It’s all Downtown! Full Summer of Activities, Classes and Events Planned at Downtown Minneapolis Parks

Water Works during a recent summer event. Photo courtesy of Minneapolis Parks Foundation

Free daily activities, weekly classes, concerts, movies and more happening this summer at The Commons and Water Works

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is hosting a new array of daily activities, weekly classes, music, movies and events happening all summer long at two new Downtown parks, The Commons and Water Works.

The new programming is part of an effort to welcome people back to Downtown after the pandemic and showcase two of the newest attractions in the Minneapolis park system. The Commons is located at 425 Portland Ave. S and Water Works is located at 425 West River Parkway.

Complete details and the full schedule: minneapolisparks.org/downtown.

Musical performace during the 2021 Owamni Falling Water Festival at Water Works

* * * MUSIC * * * 

Hip Hop, Folk, Rock, Bluegrass, Classical and much more! The Downtown Parks summer concert season runs Memorial Day through Labor Day. All concerts are offered free of charge.

The Commons: Every Thursday at 5 pm

Water Works: 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at 7 pm

* * * MOVIES * * * 

Enjoy a movie on the big screen under the stars Memorial Day through Labor Day. All movies are offered free of charge and start 15 minutes after sunset. Minneapolis Sunset Calendar

The Commons: Every Wednesday night presented by the Minneapolis Downtown Council.

Water Works: Twin Cities Black Film Festival Screenings on June 10, July 1.

Summer activities at The Commons

* * * FREE DAILY ACIVITIES * * * 

All activities are free and do not require registration. Drop in and enjoy!

The Commons: All activities offered Monday-Friday, 11 am-5 pm

Frisbee Golf

Lawn and Table Games View Game Inventory

Water Works:

Outdoor Exploration Kits: Every day, 9am-9pm

Lock and Dam Tours: Every day, 11am-2pm

Junior Rangers: Every day, 11am-2pm

Lawn and Table Games: Every day, 9am-9pm View Game Inventory

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Performances at Water Works

The Downtown Parks summer performance series partners with local artists to bring unique offerings to Water Works from Memorial Day to Labor Day. All performances are offered free of charge.

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- Opera under the Stars: Monday, June 6 and Monday, July 4 at 7 pm

- MacPhail Faculty Concert: Saturday, July 9, 5:30 pm

- MacPhail KidsFest!: Saturday, June 11, 10 am

- Nanilo Sings: Monday, July 11, 7 pm

- Opera on the Lake (at the river): Monday, July 18, 7 pm

- MacPhail Sing Along: Thursday, August 11, 6:30 pm

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Weekly Classes at Water Works

All classes are free and don’t require registration unless otherwise noted.

Yoga Fika Fridays: Every other Friday*, 7:30-8 am
*Class scheduled May 13, May 27, June 17, June 24, July 8, July 22, Aug. 5, Aug. 19, Sept. 2

Naturalist Discovery Station: Fridays, 11:30 am-12:30 pm

High Intensity Functional Training: Saturdays*, 10-11 am
(No class June 11 or June 18)

Vinyasa Flow Yoga:  Sundays*, 10-11 am
(No class June 19)

Summer Chess in the Park: Wednesdays, 6:30-7:30 pm
Session 1: June 8-July 13
Session 2: July 20-August 24

REGISTER HERE 

* * * FOOD * * *

The Commons hosts a rotating fleet of food trucks for lunch every weekday along 5th Avenue S.

Water Works hosts Owamni, an award-winning restaurant serving modern Indigenous cuisine out of the second floor of Water Works Pavilion. Visit the Owamni website for hours and reservations, or try for a patio table, which are available for walk-ins.

Owamni also offers local craft beer from a cart on the Water Works patio.