Minnesotans can save quite a bit of cash on entertainment this summer by taking advantage of the state’s many free concert series.
Minnesota is a great place for music lovers. It’s the birthplace of artists like Bob Dylan, Prince, Lizzo, and The Replacements, and the state is also an incredible place to catch a concert. From big stadium spectacles in the Twin Cities to smaller club shows all throughout the state, there are always plenty of concerts to see in Minnesota. The only problem is that steep ticket prices can add up pretty quickly.
Music fans are in luck, though, because there are tons of free shows throughout the state, too. It seems that almost every city, town, and municipality has its own free concert series running all throughout the summer.
From classical performances by the state’s orchestra to local bands performing in cities all throughout Minnesota and bigger-name artists offering fans a chance to see them for nothing, there are so many places to catch a free concert this summer in Minnesota.
1. The Sunset Series Outdoor Concerts
Where: Downtown Park, 40 Ninth Ave. S, Hopkins
When: Thursdays from June 11 to August 20
Hopkins, a suburban city located near Minneapolis, is pretty tiny. The city, which has a population of more than 19,000, according to the 2020 United States Census, is only four square miles in size—but that doesn’t mean that Hopkins doesn’t have a lot to offer culturally.
Every summer, the city hosts a free outdoor concert series at its Downtown Park. The Sunset Series kicks off June 11 with a performance by Salsa del Soul, a Twin Cities-based Caribbean music band. The series, which is presented by the Hopkins Center for the Arts, runs through Aug. 20.
2. Excelsior Morning Rotary Concerts in the Commons
Where: Excelsior Commons, 135 Lake St., Excelsior
When: Every other Wednesday from June 3 to August 26
From the beginning of June through the end of August, the City of Excelsior, a western suburb of the Twin Cities, offers a chance to watch free live music every other Wednesday. Starting June 3, Concerts in the Commons, a concert series created by the Excelsior Morning Rotary, offers bi-monthly concerts, featuring artists that range from Rumours & Dreams, a Fleetwood Mac cover band, to St. Paul & the Minneapolis Funk All Stars. Another perk? The concert series offers a free shuttle that runs from the Excelsior Public Library to the Excelsior Commons, where the concerts are held.
During the event, the Excelsior Morning Rotary sells drinks, including beer, wine, soda, and seltzer, and all proceeds go back to the organization, with a portion donated to local charities and another portion used to improve Excelsior Commons Park.
3. Mears Park Lunchtime Concert Series
Where: Mears Park, 221 Fifth St. E, Saint Paul
When: Tuesdays and Wednesdays from June 9 to August 19
It’s not hard to find free music all throughout Saint Paul during the summer. The city hosts several outdoor concerts and music events all season long, but office workers in the city’s downtown might be too tired or busy after a 9-to-5 day to catch a concert. That’s where the city’s Lunchtime Concert Series comes into play.
From 12 p.m. until 1 p.m. on most Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout the summer, anyone can go see a free concert at Mears Park, located in Saint Paul’s downtown. The lunchtime concerts feature a wide range of performers in various genres, from series kickoff artist Nancy Olsen, a folk and Americana singer, to the Women’s Drum Center, to rock band Sam Graber Band.
4. Chanhassen’s Summer Concert Series
Where: Lake Ann Park, 1456 West 78th St., Chanhassen
When: June 11 to August 6
In Chanhassen, free music doesn’t just have to be enjoyed on land. Attendees to Chanhassen’s Summer Concert Series can also take in the free concert series held at Lake Ann Park, from Lake Ann itself. The annual concert series is held at Lake Ann Park this year, because Chanhassen’s City Center Park, where it is typically held, is undergoing changes due to nearby construction.
So, Chanhassen is extending watercraft rental times until 8 p.m. on Thursday evenings, when the weekly free concerts are held, and attendees can enjoy the city’s seven free concerts from a kayak, canoe, paddleboat, rowboat, stand-up paddleboard, or, of course, on their own two feet in Lake Ann Park. The concerts span several genres, from country singer Raquel Hawkins to Celtic folk group Lehto and Wright, and each night will feature a different food truck.
5. Big Lake’s Music in the Park
Where: Lakeside Park, 101 Lakeshore Drive, Big Lake
When: Thursdays from June 4 to August 6
For more than a decade, Big Lake residents and visitors have been able to spend the summer listening to music at free concerts during the summer as part of the city’s Music in the Park concert series. The concert series, which takes place at Big Lake’s Lakeside Park, is held over nine nearly-consecutive Thursday nights.
Music in the Park features music from a wide range of artists, including Van Morrison tribute artist Mick Stirling, country band Shane Martin Band, and rock group Band 51. The event also hosts a rotating series of food trucks every week.
6. The Minnesota Orchestra’s Symphony for the Cities
Where: Locations in Excelsior, Plymouth, Hudson, and Winona
When: July 7, 8, 9, and 11
The Minnesota Orchestra isn’t just performing their Symphony for the Cities in one place—instead, the concert series is taking place in four different Minnesota cities: Excelsior, Plymouth, Hudson, and Winona. The free concert series is taking place over four days, one in each city, starting in Excelsior on July 7, before moving to Plymouth on July 8, Hudson on July 9, and winding up in Winona on July 11.
The Minnesota Orchestra, which will be performing a range of music, from classical pieces to Sousa marches and songs from cinematic masterpieces, is presenting the series of concerts as a thank-you to residents of the state. All concerts are held outdoors, and more information about which songs will be played at each concert is available online.
7. Concerts on the Pier
Where: Glensheen Mansion, 3300 London Road, Duluth
When: Wednesdays from July 1 to August. 26
One of the many great things about Minnesota is its constant proximity to water. The Land of 10,000 Lakes isn’t just a nickname; it’s a way of life in Minnesota, and it’s also a way to see concerts, especially at Duluth’s Concerts on the Pier. The weekly concert series, which runs on Wednesdays for nine weeks in July and August, is held on the pier at Glensheen Mansion, a historic estate operated by the University of Minnesota Duluth, and attendees can enjoy the concerts from land or from the water on a non-motorized watercraft, like a kayak or canoe.
The concerts are free, but attendees who want to skip the entrance line can purchase an early-access package online for $60. The package includes early access to food trucks, a t-shirt and sticker, and the ability to skip the long line to get into every single one of the nine concerts in the series.
