Friday, Sept. 7
When Visual Arts Meet Dance
What: Collab at SooVAC
When: 6 p.m., doors open
Where: Soo Visual Arts Center, 2909 Bryant Ave. S., Minneapolis
The Soo Visual Arts Center rolls out its first in a new series called Collab, this time featuring a collaboration between visual artist Christopher E. Harrison and dance artist Laurie Van Wieren. Using Harrison’s wild, colorful A Monster Anthology exhibit as the setting, this performance, choreographed by Van Wieren, features three dancers in costumes made by Harrison.
Friday, Sept. 7 – Sunday, Sept. 9
Top Potters
What: American Pottery Festival
When: All day
Where: Northern Clay Center, 2424 E. Franklin Ave., Minneapolis
More than two dozen top potters from around the country, whose styles range from classic to contemporary, showcase their work and lead classes at Northern Clay Center in Minneapolis during this annual festival. Over 1,000 pots will be up for grabs during Friday night’s benefit sale and party. Clay workshops throughout the weekend are for beginning and advanced potters alike, including a two-day intensive workshop by potters Steven Godfrey and Sam Chung. Chung, a Minneapolis native, will show his contemporary, Korean-inspired works during the festival, too.
A Taste of Greece
What: Minneapolis Greek Festival
When: Noon-10 p.m.
Where: St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church, 3450 Irving Ave. S., Minneapolis
Enjoy a glass of Greek wine or a bottle of Greek beer, relish Greek pastries and donuts, take Greek dance lessons, participate in the Big Fat Greek 5K, and dig into more than 30 types of Greek food, from lamb burgers and loukaniko (Greek sausage) sandwiches to baklava sundaes and koulouria (twisted butter cookies). This Minneapolis fest at St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church aims to steep newcomers in the culture, so come with an open mind and an empty stomach.
Wayzata Beach Bash
What: James J. Hill Days
When: All day
Where: Downtown Wayzata
Wayzata’s annual festival dedicated to Hill, a 19th-century railroad magnate, brings together thousands for fun at Lake Minnetonka. There’s a carnival, parade, open-air street market, live music, car show, and fireworks, but also logrolling, food trucks, roller-car derbies, dachshund races, and special Minnetonka steamboat cruises. The free Lake Street Stage makes it an outdoor music festival, too, with headliner Sunshine Committee playing before fireworks over the bay.
Saturday, Sept. 8
Art on the Town
What: Avant Garden
When: 6 p.m.-Midnight
Where: Walker Art Center, 725 Vineland Pl., Minneapolis
The Walker Art Center’s yearly fundraising party brings live music, craft cocktails, a silent art auction, and gourmet food to the modern art museum. Hip-hop legend Biz Markie, native pop-soul crooner Har Mar Superstar, and indie-dance artist Nora En Pure take the stage. Also celebrate a new fall retrospective of Iranian artist Siah Armajani’s work, called Follow This Line. Proceeds benefit the Walker’s artistic and educational programming.
