5 Minnesota Festivals To Check Out This Fall

With summer in Minnesota coming to a close, that unfortunately means the end of one of the best parts about the season: Summer Festivals. What’s not to love about hearing great music in the sunshine? Luckily, autumn is still going to keep your festival fix in check by offering some more stuff in the area. It’s a solid way to ease your way out of summer. Here are some festivals coming up that have caught my eye:

Minnesota Renaissance Festival

Where: Shakopee

When: Every weekend through October 1

I’ve been wanting to go to this for years, but I’ve never pulled the trigger. Maybe this should be the year. I’ve always wanted to watch a jousting match while eating the leg of a wild boar. They have that, right?

Defeat of Jesse James Days

Where: Northfield

When: September 6-10

It’s a big celebration of the notorious outlaw Jesse James and his epic #BankRobberyFail in Northfield. Watch a live re-enactment and a parade (also live), or chow down with a hog roast and steak fry. There’s also square dancing if you dabble. I’ll stick with the steak!

Grape Stomp Festival

Where: Stillwater

When: September 9-10

If there’s a gaping hole in your life that only stomping on a bucket of grapes can fix, then this is definitely the event for you. Or you can just watch other people stomp on grapes while secretly, you really, really hope this happens. Don’t lie. You know it’s true.

Severs Fall Festival

Where: Shakopee

When: September 8 – October 9; Friday through Sunday

There’s the infamous maze, plus a pumpkin patch, petting zoo, live music and entertainment, pig races (can I race a pig? Fingers crossed), zip lines, food, and more. Worth checking out from what I’ve been told.

Source: WCCO