June festivals

June's upon us, and that means the festival season is about to start with a vengeance. What's listed below is just the tip of the iceberg; there are dozens, if not hundreds, of various small-town and community gatherings that are mostly of interest to residents. For more details, see Explore Minnesota. Note: A huge variety of events and festivals are listed on the website of the Minnesota Historical Society.

Richmond
Minnesota Homegrown Kickoff
June 4-6
One of four annual festivals run by the Minnesota Bluegrass and Old-Time Music Association, the Homegrown Kickoff offers live music, jam sessions, music classes, camping, and crafts and food.

Minneapolis/St. Paul
Judy Garland Festival
June 10-12
The birthplace of Judy Garland will host its 35th annual festival in 2010, but this year moves it to the Twin Cities. (Which, I guess, means there’s no admission to the Judy Garland Museum included in the festival?) Events include a Judy Jeopardy game, musical entertainment, dinners with Munchkins (as in, the Munchkins from the movie), showing of several Garland movies, a Carnegie Hall tribute concert, and historical and cultural lectures about Garland.

Worthington
Worthington Windsurfing Regatta and Unvarnished Music Festival
June 11-13
A windsurfing championship combined with an indie music festival. Makes sense. See the website for this year’s musicians.

Cass Lake
Chippewa Triathlon
June 12
Why swim when you can portage and canoe?

St. Joseph
The Caramel Roll
June 12
Go on a beautiful bike ride—and eat caramel rolls along the way. Could it get any better?

Roseau
Scandinavian Festival
June 18-19
Visit the maypole, listen to music, enjoy a Scandinavian smorgasbord (including fresh lefse!). Take a slight detour out of town to visit the Pioneer Village, a beautiful recreated village of original pioneer buildings.

Cloquet
International Polka Festival
June 18-20
More than 100 musicians will contribute their talents to this three-day extravaganza. Think you know everything about polka? Think again—this festival will introduce you to all kinds of ethnic variations, including Polish and Slovenian.

Minneapolis
Twin Cities Pride
June 19-20, 26-27
Parade, boat cruise, concerts, picnic, art show—these are two packed weekends.

Minneapolis
Stone Arch Festival
June 19-20
It’s hard to imagine a more scenic location for this jack-of-all-trades festival: juried art show, Art of the Car display, kids Lego Creation Station, and live music.

Virginia
Land of the Loon Festival
June 19-20
A celebration of the various ethnic groups that settled into northeastern Minnesota. Food, music, arts and crafts from around the world.

Rochester
Rochesterfest
June 19-27
A celebration of all things Rochester, this is a busy week: lumberjack championships; volleyball and fishing tournaments; cemetery walks; music and dancing; treasure hunt; historic walking tours; parade; and even a hot air balloon race.

St. Cloud
Granite City Days
June 24-27
Celebrate the Granite City’s heritage at this annual festival, complete with fly-in pancake breakfast, tours of historic homes, and bike races.

Moorhead
Scandinavian Hjemkomst Festival
Jun 25-27
A joint Scandinavian festival presented by local Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Icelandic, and Swedish groups, this annual celebration includes a LEGO art show, Scandinavian music groups, performances by the Commedia dell’Arte pantomime/dance group, puppet shows, and of course—lots of Scandinavian food.

Winona
Great River Shakespeare Festival
June 23-August 1
The seventh annual Shakespeare Festival offers three of the Bard’s plays: Love’s Labours Lost, The Tempest, and Hamlet. See website for schedule and ticket information.

Henderson
Sauerkraut Days
June 25-27
Parades, tournaments, food and music—and a sauerkraut eating contest. Are you up to the challenge?

Scandia
Midsommar Dag
June 26
Held at the lovely Gammelgarden Museum, this festival offers Swedish music, a pig roast smorgasbord, Swedish Hambo dancers, and all manner of crafts and activities (butter making, hoop rolling). Or just enjoy a beautiful summer day at this living history site which features several original immigrant homes and buildings.