Thousands of Minnesota Somalis will gather this weekend to celebrate resilience and community after a winter in the crosshairs of Operation Metro Surge.

Somali Independence Day celebrations include an all-day street fair on Lake Street and a community gathering in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis, which was heavily targeted by federal agents in December and January. 

Celebrations in Plymouth, Owatonna and St. Cloud are planned later this summer.

Deeq Abdi, who organized the West Bank celebration for Mixed Blood Theatre, said community members are excited to come together after federal immigration operations shut down businesses and left many families afraid to leave their homes this winter.

“People want to be outside in summer,” he said. “It was a really hard winter and the Somali community itself has been targeted and specially called out by this administration and so we want to celebrate our independence day but also celebrate being part of the American fabric.” 

The state’s largest Somali Day celebration, a street fair on Lake Street, will also return this year with new activities such as carnival rides and games and a sambusa-eating contest.

Daud Mohamed, executive director of People in Action, which is organizing the Lake Street event, said he’s excited to see the festival offer more activities for the Somali community. 

“I’m looking forward to a bigger stage, more voices at the table and more celebrations,” he said. “We’re not just guests in this country but we’re builders, particularly for the festival.” 

This year, People in Action is collaborating with cultural group Hiddo Soor to organize the Lake Street festival. 

Hiddo Soor is hosting a separate event featuring Somali artists Nimcaan Hilaac and Hodan Abdirahman, along with food trucks and other activities in Plymouth on July 18. It also has events in Owatonna and St. Cloud later this summer.

Hiddo Soor’s interim executive director, Mohamed Wardere, said the events around the state help connect Somali Minnesotans to their neighbors, building mutual respect and understanding.

Wardere said this year, Hiddo Soor’s work to build ties across cultures feel especially important.

“We came, we belong and we will stay forever,” Wardere said. “Every community in America has a right to exercise and express their culture and in order to be alive for generation to generation.”

Somali Day Festival 

The festival will take place on Lake Street with music performances and activities such as carnival games and a sambusa-eating contest. 

Mixed Blood Somali celebration 

Mixed Blood is hosting their Somali independence day celebration at Currie park with the headlining band, Ardaa. 

Owatonna’s Somali Festival 

Similar to other Hiddo Soor’s planned events, Somali artist Hodan Abdirahman will perform on July 3, 2026. 

Plymouth Somali Festival 

Hiddo Soor’s main Somali festival will take place on July 18 with Somali performer Nimcaan Hilaac and food trucks and animal displays. 

St. Cloud Somali festival 

Hiddo Soor is hosting a street closing in St. Cloud with Somali traditional houses and animal displays. This is their third year hosting the street closing. 

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