Summer Fun 2016: June highlights

Ongoing: Ignore the backhoes, dump trucks and hard hats and head for Walker Art Center's roof, where Skyline Mini-Golf offers nine wacky holes of summer fun. The artist-designed game includes holes inspired by Andy Warhol's Brillo Boxes, the Augusta National golf course, ping-pong paddles, a giant hot dog, a chicken coop, glittering boulders, the night sky, and the Sculpture Garden. (11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Wed., Fri.-Sun.; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Thu. $12. Ends Sept. 4. Walker Art Center, 1750 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls. walkerart.org/minigolf or 612-375-7697.) Mary Abbe

Grand Old Days

June 4-5: St. Paul's famous street party tests out a two-day format for the first time, hosting scads of hometown talent like Tim Sigler and Rice and Beans. The star attraction is "RuPaul Drag Race" and "America's Got Talent" contestant Derrick Barry, who'll perform his Britney Spears drag show at the Flip Phone Stage. Solid Gold, Holidae, All Tomorrow's Petty and Charlie Parr play the big Dixie's on Grand stage on Sunday. The party is free, but entry to the six Festival Gardens with live music will cost you $6-$8. (Grand Av. from Prior Av. to Dale St. grandave.com/grand-old-days.) Jerard Fagerberg

The Cure

June 7: It's been eight long years since British goth-rock legends the Cure have toured the United States and two decades since they've stopped in the Twin Cities. Now, 37 years after their debut album, "Three Imaginary Boys," and a generation after their 1996 gig at the Target Center, Robert Smith and his band of Gen-X miserablists are coming to bask in the hits of their storied career. Apropos Scottish band Twilight Sad do opening duties. (Xcel Energy Center, 199 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul. $22.50-$82.50. ticketmaster.com.) J.F.

'Chris Larson: Land Speed Record'

June 9-Jan. 8, 2017: Indulging his long-running fascination with fire, Minnesota artist Chris Larson has produced a new flame-related video and sculpture installation accompanied by two films. Called "Land Speed Record," after the 1982 debut album by St. Paul punk band Hüsker Dü, the project memorializes the debris saved from the childhood home of Hüsker drummer Grant Hart following a 2011 fire. Opening-day talk with Larson and Hart, 7 p.m. June 9. (Walker Art Center, 1750 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls. $14. 612-375-7600 or walkerart.org.) M.A.

Back to the Fifties Weekend

June 17-19: Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines, because Back to the Fifties is back. View thousands of tricked-out vintage automobiles, from Chevrolets to Fords and more, throughout the State Fairgrounds. Those in the market for a throwback vehicle can even shop for one at the classic car auction. The Cruise-N-Art craft fair has Minnesota artists selling framed art, jewelry, wood crafts and other items. At the Ladies Showcase, get a makeover and see fashion shows and demonstrations. (State Fairgrounds, 1265 N. Snelling Av., Falcon Heights. $10. msrabacktothe50s.com.) Melissa Walker

June 18-Aug. 28: The Guthrie's summer musical has become something of a fun tradition, and this year the slot is filled by a revival of one of the most storied shows of all time — Rodgers & Hammerstein's "South Pacific." The classic musical, whose beautiful score includes songs such as "Some Enchanted Evening" and "Bali Hai," was groundbreaking in 1949, when it premiered on Broadway with a narrative that involves cross-cultural romances and mixed-race children. Guthrie director Joe Haj takes up the challenge of showing how relevant the work remains while muting its dated aspects. (Guthrie Theater, 818 S. 2nd St., Mpls. 612-377-2224 or guthrietheater.org.) Rohan Preston

June 18: It's an odd year for 89.3 the Current's Rock the Garden. While the Walker Art Center's sculpture garden is under construction, the fest will be held at Boom Island in northeast Minneapolis and return to a single-day format. Headlining are wacko-pop cultists the Flaming Lips, joined by Chance the Rapper, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, M. Ward and Plague Vendor as well as a trio of marquee locals in Poliça, Hippo Campus and Grrrl Prty. (Boom Island Park, Mpls. $64-$150. thecurrent.org.) J.F.

Justin Bieber

June 19: Canadian superstar Bieber is well past the point of being a guilty pleasure. His mega-single "What Do You Mean?" and his 2015 album "Purpose" — his sixth No. 1 album — have proven that the former YouTube sensation and Usher protégé isn't as disposable as critics had pegged him to be. The Biebs has one of the most rabid fan bases on the planet and a widening mass appeal, so his stop at Target Center should be a veritable pop circus. (Target Center, 600 1st Av. N., Mpls. $50.50-$126. ticketmaster.com.) J.F.

June 22: Has it really been 16 years since Phish landed in the Twin Cities? Yep, it was 2000 at Target Center. The on-again, off-again jam band from Vermont is slated to kick off its summer tour in St. Paul. Our show will be a warmup for Phish's first performances at Chicago's Wrigley Field on June 24-25. Even though the quartet released "Fuego" in 2014, don't necessarily expect them to emphasize one particular album. (Xcel Energy Center, 199 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul. $45-$65. ticketmaster.com.) Jon Bream

Selena Gomez

June 28: Gomez's maturation into a dance-pop star has seen her take turns to EDM and dubstep to great effect. The singer/actress has taken some of the squeak out of her cleanliness in her A$AP Rocky-assisted single "Good for You" and her role opposite Seth Rogen in "Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising." Her newest album, "Revival," is a tribute to her transformation into the Katy Perry of a new generation. Fellow Disney Channel grad Joe Jonas and his band DNCE open the show. (Xcel Energy Center, 199 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul. $33.50-$99. ticketmaster.com.) J.F.