Free weekend festivities for the 24th annual Stone Arch Bridge Festival

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photo courtesy of the Stone Arch Bridge Festival

If you’re wondering why your neighborhood seems unusually quiet and empty this weekend, it’s probably because everyone has flocked to St. Anthony Main for the 24th annual Stone Arch Bridge Festival. Perfect for a Father’s Day celebration, or simply to get outside on a glorious Minnesota summer’s day and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Minneapolis riverfront, the Stone Arch Bridge Festival packs it all in: music, art, food, drinks, and family fun.

And the best part? It’s completely free.

That’s probably why the Stone Arch Bridge Festival is the 3rd largest festival in Minneapolis attracting thousands of Minnesotans to check out over 200 talented artists, enjoy the best eats, and listen to great musical performances. The festival runs for three days starting on Friday, June 15 and ending on Sunday, June 17.

The festival will kick off with a free concert at Water Power Park featuring Murzik at 7:00pm followed by Rogue Valley at 8:30pm. The music will continue throughout all three days of the festival spread out on three different stages. Check out the schedule and concert line-up to see when and where your favorite band will play.

Even though the festival is free to attend you will want to bring your wallet. (Especially if you still need to get your pop a Father’s Day gift.) You’ll find your dad the perfect present with hundreds of artists lining the streets showing off their talents. From ceramics, photography, paintings, and crafts, to glasswork, sculpture, jewelry, and metalwork, you’ll definitely have no trouble finding a Father’s Day present and probably a little something for yourself as well.

photo courtesy of the Stone Arch Bridge Festival

After exploring all of the amazing artists, you’ll most likely work up an appetite. And for me, that is most definitely the highlight of the three-day fest. This year the Stone Arch Bridge Festival seems to have outdone themselves with the plethora of delicious eats they’re offering. Scattered all along the Minneapolis Riverfront, you’ll find food vendors on Main Street at RiverPlace, Main Street at A Mill, on Central Avenue Bridge, Father Hennepin Park, and at Water Power Park.

Some of the foodie highlights include Ktown Street Foods: serving Taco Bowls, Egg Rolls, and Kim Chi Fries, Naturally Delicious: Waffle and cake cones with eight different ice cream flavors, Pimento Jamaican Kitchen: Jerk chicken and jerk pork, Fair Faves: Mini donuts, pretzels with cheese, corn dogs, and cheese curds, Burrito Madness: Tacos, nachos, quesadillas, burritos, pork carnitas, and so, so many more amazing vendors that you can check out here.

photo courtesy of the Stone Arch Bridge Festival

So while one of the best parts of the festival is to simply walk around exploring the amazing artists and stuffing yourself with every delicious food imaginable, if you’re more activity driven and into scheduled fun time, the festival is hosting some great events all weekend.

One of the main scheduled attractions that I’m sure Dad will certainly love for Father’s Day, is the 2018 Art of the Car Show. The Art of the Car Show is on Saturday, June 16 and Sunday, June 17 where car collectors show off their best old classic cars.

Other events during the festival include a tour of the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory, Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam tour, StarTribune Ugly Tie 5K run, Family Yoga Saturday and Sunday at 1pm and 3pm and adult yoga classes at 11am on Saturday and Sunday.

However, if you are willing to shell out a few bucks, you can test out your art skills and quench your thirst at the Mandalas and Moscato event where you learn to paint Mandalas on stones while enjoying a nice Moscato from Barefoot Wines. Or, head to the Stone Arch Beer Sampler tent from 2pm-5pm on both Saturday and Sunday. With thirteen breweries from Minnesota, Wisconsin, and around the country participating, you can sample some of their signature beers and find your new favorite brew.

Your weekend is set. So grab some friends or head out with the family to explore the best of Minnesota. And with so many events and activities to choose from, it’s a good thing the Stone Arch Bridge Festival goes all weekend long.

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