Thursdays on First and Third
photo by jamey guy
Arguably the best part about summers in Minnesota is the outdoor celebrations. With our lovely four (six?) months of winter, we know that summer should be taken seriously. In other words? The more festivals the better. Here are three top picks for this week:
Thursdays on First & Third
Thursdays on First & Third is Rochester’s weekly outdoor market at Peace Plaza Downtown with over 115 craft, food, and art vendors and live entertainment. This Thursday, Aug. 2, six local performers are scheduled: Syvers (indie folk/electronic) and Pure Rock Studios (Kids Who Rock!) at 11:30 a.m., John Paulson Quartet (jazz) and Gabe Burduis (singer/songwriter) at 5 p.m., and the Tony Rook Band (bluegrass) and the GB Trio (power rock) at 7 p.m. With so many food and craft vendors to choose from, make sure you check out the event’s interactive map that shows the location of each vendor and gives a little summary of what they are all about.
Open Streets: Northeast Minneapolis
Taking place on Sunday, Aug. 5 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Open Streets: Northeast—a free community event promoting healthy living, local businesses, sustainable transportation and civic pride—will be located on Central Avenue NE, 22nd Avenue NE, Monroe Street NE, and E Hennepin Avenue. Check out the event’s interactive map for food, business, and artisan vendor information and locations. Stop by Loulou Sweet & Savory for Thai-style rolled ice cream, try some of Anelace Coffee’s iced coffee beverages, or grab some Mexican food at La Favorita Taqueria & Antojitos’ food truck. If you can’t make it to Northeast’s Open Streets celebration, try for Franklin’s on Aug. 26 or even West Broadway’s on Sept. 15.
Uptown Art Fair
This weekend, Uptown is celebrating their 55th Annual Uptown Art Fair which will feature over 350 artists, 25 food and drink vendors, and a plethora of activities to choose from. Watch performances from folk, pop, soul, gospel, and hip-hop artists; sip your beverage of choice at the outdoor wine and beer gardens; and check out the new Norseman Distillery Summer Cocktail Competition, where local bartenders attempt to create the best craft cocktail.
For more August events, check out August 2018’s Out and About Arts and Entertainment Picks.
