The Hotdish Newsletter
Posts
🛩️Air Shows, Car Shows & Cowboy Hats

🛩️Air Shows, Car Shows & Cowboy Hats

Here's what's happening this weekend in MN!

Joe Carmack
June 10, 2026

School’s out for summer and the race to keep the kids entertained is officially on. We've hired our 15-year-old to help cook up your weekly Hotdish this summer (apologies in advance for any typos and sudden mentions of Lamborghinis). We hope it helps your family make the most of the next few months - plenty of Minnesota adventures are headed your way!

Cheers, friends!
-Joe & Haley (and Lincoln!)

Your Weekend Forecast

Winstock Music Festival

6/19-20

A couple days of country music, camping, cold drinks, and lawn chairs spread across a field in rural Minnesota. Big-name artists share the stage with up-and-coming acts, while thousands of people settle in for a weekend that feels part concert and part campground gathering. Between the food vendors, beer tent, and late-night conversations back at camp, there’s plenty happening even when the music takes a break.

Josh Groban & Jennifer Hudson

6/28

Two powerhouse vocalists sharing one stage for an evening of big songs, big voices, and plenty of familiar favorites. Expect everything from pop and Broadway-inspired performances to soulful ballads, with the kind of live vocals that don’t need much production to fill an arena. A rare pairing that brings together two artists known more for singing than flashy stage effects.

Cruisin' on The Croix

ongoing

A summer evening in downtown Stillwater filled with polished chrome, classic cruisers, hot rods, and vintage cars parked along the St. Croix River. Some people come to show off decades of restoration work, others just enjoy wandering the streets and admiring the details. Add a little live music, food, and river-town scenery, and it feels more like a community gathering than a typical car show.

Grandma’s Marathon

6/18-20

More than just a marathon, this weekend turns Duluth into a citywide event. Along with the races, there’s live music, a fitness expo, family activities, and plenty happening around Canal Park and the waterfront. Runners, spectators, and visitors fill the city, making it one of the busiest weekends of the summer.

Chalkfest, Maple Grove

6/13

Sidewalks become giant canvases as artists spend the weekend creating detailed chalk murals that range from playful to surprisingly realistic. Between the artwork, live music, food vendors, and activities for kids, it feels less like an art show and more like a community event with plenty to wander through.

For this date night, head to TopGolf (Brooklyn Park or Woodbury). It's one of those places where dinner and entertainment happen at the same time, so there's no need to plan multiple stops. The menu goes well beyond basic bar food, with burgers, flatbreads, shareable appetizers, and a few desserts that regularly get mentioned by returning guests. Instead of sitting across the table all evening, you'll be taking turns swinging, snacking, and probably discovering who is far more competitive than they claimed to be.

The golf games are designed for people who have never set foot on a course. Some challenge you to hit targets, others feel more like arcade games, and the technology tracks every shot automatically. No keeping score by hand, no complicated rules, and no pressure to be good at golf. Whether you're trying to win or just trying not to completely miss the ball, there's usually enough laughter and friendly competition to keep the conversation moving.

Blue skies, roaring engines, and a summer tradition that never gets old. This week’s Up Yonder rounds up some of the best air shows happening across Minnesota this summer.