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Best Spring Festivals In Minnesota

Spring in Minnesota brings out the festivals. Take a look at these five best fairs going on later this spring. See several other early spring events in a recently published article Best Spring 2015 Art Events In Minnesota.

Finding Minnesota Gold Rush Days
(credit: CBS)

Gold Rush
Olmsted County Fairgrounds
Highway 63 S. & 16th St. S.E. Intersection
Rochester, MN 55904
(507) 269-1473
www.townsendshows.com

Dates: Saturday, May 9 and Sunday, May 10, 2015
Price: $5 Parking

The second weekend of every May brings collectors and people with an eye for value to Rochester. Gold Rush is a major event filling nine buildings with vendors and another 52 acres of the Olmsted County Fairgrounds with major outdoor displays of unbelievable variety of items for sale. You can anticipate all types of treasures from primitives to antiques to architectural salvage to vintage collectibles and some crafts. The facilities overflow with memorabilia, hobbies, jewelry, art, books, pottery and glassware, industrial, gasoline and oil retro, repurposed and up-cycled items.

Artists' Market 2015
Northstar Watermedia Society
Fine Arts Building
State Fairgrounds
1265 Snelling Ave. N.
St Paul, MN 55108
(612) 865-2915
www.northstarwatermedia.com

Dates: Friday, May 29 at 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, May 30, 2015 at 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Price: Free admission and free parking.

Not anywhere in the Midwest can you find more than 90 watercolor and acrylic artists selling their original framed, matted or ready-to-frame canvas paintings. There are more than 4,500 water media originals in this one show making it the largest art event of its kind. Budding artists will like the water-based media techniques shown continuously throughout the event. Demonstrations include gouache, gesso, collage, acrylic and traditional watercolor. You can bring the kids for a fun scavenger hunt.

Related: Best Summer 2014 Craft Fairs In Minnesota

Edina Art Fair
(credit: CBS)

Street Faire at the Lakes
Washington Ave.
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501
(218) 844-4221
www.dlstreetfaire.com

Dates: Friday, May 29 through Saturday, May 30, 2015

The fifteenth anniversary event of juried arts, creative crafts, fun food and a beer garden await you in Detroit Lakes. See amazing art from more than 125 of the best artists from across the country. Breathe in the sound of live music, the aroma of brats and burgers and the ambience of a festive spring atmosphere. Stay for the Street Dance Friday night from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

38th Annual Rivertown Art Festival
North Lowell Park
Myrtle St. E.
Stillwater, MN 55082
(651) 439-4001
www.greaterstillwaterchamber.com

Dates: Saturday, May 30 at 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday, May 31, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

See the finest of art and experience the fun of a fair. St. Croix Valley's largest art show has over 100 exhibitors showing the finest art including paintings, drawings, ceramics, glass, photography, fiber, wood and paper. Find the fun of a fair in Marketplace with handmade crafts like homemade body lotions, candles, tortilla chips, wine jelly, salsas and spices.

Edina Art Fair
(credit: CBS)

49th Annual Edina Art Fair
50th and France Business Association
(952) 922-1524
www.edinaartfair.com

Dates: Friday, June 5 and Saturday, June 6 at 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, June 7, 2015 at 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This fine art fair is considered year after year by voters as the best Minnesota and among the best in the nation. One reason may be its enormous size, with 300 fine art specialists coming from throughout Minnesota, the U.S and Canada. Its popularity requires shuttles that bring 10,000 people from the Southdale parking lot. The fair also offers a free Kid's Zone in the Edina 5-0 Mall Parking lot off of 49 Street with a bounce house, puppet shows, a Velcro wall and other attractions. This fair partners with The Lupus Foundation of Minnesota. Proceeds from T-shirts, umbrellas and posters will go to the foundation.

Related: Best Upcoming Spring Art Festivals Or Events In Minnesota

Robin Johnson was born in Annandale, Minn. and graduated from Richfield High School and then the University of Minnesota where he studied Political Science, Business and Industrial Relations. A writer for Examiner.com, he also consults with a variety of organizations and individuals helping them develop and grow. His work can be found at Examiner.com.

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