10-07-2025
Twin Cities weekend: Bastille Day, salsa festival, adult book fair
In the mood for French food? Monday is Bastille Day, and local restaurants across the metro are amping up to celebrate France's national holiday this weekend.
Driving the news: Bûcheron, the French-American eatery in Kingfield that just won the James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant, is hosting a free community celebration Sunday with street food and cocktails for purchase, live music and a chef-filled dunk tank.
Acclaimed bakery Marc Heu Patisserie Paris will transform its St. Paul patio into a free fête Sunday with live French music, portraits by a fashion illustrator, romantic improvised poetry, and plenty of house-made food — including artisanal crepes and a French hot dog croissant.
Yes, and: Uptown's resident French-inspired restaurant Barbette will host its annual free block party Sunday from 3-9pm, with five live music acts performing rain or shine.
In other entertainment news ...
📚 Scholastic Book Fair lovers, this is your moment — the State Fairgrounds' Education Building will play host to Inbound BrewCo's Book Fair for Grown Ups this Saturday, a "literary wonderland" with 140 local authors, bookstores, publishers and crafters. $10 entry, which includes a free drink ticket; kids 12 and under free
🧒 Support the next generation of business owners at the Children's Entrepreneur Market in downtown Robbinsdale on Saturday afternoon: a farmer's market run entirely by kids ages 5-17. (Parents can be on-site, but have to "pretend they're not there.") Free entry
🐞 Explore a "living animal exhibit" Saturday afternoon at the Science Museum of Minnesota's Critter Fest, featuring appearances from service and therapy dogs, reptiles, mussels, beetles and a variety of Minnesota Zoo animals. $24.95 for ages 4-17, $34.95 for adults; tickets include an Omnitheater show
💃 Dance the night away at the annual Minnesota Salsa Fiesta Saturday night, held in and outside of Mill City Museum in Minneapolis. The Ruins Courtyard will host two stages with live music on one and professional salsa dancers on the other; inside, you can find Latino food, beverages, artisan vendors and a DJ.
🐶 Bring your pup to Arbeiter Brewing this Sunday for the Corgi Market Oasis, a fundraiser for nonprofit Keep Corgis Home that welcomes any and all pups. Expect corgi-themed merch, temporary tattoos, a canine costume contest, and a race that any dog under 60 pounds is eligible to enter. Free
⚓️ Heading north this weekend? The Festival of Sail has taken over Duluth through Sunday, bringing tall and historic ships from around the world to the harbor for tours, day sails, educational programming and more.
