The Most Unique Summer Festivals You Can Find Across Minnesota

From the Live Cat Tour to Top the Tater Days, Bean Hole Days to Kolacky Days, we've got some really unique festivals that take place across Minnesota. So I accumulated a list of some of the most unique festivals for this summer in Minnesota.

Find your favorite, put it on your calendar, and maybe you'll discover a new favorite summer tradition!

Some of the Most Unique Summer Festivals in Minnesota

Some of these unique festivals have already passed for 2026, unfortunately. But I wanted to keep them on the list because they're still unique and we can keep it in mind for next summer.

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Rhubarb Festival - Lanesboro (June 6, 2026)

Lanesboro is the 'Rhubarb Capital of Minnesota', so fittingly, they host the Rhubarb Festival every summer. The festival includes rhubarb-themed art, a contest for the largest leaf and heaviest stalk, and a fashion show featuring 'rhubarb attire'.

Lake of the Isles Pencil Sharpening - Lake of the Isles (June 6, 2026)

This unique festival started because one neighbors tree that was damaged in a storm was transformed into a giant No. 2 pencil. Now, every year, people gather and block traffic to watch a small, ceremonial amount the 'pencil' get sharpened off every year with the crowd chanting 'sharpen it!'.

Chalkfest - Maple Grove (June 13-14, 2026)

This is said to be the largest chalk festival in the Midwest. Tens of thousands of people gather in Maple Grove for Chalkfest and watch on as 40 chalk artists transform the area. Most of the art done are 3D optical illusions.

chalk art at chalkfest in maple grove, mn

Wedge Live Cat Tour - Minneapolis (June 24, 2026)

This event started when one man who lived in the Wedge neighborhood in Minneapolis started posting pictures of the cats he'd see in his neighbor's windows while on walks. Then it turned into a group of people joining him looking for cats in windows. Then people started coming with signs that said 'Show Us Your Cat'. And now it's this huge event in the Wedge neighborhood where hundreds of people come to appreciate the neighborhood's cats. Neighbors get involved with fun displays, pictures, and bringing their cats outside on leashes and in strollers.

Top the Tater Days - Farmington (June 25-28, 2026)

Top the Tater Days actually started as Mountain Dew Days because Pepsi Co. said back in 1979 that Farmington drank the most Mountain Dew of any community per capita. Eventually, it was renamed after Top the Tater and the event includes a competition to see who can scoop the most Top the Tater on a chip without it breaking.

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Bean Hole Days - Pequot Lakes (July 14-15, 2026)

In 1938, local business owners put together a free bean feed for area farmers as a thank you for their hard work. They cooked the beans slowly in a heated underground pit. That tradition continues today at Bean Hole Days, where cast iron pots of beans are lowered into a pit to cook overnight with the bean feed the next day. They also crown King and Queen Bean every year.

bean hole days in pequot lakes, mn

Lumberjack Days - Stillwater (July 17-19, 2026)

The Lumberjack Days celebrates Stillwater's logging history. The festival includes lumberjack competitions and chainsaw art demonstrations. And if you don't go dressed in your best flannel even though it's July, I will personally be upset about it.

Kolacky Days - Montgomery (July 24-26, 2026)

As the self-proclaimed 'Kolacky Capital of the World', Montgomery, of course, hosts a town festival called Kolacky Days (pronounced kloch-key). The festival includes traditional Czech folk attire, Czech folk dancing, a Bohemian Tractor Pull, and even the US National Prune Spitting Championships.

Minnesota Garlic Festival - Hutchinson (August 15, 2026)

The Minnesota Garlic Festival really leans into the garlic theme. There's the ceremonial bulb toss, like the first pitch at a baseball game but with garlic bulbs. There's also a parade with garlic themed costumes. And of course, the food is garlic themed, too, with things like garlic cotton candy, garlic soft serve ice cream, and garlic ginger lemonade.

garlic costume at minnesota garlic festival

So many fun events to check out across Minnesota this summer! I really want to check out the Garlic Festival sometime. I'm one of those people who doubles however much garlic a recipe says to put in, so I think I'd fit right in at the Garlic Festival.