The last weekend in July is going out with a bang! This weekend should be a delight for art lovers and bike enthusiasts, especially, with Open Streets, ArtBike (and ArtCar) Tour de Fat and fun art gatherings around town. Also, the Minneapolis Aquatennial fun continues into the weekend, ending with the dazzling Target Fireworks!  Scroll down for details:

How will you spend the weekend? Let us know in the comment section or by sending your photos or comments to tcweekend@tcdailyplanet.net, and check back to see your photo attached to the Storify over the weekend.

If you know of an event fit for TC Weekend, use our calendar to upload the event or send an email to tcweekend@tcdailyplanet.net. 

 

FLOW Northside Arts Crawl, July 25

FLOW Northside Art Crawl is a free, family-friendly event that highlights the diverse and unique art community in North Minneapolis. A non-juried, self-guided tour of studios, galleries, theaters, commercial and vacant spaces, FLOW is the premier art event in North Minneapolis, offering a diverse range of representations. Highlights include Capri Theater’s 60th birthday celebrations, a Dinner on the Farm event, and top-notch live entertainment on the KMOJ stage. Go here for more info, including a free pass from Metro Transit.

West Broadway Avenue, Minneapolis

Friday: 12 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Saturday: 12 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Free

For more on FLOW Northside Arts Crawl, read From classical to hip hop at FLOW Northside Arts Crawl

 

Sibley Corn Feed, July 25

In addition to delicious corn on the cob, this family-friendly event offers face painting, bounce houses, concessions, live blues, a moonwalk, games and more!

Sibley Park

1900 E. 40th St., Minneapolis

6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

 

 

Minneapolis Aquatennial, July 25 – 26

The 75^th Annual Aquatennial wraps up this weekend, capping off the festivities with the last of the flagship events, the spectacular Target Fireworks! Below is a highlight of weekend events in partnership with the Aquatennial. See the full list of events here. 

 

 

 

 

 

• Canadian Pacific Aquatennial Tennis Classic, July 25

Come to downtown Minneapolis and see the best tennis players in the area square off for $6,500 prize money at this popular urban tennis tournament. You can also view online here.

Canadian Pacific Plaza

2nd Ave S & S 5th St., Minneapolis 

9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Free admission

• Carifest, July 26

Every fourth weekend in July for the last 21 years, Carifest has celebrated Caribbean culture with Caribbean food, music, arts, crafts, and the Mas’ parade, with vibrant costumes and dance. The fun starts with a kick-off dance party on Friday, in the spirit of Jouvert in Caribbean carnival, and concludes with the big festival on Saturday.

West River Parkway & 17th, between Plymouth & Broadway Avenues in Minneapolis

11 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Parade at 4 p.m.

 

• Global Smoothie Smackdown, July 26

This annual competition between Midtown Global Market’s restaurateurs is bound to please the taste buds, as attendees sample a variety of smoothies from more than ten Market vendors for a suggested donation of $5. The event benefits Horizons Unlimited Foodshelf, the food shelf within the Division of Indian Work. Attendees are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item or make a donation to support Horizons Unlimited Foodshelf.

Midtown Global Market

920 E Lake St #G10, Minneapolis

12 p.m. – 2 p.m.

$5 suggest donation

 

• Midtown Phillips Festival, July 26

A multi-cultural festival for all ages, the Midtown Phillips Festival will feature two stages of local music, exhibits, food vendors, carnival and children’s games with inflatable jumpers, pony rides, Como Park artifacts, and a resource fair.

2700 Block of 12^th Avenue, South, Minneapolis (three blocks from Midtown Exchange & Global Market)

12 p.m. –  8 p.m.

Free

 

• Target Fireworks

Don’t miss the Target Fireworks, one of the biggest fireworks shows in the country. Pre-firework festivities start at 6 p.m. 96.3 K-TWIN FM will provide the live simulcast of the fireworks.

West River Parkway along the Mississippi River, Minneapolis (Near the Stone Arch Bridge)

6 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.

Fireworks start at 10 p.m. 

Lowertown Blues Festival, July 26

Mears Park will host the Lowertown Blues Festival, which, other than highlighting great blues acts, also serves to bring awareness to the redevelopment of the Lowertown neighborhood, and showcase the vitality and beauty of Mears Park with arts and music. The Lowertown Blues Festival is a cooperative effort by the Minnesota Blues Society and the Lowertown Blues Festival Committee, with support from the City of St. Paul.

Mears Park

221 E 5th St, Saint Paul

3 p.m. – 1 p.m.

Free

 

ArtCar and ArtBike Parade, July 26

If you love art, parades, and spectacle, you’ll love the 19^th Annual ArtCar and ArtBike Parade. Bring your portable chair and camera and catch the colorful sights of bikes and cars (and Couchmobile) adorned in art as they parade around Lake Harriet, ending at the Rose Garden.

Lake Harriet

4124 Roseway Road, Minneapolis, Minnesota

6 p.m.

 

 

 

Little Mekong Market, July 26

Are you in the mood for a fun night festival? Try the Little Mekong Night Market, a market offering food vendors, farmers, handicrafts, music, exhibits, cultural performances, and kids activities. According to the Facebook page, the organizers have listened to feedback from the first market and are offering more food this time around! So hop the Green Line to Western Station, bring your appetite and enjoy the festivities.

400 block of University Ave near Mai Village Restaurant (394 University Ave W, St Paul, MN 55103) at the intersection of University Ave and Western Ave.

5 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Free

Tour de Fat, July 26

The Tour de Fat returns this year to celebrate the gifts of biking and raise proceeds for Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota, Midtown Greenway Coalition and Minnesota Off-Road Cycling Advocates. Advertised as one the biggest traveling bike festivals, the event promises a good time with costumes and a parade, plus beer and plenty of family fun. Local music follows the parade.

Loring Park

1382 Willow St., Minneapolis

10 a.m. (arrive early to register)

Free

 

Red Hot Art & Music Festival, July 26 – 27

Red Hot Art & Music Festival celebrates 13 years at historic Stevens Square Park. This colorful grassroots festival will feature over 100 artists, more than 20 local bands and performances, including the Afro-Brazilian Capoeira Association, plus local food trucks, community organizations and interactive fun for the family. Presented by Stevens Square Community Organization (SSCO), in partnership with the Minneapolis Park & Recreations Board and funded by the Minnesota State Arts Board, this year’s event is a must for lovers of the local art and music scene.

Saturday: 11 a.m. ­- 7 p.m.

Sunday: 11 a.m. -­ 5 p.m.

Stevens Square Park

1801 Stevens Avenue, Minneapolis

Free

For more insight into this festival, see related articles below:

Why the Red Hot Arts & Musical Festival is better than Powderhorn, Loring and Uptown Art Fairs combined

Red Hot Arts & Musical Festival in Minneapolis: A collage of art, music, food and fun!

 

Open Streets – Central Avenue Northeast, July 27

Come out to Open Streets and experience a transformed Central Avenue NE, free of cars for a day. Walk, bike, skate and visit businesses and organizations along Central Avenue safely on the street. Go here to download your free Metro Pass to the event.

18 1/2 Avenue to 26th Avenue, Minneapolis

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.