Fall for college students is often jam-packed with welcome events, sporting events and more, helping students engage with their campus community. What often goes unnoticed during this busy time on campus is the abundance of events in the surrounding community. Here’s a guide to the not-to-be-missed events this fall.
CLUES Fiesta Latina
Fiesta Latina is a free community festival with live music, healthy Latino food, crafts, giveaways and more free activities for the whole family. The festival is Saturday, September 14th from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at CLUES St. Paul.
Selby Jazz Fest
Once you’ve checked out CLUES Fiesta Latina, what better way to end your day than at the Selby Jazz Festival? Selby Jazz Fest is a free event with six musical guest/group performances, family-friendly activities, arts and crafts and food vendors. The event is on September 14th from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the intersection of Selby and Milton Avenues in St. Paul’s Summit-University neighborhood.
Chroma Zone Mural and Art Festival
From September 19th to 21st, head to the South St. Anthony Park neighborhood for artist-led events, a showing of more than 60 murals, live painting with artists from all over and more. For more information on all of the family-friendly events and activities the festival has to offer, check out their website: https://www.chromazone.net/
Wabasha Street Caves
A tour of the Wabasha Street Caves is something I can’t recommend enough as a Minnesota native. Join their Historic Cave Tour or Original Saint Paul Gangster Tour to see the extensive set of caves carved into St. Paul’s sandstone and learn about an unsolved murder that took place in the caves back in the 1930s. If you’re in a spooky mood, check out their seasonal Haunted Halloween or Ghosts and Graves tour. For more information, check out their website: https://www.wabashacaves.com/
Oktoberfest: Waldmann Brewery and Wurstery
Heading into October, St. Paul has a plethora of Oktoberfest celebrations. At Waldmann Brewery’s 7th Oktoberfest, from September 20th to 22nd, enjoy a weekend of over 25 musical performances, festival food, performances from German dancers, contests and games. There will even be a puppet show on Sunday for the brewery’s Family Day.
St. Paul Brewing Oktoberfest
Still not done with your Oktoberfest celebration? At St. Paul Brewing, from October 11th to 13th, enjoy a weekend of Bavarian pretzels, games, live polka music, various competitions, fest beer and more.
Shadows and Spirits of the State Capitol
To close out the month, the Minnesota State Capitol offers tours through the 120-year-old building’s dimly lit corridors where visitors see historical “spirits” who tell stories of the capitol long ago. Tours are open on October 17, 18, 19, 24 and 26. The one-hour tours are at 6:30, 7, 7:30 and 8 p.m. Admission can be found on their website: https://www.mnhs.org/events/2633
These festivals, tours and more are just some of the many local events taking place in St. Paul this fall.
Cecilia Wallace can be contacted at wall1238@stthomas.edu.