Minneapolis Entertainment

Minneapolis has a deserved reputation as being a cultural hotspot. The performing arts scene is one of the most vibrant and extensive outside of New York, with a wide choice of theatres and live performances throughout the city. There are plenty of other entertainment options including bars, clubs, cinema, comedy, and festivals during the summer months.

Nightlife

Downtown Minneapolis is the place to head for exciting nightlife, although there are many good bars and clubs in the metropolitan areas. The Warehouse District is the most popular spot as it has a huge choice of bars, dance clubs and music venues. The Riverfront District is a newer entertainment zone, offering trendy wine bars and a slightly alternative nightlife. Other spots worth considering are Dinkytown, which attracts the college partygoers and Uptown, suited to those with a bit more money. The Mall of America also has several spots for the middle aged and sports fans. Minneapolis is not a 24 hour city and most bars have to stop serving alcohol at 01:00, although they are allowed to remain open until 03:00.

With over 100,000 students in the area, it's no surprise that the club scene is both varied and lively. Most tastes are catered for, but venues and nights change frequently so make sure you check the local listings in the newspaper guides. Minneapolis has one of the best music scenes in the country and it is on the touring circuit for many big-name bands and solo artists. Blues and jazz are particularly big here but most other styles of music are catered for and cover charges for music venues are often free or inexpensive. The city has produced a number of good pop acts over the years including Prince, Soul Asylum and The Replacements. Make sure you visit First Avenue famous as the setting for the film Purple Rain. It's the citys largest live music and still one of the hottest clubs in town.

Theatre and music

Partly due to its European heritage, Minneapolis has a wealth of arts and cultural entertainment. Around 2.5 million people support over a hundred theatre companies, 20 classical music ensembles and more than 40 dance troupes. There are more theatre seats per capita in Minneapolis than anywhere outside of New York City. They offer a range of performances including Broadway productions, dramas, cabarets, ballets and childrens theatre. The city has two world-class orchestras; The Minnesota Orchestra that performs at Orchestra Hall, and the St Paul Chamber Orchestra that can be found at Ordway in downtown St Paul.

The best way to find out what's happening in Minneapolis is by picking up the free weekly City Pages, which lists all events. Some of the local papers such as the Star Tribune and St Paul Pioneer Press also carry weekly listings.

Festivals

There is a comprehensive programme of festivals in Minneapolis, mainly held in the warmer summer months. Some of the most popular ones are;

• Hot Summer Jazz Festival in June is quickly becoming one of the largest events in the region, attracting upwards of 75,000 people. The main festival events are held free of charge at Mears Park in Saint Paul, and Peavey Plaza, an outdoor amphitheatre in the centre of downtown Minneapolis. Other performances take place in clubs and restaurants throughout the city.
• Aquatennial in July is a huge 10-day water festival attended by over 800,000 people. It's known as "the 10 Best Days of Summer" and features parades, milk-carton boat races, music concerts, sailing, swimming, water-skiing, a triathlon and fireworks.
• Basilica Block Party in July is an annual fundraising event for the Basilica of St Mary with all proceeds going to the restoration of the historic church near Loring Park. The outdoor festival combines all the elements of a concert festival, block party and The State Fair in one. It features some of the hottest bands around performing on two massive outdoor stages.
• Winter Carnival in January is the nation's oldest and largest winter festival. Events include hockey, curling, ice fishing competitions, ice-skating, a half-marathon and a night-time torch parade. The ice carving event is the focal point, and the outdoor gallery features an amazing array of frozen sculptures carefully crafted by regional and national artists. Events take place at various locations around the city, including downtown and in the Como Lake area.