Minnesota winters can be very confining, but now that April is here, springtime is finally upon us. Luckily, we can now go outside and enjoy the weather and sunshine that has not been seen for many months. Springtime also brings many events that are a great way to get outside and enjoy the warmer weather.
A great way to get outside this springtime is to go to a farmer’s market. Here you can find local vendors selling different kinds of produce and various crafts. This venture can also be a great way to change up the usual grocery shopping trip. At many farmer’s markets you can find fresh flowers and other fresh produce that is great for the season.
Some farmer’s markets in the Twin Cities area include: the Linden Hills Farmer’s market, Minneapolis Farmers Market on Lyndale and the Mill City Farmer’s Market. There are also some local farmer’s markets in the Orono area. These are smaller, but they still include great items that are worth checking out. The Excelsior Farmer’s Market is opening their summer market on May 2, and the Wayzata Farmer’s is open every Thursday from 2:00-6:00 p.m. starting in mid-May.
Most farmer’s markets are only open on the weekends, and many just on weekend mornings. The Mill City Farmer’s market opened their indoor location on April 8, and have another indoor market opened on April 22. Their outdoor market will open for the season on May 8, and they also have a Mother’s Day weekend market. Both of these are open from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
The Linden Hills Farmer’s Market opens for the season on May 21 and is open every Sunday until mid-October. The Minneapolis Farmers market on Lyndale is open all year round, containg indoor and outdoor options. They are open daily starting in May from 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
There are also many trails that are beginning to open up again after all the snow has melted. Some great walks in the Twin Cities areas that are worth checking out include: the lakes in Minneapolis and Minnehaha falls. The lakes walk in Minneapolis is around Lake Harriet, Lake Calhoun and Lake of the Isles. These loops are great for an easy morning walk with great views of the lakes.
The Minnehaha Creek Falls walk includes paved walking paths along with smaller hiking trails. The falls are a great attraction to see, and the walking trails around it offer great views of the secluded nature scene inside the city.
Many great concerts will be coming to the Twin Cities this spring. Some of these concerts include Coldplay playing at the U.S. Bank Stadium on April 12, John Mayer is coming to the Xcel Energy Center on April 15 and Gnash is playing at the Cabooze on April 30, along with many others.
Many places in Minneapolis are pet-friendly, if you wanted to bring your dog on your springtime strolls. Minnehaha Falls has a designated area to bring a dog. Here, there is a lake that they can swim in and play with other dogs. The Linden Hills Farmer’s market is also pet friendly. Since the market is outside, there is plenty of space for dogs to move around and enjoy the outdoors. The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum has a 65 acre dog park that includes trails and spaces for dogs to run around. This park is currently closed for the season, but it will be reopening on April 21.
For any fans of running, there is a fun race at Lake Harriet on May 20 that also include dogs. The Fast and Furry Races at Lake Harriet is a race that your furry friend can also attend. There is the option of a 5k run or walk and an 8k run. The proceeds from this race also benefit many Minnesota based animal shelters.
No matter how you choose to spend your springtime, there are plenty of options in the Minneapolis area to make the most of the warmer weather.