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🎡Burgers, Beer Gardens & Bike Trails

🎡Burgers, Beer Gardens & Bike Trails

Plus, MN's best local festivals.

Joe Carmack
May 29, 2026

Your Weekend Forecast

West St. Paul Days

6/4 - 6/7

Small-town festival season at its finest. Expect a little bit of everything, from a community parade and a citywide medallion hunt to food trucks, a beer garden, and plenty of chances to run into neighbors. The schedule mixes classic summer traditions with a few friendly competitions, including a wiffle ball tournament, before wrapping up with a fireworks display. The result is a laid-back weekend that feels equal parts community celebration and summer kickoff.

Mountain Bike Opener @ Lone Lake Park

5/30

A little friendly competition on two wheels. Riders of all ages can tackle a course filled with obstacles, balance challenges, and bike-handling tests designed to see who has the smoothest skills. Less about speed, more about control, coordination, and maybe discovering that your kid is somehow a better cyclist than you are.

Eden Prairie Schooner Days

5/29 - 5/31

One of Eden Prairie’s longtime summer traditions, with a little bit of everything packed into one weekend. Carnival rides, bingo, food stands, local vendors, games, and a beer tent all set up around Round Lake Park. It’s the kind of community festival where you can wander around for a few hours and always seem to find one more thing going on.

Sustainable Safari Live Animal Show

6/4

A chance to get up close with some animals you don't normally see at the neighborhood park. Kangaroos, foxes, alligators, and other wildlife make an appearance during this live educational show, with plenty of interesting facts mixed in along the way. Equal parts entertainment and learning, especially for kids who are currently asking for a pet that's definitely not allowed in the house.

Megan Moroney @ The Target Center

7/25

It’s a country music show from a rising singer-songwriter known for sharp lyrics and relatable, storytelling songs like “Tennessee Orange” and “I’m Not Pretty.” The set mixes heartfelt ballads and catchy, down-to-earth tunes backed by a full live band.

What started as a small Minneapolis brewery has grown into one of Minnesota’s best-known craft beer names, but the Fulton Beer Taproom still feels laid back and approachable. Alongside a long list of house-made beers, the kitchen turns out crowd favorites like the loaded beer cheese tots, burgers, and sandwiches. The industrial space, communal tables, and downtown setting make it an easy spot to settle in for a relaxed dinner that feels a little more interesting than the usual chain restaurant routine.

After dinner, swap small talk for a little friendly competition. The weekly cribbage tournament draws everyone from longtime card sharks to people who mostly remember the rules from family gatherings at the cabin. Games move at a casual pace, giving you plenty of time to chat between hands while enjoying another drink. Even if neither of you ends up winning, there's something entertaining about watching a simple card game bring out everyone's surprisingly competitive side.

Whether you're into parades, fireworks, food trucks, live music, or wandering around with a lemonade and no particular agenda, these are some of the best small-town celebrations happening across the state this year.