Twin Cities weekend: Art-A-Whirl, garage sales, peony festival
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Whirlygig at Indeed Brewing. Photo: Indeed Brewing
Happy Art-A-Whirl! The largest open artist studio tour in the country kicks off Friday with a packed three days celebrating local creatives — and almost every event is free to the public.
- Not sure where to start? Here are three spots we recommend.
❤️ Alight-A-Whirl: Shop hundreds of pieces donated by artists at this fundraiser by Minneapolis-based humanitarian organization Alight. 100% of art sales will benefit displaced families. Friday-Sunday
🌪️ Whirlygig: Indeed Brewing's coinciding three-day music/beer festival features 18 music acts, a vendor market, glassblowing, a silent disco, "unicycling unicorn" and much more. Note: The event is cash only. Friday-Sunday
🚘 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. Noon-6pm Saturday
More things to do ...
🪩 "Divas of a certain age" dance the night away at Amsterdam Bar & Hall's Hot Flash Dance Friday night. Gen X and millennial women can rock out to tunes from "all the excellent decades [they've] been alive." And with a 7pm start time, you can be in pajamas by midnight. $20.55
🏷️ It's a great weekend for community garage sales. We spotted at least 15, including in Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Lakeville, Richfield and Anoka.
- Prefer a smaller area? Check out a neighborhood sale in Como Park, Hale-Page-Diamond Lake, Kingfield and Lyndale.
❤️ "Heal in nature" this Saturday at the second annual Saint Paul Peony Festival, held in the China Friendship Garden at Phalen Regional Park.
- Visitors can take a guided sensory walk through the gardens, watch a peony "flower dance," paint stones with water calligraphy and purchase their own peonies. Free entry
🇹🇭 Celebrate Thai New Year this weekend at the return of the Minnesota Songkran Festival, now held in St. Louis Park.
- Activities include the Maha Songkran parade, cultural performances, papaya tasting and Thai temple blessings for good fortune in the new year. Free
🐻 Dine with brown bears, moose and more at Feast with the Beasts, the Minnesota Zoo's adults-only night. Saturday.
- Guests can enjoy a complimentary barbecue slider while the carnivores are fed carcasses — but if that would ruin your appetite, the rest of the zoo is available to explore. $40+, plus $10 parking