From Minneapolis Institute of Art:

Connect, create, kick back! Meet at Mia is a series of free Thursday evening events for adults. Get to know us—and each other—with live music, art making, special programs, and unique food and drink (for purchase). No registration or secret handshake required.

Celebrate Mia’s new special exhibition “Royal Bronzes: Cambodian Art of the Divine.” Wattanak Dance Troupe graces the galleries with performances of traditional Cambodian Dance, and local artist Narate Keys shares original poetry. Create artwork inspired by the bronze sculptures with Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center and learn about the process of metal casting. Enjoy free access to the exhibition all night and dive deeper into the artwork on a special tour.

Tour “Royal Bronzes: Cambodian Art of the Divine,” 6 and 7:15 p.m.
Enjoy traditional Cambodian Dance from Wattanak Dance Troupe
Create pewter metal casting and demonstration with Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center
Listen to original poetry readings by Narate Keys

Meet at Mia: Divine Figures
Thursday, Nov. 13 • 5 – 9 PM
Minneapolis Institute of Art (2400 3rd Ave S)

From Hennepin Co. Library:

If you are curious about vegan cooking, this virtual club is for you! Each month participants make recipes from popular cookbooks prior to meeting, then share their reflections with the group. Novice to expert cooks are welcome, as are interested non-cooks.

Additional information, including the Zoom meeting link and downloadable recipes, is available on the events page of the Compassionate Action for Animals website.

East Lake Vegan Recipe Club
Tuesday, Nov. 18 • 6:30–7:30 PM
Online

Remember to support East Isles Neighborhood Association during Minnesota's largest 501(c)3 nonprofit fundraising day! Your donation is critical to our ability to continue to support East Isles programs and activities. From community safety to community building, engaged neighbors make a difference—please consider a donation this giving season! 

Give to the Max Day 2025
Thursday, Nov. 20

From MN Zen Meditation Center:

On the day of the year that has become most associated with American consumerism and shopping, we’d like to offer people a respite and alternative that they can practice every day of their busy lives. In meditation, we face the blank wall, return to our original stillness, and find relief from a busy mind.

MN Zen Meditation Center invites everyone to learn about and practice meditation together. The event is open to all at no cost. Join us to meditate and bring your family and friends! We'll be happy to give you a tour and answer any questions you have about the Center. There will be hot beverages and light refreshments.

Blank Friday: A Zen Alternative to Black Friday
Friday, Nov. 28 • 10 AM – 4 PM
MN Zen Meditation Center (3343 E Bde Maka Ska Pkwy)

From Uptown Association:

Join us on Small Business Saturday! Shop small & peruse goods from local makers in the Seven Points storefronts along Hennepin Avenue...and join ARTrageous Adventures and friends for ornament crafting, photo-ops, and holiday merriment.

Uptown Winter Wonderland Holiday Market
Saturday, Nov. 29 • 10 AM – 2 PM
Seven Points: 3001 Hennepin Ave

From Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board:

Kick off the holiday season right where it all began! Join us for the second annual screening of Jingle All the Way inside the stunning Nicollet Island Pavilion — one of the very locations where the movie was filmed!

Cozy up under the pavilion lights, sip on seasonal drinks, and relive this Minneapolis-made holiday classic starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sinbad. Whether it’s your first time or a yearly tradition in the making, it’s the perfect way to start the festive season with family, friends, and plenty of holiday spirit.

Snacks and beverages will be available for purchase from Mintahoe Catering.
Free and open to the public. Seating is first come, first served.

Let’s make this the start of your new holiday tradition—right here in the heart of Minneapolis!

Jingle All the Way at Nicollet Island Pavilion
Sunday, Nov. 30 • 6:30 – 9:30 PM
Nicollet Island Pavilion (40 Power St)

From Minneapolis Institute of Art:

Connect, create, kick back! Meet at Mia is a series of free Thursday evening events for adults. Get to know us—and each other—with live music, art making, special programs, and unique food and drink (for purchase). No registration or secret handshake required.

Dare to dive into the abstract! DJ TaliaKnight provides the soundtrack for this Meet at Mia. Make your own artwork with Laura Brown and enjoy a free screening of “Beyond the Visible: Hilma af Klint” to learn about one of the pioneering abstract artists. Get up close and personal with artwork from Mia’s collection during special tours of the contemporary art galleries.

Groove with DJ TaliaKnight
Watch “Hilma af Klint: Beyond the Visible,” 7 p.m. (run time is 1 hour, 33 minutes)
Create abstract-inspired artmaking with Laura Brown
Tour Mia’s contemporary art galleries, 6 and 7:15 p.m.

Meet at Mia: Pioneers of Abstraction
Thursday, Dec. 4 • 5 – 9 PM
Minneapolis Institute of Art (2400 3rd Ave S)

From Walker Art Center:

Bring your loved ones to the Walker for a day of art and creativity. Admission is free on the first Saturday of every month from 10 am-5 pm. Explore current exhibitions, get creative with drop-in art activities for families from 10 am-3 pm, and check out a film in the Mediatheque.

Free 1st Saturday
1st Saturdays • 10 AM–3 PM
Walker Art Center (725 Vineland Pl)

From Hennepin Co. Library:

Join our discussion of new and interesting books written by queer authors or on queer topics – LGBTQIA+ centered program. Bring along your book recommendations for future meetings. Hosted by Lynn from East Lake Library and Sara from Ridgedale Library, this book club will meet the second Tuesday of each month.

The link to the live online discussion will be emailed to registrants in advance (within 48 hours of the event).

• Sept. 9 Canto Contigo by Jonny Garza Villa

• Oct. 14 Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell

• Nov. 11 No meeting - The library will be closed for Veteran’s Day

• Nov. 12 Pretty by KB (Brookins)

• Dec. 9 To Shape a Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose

eBooks or downloadable audiobooks are available through www.hclib.org. Physical copies are available to check out at East Lake and Ridgedale libraries.

Queer Book Club
2nd Tuesdays monthly • 6:30–7:30 PM
Online

From Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board:

You read the title correct. Bryant Square is so excited to host a "POP UP DANCE PARTY" event series in 2025! We provide the DJ and the space; all you need to bring is your energy and your best (or worst) dance moves. All ages are welcome!

Pop Up Dance Party
2nd Wed. monthly • 6:30–8 PM
Bryant Square Park Rec Center (3101 Bryant Ave S)

From Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board:

Decorate your own house with frosting and a variety of candy. Bring your creativity, your sweet tooth, and holiday cheer for this annual family tradition.

Gingerbread House Making
Friday, Dec. 12 • 6–7:30 PM
Bryant Square Park Rec Center: 3101 Bryant Ave S

From Chicago Ave Fire Arts Center:

Join us at the Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center (CAFAC),3749 Chicago Avenue, for a day filled with creativity, community, and craft.

We are so excited to present you with our 10th Annual RedHot Art Market, a celebration of talented makers and incredible art! From 11 AM to 5 PM (with an exclusive Fuelers’ Preview Hour from 10–11 AM), both buildings will be transformed into a vibrant marketplace featuring the work of 40 phenomenal local artists and makers.

Expect a stunning array of handcrafted treasures: from molten metalwork and delicate ceramics to imaginative prints, jewelry, textiles, and more. Each piece is a story, a spark, a perfect find for your gift-giving season (or your own collection).

And to top it off, 30% of all sales go directly to CAFAC’s Scholarship Fund, helping fuel the next generation of fire arts and community creators.

Come for the art. Stay for the fire. Leave inspired.

10th Annual RedHot Art Market
Saturday, Dec. 13 • 11 AM–5 PM
Chicago Ave Fire Arts Center: 3749 Chicago Ave

From Walker Art Center:

Sensory Friendly Sunday is a monthly event designed for kids, teens, and adults with sensory processing differences, autism, or developmental disabilities. The galleries will be closed to the general public, allowing visitors to enjoy the museum in a calm environment, with accommodations such as quiet spaces, fidgets, and sunglasses available. Experience a selection of current exhibitions, make art, or watch a short film. All friends and family members are welcome.

Sensory Friendly Sunday
Sunday, Dec. 14 • 8 – 10 AM
Walker Art Center (725 Vineland Pl)

From Linden Hills Neighborhood Council:

Please consider making a blood donation at this upcoming blood drive. The need for blood is constant and only volunteer donors can fulfill that need for patients in our community. Nationwide, someone needs a unit of blood every 2 to 3 seconds and most of us will need blood in our lifetime. Thank you for supporting our partnership with the American Red Cross blood program!

Linden Hills Holiday Wine & Stroll
Thursday, Dec. 18 • 5 – 8 PM
Linden Hills

From the American Swedish Institute (ASI):

Mark the shortest day and longest night of the year at ASI with ASI’s popular Winter Solstice Celebration. Since pagan days, solstice has traditionally meant the “year as reborn,” with ancient (and modern) Scandinavians fusing it into the longer “Jul” or Yule season. ASI celebrates this powerful seasonal juncture with fun, festivity, and performance.

Winter Solstice
Friday, Dec. 19 • 5–9 PM
American Swedish Institute (2600 Park Ave)

Christmas Family Fun Day
Saturday, Dec. 20 • 10:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Midtown Global Market

From Walker Art Center:

Bring your loved ones to the Walker for a day of art and creativity. Admission is free on the first Saturday of every month from 10 am-5 pm. Explore current exhibitions, get creative with drop-in art activities for families from 10 am-3 pm, and check out a film in the Mediatheque.

Free 1st Saturday
1st Saturdays • 10 AM–3 PM
Walker Art Center (725 Vineland Pl)

From Minneapolis Institute of Art:

Connect, create, kick back! Meet at Mia is a series of free Thursday evening events for adults. Get to know us—and each other—with live music, art making, special programs, and unique food and drink (for purchase). No registration or secret handshake required.

The winter months are peak hygge (pronounced HUE-guh) season. This Scandinavian word encourages us to tap into the cozy side of life, so we’re bringing those chill vibes to Meet at Mia. Make colorful, geometric art with Tia Keobunpheng and bring some “ahhh” to your senses with hand-crafted simmer kits. Roam Mia’s galleries to find the perfect wintery landscapes and bask in the glimmer of Norwegian silver artworks.

Create geometric artwork with Tia Keobounpheng
Make spice kits with Laura Wennstrom to bring some hygge-friendly aroma home with you
Explore “Crowning the North: Silver Treasures from Bergen, Norway”
Tour Mia’s winter-inspired art collection

Meet at Mia: Got Hygge?
Thursday, Jan. 8 • 5 – 9 PM
Minneapolis Institute of Art (2400 3rd Ave S)

From South Uptown Neighborhood Association:

Come over to Bryant Square park to experience a winter wonderland featuring hundreds of luminary lanterns around the skating rink and park. Stick around to skate or enjoy hot chocolate around two fire pits. This community event is co-sponsored by Bryant Square Park and the South Uptown Neighborhood Association.

Luminary Skating Party
Saturday, Jan. 10 • 5:30–7:30 PM
Bryant Square Park (3101 Bryant Ave S)

From Walker Art Center:

Sensory Friendly Sunday is a monthly event designed for kids, teens, and adults with sensory processing differences, autism, or developmental disabilities. The galleries will be closed to the general public, allowing visitors to enjoy the museum in a calm environment, with accommodations such as quiet spaces, fidgets, and sunglasses available. Experience a selection of current exhibitions, make art, or watch a short film. All friends and family members are welcome.

Sensory Friendly Sunday
Sunday, Jan. 11 • 8 – 10 AM
Walker Art Center (725 Vineland Pl)

From Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board:

Annual tributes to Dr. King’s life and legacy take place at several park locations throughout the day, including an evening celebration at the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreation Center with speakers, live entertainment and the presentation of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board’s Living the Dream award. Click here for details on events happening at other locations.

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration
Monday, Jan. 19 • 6:30 – 8 PM
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park: 4055 Nicollet Ave S

From Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board:

The Winter Kite Festival is a beautiful festival that fills the sky with colorful kites, offers winter activities for all, delicious local food trucks and free s’mores by the fire to warm up throughout the day.

Lake Harriet Kite Festival
Saturday, Jan. 24 • 12–4 PM
Lake Harriet

From Powderhorn Art Sled Rally:

The Art Sled Rally is put on by neighborhood artists and residents in coordination with Adventures in Cardboard,  the incredible staff at Powderthorn Park, local community organizations and business sponsors who all want to enrich the spirit of community life in Powderhorn through free public events with a focus on artistic expression and out-of-the-ordinary spectacle.

Powderhorn Art Sled Rally
Saturday, Jan. 31 • 2–3 PM
Powderhorn Park (E 33rd St & 10th Ave S)

From Walker Art Center:

Bring your loved ones to the Walker for a day of art and creativity. Admission is free on the first Saturday of every month from 10 am-5 pm. Explore current exhibitions, get creative with drop-in art activities for families from 10 am-3 pm, and check out a film in the Mediatheque.

Free 1st Saturday
1st Saturdays • 10 AM–3 PM
Walker Art Center (725 Vineland Pl)

From Meet Minneapolis:

The candlelit Luminary Loppet is the Twin Cities’ most magical event of the season. Come out to Lake of the Isles and enjoy the Luminary Loppet where you can walk, snowshoe, or ski on the candlelit trail winding across the lake. Experience 1,200 luminaries lining the trail with unique ice features and much more – all in the heart of Uptown. Refreshments such as hot chocolate will be offered at tents across the lake. Food trucks, beer, and music are located at the Luminary Party.

Luminary Loppet
Saturday, Feb. 7 • 6–10 PM
Lake of the Isles

From Walker Art Center:

Sensory Friendly Sunday is a monthly event designed for kids, teens, and adults with sensory processing differences, autism, or developmental disabilities. The galleries will be closed to the general public, allowing visitors to enjoy the museum in a calm environment, with accommodations such as quiet spaces, fidgets, and sunglasses available. Experience a selection of current exhibitions, make art, or watch a short film. All friends and family members are welcome.

Sensory Friendly Sunday
Sunday, Feb. 8 • 8 – 10 AM
Walker Art Center (725 Vineland Pl)

From Meet Minneapolis:

The Midwest’s biggest and best winter beer festival will make its triumphant return to the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. We’re beyond excited to welcome you all back to the Mighty Midway to sample great beer from breweries all over the United States while enjoying music, food trucks, and other thrilling attractions.

2026 Winter Beer Dabbler
Saturday, Feb. 21 • 3–6:30 PM (early access 2 PM)
MN State Fairgrounds

From Walker Art Center:

Bring your loved ones to the Walker for a day of art and creativity. Admission is free on the first Saturday of every month from 10 am-5 pm. Explore current exhibitions, get creative with drop-in art activities for families from 10 am-3 pm, and check out a film in the Mediatheque.

Free 1st Saturday
1st Saturdays • 10 AM–3 PM
Walker Art Center (725 Vineland Pl)

From Walker Art Center:

Bring your loved ones to the Walker for a day of art and creativity. Admission is free on the first Saturday of every month from 10 am-5 pm. Explore current exhibitions, get creative with drop-in art activities for families from 10 am-3 pm, and check out a film in the Mediatheque.

Free 1st Saturday
1st Saturdays • 10 AM–3 PM
Walker Art Center (725 Vineland Pl)