Festivals & Events

Celebrate Saint Paul

Festivals and events - with a distinctive Saint Paul flair - celebrating music, culture, art and life itself can be found throughout the city all year long.

Summer
Fall
Winter
Spring
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Celebrate Saint Paul

There's no shortage of action on Saint Paul's events calendar. As a city that celebrates its cultural diversity, you can experience the many flavors of Saint Paul at family-friendly events like Songkran Festival, Little Africa Fest, Hmong New Year and Irish Fair. Minnesota's many seasons are celebrated at the Saint Paul Winter Carnival and Minnesota State Fair. Not to mention, all of the outdoor music and art showcases to be enjoyed.

Summer Events

Flint Hills Family Festival

This summer kickoff in Rice Park is the ultimate celebration of fine arts and is host to thrilling outdoor performances, student matinees, art workshops, and endless activities to spark your inner creativity.

Art in the Hollow

Head to the East Side to browse creations from over 100 local artists, watch live music and performances, enjoy kid-friendly activities, marvel at plein air painting, and try tasty food trucks.

St. Anthony Park Arts Festival

This festival invites artists, musicians, families and visitors to celebrate fine arts through a collection of live performances, artisan merchants and delicious food vendors.

Train Days

All aboard! Venture to Lowertown for this free celebration of trains and transportation. Shop vendors, explore historic photography, tour train equipment and more!

Grand Old Day

It's the largest one-day festival in the Midwest! This giant block party along Grand Avenue includes a fun run, parade, family area, art fair, car show, festival gardens, and a plethora of local food and drink vendors.

Deutsche Day

This annual celebration of German heritage and community features art, music and traditional dance, authentic German and European food fare, Paulaner beer, and fun for the whole family.

Twin Cities Jazz Festival

A lively music festival in the heart of Lowertown that features live entertainment from renowned jazz artists and provides the opportunity for emerging musicians to showcase their talents during this jam-packed weekend of sound.
Twin Cities Pride Family Fun Day

The Twin Cities Pride Festival is one of the largest Pride celebrations in the nation. Each year, it includes a Family Fun Day in Saint Paul’s Como Park with food, fun and games for kids.

Back to the 50s Weekend

This car show is a blast from the past and features more than 11,000 street rods, customs, classics, and restored vehicles, a market to shop, live music performances, and so much more!

Hmong International Freedom Festival

Considered the Olympics of the Hmong American community, this sports and entertainment-centered festival is the largest Hmong sports event in the United States—bringing nearly 60,000 people to Minnesota's Capital City in just two days.

4th in the Park

A fun-filled and patriotic celebration featuring a lively parade, long distance race, local music performances, a community picnic, and kids activities at St. Anthony Park.

Chicano Fest

A colorful celebration of the Chicano community where customized classic cars take center stage, culinary delights from local food trucks ignite your tastebuds, and creativity runs wild from artisan vendors and performing artists.

Minnesota Country Club and Yacht Club Festival

Catch your favorite bands as they perform along the Mississippi River. Saint Paul transforms into the ultimate concert destination with two back-to-back festival weekends featuring major headliners and an incredible city-line views on Harriet Island.

Twin Cities Irish Fest

This annual 3-day Irish celebration on Harriet Island features a fantastic line-up of international, national and local music, dance, storytelling, sports, children's activities, cultural exhibits, and marketplace activities.

Rondo Days

Held the third Saturday in July, Rondo Days honors and celebrates the rich history of the Rondo neighborhood, a vibrant African American community that was divided by the construction of Interstate 94 in the mid-1960s.

Rondo Block Party

This community party near the Rondo Commemorative Plaza celebrates the past, present, and future of the historic Rondo neighborhood through community collaboration, cultural performances, tasty local vendors, a thrilling kid's zone, and more.

Japanese Obon Festival

Bonsai, martial arts, singing, dancing, drumming, delicious food, a stunning lit lantern release, and other aspects of Japanese culture are featured at this breathtaking celebration on the grounds of the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory in Como Park.

Minnesota State Fair

This end-of-summer tradition is held during the 12 days leading up to and through Labor Day. The Great Minnesota Get-Together is where you want to be for good food, great musical entertainment, rides, people watching and loads of fun!

Fall Events

Saint Paul Art Crawl

Celebrate the local creative community by exploring galleries and shared spaces to shop one-of-a-kind art at this bi-annual event.

Frogtown Arts Festival

An inspiring day that highlights the vibrant essence of the Frogtown community through performers, art vendors, art workshops, and tasty bites from local restaurants.

Chroma Zone Mural & Arts Festival

The Creative Enterprise Zone is home to hundreds of creative makers and entrepreneurs. Marvel at new public art from 10 muralists, listen to artists share their expertise and celebrate the community at an outdoor art party during this creative festival.

CLUES Fiesta Latina

This family-friendly event on the East Side celebrates Latine culture through the arts, health and wellness, food and entertainment.

Selby Avenue JazzFest

Enjoy a vibrant day filled with live outdoor music from six dynamic bands, delicious local food and community celebration along the historic Selby Avenue.

Winter Events

Hmong New Year

Saint Paul is home to one of the largest Hmong populations in the world, making it the perfect place to celebrate this vibrant culture. Every year, the Saint Paul RiverCentre is host to the two-day Hmong New Year celebration, a time to honor ancestors and gives thanks for the completion of the harvest.
European Christmas Market

This authentic, traditional holiday market at Union Depot features a unique open-air shopping experience, family-friendly entertainment, cultural activities and authentic European cuisine.

GLOW Holiday Festival

Venture to the home of the St. Paul Saints to marvel over one million twinkling lights and a collection of immersive displays. Plus, enjoy visits from Santa, a zip line, a giant slide and seasonal snacks

Saint Paul Winter Carnival

The Coolest Celebration on Earth is a free 10-day festival that embraces the chilly winter season in all of its glory through joyful parades, incredible snow & ice sculptures, vibrant fireworks show, incredible music performances, and so much more.

Spring Events

St. Patrick’s Day

Your headquarters for St. Patrick's Day features a lively downtown parade, themed parties at Irish bars and restaurants, traditional music and dance performances, and authentic Irish fare.

Cinco de Mayo

A vibrant display of culture that honors Mexican heritage and community pride with two days of car shows, live music, authentic food, family fun, and cultural entertainment in Saint Paul's West Side neighborhood.

Saint Paul Art Crawl

Celebrate the local creative community by exploring galleries and shared spaces to shop one-of-a-kind art at this bi-annual event.

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