It’s every art lover’s favorite weekend of the year: Art-A-Whirl. The country’s largest open studio tour is back for its 30th anniversary on May 16-18, bringing the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District to life with art, live music, food, demonstrations, and more. This year, over 1,600 Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association (NEMAA) member artists, galleries, and businesses will participate across 100-plus locations.
For those who aren’t familiar, Art-A-Whirl is a free event that allows visitors to connect with local artists in their own galleries and studio spaces, browse and purchase artwork across all mediums, and partake in art demonstrations and activities.
Over the years, the weekend-long festival has evolved beyond visual art into a neighborhood-wide celebration of all things arts and culture, with several local restaurants, breweries, and venues hosting three days of live music, markets, and other festivities to check out.
The best way to enjoy Art-A-Whirl is to experience a little bit of everything. To help you make the most of this weekend, here’s an editor-curated list of stops to include in your itinerary—plus some helpful “know before you go” tips.
Hot Spot: Quincy Street
Home to several galleries and arts buildings, bustling Quincy Street is the main hub of Art-A-Whirl. It serves as a great starting point or home base, as several restaurants, breweries, and food trucks also occupy this stretch.
The Northrup King, Solar Arts, Q.arma, Thorp, and Casket Arts buildings, plus Quincy Hall, are all either on or near Quincy Street—and in visiting those spots alone, you can browse the works of over 280 artists.
Courtesy of NEMAA
Earl-A-Whirl at Earl Giles Distilling
While exploring Quincy Street, pop over to Earl Giles Distilling for the Earl-A-Whirl Market & Bizarre, a vintage and makers market right at the heart of the action. Dozens of vendors will take over the Earl Giles parking lot on Saturday and Sunday. Stick around for DJs, food and drinks, street performers, and more.
On Friday evening only, Earl Giles is debuting Earl-A-Weed—an event dedicated to the growing THC scene. With over 40 THC vendors, guests can enjoy free samples, purchase product, and browse a bake sale featuring a mix of infused and non-infused treats.
Moth Oddities
Vintage retailer Moth Oddities will host 15 NEMAA member artists for a pop-up in its shop and studio space during Art-A-Whirl weekend. Stop by from 5-10 p.m. on May 16, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. on May 17, or 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on May 18. (Moth is also doing an Art-A-Whirl giveaway on Instagram with 16 prizes from the participating vendors. Winners will be selected and announced on May 16.)
Olio Vintage
Neighboring Moth Oddities, Olio Vintage is a collective of specialty vintage retailers and local makers housed under one roof—and it’s a featured NEMAA gallery for Art-A-Whirl this year. Artwork will be on view and for sale on-site all weekend long (and continuing through the month of May). Olio is kicking off the fun with a special happy hour on Friday, May 16 from 4-6 p.m., where guests can enjoy sips and bites while they browse.
Sociable Cider Werks
Head to the nearby Sociable Cider Werks to grab a tall glass of cider, stay to hear live music and shop the works of 35-plus artists and makers—offering everything from pottery to paintings and more. Artist booths are open on Saturday from noon-8 p.m, and Sunday from noon-5 p.m. You can catch live music Friday-Sunday; the lineup features Keep for Cheap, Harlow, Of the Orchard, and other local acts.
Courtesy of Sociable Cider Werks
Whirlygig at Indeed Brewing Co.
Similarly, Indeed Brewing Co. is bringing back its annual free music-meets-beer-meets-art event: Whirlygig. You can swing by the brewery Friday-Sunday for art demonstrations, food trucks, beer, live local tunes, and good vibes. While you’re there, be sure to check out the artists set up inside the Solar Arts Building, located above Indeed’s taproom.
Tips and Tricks
Participate in NEMAA’s Passport Challenge. New this year, the Passport Challenge offers a new way to explore Art-A-Whirl—plus, you can earn points, unlock badges, and have a chance to win some exciting prizes.
Download the Vibemap app and check in when you visit participating studios, galleries, restaurants, and other locations to collect points; points can also be earned by buying art, food, and raffle tickets. The participant with the most points gets $1,500 towards purchasing art from NEMAA member artists.
Bike, walk, or use public transportation. Northeast Minneapolis is jam-packed throughout the entirety of Art-A-Whirl weekend, so planning your ride ahead of time is a great way to avoid traffic and parking. NEMAA is offering free Metro Transit ride passes for each day of the festival, with several bus lines running through Northeast. There is also a free Art-A-Whirl trolley that stops at 15 locations throughout the neighborhood.
If you’re driving, it’s best to park your car and walk/bike throughout the festivities. Check out NEMAA’s “Getting There” map, which features locations with at least one free public parking lot (plus bike routes, bus routes, and more).
Photo by Mike Madison/Bump Opera, Courtesy of Meet Minneapolis
New this year, Southwest Transit will be offering shuttle service on Saturday, May 17 from Chaska, Chanhassen, and Eden Prairie. Drop-off and pick-up will be available at Sociable Cider Werks.
Be aware of road closures. Quincy Street Northeast will be closed in several areas during the hours of Art-A-Whirl. A map of hard and soft closures can be found on NEMAA’s resource page.
Know where to go. There will be festivities happening all throughout the neighborhood, but it’s helpful to browse the participating artists and their locations ahead of time, so you don’t miss any stops. NEMAA’s “Who’s Open” map features all of the open artist sites and galleries, and all participating NEMAA members can be found in the online directory.
