Summer in Minneapolis-Saint Paul is bursting with music, festivals, and family fun, making this week and weekend the perfect time for listeners to get out and explore. Kicking things off today, head to Rice Park in St. Paul from 5 to 7 PM for Summer Nights in Rice, featuring local favorites Boiled in Lead. This free outdoor concert is all about good vibes, dancing, and enjoying the best of summer downtown. For more live tunes, Lowertown Sounds takes over Mears Park from 6 to 10 PM tonight with homegrown music, local food trucks, and plenty of Minnesota-made beer and wine, all under the evening sky.

Music lovers looking for something unique should check out Urban Classic at 7:30 PM in Minneapolis, where Michael Bland—drummer for Prince and New Power Generation—leads a funk and soul tribute to Earth, Wind & Fire, promising dynamic horns and electrifying rhythms. Over in the brewing scene, HeadFlyer Brewing’s Summer Music Series continues this Sunday, offering live music on the patio from 1 to 4 PM where listeners can unwind with a local beer and the sounds of up-and-coming Twin Cities artists, as listed on Minnesota Monthly.

Friday means movie night in St. Paul with a free outdoor screening of The Parent Trap at Sibley Manor, starting at dusk. Pack a blanket and enjoy a summer classic with friends and family. Rice Park also hosts Roller Disco every Friday from 5:30 to 8:30 PM, where listeners can lace up their skates and groove to tunes from DJ Presto for a retro-fueled evening, according to the St Paul Publishing Summer Event Guide.

Saturday and Sunday, Monster Jam roars into the Xcel Energy Center, the first time in over 30 years the arena series brings their high-flying, stunt-filled show to St. Paul. Shows are scheduled for Saturday at 1 and 7 PM, and Sunday at 1 PM. Monster Jam promises roaring engines, jaw-dropping tricks, and plenty of excitement for the whole family, all with strictly cashless, mobile entry for convenience, as explained by Xcel Energy Center.

Those looking for family-friendly festivals should explore classic Twin Cities events all weekend. Andover’s Family Fun Fest offers inflatables, live entertainment, princess meet-and-greets, and fireworks Friday and Saturday. In Anoka, the Riverfest & Craft Fair runs Saturday with hundreds of handcrafted vendors, sidewalk chalk fun, and a tempting range of food trucks. Robbinsdale’s Whiz Bang Days brings a parade, fireworks, KidsDance DJ, book walk, and inflatables to the northwest metro Saturday and Sunday. Monticello Riverfest delights kids with a duck race Saturday and a community parade, live music, and a pop-up splash pad Sunday, as highlighted by Family Fun Twin Cities.

Art and literature fans can join a book signing for “Rocky’s Lighthouse Adventure” at 1 PM Saturday or hear local author Molly Beth Griffin share poetry at Historic Forestville at 1:30 PM. And don’t forget about free guided yoga every Saturday all summer at Lakewood Cemetery, a peaceful way to start your weekend, according to Minnesota Monthly.

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