Grab your sunscreen and free Metro Transit Art Pass and head out for a weekend celebration of art on the streets and in the parks. Three Minneapolis art fairs compete for your attention and wallet. Have fun. Buy lots. Support the arts.
UPTOWN ART FAIR
The setting: Staged on city streets and a shady mall near Lake Calhoun, Uptown — celebrating its 50th anniversary — claims to be Minnesota's second most popular festival, after the State Fair.
Total artists: 350. • Other entertainment: Hourly performances by acts including Tim Mahoney and Davina & the Vagabonds, family activities and a youth art fair showcasing "Tomorrow's Stars."
Did you know: A Culinary Arts Competition challenges local chefs and artists to blend the same three ingredients into edible dishes and displayable art. • Where: Lake St. & Hennepin Av. S., Mpls.
When: Noon-8 p.m. Fri.; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sat.; noon-5 p.m. Sun.
Info: UptownArtFair.com.
POWDERHORN ART FAIR
The setting: Boasting 66 sylvan acres, Powderhorn Park welcomes regional and national artists to a bucolic setting where exhibitors' tents line shady paths around a pretty lake.
Total artists: 184. • Other entertainment: Acoustic music, jugglers and neighborhood talent galore. • Did you know: The eco-friendly event encourages vendors to avoid plastic bottles and offers free water from city fountains.
