.1 miles, stick around for the post-race picnic with food, lawn games, and a dunk tank. Of course, if you get tired just thinking about lacing up your tennis shoes, you can still be a part of the fun—deck out in your red, white, and blue and cheer on the runners along the course or at the finish line. To learn more, visit Red, White & Boom!
Festivities on the Fourth
WHAT: The Fourth in the Park
WHERE: Saint Anthony Park, St. Paul
WHEN: 11 a.m.
Spend your Independence Day with family-friendly festivities in St. Paul. Start out the morning winding through the historic neighborhood with a 5K or 2K—then head over to the parade, the main event of the day. Relax in a lawn chair while bands, Scouts, classic cars, and decorated bikes crawl by in Americana flair. Following the parade is a picnic in Langford Park—visit the food tent for a bite and then lounge in the grass or play a round of lawn games with the kids. For more information, visit the Fourth in the Park.
Sunday, July 5
Festivals in the Fair Grounds
WHAT: A Taste of Minnesota
WHERE: Carver County Fairgrounds, Waconia
WHEN: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
The annual Taste of Minnesota has its second year at the Carver Country Fairgrounds in Waconia. The weekend includes food vendors, nightly fireworks, and musical headliners the Gear Daddies, Foghat, P.O.D., and Phil Vassar. Get there early—if you arrive between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., admission is free, but there is a small fee at the gate if you plan to enter later in the day. For more info, check out a Taste of Minnesota.
Cuban Concerts
WHAT: Celebrate Cuba!
WHERE: Orchestra Hall, Mpls.
WHEN: 2 p.m.
Liven up a Sunday afternoon with Latin flavor at Celebrate Cuba with Coro Entrevoces and the Minnesota Orchestra on their 2015 CUBA Tour. The Minnesota Orchestra pairs with a 19-voice Cuban choir to deliver a cross-cultural musical experience. The show includes a capella musical selections from the U.S., Europe, and Cuba. To learn more, visit the Minnesota Orchestra.
