Arts festivals 2013
January
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(Jan. 27)International Festival
Madison, WIDancers, musicians, storytellers and puppeteers representing traditions from around the world converge on the Overture Center for the Arts on State Street for this free festival. There's also food and a global bazaar.
March
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(Mar. 9 – 10)Artigras
Green Bay, WI
April
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(Apr. 11 – 18)Wisconsin Film Festival
Madison, WISee 150 independent films from Wisconsin and around the world in seven theaters in and around State Street.
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(Apr. 26 – 28)Bluff Country Studio Art Tour
Northeast IA/Southeast, MNTake a spring drive through southeast Minnesota and northeast Iowa and visit artists in and around Winona, Lanesboro, Spring Grove and Harmony in Minnesota and Decorah in Iowa.
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(Apr. 26 – 28)Art Attack
Harbor Country, MIThe eight Lake Michigan towns between the Indiana border and Warren Dunes State Park offer gallery receptions, artist demonstrations, theater, music and wine tasting.
May
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(May 17 – 19)Fresh Art Spring Tour
Lake Pepin, WI
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(May 17 – 19)Art-A-Whirl Studio and Gallery Tour
Minneapolis, MNMore than 500 artists take part in this tour of the northeast Minneapolis arts district, around the old Grain Belt brewery at Broadway and Marshall avenues.
On Saturday, there's a Craft Beer Festival and Block Party outside Stanley's Barroom at Lowry and University avenues.
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(May 17 – 19)DubuqueFest
Dubuque, IAThis downtown arts festival includes dance, music on two stages, storytelling, food, children's activities and an Old House Enthusiast's Old Home Tour.
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(May 31 – Jun 1)Street Faire at the Lakes
Detroit Lakes, MN
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(May 31 – Jun 2)Edina Art Fair
Edina, MNThe juried show in this posh southern Minneapolis suburb draws 375 exhibitors and 60,000 people.
June
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(Jun 7 – 9)Spring Art Tour
Mount Horeb, WIArtists open their studios in Mount Horeb and other towns in the Wisconsin River valley: Mazomanie, Black Earth, Cross Plains, Blue Mounds and Verona.
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(Jun 7 – 9)Iowa Arts Festival
Iowa City, IAThis free downtown festival features an art show, a Global Village, a Culinary Row and music and dance. Sunday is Children's Day, with 10 booths of hands-on activities.
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(Jun 8 – 9)Wells Street/Old Town art fairs
Chicago, ILTogether, the Wells Street Art Festival and nearby Old Town Art Fair two fairs have more than 500 exhibitors and draw 110,000 visitors.
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(Jun 8)Northern Spark
St. Paul, MNFrom sunset to sunrise, artists perform a variety of projects at museums and outdoor venues around the newly renovated Union Depot in St. Paul's Lowertown.
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(Jun 14 – 16)Stone Arch Bridge Festival
Minneapolis, MN250 artists show their wares on the banks of the Mississippi at St. Anthony Main. There are also three stages, art for kids and a car show.
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(Jun 15 – 16)Custer's Last Stand
Evanston, ILThis big fair in the Custer Avenue-Main Street shopping district features 250 artists, 50 variety performers, a medicine show, powwow dancing, children's activities and music on two stages.
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(Jun 22 – 23)Afton Strawberry Festival
Afton, MNThis village on the St. Croix River revives an old tradition with a European-style flea market, art fair, music and children's activities.
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(Jun 28 – 30)Des Moines Arts Festival
Des Moines, IAThis big, juried arts fair at Western Gateway Park downtown includes street theater, live music and a film festival.
July
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(Jul 13 – 14)Phelps Mill Festival
Phelps, MNThere's a juried arts and crafts fair, children's activities and music in this bucolic, tucked-away park along the Otter Tail River, next to an 1889 brick and clapboard mill that's open for tours.
The hamlet of Phelps is just west of Otter Tail Lake and north of Underwood.
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(Jul 13 – 14)Art Fair On/Off the Square
Madison, WI
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(Jul 13 – 14)Grand Marais Arts Festival
Grand Marais, MNThis juried art show along the Lake Superior harbor includes children's activities, art demonstrations, a pie social and live music.
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(Jul 19 – 21)Highland Fest
St. Paul, MNThis street fair in St. Paul's Highland Park neighborhood includes an arts fair, music, carnival rides and food.
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(Jul 20)Stockholm Art Fair
Stockholm, WIThis hamlet on Lake Pepin, a favorite day trip destination for Twin Citians, becomes a shopping mecca during this big fair.
August
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(Aug. 2 – 4)Uptown Art Fair
Minneapolis, MNThis large juried art fair in the Uptown neighborhood draws crowds. Take the Art Hop bus to avoid congestion and to get to the two other art fairs in south Minneapolis.
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(Aug. 3 – 4)Loring and Powderhorn arts festivals
Minneapolis, MNThese smaller festivals in Powderhorn Park, in south Minneapolis, and Loring Park, on the edge of downtown, are not far from the Uptown Art Fair. All are easily reached by bus shuttle or by bicycle on the Midtown Greenway.
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(Aug. 16 – 18)Oronoco Gold Rush
Oronoco, MNThe antiques show and flea market in this friendly little village just north of Rochester off U.S. 52 includes more than 400 vendors and 1,200 booths. There's also pancakes for breakfast, homemade pie and music.
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(Aug. 23 – 25)Artstreet
Green Bay, WIArtists, performers and craft and food stands fill streets downtown near the Fox River.
September
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(Sep. 21 – 22)Spirit of the St. Croix Art Festival
Hudson, WIMusic, food and a juried art show along the St. Croix River, in Lakefront Park.
October
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(Oct. 11 – 13)Northeast Iowa Artists' Studio Tour
Decorah area, IADrive through bluff country to see 56 artists at 43 sites around Decorah, Burr Oak, St. Lucas, Waukon, West Union, Cresco, New Albin, Lansing, Elgin and Clermont.
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(Oct. 12 – 13)Fall Festival of the Arts
Red Wing, MNThere's a juried show of more than 90 artists downtown, plus music and food.
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(Oct. 18 – 20)Southwest Wisconsin Fall Art Tour
Southwest, WIThis popular studio tour includes artists at studios between Mineral Point, Spring Green, Dodgeville and Baraboo.
November
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(Nov. 16 – 17)Winter Art Fair Off the Square
Madison, WI
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(Nov. 22 – 24)Holiday Art Fair
Madison, WIThis event at the Museum of Contemporary Art and Overture Center features fine art, music, treats and the Rediscovered Art & Treasures Sale.
© Beth Gauper, 2007 - 2013 all rights reserved
