July in the Twin Cities is time for the Taste of Minnesota in St Paul and for the Minneapolis Aquatennial and for County Fairs.  
Plan your staycation!  Pack in the summer stuff before winter sneaks up.  -- Pick Strawberries -- Pick Blueberries  -- Pick Raspberries
Taste of Minnesota pictures  |  Dragon Festival pictures  |  Giant Caterpillar Tent  |  Aquatennial pictures

<<    Twin Cities Calendar --  JULY 2008     >>
S M T W Th F Sa


1  Merle Haggard
 2    Movie: Hancock
     Music in Plymouth
 3  REO Speedwagon
    Sand Volleyball
    Steve Miller
    Summer Fete
 4 Independence Day
 Mpls - July 4th
 St Paul - July 4th
    (more locations)

  Badfinger
  Firecracker Run
  Free to Run 5k
  Original Idols
 5    Finger 11
 6   Blue Oyster Cult
      Eddie Money
      Jordan Pruitt
      MN Lightning
      Susan Cowsill
      Zombies
7   George Michael
 8   9   WB Av Parade

 10 PopRocks
 11  Crosby, Stills & Nash
 12   Anoka Riverfest
       Art at St. Kate's
       Classic Ballet
       Flex Wheeler
       Lifetime Triathlon
13  Bastille Day
      Garden Tour
      Hebei China Acrobats		 14  Duck Soup
     Ringo Starr		 15

 16    17  
 18  Chris Rock
      Coin Carnival
      Tracy Morgan
      Willie Nelson
 19 Latin Music
    Paws on Grand
20  Mexican Rodeo
      Milk Carton Boat Races
 21
22 
 23   Tom Petty
       Torchlight Run
 24
 		 25  1964 - Beatles
      Hard Days Night
      Howie Mandel
      Peter Frampton
      Rubber Soul
      Movie: Dark Knight
 26 Abba
   Bill Maher
    Chelsea Handler
27  Hootie & the Blowfish

 28 Marion Ross
 29
 30 
 31  Blues & BBQ
      Duffy
      

June 6 - Sept 7 - kids - Blooming Butterflies, Como Zoo - pictures
June 13-Aug 24 - show - Star Wars, Science Museum
June 26-July 4 - fair - Apple Valley Freedom Days, Apple Valley
June 29-July 6 - fair - Pan-O-Prog, Lakeville
July 1-2 - pagaent - Miss Eagan Ambassador, Eagan Community Center
July 1-6, 15-17, 22-26 - baseball - St. Paul Saints, Midway Stadium
July 1, 9, 12, 22, 25, 27 - basketball - Minnesota Lynx, Target Center
July 1-2, 4-6, 18-20, 28-31 - baseball - Twins, Metrodome
July 2-6 - fair - Richfield Hometown, Veteran's Park, Richfield
July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 - music - Battle of the Bands, Trocaderos Nightclub
July 3-4 - fair - Chanhassen 4th of July, City Center Park & Lake Ann Park
July 3-4 - fair - Eagan Funfest, Central Park Community Center, Eagan
July 3-6 - fair - Taste of Minnesota, Harriet Island, St. Paul - pictures
July 3-6 - horse show - Morgan Horse Show, Fairgrounds
July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 - fair - Market Fest, downtown White Bear Lake
July 4-12 - fair - Pan-O-Prog, Lakeville
July 5-6 - performance art - Artery 24, Soap Factory
July 5-19 - interactive movie - Rocky Horror Picture Show, Mounds Theatre
July 7, 14, 21, 28 - gambling - Trips Poker, Trocaderos Nightclub
July 8-13 - fair - Afton Fair, Afton
July 9-12 - pageant - MN American Coed, Sheraton Bloomington Hotel, Edina
July 9-13 - fair - Ramsey County Fair, Maplewood
July 10-13 - fair - Maple Grove Days
July 11-12 - fair - Basilica Block Party, Minneapolis
July 11-13 - fair - Panorama of Progress, Lakeville
July 11-13 - powwow - Prairie Island Indian Community Wacipi, near Treasure Island Casino
 July 11, 20, 24, 27 - soccer - Minnesota Thunder, National Sports Center, Blaine
July 11-Aug 10 - play - A Murder Is Announced, Theatre In The Round
July 11-Aug 24 - play - Government Inspector, Guthrie Theater
July 12-13 - fair - Dragon Festival, Lake Phalen - pictures
July 12-19 - fair - Rondo Days, St. Paul
July 15-19 - soccer - Schwan's USA Cup, National Sports Center
July 17-19 - art fair - Spirit of the Lakes Festival of the Arts, Mound
July 17-19, 24-26 - dance - Momentum, Southern Theater, Mpls
July 17-20 - concert (Poison, Boston, GooGoo Dolls, Matchbox 20) - Rock Fest, Cadott, WI
July 17-20 - fair - Wannigan Days, Taylors Falls
July 18-20 - fair - Highland Fest, Highland Park, St. Paul
July 18-20 - fair - Rivertown Days, Hastings
July 18-27 - fair - Minneapolis Aquatennial
July 18-20 - music fair - Deep Blues Festival, Washington County Fairgrounds, Lake Elmo
July 18-22 - fair - Rosemont Leprechaun Days
July 19-20 - music - Neil Diamond, Xcel Energy Center
July 19-20 - view - Highland Park Water Tower, St. Paul
July 22-27 - fair - Anoka County Fair, Anoka
July 23-27 - fair - Lumberjack Days, Stillwater
July 23-27 - fair - Rice Street Festival, St. Paul
July 23-27 - fair - Scott County Fair
July 23-27 - horse show - AQHA Horse Show, Fairgrounds
July 25-27 - car show - Car Craft Car Show, Fairgrounds
July 25-27 - fair - River City Days, City Square Park, Chaska
July 25-27 - fair - Slice of Shoreview
July 25-27 - fair - Wild West Frontier Fest, Harriet Island, St. Paul
July 26-27 - rugby - Amazon Rugby
July 30-Aug 3 - fair - Washington County Fair, Lake Elmo
July 31-Aug 10 - Fringe Festival, various Minneapolis


"The question to everyones answer is usually asked from within." - Steve Miller and his Band play the Target Center on July 3rd.
~ ~
"So if you're tired of the same old story -- turn some pages!" - That sounds like an advertisement for my novel!
REO Speedwagon plays the Taste of Minnesota on July 3rd.
~ ~
"The future is our's to see, when you hold on to me." - Eddie Money plays the Taste of Minnesota on July 6th.
~ ~
"Travelling twice the speed of sound. It's easy to get burned." - Crosby, Stills, & Nash play the Orpheum Theatre on July 11th.
~ ~
"Every time I see your face, it reminds me of the places we used to go. But all I've got is a photograph, and I realize you're not coming back anymore." - Ringo Starr and his all starr band play Mystic Lake on July 14th.
~ ~
"Good times never seemed so good." - Neil Diamond plays the Xcel Energy Center on July 19th & 20th.
~ ~
"We got somethin'. We both know it. We don't talk too much about it. Ain't no real big secret, all the same, somehow we get around it." - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers play the Target Center on July 23rd.
~ ~
"Moon appears to shine and light the sky with the help of some fireflies." Frampton comes alive at Mystic Lake on July 25th.
~ ~
"There's nothing I can do. I've been looking for a girl like you." - Hootie & the Blowfish play the MN Zoo on July 27th.
~ ~
If you scrolled through all this, you might notice that July is the month for bands with "And" in their names. It's kind of weird.
Coldplay dropped their July 8th concert to November 14th, instead of changing their name to Cold & Play.
And July 25th must be The Beatles day with Beatles tribute bands playing O'Garas, Orchestra Hall, and the Slice of Shoreview.
~ ~
July 4th in MinnesotaMinneapolis Aquatennial            
~ ~
Independence Day - Fourth of July 2008 - Fireworks
Apple Valley - Johnny Cake Ridge Park - fireworks start at 10pm
 Chanhassen - Lake Ann Park - fireworks start at 10pm
Coon Rapids - Sand Creek Park - fireworks start at 10pm
Eagan - Central Park - fireworks start at 10pm
Eden Prairie - Round Lake Park - fireworks start at 10pm
Forest Lake - Lakeside Park - fireworks start at dusk
Lakeville - Lakeville North High School - fireworks start at dusk (set to music)
Maplewood - Hazelwood Park - fireworks start at 10pm
Minneapolis - Powderhorn Park - fireworks start at 10pm
Minneapolis - Stone Arch Bridge - fireworks start at 10pm (20 minutes)
Prior Lake - Watzel's Beach in Lakefront Park - fireworks start at dusk
Richfield - Veteran's Park - fireworks start at 10pm
Roseville - Central Park - fireworks start at dusk
St. Cloud - Mississippi River between Hester and Winter Parks at 10pm
St. Paul - Harriet Island - fireworks start at 10:15pm (July 3-6)
Shakopee - Shakopee Mdewakanton Pow-wow Grounds at 10pm
White Bear Lake - Memorial Beach - fireworks start at 10pm
Woodbury - Ojibway Park - fireworks start at 10pm
also Valleyfair, Shakopee - fireworks start at 10pm

Other fireworks - nearly Independence Day, but not quite
Bloomington - July 3rd - Normandale Lake Bandshell
Plymouth - July 2nd - Hilde Performance Center
Rosemont - July 26th - Erickson & Central Parks - fireworks start at 10pm
Shakopee - Aug 16th - SMSC Wacipi, Shakopee Mdewakanton Pow-wow Grounds at 10pm
Stillwater - July 27th - Lowell Park - fireworks start at 10:05pm

How Do Show Fireworks Work?
              Paper shells rest in mortar-like tubes connected to an electric ignition system and a computerized control board. The signal from the control board lights the lifting charge, shooting the shell up (hopefully up) at 300 mph. Metal salts (chlorides) color the bursts:
* calcium burns orange
* strontium burns red
* barium burns green
* copper burns blue (& may produce harmful copper oxide)
* magnalium burns brighter, almost flourescent
Other colors are mixtures. Magnesium and aluminum make silver sparkles, and aluminum filings make the loud bangs.

Independence Day - Fourth of July 2008 - Parades
Apple Valley -north on Pennock Av, west on 145th, north on Hayes - parade starts at 1pm
Chanhassen - West 78th St from Chapel Hill to Kerber Blvd to Santa Vera Dr to Laredo Dr to Chan View - parade starts at 2:30pm
Eagan - Yankee Doodle Road & Central Parkway - parade starts at 10am
Forest Lake - 6th & Broadway, North on Centennial, to S Lake & SW 4th Av - parade starts at 10am
Richfield - Nicollet Av, north from 71st to 70th, east on 70th to 12th Av - parade starts at 1pm

Other parades - nearly Independence Day, but not quite
Coon Rapids - July 3rd - 6pm - Sand Creek Park
Lakeville - July 12th - 5:30pm - downtown Lakeville

~ ~
Strawberries - Pick It Yourself! (usually mid June - early July) strawberry call first ☎
Afton - Afton Apple Orchards - 14421 S 90th St, Hastings, MN 55033 - 651-436-8385
Anoka - Berry Hill Farm - 6510 185th Av NW, Anoka, MN 55303 - 763-753-5891
Brooklyn Park - Smith's Berry Farm - 9805 Winnetka Av N (Hwy 610 & Hwy 169), Brooklyn Park 55445  - 763-424-1494
Delano - Apple Jack Orchards - 4875 37th St SE (Wright County Road 32), Delano, MN 55328 - 763-972-6673
Forest Lake - Berry Patch - Manning Trail & County Road 50, Forest Lake -  651-433-3448
Hastings - Wyatt's Strawberries - Joan Av & 180th St, south of Hastings, MN - 651-437-8479
Lakeville - Applewood Orchard - 22702 Hamburg Av, Lakeville, MN 55044 - 952-985-5425
Monticello - Strawberry Basket - 12591 Aetna Av NE, Monticello, MN 55362 - 763-878-2875
Northfield - Silkey Gardens LLC - 5561 115th St, near Dundas, MN - 507-645-4158 or 651-357-5092
Taylors Falls - Pleasant Valley Orchard - 17325 Pleasant Valley Rd, Shafer, MN 55074 - 651-257-9159
White Bear Lake - Pine Tree Apple Orchard - 450 Apple Orchard Rd, White Bear Lake, MN 55110 - 651-429-8026 or 651-429-7202
strawberry Or pick up Minnesota produce at one of the 83  Minnesota Farmers' Markets,  St. Paul, & Minneapolis
strawberry Strawberry Pros - Strawberries are rich vitamins C and K, dietary fiber, and in flavonoids, especially anthocyanidin. The red of strawberries is due to the anthocyanidin known as pelargonidin. These flavonoids lessen the activity of the enzyme cyclooxygenase. Aspirin and ibuprofen block pain by blocking cyclooxygenase, which is linked to inflammatory conditions like arthritis, asthma, atherosclerosis, and cancer. Unlike aspirin and ibuprofen, strawberries do not cause internal bleeding or heart disease. In a study of 1,271 elderly people in New Jersey, strawberries topped a list of eight foods that were most linked to lower rates of cancer; participants eating strawberries were one third as likely to develop cancer as those eating few or no strawberries.
strawberry Strawberry Cons - Strawberries commonly associated with allergic reactions and pesticide residues. Strawberries contain moderate levels of oxalates, which should be avoided by people with a history of calcium oxalate kidney stones.
strawberry Pick Your Own Advantages - The freshest fruits and vegetables generally have the highest nutritional value. There are over 600 varieties of strawberries; pick-your-own fruits do not have to be specially bred to withstand transportation across the country or across the globe; they can be better tasting berries. Many of the farms listed above allow customers to bring their own containers, which is an opportunity to use recycled containers. And it offers an interesting, outdoor activity and exercise.
~ ~
Blueberries - Pick It Yourself! (usually July - early August) ●call first ☎
Champlin - Bauer Berry Farm - 10830 French Lake Rd (County 121), Champlin, MN 55316 - 763-421-4384
Forest Lake - Berry Patch - Manning Trail & County Road 50, Forest Lake -  651-433-3448
Forest Lake - Covered Bridge Farm - 18655 Forest Blvd (Hwy 61), Forest Lake, MN 55025 - 651-464-0735
Stacy - Blue Heaven Berry Farm - 23454 Japura St NE, Stacy, MN 55079 - 651-462-4004 or 651-491-7733
Stillwater - Blueberry Fields of Stillwater  - 9450 Mendel Rd N, Stillwater, MN 55082 - 651-351-0492
● Or pick up Minnesota produce at one of the 83  Minnesota Farmers' Markets,  St. Paul, & Minneapolis
● Blueberry Pros - Like strawberries, blueberries are an excellent source of flavonoids, especially anthocyanidins, known for their antioxidant capabilities.  Researchers at the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University ranked blueberries #1 in antioxidant activity compared with 60 fruits and vegetables. They found that blueberries may reverse memory loss and loss of coordination.   They also have found that blueberry may increase human lifespans and heat tolerance, since a blueberry extract increased the lifespan and heat tolerance in roundworms.
● Blueberry Cons - Blueberries contain moderate levels of oxalates, which should be avoided by people with a history of calcium oxalate kidney stones. Like other berries, pesticide residue should be washed off before eating.
● Pick Your Own Advantages - The freshest fruits and vegetables generally have the highest nutritional value. There are approximately thirty species of blueberries; pick-your-own fruits do not have to be specially bred to withstand transportation across the country or across the globe; they can be better tasting berries. Most of the farms listed above grow blueberries developed through the University of Minnesota for the Minnesota climate. Many of the farms listed above allow customers to bring their own containers, which is an opportunity to use recycled containers. And it offers an interesting, outdoor activity and exercise.
~ ~
Raspberries - Pick It Yourself! (Summer-bearing usually July - August) ✿ call first ☎
Afton - Afton Raspberry Company - 1421 Neal Av S, Afton, MN 55001 - 651-436-7631
Delano - Apple Jack Orchards - 4875 37th St SE (Wright County Road 32), Delano, MN 55328 - 763-972-6673
Forest Lake - Berry Patch - Manning Trail & County Road 50, Forest Lake -  651-433-3448
Greenfield - Knapton's Raspberries - Highway 55 (11 miles west of I-494), Greenfield, MN 55357 - 763-479-1184
Maple Plain - Homestead Orchard - 1080 County Road 92, Maple Plain, MN 55359 - 612-290-8024
Northfield - Lorence's Berry Farm - Dakota County Road 23 (aka Cedar, Foliage Av),  (7 miles North of ) Northfield, MN 55057 - 507-645-9749
Northfield - Silkey Gardens LLC - 5561 115th St, near Dundas, MN - 507-645-4158 or 651-357-5092
✿ Or pick up Minnesota produce at one of the 83  Minnesota Farmers' Markets,  St. Paul, & Minneapolis
✿ Raspberry Pros - Raspberries are an excellent source of flavanoids, vitamin C, fiber, manganese, and ellagic acid.  Ellagic acid is a potent antioxidant that protects chromosomes from damage, as well as blocking cancer causing pollutants, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) found in cigarette smoke and toxic chemicals such as benzopyrene.
✿ Raspberry Cons - Raspberries contain moderate levels of oxalates, which should be avoided by people with a history of calcium oxalate kidney stones. Like other berries, pesticide residue should be washed off before eating.
✿ Pick Your Own Advantages - The freshest fruits and vegetables generally have the highest nutritional value. There are approximately twenty species of raspberries, but most commercially grown raspberries are Meekers. Pick-your-own fruits do not have to be specially bred to withstand transportation across the country or across the globe; they can be better tasting berries.
~ ~
Twin Cities Calendar   August  |  September  |  October  |  November  |  December
~ ~

See event website for details - Not responsible  for event changes or errors
 ©  Copyright 2008 Hopes and Dreams. All rights reserved.  Minneapolis - St. Paul, Minnesota
Read the novel -- Hopes and Dreams: Stuck on AutoDrive