September festivals

Just because Labor Day is right around the corner doesn’t mean Minnesota has shut down for winter. There may not be quite as many festivals—but there are still enough to keep anyone from getting bored. And besides, soon the harvest and Halloween festivals will pop up. 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. 5
C’mon—you can’t possibly have had your fill of fried cheese curds and beer on a stick yet, have you??

Shakopee
Minnesota Renaissance Fest
Weekends through Oct. 2; also open Labor Day and Friday, Sept. 30
Rowdy jousting, roasted turkey legs, raucous and libidinous comedy, people in costumes—really, what more do you need?

Northfield
Defeat of Jesse James Days
Sept. 7-11
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.

St. Paul
Concrete and Grass Music Festival
Sept. 9-11
Lowertown St. Paul hosts this festival with a diverse range of free music: Dessa, Suicide Commandos, the Minnesota Opera, Salsa del Soul, and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, among others.

Ely
Harvest Moon Festival
Sept. 9-11
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. 9-12
Parades, bocce ball tournaments, live music, food—a full week of fun on the border of North Dakota.

Stillwater
Grape Stomp 2011
Sept.10-11
Seriously—it’s a grape stomp at a winery (St. Croix Vineyards, to be specific).

St. Paul
St. Paul Classic Bike Tour
Sept. 11
Once the RNC is done, it’ll be safe to go back to St. Paul. 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.

Worthington
King Turkey Days
Sept. 16-17
All the usual fun stuff (food, music) plus: turkey races.

Mankato
Mahkato Traditional Pow Wow
Sept. 16-18
Thousands of Native Americans gather here each year for a traditional pow wow, with ceremonial costumes, foods, and crafts.

North Shore
North Shore Inline Marathon/Half-Marathon
Sept. 17
Feeling competitive? Like your inline skates? This one’s for you. Can’t beat the scenery.

Shakopee
Severs Corn Maze
Sat.-Sun., Sept. 17-Oct.30 (also open MEA)
The name says it all: a maze built in a corn field. This year’s maze is a tribute to the recently concluded space shuttle program. Don’t let your kids find the way out faster than you do.

Hastings
Fall Raptor Release
Sept. 24
Visit the Raptor Center in Hastings and see a variety of raptors released back into the wild.