Fairs & Festivals With Your Furbabe: Your Weekend To-Dos

Pounce off that couch and get outside to show off your furry floof this weekend! There’s plenty to doo and explore in the Twin Cities. Sniff out these bark-worthy adventures in dog-friendly Minneapolis and St. Paul.

P.S. Wanna get these events in your inbox weekly? Pupscribe to our newsletter here!
P.P.S. Keep doggo close with our exclusive Patio Leash™—it’s the pawfect length for when you’re out and about!

Things to Do Near Minneapolis This Weekend

1. Dog Days of Summer

Bent Brewstillery, Roseville
Sunday, August 7, 12–6 p.m.

Raise a pint and woof “cheers” to the furbulous life at this summer soirée. There’ll be furry frens to shake paws with and plenty of brews to go around. Pup can enjoy free pupper ale, a bobbing for hot dogs competition at 3 p.m., and wading pools to stay cool. Be sure floof brings her wallet—there will be plenty of locally made gifts and mutts-haves at the pup-up dog-centric market. This annual event is hooman-puppy friendly too, so bring the whole pack!

2. Uptown Art Fair

Uptown, Minneapolis
Friday, August 5, 12–7 p.m.; Saturday, August 6, 10 a.m.–7 p.m.; Sunday, August 7, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Sniff out a new fave artist this weekend at the Uptown Art Fair. This outdoor event features over 320 arf-tists in 12 different mediums, so you’re sure to dig up a piece you’ll ruv. Enjoy good-mood fair food, bar gardens if you’re feeling thirsty, graffiti demonstrations by SPRAYFINGER, and an art fair marketplace. The organizers warn that the sights, sounds, and smells can be overwhelming for some furry frens, so check in with your pal before hitting up the festivities. 

Things to Do Near St. Paul This Weekend

1. Drive Cartel

Saint Paul Brewing, St. Paul
Saturday, August 6, 6–10 p.m.

Beep beep! Drive Cartel, Saint Paul Brewing’s monthly summer Cars and Craft show, is back. Located in the main lot in front of the brewery, 60+ cars will be on display for drooling over, along with food trucks for chowing down, plenty of brews for drinking, and a live DJ and light show for bustin’ a move. Get your paws on freshly-crafted pizzas and their collaboration beer, Speak of the Devil, a Watermelon Cucumber Ale made just for Drive Cartel.

2. Warm Water Dog Wash

Frattallone’s Hardware, St. Paul
Sunday, August 7, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

Point your paws toward Fratallone’s Hardware on Grand Ave. and you’ll stumble across a warm water dog wash. Pup can get pampered while you support a good cause, Red Lake Rosie’s Rescue. A suggested donation of $15 for a wash includes spa shampoo, warm water, a towel dry, and a treat bag to reward pup for getting so clean and helping other puppers in need. 

3. PAWS on Grand

891 Grand Avenue, St. Paul
Sunday, August 7, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.; registration required for parade walking

Everypuppy knows PAWS on Grand is somethin’ to howl about. This parade of furry frens celebrates all things pets. Come for the nonprofit rescue groups stationed along the avenue, stay for the wiener dog races, pet marketplace, and canine cuteness. Wanna walk in the parade? Be sure to register in advance ($25/person). The fee  includes a goodie bag and PAWS on Grand tee for you, and a 75% donation to a rescue group of your choice. We call that a win-win!

Need a Furry Fren in Your Life?

Sniff out these local adoption events happening this weekend. You just might meet your new slobbery soulpup.

Healing Hearts Rescue

  • Healing Hearts Rescue will be at Saint Paul Brewing in St. Paul this Sunday, August 7, for their monthly adoption event. You can grab a tasty brew, give out scritches, and say “hello” to the foster pups from 1–4 p.m.

Sniff out more events on our calendar and submit your own events here. And don’t furget to tag us @SidewalkDog in pics of your tail-waggin’ weekend!

Featured photo: @joannafotograf

Sidewalk Dog’s mission is to help dog parents spend more time with their puppers by discovering and sharing activities they can do and places they can go—together! Sniff out our award-winning newsletter and Instagram, join our Dog-Friendly Twin Cities Facebook Group, and grab one of our Dog-Friendly Brewery Passes.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The internet’s most dog-friendly website. Sidewalk Dog is your go-to resource for all things dog. Trusted by more than 250,000 dog people around the world.

Join the Pack