June might be the best month to be in Minneapolis. The lakes are warm enough to paddle, every restaurant worth its salt has flung open a patio, and there’s a festival on practically every other corner. If you’ve got a weekend and a little curiosity, here’s the thing to do in Minneapolis this June — and a few ways to make a proper getaway out of it.
Catch a summer festival (there’s always one)
June is peak festival season. The Stone Arch Bridge Festival takes over West River Parkway on June 20–21 with 200-plus artists, a culinary market, live music, and a car show, all against that postcard view of the Mississippi. The week after, Twin Cities Pride (June 27–28) throws the largest free Pride festival in the country, with four stages and hundreds of vendors in Loring Park. Beer people should pencil in the Pryes Block Party (June 19–20) down on the river, and for something more Old World, the American Swedish Institute’s Midsommar celebration is one of the biggest in the Midwest. For the full, constantly-updated rundown, Meet Minneapolis keeps a running list.
Get out on the water
You can’t do a Minneapolis summer right without a lake day. The Chain of Lakes — Bde Maka Ska, Lake Harriet, and Lake of the Isles — is laced with paths for biking and walking, and you can rent a kayak, canoe, or paddleboard right on the water. Pack a picnic, catch a free concert at the Lake Harriet Bandshell, and call it a perfect afternoon. For more green space, here are the best parks in Minneapolis.
It’s patio and rooftop season
Minnesotans wait all year for this, so we do not waste a warm evening indoors. Rooftops are the move once the sun’s out — check our roundup of the best rooftops in Minneapolis for skyline views and a cold drink. Want something more unusual? The most creative drinks in town are worth seeking out, including the spooky, theatrical cocktails at the haunted Pillsbury Club — a 100-year-old mansion with a speakeasy bar and a private theater.
See the city the fun way
Festivals and lakes are great, but if you really want to get Minneapolis, climb aboard a vintage trolley. Minneapolis Trolley Tours runs everything from breezy sightseeing rides to after-dark Candlelight Ghost Tours and a True Crime Tour through the city’s most notorious corners. It’s equal parts informative and a genuinely good time. Weekends have the widest variety of tours and they regularly sell out, so book ahead.
Make a weekend of it
Half the fun of a Minneapolis June is not having to rush home. For a romantic base, book a room at 300 Clifton, the historic Carpenter Mansion bed & breakfast in Loring Park — there’s a four-season garden hot tub for soaking under the stars and a hidden speakeasy in the basement. If you’re staying longer or rolling with a group, Oakland’s on 9th offers furnished downtown studios within walking distance of the festivals, the Armory, and the ballpark.
Plan your June weekend
That’s the short version of the thing to do in Minneapolis this June: a festival, a lake, a patio, a trolley, and a cozy place to land. Ready to ride? Grab your trolley tickets and we’ll show you the city — we know things to do in Minneapolis.