This weekend offers a rich array of arts events in the Twin Cities: Local musicians and DJs will close out Pride Month at First Avenue. A soul food festival will bring African cuisine and live music from Obi Original and The Black Atlantics to a Minneapolis farmers market. Meanwhile, a St. Paul market will mark 50 years of Southeast Asian communities in Minnesota with art installations and street food.

At the Minneapolis American Indian Center, a runway show will honor traditional Indigenous designs. And a new DIY arts festival invites attendees to reimagine fashion through hands-on workshops. 

Fabrika Arts Festival turns old clothes into art

The Fabrika Art Festival, hosted by Minneapolis-based NMDZ Collective and Art Shelf, is inviting people to create and connect at an event featuring a fashion workshop, collage-making, live music, open mics and pop-up vendors offering art and vintage clothing. 

“It came out of the heart to bring people together,” said Allison Pinzon, co-founder of NMDZ. “After everything that happened with the pandemic and what Minneapolis was going through, we saw a big need — especially among young artists — to rebuild the city, not just physically but in community.”

Two artist-led workshops at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, June 28, will anchor the festival. One will focus on upcycling fashion, where attendees can bring their own clothes or use provided materials to reimagine and transform. The other will teach collage techniques, with supplies on hand, although guests are encouraged to bring their own magazines or images. 

Pinzon, originally from Colombia, co-founded the collective in 2024 with her partner, Brazilian musician Filipe Machado. The pair initially hosted a series of open mic nights that quickly grew into a network of 20 artists and volunteers organizing art events focused on community healing. 

“Open mics have been the mark of our collective,” Pinzon said. “We wanted to give people the space to share — whether it’s music, art, feelings — and find a community that’s there to listen and support.”

The festival will also include a 7 p.m. open mic session, followed by a 9 p.m. set by St. Paul rapper Dematlas and punk-rock band Devotion. Food from Tacos La Muñeca will also be on site. 

“Our biggest hope is that people feel connected,” Pinzon said. “Not just inspired to create, but to build relationships and keep showing up for one another.”

Artists celebrate Pride at First Avenue

Founded by DJ Keezy in 2015, the Klituation returns to First Avenue to celebrate Pride Month with a lineup of local talent. Friday night features drag queen Lady Cummeal, genre-bending singer-songwriter Xina, dancer Coffē, hip-hop artists Bdotcroc and Maria Isa, rising rapper Zora, and DJs Sophia Eris and Tina Ayodele. 

Fashion show highlights jingle dress designs

Anishinaabe elder Bwaananaabekwe Mary Moose will host an Indigenous Fashion Show at the Minneapolis American Indian Center with original jingle dresses by Aerius Benton-Banai and performances by dancers Joe and Mattias BigBear, Marlyn Fineday and Miiskogihmiiwan Poupart-Chapman. The event will feature music from DJ Sheldon Cook Jr. and the drum group Gakaabikaang. 

Soul Food Fest features flavors of diaspora

Black Market Events will host an outdoor Soul Food Festival, featuring a lineup of local vendors, from Charlie’s Conch Shack’s Bahamian food and Delly J’s Jamaican catering to Taste the Real Nawlins’ Creole, Cajun and soul food dishes. Other highlights will include Mexican street food from Taco Taco and El Burrito Mercado, and barbecue from Rollin Nolens and L&D BBQ. 

Nigerian Afro-pop artist Obi Original and Minneapolis-based collective The Black Atlantics — blending West African, Caribbean and blues influences — will perform live. RSVP here. 

Night market spotlights art and street food

St. Paul’s Little Mekong district will host a night market with more than 25 local food vendors serving Tibetan, Vietnamese, Thai, Hmong and Japanese dishes; 17 artist booths; K-pop and street dance competitions; and live music. Eight visual artists, including Mia Vue Jennings, Sara Gregor and Khamphian Vang, will mark 50 years of Southeast Asian communities in Minnesota with art installations. 

READ MORE

Celebrate the Year of the Horse: Eight ways to ring in Lunar New Year across Minnesota

Prayer, charity, community: Where to celebrate Ramadan this year

Dreaming something different: St. Paul youth artists rewrite the narrative of foster care