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89 Days

89 Days of Summer 2023: Things to do in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and beyond

Minneapolis-based artist/illustrator Jose Dominguez created three original works for The Current's 89 Days of Summer.
Minneapolis-based artist/illustrator Jose Dominguez created three original works for The Current's 89 Days of Summer.Jose Dominguez for MPR

by Staff

June 01, 2023

The sights, smells, and temperatures(!) of meteorological summer have arrived. Long days, music festivals, outdoor activities, patio dining and drinks, and so much more are ahead.

For the months of June, July, and August, we will provide weekly guides for things to do in the Twin Cities region and greater Minnesota. You’ll find new posts about events, entertainment, and recreation curated by our team and collaborators.

Below is a schedule, which we’ll update with links as the stories publish.

89 Days of Summer 2023 is supported by Visit St. Paul, which has created a Patio Passport for the best St. Paul patios to visit this summer.

June 1: Live music outdoors

Here’s a rundown of the big outdoor concerts in the region, and a preview of Grand Old Day.

Plus, from last year: Find your favorite patios with regular (and often free) live music, and if you’re heading to rock in Rochester, here’s how to make the most of a Rochester getaway. Check out a community curated playlist and picks for albums to soundtrack summer adventures.

June 5: Pride events

June is Pride Month. Here are some of the exciting happenings in the Twin Cities and beyond. We als have a preview of Prince Celebration’s return to Paisley Park.

June 14: Juneteenth

Plan ahead for a long weekend of Juneteenth events, check out our Juneteenth playlist, and hit up Carbon Sound’s first anniversary.

Illustration with colorful cartoon stage performers
Minneapolis-based artist/illustrator Jose Dominguez created three original works for The Current's 89 Days of Summer.
Jose Dominguez for MPR

June 20: The music of Pride

Listen to our curated playlist featuring LGBTQ+ artists.

June 26: Concerts on the Pier

Get a closer look at the Concerts on the Pier series at Glensheen Mansion in Duluth, and Taste of MN returns to a new spot in downtown Minneapolis.

July 3: Duluth

Duluth-area musicians have lots of tips for places to hang out when you visit the North Shore for big shows and more.

Plus, from last year: Tips for top Twin Cities ice cream and frozen treat options — as music genres, and ideas for a day trip to the Taylors Falls area, music murals and sculptures sprinkled across the state, and indoor and outdoor options to cool off from the blazing sun.

July 10: State Fair food

Get your appetite humming with a preview of the best new foods coming to the Minnesota State Fair. Also, get a closer look at TC Summer Fest coming to Target Field.

July 17: Carifest

The annual Caribbean festival returns in Minneapolis.

July 24: Walking tours galore

Preview a globally sourced techno festival taking place in the Minnesota River Valley. We’ve got a guide for interesting walking tours around the Twin Cities, and here’s a recipe & playlist combo with fresh farmer’s market ingredients.

August 1: The Hold Steady’s new book

Get an inside look at one of the summer’s biggest music books with Minnesota ties. Also, check out Minnesota Public Radio’s Minnesota State Fair activity.

August 7: Pizza Luce Block Party

Pizza Luce Block Party returns!

From last year: Where to enjoy every type of terrain Minnesota’s great outdoors offers.

Illustration with colorful food and drink vignettes
Minneapolis-based artist/illustrator Jose Dominguez created three original works for The Current's 89 Days of Summer.
Jose Dominguez for MPR

August 14: Food at the State Fair

Last year’s guide to live music and food pairings at the Minnesota State Fair was such a hit that we’re bringing a whole new one back for 2023!

From last year: Learn more about the annual Wacipi in Shakopee, hosted by Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC), on August 18-20.

August 21: Music at the State Fair

The 2023 Minnesota State Fair is basically a daily music festival running from Aug. 24 to Sept. 4. Check out this curated guide to each day. Plus, here’s a delicious tacos and playlist combo to try with our final days of summer.

August 28: Fall Concerts

With summer coming to its end, a busy few months of live entertainment are on the way.

About our art

Jose Dominguez is a Minneapolis-based artist/illustrator. His admiration for vintage cartoons paired with the endless inspiration from his two rambunctious cats provides a solid base for his offbeat storytelling. In his free time, he enjoys watching sci-fi films, drawing while listening to old-school hip-hop, and drinking lattes in his at-home “cat-café.”

89 Days of Summer 2023 is supported by Visit St. Paul, which has created a Patio Passport for the best St. Paul patios to visit this summer.

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Clean Water Land & Legacy Amendment
This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.