Enjoyed walking around looking at all of the art. There is so much talent in the Twin Cities!…read moreJumped in on some Zumba too! And of course what's a festival without food. I stuck with the basics of corn, corn dog and churro. Prices seemed high but sadly food costs are on the rise. Can't wait until next year!

6.21.26 If I liked snow and brutally freezing weather, I would move here. All the green spaces…read moreencourages you to get up and move, get outside, smell the roses and get your vitamin D on. From the music to art festivals, everything is FREE. Though....parking is a bit challenging. Nonetheless, I would do it again and again. Weather was perfect 73 degrees People, hmmm...I am impressed on so many levels. For 1 they support the Somalian community and they stand for what is just and fair. Its funny, my friend of 52 years asked me, what are we doing this year, I said Cruise, Jamaica, Mexico...she said how about Minnesota. I said what's in Minnesota? And that's when I went down the rabbit hole and did my research. I can honestly say, I'm glad I was too busy to plan our annual trip this year. She did it all, I just had to send my money. From a ferry down the Mississippi river, to several lakes, downtown Minneapolis, Paisley Park, Mall of America to sooo much more. I would like to come back, but there is so much more on my bucket list to double back. Cheers to Minnesota and all its fabulousness!

Finally got to check out the MN Ren Faire and for the most part I enjoyed the festivities. Many…read morepeople as well as I was in full medieval, fantasy, or cosplay in this fun gathering of all sorts of people. While many people complain out the prices I personally did a few things to help with that. First is the entry fee. Normally you'd spend $31 for adults in addition to a $30 parking fee which would be $61 just to get in, but instead Costco sells 2 tickets + 2 turkey legs for $47 which is $23.50 per person. 2nd of all, MVTA offers $6 round trip rides from Eagle Creek, Burnsville Transit centers that take you on buses that get your right to the entrance. Those buses run every 15 to 30 minutes and basically cut the price of getting in to only $29 instead of $61. Inside there's tons of food and drink options. First thing to do was actually get the food before noon and the afternoon crowd swamps the place. I've had tb the mead, bacon waffles, turkey leg, Cheesecake on a stick, Pad Thai, Cheese curds, and they were not too expensive ranging from $5-$10. Personally they are all between 3 to 4 stars, none mindblowing but none that were bad. I think I like the Nefertari Mead the most near the stall of the West gate entrance, just slightly north of that. The events that happen at the faire are pretty fun to participate in. Events that involve prizes are free, joined a meatball eating completion and got 2nd. Carnival games typically cost $5 like throwing axes, archery, rock climbing, etc. My biggest complaint is that this faire still uses Elephant rides. Just seems so unethical making money off of tamed animals misery. The crowds also get significantly worse after 1pm. Best to arrive right at opening between 8-9am so you can get all your food and drinks ordered and done. Come to the ren faire on an empty stomach. Other than those two gripes, I did enjoy my time with the friends here.

Visited the Renaissance Festival on September 1, and as always, it was an absolute blast! Huge…read morethanks to Yelp for the free tickets -- what an awesome surprise! This was my 7th Renaissance Festival, and I still love everything about it -- the energy, the costumes, the music, the laughter, and of course, that legendary turkey leg! It's smoky, juicy, and hands-down my favorite tradition every year. Parking is definitely a hike -- you park and then walk about a mile to the entrance -- but honestly, that's part of the fun and charm. It's the perfect way to burn a few calories before adding them right back with all the food and drinks inside! The whole experience is just magical -- fun for all ages, full of character, and always worth the trip. Can't wait for next year already -- it never gets old!

Whoever set this up has never been to the legit ones in Nuremberg or Berlin. Way too narrow for…read morepeople to shop on both sides while having room for others to pass by in the center; only a couple hot wine vendors with ginormous lines, didn't see any warm pretzels (and those are like every third stall in Germany), and the majority of the crafters sold overpriced junk. So: no heart, no space, no cheer, no festive atmosphere. Just angry hordes jostling to get through. And BTW, if you're going to have too-narrow thoroughfares you need to prohibit strollers and have an area for people to ditch them.

Came here for this years Christmas Market on a slightly warmer than lately Saturday…read more As usual it's a gorgeous setup. The small huts and lights are just so aesthetically pleasing, and fun to walk around and peruse. We haven't had something we disliked food wise. It's all very good. A little spendy, be prepared for State-Fair level prices, but hey it's an event and at least they don't charge you to get in! The mulled wine or Glühwein as it's called is great. if you pick up a mug you can get cheaper refills. I've had the red but didn't get around to getting a cup of the white but I'd still recommend it to people who like sweeter wines. The shops are all really cute and have alot of good products. Think art fair, you can buy art, clothes, knick-knacks, Christmas decorations and more, homemade and super bespoke. We might swing back but if not we'll definitely be there to check it out again next year!

Beautiful fall evening to enjoy vendors showcasing their craft beer and wines. Roseville has a…read morebeautiful park system very well manicured and clean. A nice sized crowd turned out and people seemed to be enjoying themselves chatting and mingling. There was a huge band playing some 70's musics with a full horn section. Giant Jenga and the game where you pound a nail into a slab of wood not sure what it is called Hammicker Slamicker or something like that...hahaha by the time I played I had already indulged so forgive my memory. There was a breathalizer on display so you could test how inebriated you may be. I thought this was a great idea. They should be in every drinking establishment out there. He explained that it does not cost the bar a thing to put in and it is affordable for people to use 2.00. Me thinks much better than a DUI. The boys in uniform were right there when you left wishing you a good evening as this was held in a parking lot adjacent to the police station. I got an opportunity to try some beers I would not normally sampled and leaned about some local breweries and wineries. Some I can remember are Lucid, Summit, Big Wood, Barley Johns, Rush River, Burning Brothers, Tin Whiskers, Bent, Mankato Brewing, Insight, Brau Brothers, Sidhe and Granite City. They were all very generous with the pours and happy to speak with you about the product. The wineries that showed up were slim and a bit stingy with the sample amount. So was not a good evening for wine but no shortage of beer. It was a great event with proceeds supporting the local community by providing clean, safe, park facilities for the residents.

For the past 3-6 weeks, my wife has been trying to convince me that we should buy a home in…read moreRoseville, where she works, instead of staying in downtown St Paul. Events like 'Tapped and Uncorked' work in her favor. Tapped and Uncorked was a great way for a couple of Twin City Transplants like ourselves to get up to speed on local microbreweries, wineries, and distilleries. It didn't take us long to discover new, local favorites such as the pumpkin ale created by Tin Whiskers (the secret is in their blend of spices). It was like drinking fall on tap. Everything we tried from Northern Vinyards Winery, in Stillwater, was a hit. This included the house red, house white, and house rose. We also fell in love with Yellow Belly Cider from Sapsucker Farms because its neither too sweet nor too dry. The secret? Minnesota apples? Hmm. Food at the event was provided by food trucks. Our favorite was A Cupcake Social, which made two special cupcakes for the event. I was disappointed when I saw that the Tot Boss food truck was there, but that we didn't see it. Perhaps they didn't make it? The event was well organized. The music was excellent and there was plenty of space to mill around. Had there been seating, more than six tables, and more than two fire pits, we probably would have stayed all night. Instead, we found ourselves wandering home shortly after dark with a bright smile and wine-warmed bellies. Next year, I definitely plan to bring folding chairs and a jacket (based on weather) so that we can spend more time enjoying the samples, the music, and the company. The location of the event is ideal because there is plenty of parking, party area, and access to clean public bathrooms. As a transplant to the Twin Cities from Wisconsin, it might not surprise you that I'd give an event like 'Tapped and Uncorked' five stars. On the other hand, I know how beer tastings should be done... and that this event surpassed my expectations. Given that this is only the event's 2nd year, I expect that it'll only get better in 2016.

What a bummer to see low ratings for such a fun place!! I have been coming to Severs since I was a…read morekid, and have always enjoyed it! The parking is free and I highly recommend doing no the cheaper presale tickets or get the online core you go! You get a discount and don't have to wait in line. When you get there, they do have a free program booklet/map. There are apples, honey and pumpkins for purchase and plenty of spots for you to take your fall photos. There is a north and south food area! Highly recommend the roasted corn! There are also classics like kettle corn, beer, alcoholic ciders, mini doughnuts and more! This year they added a BMX bike show and my boys REALLY like that! (Free) The maze is free and takes just under an hour for us to normally complete it. The petting zoo is also free unless you want to feed the animals. Then it's a few bucks for a cup of food. There is a giant slide, little train ride that goes around the grounds,hayride, pumpkin blaster, pony rides, and more that all have a small extra fee to them. I suspect this is why the ratings are lower. There are also large jumping pillows (adults can go on these too), shows, pig races, picture opportunities, small play ground areas, a large tire climbing area, zip line, hay maze, corn pit and more that are free. So plenty to do without having to shell out more money if you do not want to! This is a fall staple in my house! And we enjoy it every year!

If you're frugal family, I can NOT recommend this place at all. Don't get too excited by the…read morepictures and do your research before coming on how much everything cost. You pay 25 plus something dollars per person over 3 yrs to get in the door and a majority of the stuff inside still has an extra charge. That's $100+ for a family of four to just walk into the place!? Did I miss discounted tickets somewhere? - just make sure you digest all of the website so nothing gives your wallet a shock when you get there. BUT, however, if you have the extra expendable income - you should have a okay time and a extra price tags for most extras doesn't faze you for extras - it should be a decent time had by you and your little one's. Note: NO dogs. There is ample parking and you'll need it on the weekend as it for crowded VERY quick. It does have some cute gimmicky things instagram photo moments - that were luckily free. Everything on the grounds likes cash. Make sure you bring plenty of small bills to make vendors happy. It's a meh from me and I'll gamble on somewhere else next time.

We went to check out the ice festival in Eagan that has the longest ice maze. This festival runs…read morefrom January 10 to February 16, depending on the weather of course. Tickets can be purchased online or the box office. We had purchased a deal online and waited for someone to come to the box office in order to redeem the voucher. After waiting for 10 minutes, the guard let us through the gate to talk to the ladies that works for the event. Ice maze was fun, for all ages. There's a warming house that sells hot and cold beverages and alcohol. Variety of food trucks, ice skating rink, and slide made from ice. The maze has a scavenger hunt throughout, there's 12 names to look for and you'll get a prize at the hut near the skating rink. Definitely recommend to check out.

The Minnesota Ice Festival is an absolute must-see for anyone who loves winter, art, and outdoor…read morefun! From the moment we arrived, we were blown away by the stunning ice sculptures-each one more intricate and breathtaking than the last. The level of detail and creativity that goes into these frozen masterpieces is truly incredible. Beyond the sculptures, the festival had so much to offer. We enjoyed the ice slides (so much fun for both kids and adults!), sipped on delicious hot cocoa, and even tried our hand at ice carving. The atmosphere was lively, with twinkling lights, live music, and cozy fire pits where you can make s'mores and it easy to warm up when needed. They also have games made out of ice shuffle board, ping pong, air hockey and they also have ice skating The staff and volunteers were friendly and helpful, and despite the crowds, everything was well organized. Dress warmly-it gets chilly, especially at night-but that's all part of the magical winter experience.If you're looking for a unique and festive way to celebrate winter in Minnesota, this festival is well worth it. We went on a pretty warm day so unfortunately the maze was very wet lots of puddles We'll definitely be back next year!

"There are no strangers here, only friends we haven't met yet" -William Butler Yeats…read moreCeltic culture on tap here! Music, Irish dancing, history! I love great music and this is an awesome venue! Eileen Ivers (musician extraordinaire) performed here and it was superb! The tickets were a mere $25 presale and $30 at the door-for a performance that was worth 20 times more! So come to a performance here sometime!

We go here often for Irish music, often put on by local artists. This last time we were there for…read moreEileen Ivers from NYC. It was a great show and it was fun to talk with Eileen after the show. Looking forward to seeing more shows here.

Oh my. This was truly the best night of 2016 so far. And…read moreit's going to be tough to top. How does one convey in words such high levels of epicness? I will press on. If you have a deep appreciation for heritage pork, then you should be at this venue. If you don't, then you clearly do not belong in such a place with this kind of zeal and squeal. Nothing less than 5-stars, my friends; nothing less. First, I have history with pigs (aren't reviews really just a way to tell the stories of our lives?). I grew up loving pigs. Miss Piggy was my favorite. In 6th grade, I begged my parents to get a pot-bellied pig (one day I'll give them the kudos for sticking to their guns on not letting that happen). Also in 6th grade, I ate too much candy and started to resemble a pig, so I decided to stay quiet about my love of pigs until I got my waistline under control about a decade later (phew). While loving pigs, pork did nothing for me...until I learned of heritage breeds back in 2008. The color! The flavor! The texture! There was no going back. And just to show off ('cause that's fun to do from time-to-time), I discovered & tried, at a fundraiser dinner back in 2011 for the Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund, Mangalitsa pork belly for my first time, and knew right then there could be no other. And this is where the Cochon555 story begins... My sweet Mangalitsa was here in many culinary creations (and other breeds, too). And many of its dear relatives were here. It was a big family reunion and I was on cloud nine. Out of sheer randomness (& a reminder from God that He loves me), I won 2 VIP tickets from Yelp to this event! I wasn't even aware of what Cochon555 until I saw the contest (HOW did I MISS THIS?). When I read up on it, I realized that this evening was scripted for me and soon enough I found that I won! The joy! The rapture! The tears! Thank you, Yelp! The machine bots that chose my name were Divinely guided! I will write reviews for you until I perish from this earth. I invited a foodie friend that gets as excited about sustainably raised heritage piggies, from our beloved local farmers, as I do. Our tickets were thoroughly redeemed with every delicious, lovingly prepared, & creatively presented piece of pork. People talk about how drugs have altered their mind and enhanced their experience. I can't speak to that. But I can speak to what THIS pork did to me. There were top notch, sustainably & creatively-based restaurants, competing & representing at this event, including: Travail Kitchen & Amusements Spoon & Stable Chef Shack Ranch Surly Brewing (who won the MN Pork King title) Zen Box My favorite food delivery mode was a man, from Travail Kitchen, scuffing around the room on his knees in a sombrero. The sombrero contained a delicious & subtly sweet pate in the center of the hat and the rim of the hat contained chicharrones broken up from a large hide they fried late the night before. The server was on his knees so that people could just grab from his hat at standing height...it was brilliant. There was prociutto-like bacon (I know, it's either one or the other...but in this case, it wasn't!) "skewered" in waves on a thin crispy bread stick (no, it wasn't a pretzel ;-). There were also sweet lard-filled chocolates (I could have eaten those all night!). I was blown away by Spoon & Stable's creation of marshmallows made out of pork blood (same whipping properties as egg whites; who knew?!) and so much more. There was also the whole hog butchery going on right after the votes were taken. This is something IMPORTANT! We're a society that is detached from where our food comes from. Majority of us aren't going to be able to tell others what portion of an animal that a particular cut comes from, so this was valuable, precious, AND educational. All parts of the animal were put out for sale! Loved that feature, too! For as much gushing as I'm doing, I will say there were a few items that I thought were boring and uncreative for it being at an event like this: wonton-type items (wrapping pork in pasta is most likely what all of us would have thought of doing...just wasn't a "wow" (not that it has to be). Another item is that this is NOT a gluten-free friendly event. Considering the focus on sustainability and that wheat is an overcropped item (which is overshadowed by those who have gluten allergies & sensitivities). While I CAN consume wheat, I choose not to, because of past wheat sensitivities. I was truly surprised that at this day and age how many chefs went with the bland wheat berry. There was even a separate pie outfit that came in as a pop-up towards the end that didn't offer gluten-free options. Wha? Yes, one can consume the filling if they must, but one can also create a stellar gluten-free pie crust. Regardless, I would go to this event again & again. Oh, and ladies, 3 out of 4 attendees (or more) are men. If you're looking for a piggy-partner-in-crime, you may find your match here ;-)

I had never been to an event like this so I knew very little about what to expect. It ended up…read morebeing awesome! There is a wide selection of local wine and other beverages to try. It was a great opportunity to learn more about some of Minnesota's local food and wine producers! There were many different variations of pork as well as other dishes to try. The seafood bar was phenomenal! Overall, great experience. I highly recommend d for those who love pork or are just looking for a unique food experience!