Friday, July 26
Find Your Roots
WHAT: Lowertown Roots Music Festival
WHERE: McNally Smith College of Music, St. Paul
WHEN: 5 p.m.
Start the weekend off right with the kick-off event for the third annual Lowertown Roots Music Festival, a celebration of global music drawn from the performing artists’ backgrounds. Friday night is stocked full of free activities, including a square dance. For the musically talented among us, practice rooms at the school will be open for jamming with friends. Learn more at lowertownrootsmusicfestival.com
Friday, July 26
A Modern Murder
WHAT: Murder Mystery Trolley Ride
WHERE: The Como–Harriet Streetcar Line, Minneapolis
WHEN: 9 p.m.
There’s no better way to spend a warm summer night than by the lakes, and the Como–Harriet Streetcar provides just such an opportunity. And tonight there’s a bone-chilling twist: the ride doubles as a murder mystery, in which you must use your wits to solve the crime….or it may be the end of the line for you. Learn more at trolleyride.org
Saturday, July 27
Paddle for Pledges
WHAT: 10th Annual Mississippi River Challenge
WHERE: The Landing, Shakopee
WHEN: 7 a.m.
It’s going to be a beautiful weekend, and there’s no better way to take advantage of it than spending some time at the Mississippi River. The Mississippi River Challenge, a 22-mile-per-day paddling adventure, benefits the Friends of the Mississippi River, and can be done in one- or two-day chunks. An overnight stop at Fort Snelling and a scenic route make this a voyage to remember. Learn more at mississippiriverchallenge.org
Saturday, July 27
A Good FLOW
WHAT: FLOW Northside Art Crawl
WHERE: West Broadway St., Minneapolis
WHEN: 1 p.m.
Soak in a little sun, a little culture, and a lot of fun at the FLOW Northside Art Crawl. In its eighth year, the event showcases Northside artists through a self-guided tour along West Broadway, from visual arts to dance to spoken-word performances. This year’s show includes almost 350 artists, meaning there’s definitely something for everyone. Learn more at flownorthside.org
Sunday, July 28
The Heat of Summer
WHAT: Red Hot Art & Music Festival
WHERE: Stevens Square Park, Minneapolis
WHEN: 11 a.m.
In the market for some new artwork? The point of the Red Hot Art & Music festival isn’t just to admire from afar, but rather to create a marketplace for local art. Most of the pieces are priced between $5 and $50, and this year Red Hot is partnering with the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, making it artsier than ever. Learn more at redhotart.org
Sunday, July 28
Movies Under the Milkyway
WHAT: Solera’s Rooftop Movie Night
WHERE: Solera Restaurant, Downtown Minneapolis
WHEN: Sundays and Tuesdays, dusk
Solera has been hosting free weather-permitting rooftop movie nights on Sundays and Tuesdays all summer, and if you haven’t stopped by yet, it’s time. The menu, which includes a blue marlin crudo and artisan ice cream sandwiches, will make you eschew movie-theater popcorn for good. Tonight’s pick: O Brother, Where Art Thou?. Clooney under the stars: what could be better? Learn more at solera-restaurant.com
