Don your woolly hat and puffy parka and join the cool crowd whooping it up at the St. Paul Winter Carnival . For 17 days in late January and early February, subzero activities ranging from ice-skating to ice carving entertain well-insulated Minnesotans at this frosty fete. Be sure and drink plenty of hot cocoa.
The North Star State has long been associated with such quirky edible concoctions as Jell-O salad and Tater Tot casserole. But if you call yourself an epicure, there's only one place to be in early March, when the Minnesota Monthly's Food and Wine Experience gathers the Twin Cities' tastiest morsels at one convenient location: Target Field.
St. Paul is by far the more enthusiastic of the Twin Cities when it comes to honoring the patron saint of Ireland. The St. Patrick's Day Parade begins downtown at noon and ends up at Rice Park. A second parade in downtown Minneapolis begins at South 6th Street and heads down Marquette Avenue to Nicollet Mall.
In late April the emphasis switches from green beer to ponies when the Minnesota Horse Expo comes to town. The 3-day event, the state's largest equine trade show, features more than 700 booths that set up in state fair buildings to create one big merchandise marketplace. In addition to bareback riding, steer roping and other rodeo events, visitors can enjoy free pony and wagon rides.
Multicultural exhibits, craft demonstrations and music and dance performances are the focus of the Festival of Nations , which also features an international bazaar with merchandise from around the globe. It's held in early May at the St. Paul RiverCentre.
Have a good 'ol time at Grand Old Day , a celebration of summer that lures nearly a quarter of a million people to St. Paul each June. A petting zoo and a parade keep the kids happy, and adults can enjoy a variety of outdoor concerts in the Festival Gardens.
In July, internationally famed musicians appear with the Minnesota Orchestra at Sommerfest . The orchestra presents a classical concert in Orchestra Hall, and the festival also features a series of outdoor performances, including patriotic-themed and Broadway hits shows as well as an opera.
The summer counterpart to St. Paul's Winter Carnival is mid-July's Minneapolis Aquatennial , which has been around since the early 1900s. This 4-day blowout offers contests, entertainment, parades and water sports events; most activities are free. A highlight is the downtown Torchlight Parade.
Q: At what 3-day event can you coo over Polish Tatra sheepdogs, participate in a polka dancing contest and appreciate the works of Polish composer Frédéric Chopin, all while feasting on pierogis, kielbasa and sauerkraut? A: The Twin Cities Polish Festival , which takes place in Minneapolis each August.
Twelve days of cheese curds and deep-fried candy bars, a thrilling midway and top-notch entertainment attract nearly 2 million annual visitors to the end-of-summer Minnesota State Fair from late August through Labor Day. The extravaganza takes place at the fairgrounds, located at Como and Snelling avenues.
At the Minnesota Renaissance Festival zany court jesters, voluptuous belly dancers and valiant knights entertain monarchs and commoners alike on the grounds of a re-created English Renaissance village. Stock up on the latest looks in capes and fairy finery at the open-air marketplace, go medieval on a giant turkey leg and applaud jugglers, magicians and mimes as they do their respective acts. The festival holds court in nearby Shakopee from late August through September.
Serious runners converge on Minneapolis and St. Paul in early October for the MedtronicTwin Cities Marathon . The course begins in downtown Minneapolis and winds around four lakes and both sides of the Mississippi River before ending at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul. In addition to the big race, other events include a 10K run, a 5K run-walk and activities for families.
See all the AAA recommended events for this destination.