Best Things To Do in Minneapolis Sept 11-13 Weekend

September 7, 2026

Key Takeaways

Minneapolis hosts a rare three-sport weekend with the Twins, Gophers, and Vikings all playing at home from September 11–13, 2026.
Free festivals and events include Taste of Greece, Nordeast Polish Fest, Selby Avenue JazzFest, and multiple Open Streets celebrations.
Emerging artists Josiah and the Bonnevilles and LANCO perform Friday night in support slots at The Armory and Canterbury Park.
Weather will be mild to warm Friday and Saturday, then cooler with light rain expected Sunday, so pack layers and rain gear.
Discover your next favorite artist and the stories behind their rise. Explore OnesToWatch Live for exclusive in-depth content and Get Tickets For Friday’s Armory Show.

Featured Ticket Links

These are the weekend’s key OnesToWatch Live picks to lock in first.

Josiah and the Bonnevilles — Friday, September 11 | The Armory, 500 S 6th St, Minneapolis | Supporting Sam Barber on The American Route Tour | 7:00 PM

Get Josiah And The Bonnevilles Tickets

LANCO — Friday, September 11 | Canterbury Park, Shakopee, MN | Supporting Eli Young Band on the Eli Young Band Live 2026 tour

Reserve LANCO Canterbury Park Seats

For deeper context on both artists and more rising names, explore OnesToWatch for exclusive in-depth coverage on the future of music.

Your Day-By-Day Playbook

Friday, September 11

Josiah and the Bonnevilles at The Armory — 7:00 PM
500 S 6th St, Minneapolis

Start the night with a preview of their sound, then decide how early you want to be inside the room.

Josiah and the Bonnevilles open for Sam Barber on The American Route Tour at The Armory. The band appears on the OnesToWatch platform and delivers a set that rewards early arrival. Sam Barber, a 23-year-old country songwriter, headlines after a rise from social media covers to opening for Ed Sheeran and playing the Grand Ole Opry, with his second LP Broken View released this spring. Wild Horses also appear on the bill.

Secure Armory Friday Night Tickets
LANCO at Canterbury Park — Friday, September 11
Canterbury Park, Shakopee, MN

Get a feel for LANCO’s country-rock approach below before deciding between downtown and Shakopee.

LANCO supports Eli Young Band on the Eli Young Band Live 2026 tour at Canterbury Park in Shakopee. Featured on OnesToWatch, LANCO brings a country-rock energy that fits an outdoor amphitheater setting.

Grab LANCO Shakopee Tickets
Minnesota Twins vs. Cleveland Guardians — 7:10 PM
Target Field, 1 Twins Way, Minneapolis

Target Field opens its gates two hours before first pitch for Friday-Sunday games, so fans can grab a pre-game meal in the ballpark before the 7:10 PM start. Tickets for Twins vs Guardians at Target Field on September 13, 2026 range from $17 to $687, which makes this series the most accessible of the weekend’s three major sports events.
LP at The Fillmore Minneapolis — Friday, September 11
525 N 5th St, Minneapolis

LP brings the All Is Not Lost Tour to The Fillmore Minneapolis, presented by Affinity Plus. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster.
Sugar at First Avenue — Friday, September 11
701 First Avenue North, Minneapolis

Sugar is Bob Mould’s post-Hüsker Dü band with David Barbe and Malcolm Travis and announced their reunion in October 2025. Their first live performances since January 1995 are scheduled for May 2026 in New York and London. Friday is night two of three consecutive nights at First Avenue, with J. Robbins of Jawbox as support. Sugar’s initial New York and London reunion residency shows sold out months in advance, though not all shows on their 2026 tour have sold out. Tickets start at $97.
Brenn! at Varsity Theater — 6:00 PM
1308 SE 4th Street, Minneapolis

Brenn! brings the Amateur at Best World Tour to Varsity Theater at 6:00 PM, with tickets starting at approximately $25–$29 depending on the ticket seller.
Margaret Glaspy at Fine Line — Friday, September 11
318 First Avenue North, Minneapolis

Margaret Glaspy performs in support of her album I Am Both, with Anna Tivel as support.
Nordeast Polish Fest — September 11–12, Free Admission
Holy Cross Catholic Church, Minneapolis

The Holy Cross Catholic Church Nordeast Polish Fest runs Friday and Saturday with free admission. The event offers traditional food, music, and cultural programming in the Northeast Minneapolis neighborhood.
Taste of Greece Festival — September 11–13, Free Admission
St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church, Minneapolis

The Minneapolis Taste of Greece Festival at St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church runs all three days of the weekend with free admission. Visitors can expect Greek cuisine and cultural programming.
St. Paul Oktoberfest — September 11–12
Germanic-American Institute, St. Paul

The Saint Paul Oktoberfest at the Germanic-American Institute is a two-day celebration of German culture featuring bratwurst, beer, polka dance, and traditional music performances.

Saturday shifts the focus toward daytime festivals, college football, and another Twins home game.

Saturday, September 12

Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Mississippi State — 2:30 PM
Huntington Bank Stadium, Minneapolis

The Golden Gophers host Mississippi State at 2:30 PM, televised on CBS. Ticket prices vary widely by source and seating, with starting prices around $29–$48 and upper prices exceeding $300. Stadium Village Station on the Green Line drops fans steps from the gates.
Selby Avenue JazzFest — 11:00 AM, Free
Selby Ave & N Milton St, St. Paul

Stokley, St. Paul native and Mint Condition vocalist, performs at the Selby Avenue JazzFest on September 12, 2026, with his set scheduled at 6:30 PM; Day 1 also includes a flash mob at 11:30 AM and a jam session from 8–10 PM. Admission is free.
Family Gathering Concert Series — 10:00 AM–2:00 PM, Free
The Hook & Ladder, 3010 Minnehaha Ave, Minneapolis

The City of Minneapolis Family Gathering Concert Series, produced with the Minnesota Independent Venue Alliance and funded through the city’s $7 million Small Business Resiliency Fund, kicks off Saturday at The Hook & Ladder with a free family-friendly concert from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Matches at Varsity Theater — Saturday, September 12
1308 SE 4th Street, Minneapolis

The Matches bring the Decomposer 20 Years Later tour to Varsity Theater. Tickets start at $61.
Emo Nite at Fine Line Music Cafe — Saturday, September 12
318 First Avenue North, Minneapolis

Emo Nite takes over Fine Line Music Cafe on Saturday night, offering a DJ-driven evening of emo and pop-punk classics.
Open Streets West Broadway — Saturday, September 12, Free
West Broadway Avenue, Minneapolis

Open Streets West Broadway closes the avenue to cars and opens it to pedestrians, cyclists, and community programming for a free afternoon event.
Minneapolis Oddities & Curiosities Expo — September 12–13
Minneapolis Convention Center

The Minneapolis Oddities & Curiosities Expo 2026 takes place at the Minneapolis Convention Center on September 12–13, with tickets $15 in advance or $20 at the door, and kids 12 and under free.
Minnesota Twins vs. Cleveland Guardians — 3:10 PM
Target Field, Minneapolis

The Twins host the Guardians at Target Field on Saturday, September 12 at 3:10 PM. Target Field had a seating capacity of 38,885 during the 2017 season, and the afternoon start pairs cleanly with an evening concert.

Sunday closes the weekend with the Vikings home opener, a free stadium-adjacent concert, and several touring headliners.

Sunday, September 13

Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers — 3:25 PM CT
U.S. Bank Stadium, 900 South 5th Street, Minneapolis

The Vikings host the Packers in their 2026 season opener at U.S. Bank Stadium, marking the third time in franchise history that Minnesota has opened a season by hosting Green Bay. Tickets for Vikings vs Packers on September 13, 2026 range from about $190 to over $900, with starting prices around $200–$224 and premium seats exceeding $700. The game broadcasts on CBS at 3:25 PM CT.
Cole Swindell Free Concert — Sunday, September 13
The Commons, in front of U.S. Bank Stadium

Cole Swindell plays a free concert at The Commons as part of a Vikings season kick-off party before the 3:25 p.m. kickoff. It stands out as the most accessible live-music option of the entire weekend.
Chief Keef at The Armory — Sunday, September 13
500 S 6th St, Minneapolis

Chief Keef, the 31-year-old standard-bearer for the Chicago drill scene, headlines The Armory on Sunday as part of a tour that begins in Chicago the night before. Tickets for Chief Keef at The Armory start at around $58–$72 on the secondary market.
Dan + Shay at Mystic Lake Amphitheater — Sunday, September 13
Mystic Lake Amphitheater, Shakopee

Dan + Shay headline Mystic Lake Amphitheater with Tyler Hubbard and Josh Ross as support. Tickets for Dan + Shay at Mystic Lake Amphitheater start at $33 on Vivid Seats.
Ceremony at Fine Line — Sunday, September 13
318 First Avenue North, Minneapolis

Ceremony, a California-based punk band consisting of Ross Farrar, Anthony Anzaldo, Andy Nelson, Justin Davis, and Jake Casarotti, headlines Fine Line with Poison Ruïn and WORLD PEACE as opening acts.
Open Streets Minneapolis: Cedarfest — Sunday, September 13, Free
Cedar Avenue S, Cedar-Riverside Neighborhood

Open Streets Minneapolis: Cedarfest closes Cedar Avenue to traffic in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood for a free community street festival on Sunday, September 13, 2026. The event offers a low-key counterpoint to the stadium energy elsewhere in the city.

Year-Round Spots To Add To Your Weekend

Several institutions and seasonal stops can round out gaps between games and shows. The Walker Art Center is open Wednesday and Friday–Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM, and Thursday from 10 AM to 9 PM; it is closed on Monday and Tuesday, and the adjacent Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is free to the public. Mill City Museum, located at 704 South 2nd Street in Minneapolis, is open Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with general admission at $12 for adults (seniors, students, and veterans $10, children ages 5–17 $8).

The Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) opens the exhibition María Berrío: Songlines on September 12, 2026, with free admission. The Guthrie Theater production of Waiting for Godot runs September 12 through October 11, 2026, on the Wurtele Thrust Stage, with single tickets ranging from $27 to $91.

Surly Brewing’s Oktoberfest celebration, SurlyFest 2026, takes place at Surly Brewing Co. in Minneapolis, with the beer hall serving German-inspired fare from September 9–20 and the main festival day on September 19; admission is free and food and drinks are available for purchase.

Afton Apple Orchard hosts an Anniversary Celebration and Touch-A-Tractor Weekend on September 12–13 for visitors who want a countryside break. The St. Paul Saints also play their last home games of the 2026 season at CHS Field in Lowertown from September 8–13 against the Syracuse Mets.

How This Weekend Fits Together

Three overlapping threads define this particular weekend. The sports calendar stacks a Friday MLB game, a Saturday college football kickoff on CBS, and a Sunday NFL home opener against a long-time rival, which creates a three-day arc that pulls in regional visitors. Free events cluster across the schedule, with Taste of Greece, Nordeast Polish Fest, Selby JazzFest, Open Streets West Broadway, Open Streets Cedarfest, the Cole Swindell pregame concert, and the Family Gathering Concert Series all carrying no admission cost.

The live-music slate also favors early arrivals, as OnesToWatch-featured artists Josiah and the Bonnevilles and LANCO both appear in Friday support slots that often precede a move up the bill.

Practical Weekend Planning Tips

Getting Around: The Metro Transit Blue Line light rail runs directly from both MSP terminals to downtown Minneapolis in about 25–30 minutes, with a Day Pass costing $5 for unlimited rides on light rail and buses. Target Field has its own transit hub on both the Blue and Green Lines, U.S. Bank Stadium Station serves both lines, and Stadium Village Station on the Green Line drops fans steps from Huntington Bank Stadium’s gates, so a car-optional weekend remains realistic.

Weather: Forecasts show Friday at a high of 30°C with overcast skies and no precipitation, Saturday at a high of 25°C also overcast, and Sunday bringing a light rain shower with a high of 19°C and approximately 6.8mm of precipitation expected. Pack a layer and light rain jacket for Sunday’s outdoor events, including the Cole Swindell pregame concert and Cedarfest.

Tickets: The Josiah and the Bonnevilles and LANCO shows at The Armory and Canterbury Park sit at the top of the list for new-music discovery. Both take place Friday night at separate venues roughly 25 miles apart, so plan transit and timing if you aim to sample both.

Where to Stay: Median Minneapolis hotel rates are approximately $160 per night, based on BudgetYourTrip data from 37 hotels. Booking ahead helps keep prices predictable.

Vikings Pregame Tip: The Cole Swindell free concert at The Commons in front of U.S. Bank Stadium begins before the 3:25 PM kickoff. Arrive early, catch the set, then walk directly into the stadium without additional transit.

FAQ

What Are The Top Events In Minneapolis The Weekend Of September 11–13, 2026?

The weekend’s anchor events span sports, music, and culture. On the sports side, the Minnesota Twins host the Cleveland Guardians at Target Field on all three days, the Minnesota Golden Gophers host Mississippi State at Huntington Bank Stadium on Saturday at 2:30 PM, and the Minnesota Vikings open their NFL season against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday at 3:25 PM CT.

On the music side, Josiah and the Bonnevilles and Sam Barber perform at The Armory on Friday, LANCO and Eli Young Band perform at Canterbury Park in Shakopee on Friday, Chief Keef headlines The Armory on Sunday, and Dan + Shay headline Mystic Lake Amphitheater on Sunday. Cultural highlights include the Taste of Greece Festival, Nordeast Polish Fest, and the Selby Avenue JazzFest.

What Free Things Are There To Do In Minneapolis That Weekend?

The free-event calendar is extensive. The Taste of Greece Festival at St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church runs all three days with free admission. The Nordeast Polish Fest runs Friday and Saturday at no cost. The Selby Avenue JazzFest in St. Paul is a free multi-day festival featuring live jazz, food vendors, and a lineup that includes Stokley, though Stokley’s appearance is scheduled as a masterclass on Sunday rather than a Saturday headlining set.

Open Streets West Broadway on Saturday and Open Streets Minneapolis: Cedarfest on Sunday both close major streets to cars for free community programming. The Family Gathering Concert Series at The Hook & Ladder on Saturday morning is free and family-friendly. Cole Swindell plays a free pregame concert at The Commons on Sunday. The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is free year-round, and the Minneapolis Institute of Art opens the María Berrío: Songlines exhibition on Saturday with free admission.

What Is The Weather Like In Minneapolis In Mid-September?

Mid-September in Minneapolis sits in a transitional stretch between summer and fall. Based on 1991–2020 climate normals, average daily highs typically range from the mid-70s°F (for example, 74°F on September 15) to average lows in the mid-50s°F (for example, 56°F on September 15), though warmer stretches are possible. For this specific weekend, see the weather details in the Practical Weekend Planning Tips section and pack layers plus a light rain jacket for Sunday.

How Do I Get From Minneapolis–Saint Paul Airport To Downtown Minneapolis?

The Metro Transit Blue Line light rail offers the most straightforward option. It runs directly from both MSP terminals (Terminal 1-Lindbergh and Terminal 2-Humphrey) to downtown Minneapolis in approximately 25–30 minutes, with adult fares of $2.00 off-peak and $2.50 during rush hour (weekdays 6–9 a.m. and 3–6:30 p.m.).

A Metro Transit All-Day Pass costs $4 for adults and covers unlimited rides on local buses and METRO light rail lines from the time of purchase until 2 a.m. the next day, which helps if you plan to attend multiple events. Ride-share services are also available from the airport. Uber fares typically range from about $23 to $52, averaging near $36, and the trip usually takes about 20–40 minutes depending on traffic.

Where Can I See Emerging Artists In Minneapolis This Weekend?

The clearest opportunities land on Friday night. Josiah and the Bonnevilles open for Sam Barber at The Armory on The American Route Tour, and LANCO supports Eli Young Band at Canterbury Park in Shakopee on the Eli Young Band Live 2026 tour. Both acts appear on OnesToWatch, a platform that has highlighted emerging artists including Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, and Olivia Rodrigo before their mainstream breakthroughs. For a broader look at which emerging artists are worth tracking in 2026, OnesToWatch annual selections provide a curated starting point.

Get Tickets For Josiah And The Bonnevilles Get Tickets For LANCO In Shakopee

Conclusion

The weekend of September 11–13, 2026 in Minneapolis brings a rare convergence of sports, festivals, and touring artists. Three major sports franchises play at home across three consecutive days, a festival calendar stretches from Greek Orthodox church grounds to jazz-focused St. Paul streets, and the live-music slate ranges from Sugar’s reunion run to Chief Keef to two OnesToWatch-featured support acts whose profiles may look different within a year. Friday night stands out as the prime window for music discovery.

Lock In Armory Tickets For Josiah And The Bonnevilles Reserve Your Spot For LANCO At Canterbury Park

Check out OnesToWatch’s 2026 Top 30 Artists To Watch.