Free Things to Do in Minneapolis (and St. Paul)

One of the great things about Twin Cities (Minneapolis and St. Paul) is that there isn't a shortage of fun and exciting things. While lots of events and entertainment venues require you to take out your wallet, there are just as many free ones. Below is a short list of free things to do in the Twin Cities.

The outside of the Weisman Art Museum, gleaming stainless steel, is just as striking as some of the collections it houses inside. These include works by early 20^th century artists such as Georgia O'Keffe, Marsden Hartley, and Roy Lichtenstein.A teaching facility on the University of Minnesota campus, the Weisman offers a variety of programs and a changing schedule of exhibitions.

The Como Park Zoo and Conservatory features an array of animals, plants, and beautiful flowers in a beautiful conservatory. Be sure to ride on the 68-horse Cafesjian Carousel, a restored antique that was built in 1914. Park admission is free, but a small donation ($2 for adults, $1 for children) is requested. Other nearby attractions include Como Lake with 1.67 miles of walking and biking paths, and Como Lakeside Pavilion, the site of concerts and other entertainment during the summer.

The Guthrie Theater is a uniquely stunning building both inside and out, and is worthy of a visit just for the purpose of exploration. It features glass floors, fascinating spaces, and the Endless Bridge over the Mississippi River. The cantilevered lobby known as the Endless Bridge features windows set into the walls that allow visitors to observe the Mississippi River, St. Anthony Falls, and the surrounding landscape. Stretching a little over half a block (178 feet) from the building face, the 30-foot-wide Endless Bridge rises over West River Parkway. It's free and definitely a must-see.

During June, the Alive After 5 concert series offers free music in downtown Minneapolis's Peavey Plaza from 5-9 pm every weekday after work. Outside in the fresh air and under the stars, you can groove to musical groups that play everything from blues to rock to pop to swing. The line-up is always eclectic, so there's something for everyone. Vendors offer great food and a selection of beverages, including beer and wine. The music is free, but food and beverages are not.

From June through early September, the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board sponsors Music in the Parks, a series of free concerts around the city. You can get a PDF of the concert schedule. Venues include the Minnehaha Falls Bandstand, Father Hennepin Bluffs Bandstand, Bryant Square Park, and the gorgeous Lake Harriet Bandshell. You can listen to pop, big band, show tunes, modern jazz, Dixieland jazz, classical, bluegrass and R&B-most of it performed under the stars.

Under the auspices of the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, many parks in the city offer free outdoor movies starting at dusk. Watching a movie outdoors on a big screen is great entertainment. Bring the family and a picnic meal, and watch a recent-run movie under the stars. You can view the movie schedule, including the parks where movies will be shown (with hyperlinks to park details).

On Mondays, from about mid-July to mid-August, you can catch theLoring Park Summer Music & Moviesseries co-presented by the Walker Art Center and the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board. Music starts at 7 p.m., and the film begins at dusk (about 8:45 p.m). In honor of legendary actor Paul Newman, movies on the big screen in 2009 include "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof "Hud," "Cool Hand Luke" and "The Hustler."

While Summit Brewing is located in St. Paul, it's definitely worth crossing the river. Home to an extensive list of beers, including the extremely popular EPA and various seasonal brews such as the Porter, Maibock, Hefeweizen, and Oktoberfest, a tour of this local brewery is a great way to spend an afternoon. Free tours are offered Tuesday and Thursday at 1 p.m., and Saturday at 10:20 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday tours require reservations. Check out the 2009 Saturday tour schedule to make sure tours are offered on the date you want to visit. Reserve your space via email at tour@summitbrewing.com or by calling 651-265-7800.