We try to come every year for the Barrels and Bluegrass festival and this year was a blast!!…read more The festival always has several bluegrass bands, which adds to a perfect setting to kick back enjoy the music while sipping on a cocktail or some whiskey neat. There are usually two or three food vendors and a kettle corn tent. This year the food options included pizza and pulled pork sandwiches. As far as the drinks go, 45th Parallel always has a cocktail tent and of course the whiskey tasting, which includes a plastic tasting shot glass(the cost for tasting is a few dollars, which gets you entered into the raffle as well). 45th Parallel has greatly expanded the property, so the festival now includes their newly constructed bar if you would like a brew along with your whiskey.

We went here with a group and had the most magical time! We ate at the grill on site and the food…read morewas ok. They also have a full bar with seasonal drinks and hot chocolate. The indoor market was cute but I do wish it had a little more. The light display was amazing. It isn't too spread out which is perfect for families with younger kids. It was an awesome night and we will definitely make it a yearly tradition.

No pictures as I was driving someone with special needs…read more Two nights per year they offer drive through nights. Wheelchairs would be very difficult to maneuver through gravel and snow unless they have heavy duty tires. Plus it is hilly. So we drove through an amazing display. The best drive through light display we have done yet. My brother was wowed and me too. So much fun. When you arrive they give you a tag for your rear view mirror. Then drive around the corner to enter. You can go through more than once. We even saw Santa at the end and he came to the car to say "hi." My niece visited on a regular night and she was impressed with the holiday village and the lights.

Summer Set Music Festival was the highlight of my summer! I've been to every Summer Set Festival…read moresince the beginning in 2012. This past year was definitely my favorite year. They have come a long way since year one when they only had 3 stages and one of the stages was inside of a hockey rink. I did love year one, but this festival gets bigger and better each year with more production, more vendors, and an overall larger festival grounds. They provide a diverse lineup of music with a mixture of EDM and hip hop. Its the perfect size in my opinion, there are enough people there (I'm guessing around 30,000) for it to feel like a true festival, however there are not so many people that it is impossible to navigate, or get near the front of the stage if you are devoted. They still have a lot to improve on, it probably deserves 3-3.5 stars but this is the festival in my backyard as my hometown is right across the border and I have been to every one. It also helps to have all of your closest friends attend. Your party makes a huge impact on the festival experience. This year they tried something new and only offered about half of their camping space to allow for cars to be parked. We bought tickets to late and were not able to get camping with our cars which was very expensive to begin with. Even the North Campground which was the furthest from the festival and their were no cars allowed was ridiculously expensive. Neither of their campgrounds allowed for bon fires. I would suggest camping off site, you will save a ton of money and you get way more space, you are able to have multiple cars, you can have a bonfire, and you aren't forced to go to the bathroom in disgusting porta potties. You still get the same festival vibes as during that weekend all the surrounding campsites are full of festival goers. O yea, you also are right on the river and there are some pretty sick parties going on in the river. I had way more fun staying at apple river family campground this year instead of camping on site. I heard a lot of bad stories about summer set camping. They hired the police instead of their own security and they arrested hundreds of people for having drugs. Many people were thrown out of the festival. Overall the production isn't over the top. I've been to many other festivals that blow this out of the water when it comes production (Ultra, Electric Forest). When it comes down to it though, it's not about the production it's about the community of people who attend and we brought it this year. There were hundreds of totems, everybody brought something unique to the table. Even being a new, small festival the people and community made this festival come alive. Everyone was having a good time, you could feel the love in the air. I will be back year after year!

For VIP. Where shall I start…read more In the original email we were promised VIP 'special viewing'. Didn't happen till Saturday and even then it was not 'VIP' quality viewing. It was way back from the stage by the sound booth. Horrid. The woods campsite was closed on Friday and it was a cluster fuck to get back into our campsite despite paying over 700$ to be here. Had an anxiety attack in the process. Otherwise- the staff, artists, and guests are all great. But the management needs to get their heads outta their asses and pay more attention to communication and priorities. Especially when you're paying over 700$ for a ticket and then another 200$+ to get and stay here.

This was a fun new venue for me. There was plenty of parking within a short walking distance,…read moreefficient security check and ticket line, and plenty of space in the lawn seat area to roam. There were chairs available for rental too! The worst part was the drink lines were the slowest thing I have ever experienced. Honestly a full hour to get a shaker cocktail so we missed a full set of one of the openers. Port-a-potties were fine, but all of the toilet paper was soaking wet so I'm glad I had tissue on hand.

Babies took down all their bad google reviews so I will put this here and I'll keep putting it here…read moreif they delete it. I have gone to many concerts in my life and Greyday at somerset has got to be the absolute worst I have ever experienced. The staff were rude to me, and many MANY other people in line when we're trying to ask questions. There was zero coordination to the entire thing. Me and my friend got into a line (that we were told was the correct line) it ended up being a line to nowhere . So we stood there for 4 hours in the rain and had to go to the back of the other line anyway. Also the security?? No scanning tickets to get in. As well as just bearly looking through my bag at the security check. Thats dangerous friends let's maybe not do that next time!!

I've been coming to the Dakota County Fair for a few years now, and it always feels like the…read moreperfect prep for the Great Minnesota Get-Together! One thing I really appreciate is that general admission is free... a nice change compared to other county fairs. There's also free street parking available, or you can pay to park in the lot. The fair has all the staples: lots of food vendors, barns with animals, non-food vendor booths, live music on multiple stages, and a ride/game area. Classic fair fun! The night I went was a bit warm, so we didn't try as many foods as usual. We started with cheese curds (served hot and super tasty), then a slice of spicy pickle pizza-- not bad, but not the best either. We ended the evening with a chocolatey whoopie pie, and that was seriously yummmOOO! One area that could use some improvement, though, is the bathrooms. They definitely need a bit more attention-- updating, cleanliness and upkeep could make a big difference in the overall experience. Suggestion: Please highly consider adding a water fountain/refill station for water bottles. Still, it's always a fun time, and I'm sure I'll be back next year!

Family always goes to fair to check out the new hot items. Love the food items and animals. Very…read morerelaxing atmosphere and cool set up with the old city buildings to explore. Never see the same thing twice when we go. Highly recommend.

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!

This was my first Renaissance Festival experience. I was told it was smaller then the on in…read moreMinnesota, so I thought it would be a good tryout for me. I know I have been wanting to go to the Renaissance Festival in Minnesota. I go to the State Fair every year. This location is in Glenwood, Wisconsin. The drive was nice, mostly because I didn't have to do it, so I got to look out the window as we passed fields and little towns and cows, etc. When we arrived, I was a little confused, because we had to drive up someone's driveway. Then we parked in a field next to the house. and in the way back was the entrance. Again, I've never been to a Renaissance Festival so I don't know if that is normal. But going to this place, was anything but normal. Not that it's a bad thing. I went with TT and JT. It was one of the first times, I thought TT was in her element. She fit right in with her parasol and outfit that day. She looked good as usual, but more in her element. Anyway, there were a lot of things to see for someone like myself who has never really seen it before. Lots of booths, food, beverages, and entertainment. I sat down and watched a Belly Dance they were good. I was fascinated by some of the things they could so. I took a picture of the lady balancing a blade on her head. That was cool. JT also got picked for a friendly contest because he was told he was a good looking dude. That was hilarious! Overall, it was an experience. I spent $10 to get in, which I thought was a decent price. I do know I don't feel the need to experience a Renaissance Festival again. It smelt like manure and at times, strong BO (it was hot and the outfits they wear-no thank you). There were too many bare feet, and some of the people were clearly very comfortable with their bodies (more power to them), however, it just made me super uncomfortable. If you are a renaissance person, definitely check it out. I heard a positive about it, was that it is way less muddy then the Minnesota RenFest. Which, if I had experienced that one, I would have definitely been a negative for me. So, go and enjoy, or don't go, either way do you!

Wow. What a great experience this Faire provides. Run entirely by volunteers, it's truly a labor of…read morelove. If you're looking for a big Faire like Minnesota or Bristol, this is not like those. It's very intimate and, most importantly, AFFORDABLE! For example, at Bristol, a turkey leg costs $9. At Ren in the Glen it's only $4. Tickets at the gate are just $10, not $30. You can even bring your dog with proper documentation of shots. The performers are all very approachable and eager to interact with guests. The Royal Court is very adept in their roles and clearly love what they do. And the Vikings are so into what they do they cook over an open fire and actually sleep in their encampment tents! The only thing that would make Ren in the Glen better is if it were longer. One weekend a year is fine but TWO would be better!!

Had a group of friends who all wanted to go this season to Miracle at Big Rock…read more Frankly though, I wouldn't refer to it as a miracle... $22/per person entry fee definitely felt steep for what it was... a small RV campsite dressed up in holiday lights with the occasional firepit burning low-grade wood and hot beverage cups. (I watched as countless guests discarded their cups on the ground rather than in appropriate trash bins... despite there being plenty of trashbins around for use... if they'd been willing to carry their empty cups just a few more feet... like seriously, are you teaching your children to litter? Then I watched as employees took those cups, plastic covers and all, and tossed them into the fire... Idk about you, but breathing burning plastic into my lungs doesn't sound too wonderful to me. Maybe we could teach our employees proper disposal of materials too?) The campgrounds were loosely divided up into themed zones, such as Frozen and Whoville and Ice Age (did they have the rights to use these characters? I'm guessing not from the low-budget costumed characters they had roving about... To be clear, I'm not against copyright infringement of large corporations that have too much money already, but frankly, I'd like to have seen more creativity in creation of zones that didn't rely on the crutch of media that's overpopularized... doesn't risk a lawsuit that way, and is way more unique and special). One of the themed zones was a military zone that felt... cultish and made me distinctly uncomfortable. Using the holidays to celebrate war and death with lit up displays of tanks and guns is a big no-thanks, imo. We've got holidays like Memorial Day and Labor Day to celebrate these things... it doesn't need to be dragged into winter festivities too. The string light covered fire truck was cool though. I did like that they had a free-for-all style sledding area (nothing too steep) that you could enjoy without paying extra. It was a little too chaotic with tiny bodies for me to partake in though. I also appreciated the port-a-johns available around the site. There's a food court area with trucks serving stuff like sausage, BBQ, pizza, mini donuts, kettle korn, and shaved ice. In addition to the several hot beverage stands across the park serving up hot cider, hot cocoa, and various hot alcoholic beverages. Prices were actually what I would consider reasonable, taking into account their location (where the rules are no outside food or beverages). There's a big heated "barn" where you can browse vendors; none of them caught my fancy, but it's stuff like candles, ornaments, apparel, bread, and randomly, all-terrain wheelchairs. There are toilets available in the barn too, which had an insane line because everyone was being really prissy about doing their business not out in the 9° weather with the outhouses, LOL. Reasonable number of photo-op worthy light displays, so I got a few pictures as we ambled around. It was all okay, just not really up to the hype they gave it, y'know?

This was a REALLY fun experience! I was skeptical at first, but as we walked down the hill into the…read moreforest of lights, it was really neat! There are wood burning fires all over so you have the opportunity to warm up along the way, and half way through the mile and a half walk you come to the beautiful barn that contains an event center, with food, crafts and good drinks!! Bring the kids, let them enjoy while you enjoy too!!

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!