The best things to do and see in Minnesota!
Fall is my favorite time of year and I love that there are some great outdoor local events to attend.
The American Made Music Festival takes place this coming weekend.
This event takes place in Richfield at the Amphitheater of Lyndale Gardens. You can purchase advance tickets here on the event website. With over 10 different bands sharing their talents, it sounds like it’s a perfect fall event to check out. Tickets start at $25 and up, depending on if you want to attend one or both days.
Many of us hope that winter will never come, of course knowing it always does. Regardless of how much snow, we still need heat. Some of us in rural areas might use wood for warmth while others use natural gas. Whatever source you use, keeping warm in the winter months is so important here in Minnesota. It’s also important to know about the Minnesota Gas Service Cold Weather Rule because we all know that life happens and sometimes it becomes difficult to pay for everything we need.
If you rent, some important information can be found here.
Customer rights and responsibilities
The Minnesota Cold Weather Rule protects residential customers having difficulty paying their gas bill from having gas service disconnected from October 15 through April 15. If you receive a disconnection notice, you must act immediately.
Click here to read about this important rule here in Minnesota.
Can my heat be shut off in the Winter?
Before disconnecting service between October 15 and April 15, the natural gas and electric companies must provide you with:
I love Irish Music and of course their food is fabulous too. Perhaps that’s why I look forward to the Irish Fair of Minnesota each year. So many great reasons to attend this fabulous event and it’s coming up this weekend (August 10-12). No admission fee at this St. Paul event and with more than three days of fun, the hard part will be deciding when to go.
Enjoy the culture of Ireland through music, dance, food and drink at the 39th annual Irish Fair of Minnesota! Great Irish music all weekend by dozens of local and international Irish and Celtic acts including We Banjo 3, Gaelic Storm, Screaming Orphans, Altan, Doolin’, Brass Lassie and many many more. A dozen local Irish Dance schools will perform at our Performance Dance Tent! There will be activities for kids all weekend long! Enjoy the Brian Boru Irish Pipe Band, the Native Dogs of Ireland, and fresh food cooking demonstrations in the Celtic Kitchen! Come to the Irish Fair of Minnesota and be transported to the Emerald Isle!
Discovering where food comes from and learning about new locally grown sources is all part of the Co-op Farm Tour. Starting at 10 am on July 14th you have the chance to tour over 30 different local farms. Each one unique and different and offering a glimpse into their everyday life.
The tour is a self-guided event and free for anyone to attend. This year you’ll find live music, hayrides, food trucks, yoga in the field, craft beer, blueberry picking contests, disc golf, and more. Each farm offers unique activities and experiences – exploring this website and the tour guide will help you get the most of your day.
You can find the map here on their website to get your planning started.
Even though we are still in the dead of winter with somewhat chilly temperatures and lots of snow on the ground, I still have had SO MANY emails and Facebook messages for the last few weeks asking about this year’s list of Minnesota City-Wide Garage Sales and when it will be published! I guess that means it’s time to get it started.
This year marks the EIGHTH annual listing of city-wide, town-wide and neighborhood sales throughout the state of Minnesota! We greatly appreciate all of the people and organizations who come forward to provide us with information each year to help us put together this list. It is a huge project that takes many, many hours of work! I’m happy to see so many people using the list and am honored by all your kind comments about it.
All of the sales below are those that I have been able to confirm the dates either via the city hosting the event, a local resident or a reader with information about the sale. NOTE: This is a work in progress. If you know of any confirmed sale dates that I have not yet listed, please let me know by leaving a comment here or e-mail me and I will get it added to the list. We will post a notification on our Facebook page when we do a major update of the list,
Please help support this list by “liking” us on Facebook, subscribing to Thrifty Minnesota email updates, or telling your friends about Thrifty Minnesota. Any help is appreciated!
You can also scroll down to the end of the list to see all of the Large Charity Sales.
APRIL
April 12, 13, 14 – Plato
April 13, 14 – Le Center
April 19, 20, 21 – Belle Plaine
April 19, 20, 21 – Trimont
April 20 – Rollingstone
April 20, 21 – Lamberton
April 26, 27, 28 – Howard Lake / Waverly
April 26, 27, 28 – Pierz
April 26, 27, 28 – Silver Lake
April 27, 28 – Blue Earth
April 27, 28 – Fairfax
April 27, 28 – Houston
April 27, 28 – Janesville
April 27, 28 – Le Sueur
April 27, 28 – Nicollet
April 27, 28 – Pine Island
April 28 – Diamond Path Neighborhood (Apple Valley)
April 28 – Jonathan Neighborhood (Chaska)
April 28 – Cokato
April 28 – Hartland
April 28 – New Richland
April 28 – Pleasantview Neighborhood (Sauk Rapids)
MAY
May 3, 4, 5, 6 – 100 Mile Garage Sale (Find participating sales from Hastings, MN south on Hwy. 61 to Winona, MN, across the river to Fountain City, WI and North on Hwy 35 to Prescott, WI)
May 3, 4, 5 – Browerville
May 3, 4, 5 – Fairmont
May 3, 4, 5 – Grand Meadow
May 3, 4, 5 – Marshall
May 3, 4, 5 – Motley
May 3, 4, 5 – New Germany
May 3, 4, 5 – Sleepy Eye
May 3, 4, 5 – Springfield
May 4, 5 – Annandale
May 4, 5 – Avon
May 4, 5 – Barnsville
May 4, 5 – Cannon Falls
May 4, 5 – Eagle Lake
May 4, 5 – Eveleth
May 4, 5 – Henderson
May 4, 5 – Madison Lake
May 4, 5 – Minneota
May 4, 5 – Waldorf
May 5 – Austin
May 5 – Chatfield
May 5 – Granite Falls
May 5 – Hutchinson
May 5 – Bryn Mawr Neighborhood (Minneapolis)
May 5 – Tangletown Neighborhood (Minneapolis)
May 5 – Montgomery
May 5 – Mora
May 5 – Prinsburg
May 10, 11, 12 – Champlin
May 10, 11, 12 – Cloquet Scanlon
May 10, 11, 12 – Mabel
May 10, 11, 12, 13 – Osseo
May 10, 11, 12 – Stewartville
May 10, 11, 12 – Watertown
May 10, 11, 12 – Woodbury
May 11, 12 – Alexandria
May 11, 12 – Brownsdale
May 11, 12 – Byron
May 11, 12 – Clinton
May 11, 12 – Cottonwood
May 11, 12 – Fergus Falls
May 11, 12 – Kasson
May 11, 12 – Mazeppa
May 11, 12 – Rochester (NEW and NW)
May 11, 12 – Rushford Peterson Valley
May 11, 12 – Highview Neighborhood (Sauk Rapids)
May 11, 12 – St. Charles
May 11, 12 – Wood Lake
May 12 – Albany
May 12 – Johnsonville Neighborhood (Blaine)
May 12 – Blooming Prairie
May 12 – Dover
May 12 – Lafayette
May 12 – Lonsdale
May 12 – New Prague
May 12 – Pine City
May 12 – Proctor
May 12 – Royalton
May 12 – Rush City
May 17, 18, 19 – Big Lake
May 17, 18, 19, 20 – Elko New Market
May 17, 18, 19 – Little Canada
May 17, 18, 19 – Long Prairie
May 17, 18, 19, 20 – Monticello
May 17, 18, 19 – St. Joseph
May 17, 18, 19 – Richfield
May 17, 18, 19, 20 – West St. Paul
May 18, 19 – Amboy
May 18, 19 – Burnsville
May 18, 19 – Esko
May 18, 19 – Eyota
May 18, 19 – Glencoe
May 18, 19 – Jordan
May 18, 19, 20 – Mankato
May 18, 19 – Preston
May 18, 19 – Rochester (SE and SW)
May 18, 19 – Spring Grove
May 18, 19 – Upsala
May 18, 19 – Waseca
May 19 – Akeley
May 19 – Lakeville
May 19 – Mayer
May 19 – CARAG Neighborhood (Minneapolis)
May 19 – Kingfield Neighborhood (Minneapolis)
May 19 – Linden Hills Neighborhood (Minneapolis)
May 19 – St. Peter
May 19 – Spring Valley
May 19 – Winsted
May 19 – Winthrop
May 24, 25, 26 – New London Spicer
May 26 – Lake Benton
May 31, June 1, 2 – Brooklyn Park
May 31, June 1, 2, 3 – Dayton
May 31, June 1, 2 – Clearwater Creek Neighborhood (Lino Lakes)
May 31, June 1, 2 – Roseville
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JUNE
June 1, 2 – New Ulm
June 2 – Hayfield
June 2 – Maple Lake
June 2 – Victory Neighborhood (Minneapolis)
June 2 – Redwood Falls
June 2 – Rice
June 6, 7, 8, 9 – Albertville
June 8, 9 – Albert Lea
June 8, 9 – Park Point Neighborhood (Duluth)
June 8, 9 – Morgan
June 9 – Becker
June 9 – Clearwater
June 9 – Standish-Ericsson-Corcoran Neighborhoods (Minneapolis)
June 14, 15, 16 – Faribault
June 14, 15, 16 – Kings Valley Neighborhood (Golden Valley)
June 14, 15, 16 – Hamburg
June 14 – Waite Park
June 15, 16 – Courtland
June 15, 16, 17 – Dodge Center
June 15, 16 – Elgin
June 15, 16 – Faribault
June 15, 16 – Medford
June 15, 16 – Winona
June 15, 16 – Zumbrota (Unconfirmed)
June 16 – Nokomis East Neighborhood (Minneapolis)
June 16 – Como Park Neighborhood (St. Paul)
June 16, 17 – Medford
June 21, 22 – Arden Hills
June 22, 23 – Highway 65 Sale
June 22, 23 – Lewiston
June 23 – Columbia Heights
June 23 – Wyoming
June 22, 23 – Root River Trail 60-mile Garage Sale
JULY
July 13, 14 – Osakis
July 19, 20, 21 – Richmond
July 21 – Hanska (Maps at Cenex C-Store)
July 21 – Sandstone
June 22, 23 – Byron
July 26, 27, 28 – Cologne
June 27, 28 – West Concord
AUGUST
August 3, 4 – Elbow Lake
August 4 – Morristown
August 10, 11 – St. Michael
August 10, 11 – Sunrise Township
August 16, 17, 18 – Delano
August 17, 18 – Kenyon
August 17, 18 – Oronoco
August 17, 18 – Plainview
August 23, 24, 25 – Silver Lake
August 24, 25 – St Charles
August 31, September 1 – LaCrescent
SEPTEMBER
September 6, 7, 8 – Fairmont
September 6, 7, 8 – Sleepy Eye
September 7, 8 – Mantorville
September 8 – Chatfield
September 13, 14, 15 – Belle Plaine
September 14, 15 – Preston
September 15, 16 – Powderhorn Park Neighborhood (Minneapolis)
September 21, 22 – Esko
September 21, 22 – Nicollet
September 22 – Stewartville
OCTOBER
October 5, 6 – Harmony
October 5, 6 – Houston
October 5, 6 – Leroy
October 6 – LeCenter
April 20, 21 – Rosemount High School Band MEGA GARAGE SALE – Friday 4-8pm, Saturday 7am-4pm.
The 16th annual Rosemount High School Band MEGA GARAGE SALE is quickly approaching and will again be a 2 day event! The sale will be held on Friday April 20st from 4pm – 8pm and Saturday, April 21st from 7am-4pm at Rosemount High School and we need your stuff! Please consider bringing your gently used items to the Rosemount Community Center/National Guard parking lot collection trailers Saturday 4/14 8am-2pm, Sunday 4/15 12pm-4pm, Monday 4/16 5pm-8pm, Tuesday 4/17 5pm-8pm, Wednesday 4/18 5pm-8pm. Thank you for your support of the Rosemount High School Band program!
May 3, 4, 5 – Benilde-St. Margaret – St. Louis Park
May 11 – Shorewood Senior Campus (Rochester) Garage Sale, 7am to 2pm
Roller Skating is something everyone should be able to enjoy. For some, the music and lights create a difficult atmosphere. Skateville in Burnsville is offering Sensory-Friendly Skating on December 12th from 5:30-7:30 pm. The music will be lower, the lights won’t flash and even the bathrooms will be quieter, offering paper towels instead of the loud dryers.
This weekend is the Holiday Flower Show Opening Weekend at the Como Zoo and Conservatory. This year the show will feature mostly pink Poinsettias. The best part about viewing the flowers, no admission fees, although donations are always appreciated. Don’t miss out on enjoying the rest of what the zoo has to offer. Como Zoo is one of the few completely free zoos left in the United States.
The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory has been a local St. Paul favorite for over 100 years, opening in 1915. While beautiful any time of year, the Holiday Flower Show makes a gorgeous setting to snap a few family pictures – the perfect holiday card setting!
The Holiday Flower Show tradition began in 1925 and continues to be the most anticipated and visited flower attraction at the Conservatory today. The Holiday show will feature mostly pink Poinsettias with traces of white throughout the garden.
The Pumpkinfest in St. Cloud sounds like a fun way to start the weekend. It takes place this Friday evening, from 4-7pm. The event is free and all ages are welcome. Food will be available for purchase
Bring your little ghosts, ghouls and goblins to join us at Lake George/Eastman Park for the annual spooktacular Pumpkinfest, Friday, October 20th from 4pm-7pm! The spine tingling evening includes trick or treat stations, petting zoo, painting in the pumpkin patch, hayrides and so much more. Check out Comedy Juggler Extraordinaire Alan Johnson on the performance stage at 4:30pm and 6pm (bring a lawn chair or blanket for seating)! Fun will be lurking around every corner during this FREE, safe, family-friendly event!
As the weather gets colder here, we know that winter will be coming sooner or later. For lots of us that means more time inside to escape the cold and/or snow. This year you can use some of that extra “inside time” to earn a little extra cash by completing online surveys! Not only can you earn cash or store gift cards, but you’re also giving input that helps decide how products and services are created.
The trick to doing well with online surveys is to know which companies to sign up with. There are hundreds of survey sites out there, but many are basically scams that offer little if anything in the way of rewards and basically just require you to sign up for trial offers – not cool! I highly recommend you work only with legitimate research companies like Opinion Outpost.
It’s easy: Opinion Outpost members have the opportunity to make money by taking surveys online. These online surveys can be taken at home on the couch, in between classes at school, or anywhere else with an internet connection. Take surveys to earn points, and turn those points into cash. Take one or take a bunch; it’s really up to you!
It’s safe: Opinion Outpostis one of the most reputable brands in the business because they value their members’ safety concerns. You can earn cash or other survey rewards for your opinions without turning over too much personal information, keeping things private and secure. It’s free to sign up, no credit card required!
It’s fast: You’ll earn points for each survey you complete. Turn your points into money or gift cards to buy yourself or a loved one something nice, or save them up for larger purchases. With a low minimum redemption level, you’ll be claiming rewards in no time.
With Opinion Outpost, members earn cash or gift cards to popular brands like Amazon.com* from home or on the go, and users automatically earn entries in Opinion Outpost’s $10,000 quarterly prize draw** each time they take a survey.
Taking paid surveys online through Opinion Outpost is perfect for students, for stay-at-home parents, or really anyone looking to earn some extra cash. Sign up today!
*Amazon.com is not a sponsor of this program. For complete gift card terms and conditions, see www.amazon.com/gc-legal. All Amazon ®, ™ & © are IP of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. No expiration date or service fees.
**NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to legal residents of the 50 United States (D.C.) who are eligible to participate on a Survey Sampling International Panel and meet the minimum age requirement for the respective Panel. Quarterly drawings; enter by December 31, 2017 to be included in next drawing. To enter and for Official Rules, including odds, mail-in method of entry, and prize descriptions, visit here. Void where prohibited.
Tonight is the start of a concert series that will be taking place in downtown Shakopee. The Rhythm on the Rails Concert Series are all free, and take place on Wednesday evenings from 6-10pm. The planned schedule is:
Rhythm on the Rails is a FREE five-week summer concert series taking place every Wednesday night from 6-10 pm right on Lewis Street in Downtown Shakopee. The series starts July 19 and runs through August 16, 2017. Rhythm on the Rails will feature live music, family fun, food/brew vendors, and much more!
