Your Minnesota weekend: 5 summer festivals
This is a good weekend to enjoy the festivals Minnesota has to offer. MPR News meteorologist Paul Huttner says the weekend looks like classic summer, with sun splashed skies and highs in the 80s.
• More: Check your local forecast
1. Karner Blue Butterfly Festival
Black River Falls, Wisconsin, is putting on its 18th annual Karner Blue Butterfly Festival, which starts Friday and runs through Saturday night.
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• Photos: More summer festivals
Joe Williams, who runs the Buzz & Brew shop in downtown Black River Falls joined MPR News' Tom Crann to talk about the Karner blue butterfly and the origins of the festival.
2. Aquatennial
The Minneapolis Aquatennial starts this weekend. The events take place around the city of Minneapolis. One of the flagship events — the Star Tribune Beach Bash — is this Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Lake Calhoun.
3. Highland Fest
Highland Fest is celebrating its 31st year with live music, a beer tent, the juried art fair, a petting zoo, wiener dog races, the business fair, inflatable rides and games and a 5K road race.
It runs Friday through Sunday.
4. Agate Days
The 45th annual Agate Days takes place Saturday and Sunday in Moose Lake.
Saturday, the festival will have art in the park and an agate and gem identification presentation.
Both days have a gem and mineral show at the Moose Lake High School gymnasium.
5. Rondo Days
Rondo Days is Saturday with a 5K and parade before the festival kicks off at 11 a.m.
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At the annual Rondo Days celebration, attendees will be asked to share their ideas for a planned future Gordon Parks memorial in downtown St. Paul.