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🚴‍♂️Music, Mini-Golf & Mountain Bikes

🚴‍♂️Music, Mini-Golf & Mountain Bikes

A full-send weekend, coming in hot.

Joe Carmack
August 05, 2026

Your Weekend Forecast

Twin Cities Irish Fest

8/7-9

Live music drifts across the grounds while Irish dancers, bagpipers, and cultural demonstrations keep something happening around every corner. Grab a plate of traditional Irish fare, browse handcrafted goods from local vendors, or settle in to watch everything from Gaelic sports to storytelling. It's the kind of festival where families, music lovers, and anyone curious about Irish culture can easily spend a few relaxed hours wandering around.

MN Fringe Festival

8/6-16

Hundreds of original performances take over theaters across Minneapolis, with everything from comedy and drama to dance, music, and experimental shows. Every performance is independently produced, so no two experiences are quite the same, making it an easy way to discover something unexpected.

Uptown Art Fair

8/7-9

The Uptown Art Fair returns to its neighborhood roots with a fresh home along Lake of the Isles, where hundreds of juried artists line the parkway with paintings, pottery, jewelry, photography, and handmade goods. Wander artist booths, catch live demonstrations, grab food from local vendors, and enjoy music and family activities while soaking up one of the Twin Cities' signature summer traditions.

Shakopee Shockwaves

8/6

Watching skiers race across the water is entertaining enough, but the real fun starts when the jumps get bigger, the human pyramids go up, and the barefoot skiers make it all look way easier than it should. Set along Quarry Lake, it's a laid-back evening that's easy to enjoy from a lawn chair or blanket.

Riverfront Concert Series, Elk River

8/6

Classic rock, pop, and country hits from the Fabulous Armadillos set the soundtrack while Tacopolis keeps everyone fed with street tacos, burritos, and loaded nachos. Bring a lawn chair, settle onto the grass, and enjoy one of those easy summer evenings where dinner and live music are both taken care of without much planning.

Tucked along Grand Avenue, Hyacinth has earned a loyal following by keeping things simple: handmade pasta, a seasonal menu that changes often, and an intimate dining room that feels more like a neighborhood spot in Italy than Saint Paul. The kitchen focuses on fresh ingredients and bold flavors instead of an oversized menu, so every dish gets plenty of attention. If it's available, the bucatini cacio e pepe is the one regulars rave about and the kind of pasta you'll be talking about long after dinner.

After dinner, trade forks for putters at Puttery in downtown Minneapolis. Three themed indoor mini golf courses wind through stylish spaces inspired by an art museum, conservatory, and library, making every round feel a little different. It's competitive enough to spark some playful trash talk without taking itself too seriously, and between the creative holes, craft cocktails, and lounge areas, it's the kind of place where one round somehow turns into an entire evening.

Minnesota's trail network is bigger, better, and more scenic than most people realize. From smooth forest singletrack to rocky North Shore adventures, these rides are worth loading up the bikes, hitting the road, and getting a little dirty.