Upcoming winter/spring events:

While the summer's big events and festivals are being finalized, there are still plenty of exciting happenings to get us through this cold winter! Here are a few events to warm you up:

Carnaval Brasileiro (Brazilian Carnival): March 8, 2014. Twin Cities-based band Beira Mar Brasil (led by Robert Everest) hosts a Carnival bash to rival a night in Rio with over 80 singers, drummers, and dancers! For this celebration of the holiday that claims the world's largest party, singer and samba dancer extraordinaire Dandara returns, along with Brazilian percussion ensembles, professional samba dancers, a Brazilian martial arts group, true Brazilian drinks, carnival masks, and face and body painting (just like in Rio!). More at carnavalbrasileiro.org

Park Square presents Cyrano: March 14 - April 6, 2014. An unabashed romance set in the 1640s, with a swashbuckling hero, a case of hidden identity, and a passionate love story. Cyrano will satisfy any theatergoer regardless of age or gender. More at parksquaretheatre.org.

Jazz Noir Live Broadcast from The Dakota: April 27, 2014. For those who long for "the grand old days" of radio, Jazz88 KBEM presents the second installment of Jazz Noir, an original radio drama series complete with live voice actors and musicians in front of a studio audience. There will be two performances--one at 5 p.m. and another at 9 p.m.--and the later performance will be broadcast live on Jazz 88.5 FM. More at jazz88.mpls.k12.mn.us.

Festival of Nations: May 1 - 4, 2014. The Festival of Nations is the largest multi-cultural event in Minnesota. Come and join us as we celebrate over 45 ethnic groups showing how we can have peace among the people at the Festival of Nations at the St. Paul RiverCentre. The Festival offers the opportunity to develop an appreciation and understanding, rather then just a tolerance of the cultures of others and helps educate people as we build towards the future together. More at festivalofnations.com.

Twin Cities Jazz Festival: June 26 – 28, 2014. The Twin Cities Jazz Festival holds its 16^th annual event this June in downtown St. Paul. Recognized as one of the region’s premiere music festivals, the Twin Cities Jazz Festival is a free, three-day festival with performances on three public stages in Mears Park, as well as at dozens of local jazz clubs. Stay tuned for the headliners announcment... More at twincitiesjazzfestival.com

Half-way through a hot summer, many events are still to come!

Earlier this summer, the 14th annual Twin Cities Jazz Festival, held June 28 - 30 in Saint Paul, set a new record attendance!

Now it’s on to the second annual Lowertown Roots Music Festivalin Mears Park, Saturday July 28th. This year's Roots Music Festival performers include the soulful gospel sounds of Mike Farris, the hard rockin’ Tex Mex band Los Conocidos, jazz pianist Butch Thompson, and the bluesy fiddle playing Minnesota bluegrass band the Barley Jacks with Brian Wicklund. Admission is free, and some local clubs/restaurants will have music on Friday and Saturday evenings. 

In August, Circus Juventas, North America’s largest youth circus, will present their all-new production Showdown. It's a rip-roarin’ Wild West adventure by 70 advance level performers including aerialists, the Wheel of Steel, a 7-man pyramid on the high wire (Circus Juventas is only the third youth circus in history to perform this feat), jugglers, dancers, and more. Performances are August 2–19, and tickets range from $17.50 to $30 with discounts for youth, seniors and groups. Circus Juventas always sells out so don’t wait to get your tickets.

The weekend after Labor Day Weekend, the annual Concrete and Grass Lowertown Music Festival will be held in Mears Park. More information soon.

And to wind down the summer festivities, Festa Italiana returns to Harriet Island September 21st and 22. A dozen great Italian restaurants are booked, cultural exhibits have been expanded, and a third stage has been added. Don't miss the Wheels of Italy car show, the St. Paul Yacht Club's flotilla, gondola rides on the Mississippi, shopping for Italian wares, a police escorted “Tour the Town” charity motorbike ride conducted by the Ducati Owners of Minneapolis, and the outdoor Catholic Mass Saturday afternoon at 4:30. Admission is free. 

For more information on any one of the above events, download a press release on the Media Resources page.

Concrete and Grass Line-up Announced

The fifth annual Concrete and Grass Lowertown Music Festival returns to Saint Paul’s Mears Park Friday, September 9 through Sunday, September 11. The free three-day festival welcomes music lovers of all ages recognizing that people are not one-dimensional in their musical tastes.

Check out the news release for the complete schedule...