People enjoying the Loring Park Art Festival in 2019. (Jessica Armbruster — Image courtesy event organizers/Loring Park Art Fair)
More than 160 visual artists set up booths around the Loring Park pond. Listen to live music, catch a performance or visit the culinary market. This year Flavor World, a Minneapolis-based creative brand that won a Vibrant Storefronts space in 2024, will have a pop-up booth focused on emerging artists. (10 a.m.-6 p.m. July 26, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. July 27, 1382 Willow St., Mpls., free, loringparkartfestival.com)
Earlier this year, the Uptown Art Fair rebranded itself as the SoMi Art Fair and changed locations from Uptown to the parking lot of Bachman’s flagship store. This year’s new fair will feature 250 artists, live music, food trucks, a workshop on learning how to create watercolors using flowers and other plant-inspired art demonstrations. (10 a.m.-6 p.m. Aug. 2, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 3, 6010 Lyndale Av. S., Mpls., free, uptownminneapolis.com/uptown-art-fair)
Patrons enjoying the Powderhorn Art Fair. (Jessica Armbruster — Image courtesy event organizers/Powderhorn Art Fair)
The 34th annual gathering around Powderhorn Lake in south Minneapolis features 200 artists and 20 food trucks. Green thumbs should check out floral and garden vendors or artists who focus on eco-conscious works. The Family Zone offers educational and creative activities for kids. A portion of proceeds will benefit the Renter Support Fund, a program of the Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association. (10 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 2 & 3, Powderhorn Park, 3400 15th Av. S., Mpls., free, powderhornartfair.com)
Chalk artists at the Downtown Minneapolis Street Art Festival in August 2023. (Tony Nelson/Downtown Minneapolis Street Art Festival)
The seventh annual street art festival brings people back to the Nicollet Mall for a chance to experience an immersive outdoor art gallery filled with chalk art, spray art, murals, performances, live music and more. Visual artists this year include Melodee Strong, Tara Aiken, Allison Severson, Mique Michelle and Tom Jay. “This festival is about more than just art — it’s about community,” said Adam Duininck, president and CEO of the Minneapolis Downtown Council and Downtown Improvement District. Jackalope Arts, an indie artisan fair including about 100 artisans, returns this year. (11 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 9-10, Nicollet Mall, Mpls., free, mplsstreetartfest.com)
Summer ends with this art festival in Duluth, on the shores of Lake Superior. More than 100 artists take over Bayfront Festival Park, showcasing jewelry, painting, photography, ceramics, metalworks, glass and more. There also will be a culinary arts market curated by Stephanie Hansen of Stephanie’s Dish. (10 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 16, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 17, 350 Harbor Drive, Duluth, free, artinbayfrontpark.com)