September festivals

Just because Labor Day is nearly here doesn't mean Minnesota is on the verge of shutting down for winter. There may not be quite as many festivals—but there are still enough to keep anyone from getting bored. Be sure to check the Minnesota Historical Society’s event page; they’ve always got something interesting going on.

St. Paul
Minnesota State Fair
Through Sept. 7
The granddaddy of Minnesota festivals. Go for the cheese curds, stay for the rides, the animals being born, the crafts and arts exhibits, Machinery Hill, the stage shows, the cheesy giveaways, and of course, the food on a stick.

Shakopee
Minnesota Renaissance Fest
Weekends through Oct. 4; also open Labor Day and Friday, Oct. 2
Rowdy jousting, roasted turkey legs, raucous and libidinous comedy, people in costumes—really, what more do you need?

Duluth
Duluth-Superior Pride Festival
Sept. 3-6
Beach bonfires, amateur film festival, poetry night—and a free concert by RuPaul.

New Ulm
Riverblast
Sept. 4-5
Camping, fishing, live music, a river parade, and a most scenic bike ride.

Rollag
Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion
Sept. 4-7
Parades, live music, dances, and exhibits and demonstrations of every conceivable kind of old-fashioned farm implement.

Northfield
Defeat of Jesse James Days
Sept. 9-13
The infamous Jesse James met his match when he tried to rob the Northfield bank on Sept. 7, 1876. Today his defeat is boisterously remembered with a bank raid re-enactment, hog roast, square dance, steak fry, vintage base ball, and a parade.

Ely
Harvest Moon Festival
Sept. 11-13
Lumberjack shows, live music, food, and demonstrations of old-time arts (blacksmithing, birch bark basketry, wool spinning, and fire starting, among others), all in this scenic Boundary Waters gateway community.

Moorhead
Greater Moorhead Days
Sept. 11-18
Parades, bocce ball tournaments, live music, food—a full week of fun on the border of North Dakota.

St. Paul
Concrete and Grass Music Festival
Sept. 11-13
Lowertown St. Paul hosts this festival with a diverse range of free music: Idle Hands, Romantica, Kid Dakota, Jelloslave, and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, among others.

Zumbro Falls
BowWOW Fest
Sept. 12-13
As the poster says, “The most for a dog since the cat!” Bring the family, including the canine members, and enjoy walks and hikes, pet scrapbooking, live music, and food. Bring a nonperishable dog food as a donation for free admission, or pay $2. Proceeds benefit local animal shelters.

Stillwater
Grape Stomp 2009
Sept.12-13
Seriously—it’s a grape stomp at a winery.

St. Paul
St. Paul Classic Bike Tour
Sept. 13
This is not a race—it’s just a really well thought-out ride through some of the most scenic parts of the Capitol city.

Faribault
Faribault Airfest, Balloon Rally, and Tree Frog Music Festival
Sept. 18-19 (Airfest), 19-20 (Tree Frog)
Like hot air balloons? Like live music? This one’s for you.

North Shore
North Shore Inline Marathon/Half-Marathon
Sept. 19
Feeling competitive? Like your inline skates? This one’s for you. Can’t beat the scenery.

Worthington
King Turkey Days
Sept. 19
All the usual fun stuff (food, music) plus: turkey races.

Mankato
Mahkato Traditional Pow Wow
Sept. 18-20
Thousands of Native Americans gather here each year for a traditional pow wow, with ceremonial costumes, foods, and crafts.

Shakopee
Severs Corn Maze
Sat.-Sun., Sept. 19-Nov. 1
The name says it all: a maze built in a corn field. This year’s maze is a pirate ship, so bring your best pirate talk. Don’t let your kids find the way out faster than you do.

Bemidji
Fall Color Tour by Covered Wagon
Sept. 19
The Buena Vista Ski Area welcomes fall with covered wagon tours and great views of fall foliage.

Hastings
Fall Raptor Release
Sept. 26
Visit the Raptor Center in Hastings and see a variety of raptors released back into the wild.

 

Comments

[Linda]

Rollag! My dad loved to go to Rollag if he finished North Dakota wheat harvest in time for it. I was very adept at name-that-antique-tractor by the end of the parades.