Twin Cities weekend events: Pet Film Festival, Basilica Block Party, Uptown Art Fair
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The Minnesota Fringe Festival has begun! Over the next 11 days, more than a dozen local theaters will host nearly 600 performances ranging from comedy to musicals to drag.
How it works: The shows, all of which were selected at random through a lottery system, are each less than 60 minutes long. Venues are chosen in clusters to make traveling to multiple shows easier.
- This year's featured performances include "Barry Potter and the Magic of Wizardry," one-man show "I Favor My Daddy: A Tale of Two Sissies," and "The Life Robotic," where the robot can only say what the audience texts in.
Details: Aug. 1โ11 at venues throughout the Twin Cities. $20/show, plus a one-time purchase of a Fringe button for $5.
In other event news...
๐ฅ The popular Cat Video Festival will return Friday night as the Pet Video Festival, rebranded to be more inclusive of all animals. The Twin Cities Film Fest teamed up with the St. Paul Saints to show videos of dogs, hamsters, rabbits, birds, horses, fish and of course, cats, on the big screen at CHS Field.
- Pets are allowed, but they must be leashed and can't go on the field. $15
๐ถ The Basilica Block Party is back! After several years on hiatus, the music festival has moved to Boom Island for a packed Friday and Saturday lineup of national artists, including the Counting Crows, Goo Goo Dolls and The Fray. One-day ticket costs $99, $169 for both days.
๐จ Shop hundreds of local artists at the Powderhorn Art Fair and Uptown Art Fair on Saturday and Sunday.
- Note: Though the latter has traditionally been held in Uptown, it's moved to the Bachman's on Lyndale in south Minneapolis due to construction. Free
๐ Party for a good cause at the Brews, Eats & Beats music and beer festival in Plymouth on Saturday.
- Proceeds from the event, which features live music, food trucks, a silent auction and more, support local nonprofits Loaves & Fishes MN, Every Meal and PRISM. $35, kids 10 and under free
๐ต๐ฑ Celebrate your Eastern European heritage at the third annual Slavic Experience in St. Louis Park, Saturday and Sunday.
- The event will feature traditional dances, fashion and talent shows, a pierogi-making contest, and a Pฤ czki (Polish doughnut) eating competition. Free
๐ฆ Love llamas? Broken Clock Brewing Company in Minneapolis is hosting a Sunday afternoon party starring real, wandering llamas for patrons to interact with and take pictures alongside. Free