Freeloader Friday: 114 Free Things To Do This Weekend

Fall has officially arrived in the Twin Cities, and with it comes a plethora of free events to enjoy this weekend. From art studios to markets and music, there's plenty to do without breaking the bank.

Events

Freeloader Friday is your weekly guide to having fun no matter what your budget looks like. Each week we have a list of 100% free events like gallery parties, music, and films in the park, as well as free admission events like special happy hours, markets, and more.

Fall Open Studios

Art-A-Whirl isn’t the only major annual open studio event in northeast Minneapolis. Every fall, a bunch of the big arts venues open their doors and encourage folks to come in and explore what the artists inside have been up to. We’re talking about hundreds of open spaces hosting special receptions, sales, pop-up markets, exhibitions, and parties—in each building. General event hours are: 5–9 p.m. Fri.; noon to 8 p.m. Sat.; noon to 5 p.m. Sun. Find more info here.

Art Attack

Four floors of things to see and do.

Fri.–Sun. Northrup King, 1500 Jackson St. NE, Minneapolis.

Open Casket

There’ll be over 100 artists here at this spooky-sounding event (a casket-making company was the building's original tenant). Head down to the basement on Friday and Saturday for speakeasy-style cocktails from 45th Parallel Distillery.

Fri.–Sun. Casket Arts, 681 17th Ave. NE, Minneapolis.

California Dreamin’

With six floors of fun, including demos and hands-on activities.

Fri.–Sun. California Building, 2205 California St. NE, Minneapolis.

A few highlights at California:

“Delightful 20” Friends and colleagues Jennifer Davis and Amy Rice celebrate the anniversary of their “Delightful” exhibitions, which have been held in two states/three cities over the last 20. There will be a gallery exhibition Fri. from 5–9 p.m., followed by a pop-up shop of their work from noon to 8 p.m. and noon to 5 p.m. Sat.–Sun. California Building, Floor 6, 2205 California St. NE, Minneapolis.

“Embracing the Urban Landscape: A Community Painting Project” Help paint at this community art project. During California Dreamin’ hours, Fri.–Sun. California Building, Rogue Begonia (studio 201), 2205 California St. NE, Minneapolis.

Fall Open Studios at Q.arma

This space is right by a few great breweries, Earl Giles Distillery, a ton of restaurants, and an ice cream shop if you want to make an evening of it.

Fri.–Sun. Q.arma, 1224 Quincy St. NE, Minneapolis.

Art This Way

This spot has live music all weekend plus “ROLL CALL,” a group exhibition celebrating 14 years of artists in the building.

Fri.–Sun. Solar Arts Building, 711 15th Ave. NE, Minneapolis.

Fall Open Studios at Holland Arts

Another great location with tons of artists.

Fri.–Sun. Holland Arts, 607 22nd Ave. NE, Minneapolis.

At Holland:

“Elisabeth Heying: Places We Find Ourself” Tonight’s opening reception features an artist talk/gallery walkthrough of the show, which features paintings spanning four years and three continents. 6–8:30 p.m. Holland Arts (EAST Building), 639 22nd Ave. NE, Minneapolis.

Fall Open Studios at Thorpe Building

More art here too!

Fri.–Sun. Thorpe Building, 1618 Central Ave. NE, Minneapolis.

“STAMPEDE! A Horse Inspired Art Show” Attention cowboys, horse gals, and misc. animal lovers: 45 artists are sharing art inspired by equine beauty. 6–10 p.m. Fri.–Sat. ALTR Gallery / Otherworldly Arts Collective, 451 Taft St. NE, Minneapolis.

Fall Open Studio & Fragrance Friday

Perfumes, soaps, advent calendars, candles, paintings, prints, and zines. 3–6 p.m. MN Dream Art, 2200 University Ave. NE, Minneapolis.

Compassionate Ocean Zen Center Open House

Right across the street from the Casket Arts building, this weekend party includes refreshments, tours of the Zen Center, and info on zen practice. 5–8 p.m. Fri.; 1–3 p.m. Sat.; 9–10:45 a.m. Sun. Compassionate Ocean Zen Center, 652 17th Ave. NE, Minneapolis.

My Body My Home

Featuring a line dance in the parking lot, poetry and a movie introduction, free popcorn and hot cocoa, post-show games, and a 10-minute movie screening projected on the building wall. 5–7 p.m. Outside the Cowles Center and Lobby, 516 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis; registration is appreciated and can be done here.

Autumn Brown

The How to Survive the End of the World podcaster celebrates the release of her new book, Temper, with a conversation with Dr. Katie Robinson. 7 p.m. Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Ave., Minneapolis.

Stringdingers

10 p.m. 331 Club, 331 13th Ave. NE, Minneapolis.

Funk Friday

Featuring Big Fat Money. 7:30 p.m. Animales BBQ Co., 241 Fremont Ave. N., Minneapolis.

Chris Davies & the Afterparty

6–8 p.m. White Squirrel Bar, 974 W. Seventh St., St. Paul.

Dead on Board

9 p.m. to midnight. White Squirrel Bar, 974 W. Seventh St., St. Paul.

Sheldon Grove Warblers

7–9 p.m. Urban Forage Winery and Cider House, 3016 E. Lake St., Minneapolis.

Capital Sons, the Gated Community

8 p.m. Schooner Tavern, 2901 27th Ave. S., Minneapolis.

Dayton’s Holiday Market

Shop from around 100 local brands and makers. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.–Sat.; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sun. through Dec. 24. Dayton’s, 700 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis; find more info here.

Holiday Gallery Shop

Get yer shopping done early here. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tue.–Thu.; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fri.–Sat. through December 31. Textile Center, 3000 University Ave. SE, Minneapolis; Textile Center of Minneapolis.

Food Truck Fridays

Black Business Network hosts this bimonthly event featuring eats, local businesses, resources, and activities for kids. Other dates: Nov. 27. 3–8 p.m. 907 Payne Ave., St. Paul.

Ice Fest

This parking lot popup includes ice fishing vendors, ice castles and power-sport vehicles on display, prizes, food trucks, and freebies. 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fri.; 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat. Scheels, 8301 Flying Cloud Dr., Eden Prairie.

Free Yoga

Reserve a spot at greenwayyoga.com. 5:30 p.m. every Fri. Greenway Yoga, 2510 Nicollet Ave. S., Minneapolis.

S’mores on the Patio

Free sweet treats on the patio every Friday. 8–10 p.m. Minneapolis Cider Company, 701 SE Ninth St., Minneapolis.

Open Ice Skating

The weather this fall has been historically hot, and that’s not good news for winter sports enthusiasts. But this month, there will be at least one sure thing for people who’d like to hit the ice. Minneapolis's Children’s Theater Company has turned its fourth-floor rehearsal hall into an ice rink that will be free for all (but, hopefully, not a free-for-all), with 30-minute skate sessions that can be reserved online. That’s right, on the fourth floor (I can’t imagine how that impacts insurance rates, though the rink is actually made from a chemical, ice-like compound). The rink will be open for about three weeks, concurrent with winter productions Twelve Kinds of Ice and Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Bring your own skates or borrow a pair. Children’s Theatre Company, 2400 Third Ave. S., Minneapolis; find more info Children’s Theater Company Ice Rink.

Through November 22—Jessica Armbruster

CCU Friday Night Open Mic

10 p.m. Whitey’s Old Town Saloon, 400 E. Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis.

Happy Hour Trivia Mafia

5 p.m. every Fri. Brit’s Pub, 1110 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis.

ST. PAUL FARMERS MARKETS

St. Paul Indoor Farmers Market 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tue.–Sun. through Nov. 22. 308 Prince St. E., St. Paul; stpaulfarmersmarket.com.

SATURDAY

Echo Signal, the Dead Electrics, wolfbabycup 10 p.m. 331 Club, 331 13th Ave. NE, Minneapolis.

Hot Club Mania Quartet 7 p.m. Padraigs, 945 Broadway NE, Minneapolis.

Indie Rock Den Concert 2:30–4 p.m. Padraigs, 945 Broadway NE, Minneapolis.

Scott Hefte With Boots & Needles, Aaron James. 1–4 p.m. White Squirrel Bar, 974 W. Seventh St., St. Paul.

Ciao Bello With Fumbler. 6–8 p.m. White Squirrel Bar