Twin Cities Week Ahead: Mavis Staples, Touch-a-Truck, and Live Music Galore
Minneapolis and Saint Paul listeners, if you’re looking for things to do this week, you’ve got a full slate of music, culture, and family fun ahead.
According to The Current’s event listings, tonight in downtown Saint Paul the legendary Mavis Staples is taking the stage at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts at 345 Washington Street, with indie-pop favorites Lucius opening the show. Doors are in the evening, and this one is perfect if you’re in the mood for soul, gospel, and a big dose of musical history in a beautiful theater setting.
If you’re around Saint Paul earlier in the afternoon, Ramsey County’s event calendar notes a “Public Health in Public Places – Today’s Harvest” event at 230 Como Avenue. Running from about mid‑afternoon to early evening, it’s a community‑focused stop where folks can connect with public health staff and learn about food access and local resources in a low‑key, drop‑in style.
South St. Paul’s community calendar highlights a virtual “Canva Part 2: Advanced Graphic Design for Business” over the lunch hour. If you’re working on social media, branding, or side‑hustle visuals, you can log in from anywhere in the metro and sharpen your design skills without leaving home.
Looking ahead to Thursday, CBS Minnesota’s Next Weather on Wheels post points to a big “Touch‑a‑Truck” and parade event on Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis, running from East Grant Street up to South 6th Street. The parade kicks off in the early evening, with the Touch‑a‑Truck experience going until about 7:30 p.m. It’s free, outdoors, and especially fun if you’ve got kids who love fire trucks, snowplows, and all the big city rigs they can climb on and explore.
Later this week, keep an eye on downtown Minneapolis music. The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder reports that The Dakota has a strong June lineup featuring acts like the Kronos Quartet, John Pizzarelli Trio, Stanley Jordan, and vocal group Naturally 7 on various nights this month. It’s a great option for a date night or a classy evening out with friends, pairing live jazz, classical crossover, or vocal harmony with food and drinks in an intimate club setting.
On the cultural side, the Hmong American Partnership has shared that the National Asian Pacific American Museum Commission is bringing its national listening tour to the Twin Cities. While dates and times can vary, this is a rare chance to share local stories, culture, and community priorities with a national museum initiative, so it’s worth checking their announcements for sessions happening over the next few days.
For the weekend, Ticketmaster’s Minneapolis–Saint Paul listings show a healthy mix of club shows and mid‑size concerts around town. From indie bands at small venues to touring acts at spots like the Amsterdam Bar & Hall in Saint Paul, you can pick your vibe: rock, electronic, or singer‑songwriter nights are all on the board if you want to cap off the week with live music.
Wherever you land, from a free truck parade on Nicollet to soul legends at the Ordway or late‑night jazz at The Dakota, the Twin Cities are serving up a full week of things to see, hear, and experience.
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