Twin Cities weekend guide: Art-A-Whirl, Doors Open Minneapolis, peony festival
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Whirlygig 2024. Photo: Juliet Farme,r courtesy of Indeed Brewing Company
Happy Art-A-Whirl! The largest open artist studio tour in the country returns Friday for a packed three days celebrating local creatives — and almost every event is free to the public.
- Not sure where to start? Here are five happenings we're watching out for this weekend.
🌪️ Whirlygig: Indeed Brewing Company's coinciding three-day music/beer festival features live music from Early Eyes, Black Market Brass, Javier Santiago and much more, plus on-the-spot vinyl record-cutting, live painting by Chuck U and plenty of brews. 3-11pm Friday, 11am-11pm Saturday, 11am-10pm Sunday
💃 Artlesque: Mix drag, cabaret, circus and more at Marble Fae Creative Collective's burlesque showcase, featuring six performing artists with "the aesthetic camp and whimsical charm of a live Chappell Roan performance." 9:30-10pm Friday, 7:30-8pm Saturday
🚘 Crush-A-Whirl: Cat-themed auto shop Turbo Tim's is bringing back its live car crushing event alongside an artist market, live music and kids activities. 4pm Saturday
🥽 Free Mini Glassblowing Classes: Step up to the torch at Stone Arch Glass Studio & Gallery, which will offer 15-minute complimentary lessons first-come, first-served — and, you get to keep your creations. 1-5pm Saturday, 1-5pm Sunday
🎶 Needle Drop Dance: In the mood to move? Legacy Dream Space will be playing old 78 and LP records from the 1940s, '50s, '60s and '70s inside its "multimedia living room," with visitors welcome to explore the room, gather with friends and dance along. 7-8pm Saturday
More things to do...
👀 Snoop around Minneapolis this weekend during Doors Open, the annual chance to get free behind-the-scenes access to private clubs, churches, city buildings, restaurants, theaters and more.
- This year's activities include exploring projection booths at The Main Cinema, riding historic streetcars, sitting on $1.7 million in cash at the Federal Reserve Bank and looking inside sewer holes on Nicollet Mall. Free
🦅 Bring your binoculars to the Twin Cities Bird Festival Saturday along the Mississippi River in Brooklyn Park. Experts will host live raptor meet-and-greets, exhibit tables and guided bird walks, including two for kids. Free
💕 Welcome spring flowers at the inaugural Saint Paul Peony Festival this Saturday afternoon at the Hmong Plaza in Phalen Regional Park.
- The event will celebrate the peony through dance, song, poetry and visual art, plus plant raffles and make-and-take crafts. Free
🥞 Celebrate Minneapolis' tiniest restaurant at Al's Breakfast's 75th anniversary party on Sunday morning.
- Expect live music, a pancake breakfast and a place to share your favorite Al's memory — and don't worry about crowding into the 14-seat restaurant. The event will held in the back parking lot. Free