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In-Person Events
Virtual Events
Welcome to This Week in Geek, your guide to events of interest to the Minnesota geek community for the week of Monday, June 30, to Sunday, July 6.
Although inclusion in This Week in Geek is not an official endorsement of any event or organizer, we do our best to feature events that appear safe, responsible, and consistent with our mission and values. If you feel that one of the events below is incompatible with Twin Cities Geek as an organization, we encourage you to contact us at info@twincitiesgeek.com with your concerns.
In-Person Events
Shakespeare in Our Parks: All’s Well That Ends Well
What: Theater & Comedy
When: Now through Sunday, July 13
Where: Various venues
The Classical Actors Ensemble is back for its 11th summer of Shakespeare in Our Parks. This year the group is performing All’s Well That Ends Well, a comedy of fate, unrequited love, and self-discovery. These events are free and are performed at different parks throughout the state. Check out the website for the full list of performances, including locations and times.
Free Yoga at Union Depot
What: Sports & Fitness
When: Monday, June 30, and Wednesday, July 2, at 5:30 p.m.
Where: Union Depot
Get your yoga mat and water ready for a free yoga class at the beautiful Union Depot in St. Paul. This event is taught by Studio 9-to-5 in the Depot’s Waiting Room or in the North Plaza when the weather is nice. Monday’s class focuses on a total-body sculpt workout, while Wednesday’s class is less-intense general yoga for all levels. See the event page on the Union Depot website for more information.
Book Release: Said Shaiye, Are You Borg Now?
What: Books
When: Monday, June 30, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: East Side Freedom Library
Join Said Shaiye in celebrating the second-edition release of Are You Borg Now?, an Afrofuturist memoir that blends nonfiction and poetry and finds mirrors in Star Trek: Voyager. This new edition includes an introduction by award-winning poet Douglas Kearney, who will join Shaiye in conversation. This event is free.
Astounding Astrophysics: Weird Galaxies and Wonderful Animals: Why Big Data Needs YOU!
What: Educational
When: Tuesday, July 1, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Tate Laboratory of Physics, UMN East Bank
During this event in the Astounding Astrophysics series, astrophysicist and physics professor Dr. Lucy Fortson will discuss how the combination of crowdsourcing and AI is creating big changes in science. Fortson is the cofounder of Zooniverse, a big data collaboration platform with more than 3 million participants working on over 450 projects, including data sets on Higgs bosons, lions in the Serengeti, and manuscripts from the Middle Ages. Free to attend; parking is available for $1/hour.
Minneapolis Movies in the Parks: Captain America: Brave New World
What: Movies, Community
When: Tuesday, July 1, at 9:05 p.m.
Where: Powderhorn Park
Enjoy a night of community and movie magic under the stars! Movies start at dusk and are free and open to the public. Screening this week is Captain America: Brave New World. This screening also includes Spanish subtitles. Check out the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board calendar for a complete schedule of Movies in the Parks screenings.
Seed Sorting Party
What: Community, Educational
When: Wednesday, July 2, at 1:00 p.m.
Where: Hennepin County Library – Nokomis
The Nokomis Library is home to more than just books. It also includes a seed library where the community can check out seeds and plant them at home. During this event, you can help sort and label donated seeds while learning more about seed saving and home gardening.
CONvergence 2025: That’s How We Roll
What: Convention
When: Thursday, July 3, through Sunday, July 6
Where: Hyatt Regency Minneapolis
CONvergence is an annual four-day convention for fans of sci fi and fantasy of all kinds. The event has a different theme every year, and this year’s theme is “That’s How We Roll,” which celebrates games and gaming of all kinds. Special guests include Chris Kluwe, C. S. E. Cooney, Jules Porter, Prof Brown, and Tanya DePass. Come for panels, people watching, room parties, or more. See the website for registration details. Make sure to visit Twin Cities Geek outside of the Dealers Room!
Firefly Viewing Nights
What: Educational, Sports & Fitness
When: Thursday, July 3, Saturday, July 5, and Sunday, July 6, at 8:30 p.m.
Where: Minnesota Landscape Arboretum (Chaska)
Enjoy a night hike surrounded by the soft glow of lightning bugs! Start the night by learning about these creatures from a Minnesota master naturalist, then choose from four different routes that vary in length—from half a mile to over two miles. General admission tickets are $20, with discounts available for children and members.
2D Con Summer Gaming Pop-Up
What: Gaming, Trivia, Family
When: Friday, July 4 through Sunday, July 6
Where: Huntington Bank Rotunda, Mall of America
The folks behind 2D Con are hosting a summer pop-up at the Mall of America. Expect a family-friendly weekend full of gaming, trivia, tournaments, and more.
Red, White, and Boom
What: Community
When: Friday, July 4, at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Water Works Pavillion and Stone Arch Bridge Parking Lot
Celebrate the Fourth of July along the riverfront! The event includes a pop-up market, open-play pickleball, food trucks, dance sessions, and more, all leading up to the 10:00 p.m. fireworks show over the Mississippi. Check out the website for the full schedule.
Native American Food Truck Festival
What: Food & Drink
When: Saturday, July 5, at 11:00 a.m.
Where: Harriet Island Regional Park
Fill up on tasty bites at this food truck festival that showcases traditional Native foods, modern fusions, and fair favorites. There will be 17 trucks that are Native owned or co-owned, including Trickster Tacos, Steven D’s, Wanna Wotapi, Indigenous Food Lab, Melissa’s Fry Bread, Pow Wow Grounds, and Unci’s Prairie Sweets. Check out the event page for a full list of participating vendors.
Taste of Minnesota
What: Music, Family, Food & Drink
When: Saturday, July 5, and Sunday, July 6, at 12:00 p.m.
Where: Nicollet Mall
The Taste of Minnesota returns to Nicollet Mall to celebrate the Fourth of July with two free days of live music, food trucks, and art. Musical performers include Ludacris, Nur-D, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Cheap Trick, and more. Additional performances and activities include F1rst Wrestling, aerialists, and puppy parties. This event is free; VIP and fast-pass tickets are available for purchase. Check out the website for a full artist lineup, an event map, and free Metro Transit passes.
Music in the Parks: Minneapolis POPs Orchestra
What: Music, Community, Family
When: Saturday, July 5, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, July 6, at 5:30 p.m.
Where: Lake Harriet Bandshell
Enjoy the free Music in the Parks series as it continues through summer. This weekend features back-to-back days with the Minnesota POPs Orchestra, who will be playing a Fourth of July program on Saturday and a Celtic repertoire with the Wild Colonial Bhoys on Sunday. Check out the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board calendar for a complete schedule of Music in the Parks performances.
Scream It Off Screen
What: Movies
When: Saturday, July 5, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: The Parkway Theater
Scream It Off Screen is a short-film contest with an audience interaction element! Come together with other film nerds in one of the Twin Cities greatest revival theaters. Audiences will cry out “Gong!” or “Let it play!” in order to determine which films will be shown in full. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door. (Read: With Scream It Off Screen at the Parkway Theater, Everyone’s a Critic)
Midnight Mayhem: Happy Gilmore + Eegah
What: Movies
When: Saturday, July 5, at 10:00 p.m.
Where: The Main
The Midnight Mayhem series returns with a double-header screening of the Adam Sandler comedy Happy Gilmore and the 1960s “drive-in caveman classic” Eegah. Expect special surprises and giveaways with host Chaz Kangas throughout this fun community film night. Tickets are $13.
Dolly Parton Drag Brunch
What: Theater & Comedy, Food & Drinks
When: Sunday, July 6, at 10:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Where: Crave Rooftop
Enjoy a themed drag performance and a delicious meal at one of Flip Phone’s popular brunch events. This week features the annual July Fourth Dolly Parton celebration. Costumes and singing along are highly encouraged. Tickets are $20.28 and attendees must purchase an entrée during the event.
Explore Lake Life on Canoe
What: Educational, Sports & Fitness
When: Sunday, July 6, at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Fort Snelling State Park
Learn about the animals that live and thrive in Minnesota lakes while on a canoe trip with a naturalist. Canoes, paddles, and life jackets are provided. This is a free event, but preregistration by 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 5, is required. See the website for additional information.
Shieldmaiden Sunday
What: Gaming, Meetup
When: Sunday, July 6, at 12:00 p.m.
Where: Source Comics and Games
Shieldmaiden Sundays are a dedicated space for female-identifying (including trans women/femme) and nonbinary nerds and geeks at Source Comics and Games. This is a recurring weekly event providing a space for women to play games, chat about comics, cosplay, or just enjoy the company of other geeks. Be sure to check out the Source calendar for additional events!
Virtual Events
GPS Creative Night
What: Arts
When: Monday, June 30, at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Google Meet
Let your creativity shine with drawing, painting, crafting, or whatever your heart desires at Creative Night, a weekly event put on by the Geek Partnership Society. This is a free event and a great opportunity to work on projects in great company.
Virtual Pub Quiz Trivia Night
What: Trivia
When: Monday, June 30, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Twitch
Get your trivia on from the comfort of home with Geeks Who Drink’s online trivia night. Prove your mettle, and maybe learn a little something!
Twin Cities Geek Art Club
What: Arts
When: Wednesday, July 3, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Discord
The Twin Cities Geek art club meets every Wednesday from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on the Twin Cities Geeks Discord. Hop on voice or video and chat while you create art, then share your finished pieces on the #art-club channel! This event is open to all. Join the server by visiting twincitiesgeek.com/discord.
Weird & Wonderful Wednesday Watchalongs
What: Movies
When: Wednesday, July 3, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Discord
Enjoy a free screening of an obscure film with Miss Emmy Martian and other cinephiles on Discord every Wednesday night.
A Capitol Fourth
What: Music, Family
When: Friday, July 4, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via PBS on TV, website livestream, YouTube, and Facebook
PBS is broadcasting its annual Fourth of July concert and fireworks celebration from the nation’s capitol. This year’s performers include the Beach Boys, Alfonso Ribeiro, the Temptations, Joint Armed Forces Chorus, the National Symphony Orchestra, and more. Check out the website for the full concert line-up.
Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks
What: Family, Music
When: Friday, July 4, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via NBC on TV and Peacock
Finish the Fourth with a bang! Macy’s annual fireworks spectacular will light up the New York skyline and TV screens across the country. The pyrotechnics will be accompanied by music scored by Questlove and James Poyser. Special guest performers include Lenny Kravitz, Ava Max, Keke Palmer, the Jonas Brothers, Eric Church, and Trisha Yearwood.
Summer Games Done Quick 2025
What: Gaming, Community
When: Sunday, July 6 through Sunday, July 13
Where: Virtual via Twitch
Support Doctors Without Borders while watching some of the best speedrunners around at Summer Games Done Quick (GDQ). This annual video-game marathon has raised over $50 million for charity to date. There will be a packed schedule of video-game speedruns, including retro classics, modern hits, and indie darlings. Registration for the in-person event has closed, but all of the action will be streamed live on their Twitch channel.
So, which of these events will you be attending? What events would you like to see featured in the future? Let us know in the comments section below or contact us via email. And don’t forget to add your events to the Twin Cities Geek Community Calendar!
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