Art and music offer us unique ways to experience a city, whether we live there or are just passing through. The city I call home, St. Paul, has plenty to share. Here’s a look at some ways you can see, hear, and experience Minnesota’s capital city.
ChromaZone Mural & Art Festival: Since 2019, the Creative Enterprise Zone (CEZ) has become home to over 70 murals, making it the largest public mural event in Minnesota. This festival usually takes place in September and features artists talks, tours, an Indigenous makers’ market, hands-on art activities, and new murals. But even if you can’t make it during those dates, you can still explore the murals on your own any time with a self-guided tour.
Courtesy of ChromaZone Murals
The Minnesota Museum of American Art: Located in the historic Pioneer Endicott Building downtown, “The M” highlights works by American artists through rotating exhibits and galleries. This fall, the museum is expanding its space to better showcase its permanent collection. You’ll enjoy the experience whether you’re drawn to contemporary pieces or more traditional art.
Can Can Wonderland: This place in the Creative Enterprise Zone (CEZ) is known for its unique blend of vintage arcade games, pinball, and mini-golf, but there’s a lot more going on. The 18-hole mini-golf course is designed by local artists, the in-house team of artists and fabricators keep it updated along with the murals and installations that fill the 40,000-square-foot space. With two stages for diverse offerings in live music, performances, and pop-up events, it’s a truly unique spot to visit on a date, with a group, or to bring visitors, because this is a one-of-a-kind arts-infused destination.
825 Arts: Just opened this summer in Frogtown/Rondo, 825 Arts is already making its mark as an intergenerational center for the arts. The space hosts all kinds of events, from Minecraft meet-ups to Double-Dutch lessons, musical performances, and more. The mission here is about building community and providing a creative home for everyone in the neighborhood. It’s worth keeping an eye on this new arts destination as it adds to programming and ways to connect.
Courtesy of 825 Arts
Live Music in St. Paul
Saint Paul offers plenty of options for live music, from big venues like the Xcel Center to smaller spots like the Turf Club in the Midway, Amsterdam Bar & Hall downtown, and the The White Squirrel Bar on West 7th Street. In Frogtown, check out The Re-Verb Open Mic Nights at Flava Coffee & Café, where TruArt Speaks invites local and visiting artists to share live performances—including music, poetry, and spoken word. It’s a relaxed, welcoming space, where you can take it all in or sign up to share your own work.
Courtesy of The White Squirrel Bar
