• Minnesota, Land of 10,000 Lakes, is also the land of many major events.Sunset in Minnesota image by Somebody Photo from Fotolia.com
  
  Minnesota is home to major sports teams, including the Vikings and the Twins, and one of the largest shopping malls in the world, the Mall of America, as well as vibrant local music and comedy scenes. Combine this with outdoor activities and cultural meccas like the Guthrie Theater and the Walker Art Center, and one may wonder what more could possibly be left to do in Minnesota. The answer is plenty. The "Star of the North" is a state that loves its festivals and thus plays host to several major events every year.
  
  

Minnesota State Fair

• The Minnesota State Fair is the largest in the country in terms of average daily attendance, drawing almost two million people annually. Famous for its variety of local and exotic foods, as well as foods "on-a-stick," the Great Minnesota Get-Together also features local and national music acts, animal shows, a carnival midway and dairy princesses carved in butter. The fair runs for the 10 days up to and including Labor Day.
  
  

Renaissance Festival

• The Minnesota Renaissance Festival runs annually during weekends from August to October and has been going on for over 40 years. The festival celebrates the renaissance era complete with food, music and themed entertainment like the "Puke & Snot" show and the Royal Joust. Many festival-goers don period costumes for the event. Don't have renaissance attire? No worries--the many artisans and craftspeople who sell their wares at the festival can outfit you head to toe. Parking is free and families are welcome.
  
  

St. Paul Winter Carnival

• St. Paul has hosted its Winter Carnival each year since 1886. The two-week event boasts countless events for the whole family, including a torchlight parade, contests and plenty of food and beverages. A city-wide scavenger hunt and a lighted ice palace help to draw more than 350,000 visitors to the carnival annually.
  
  

Grand Celebration Powwow

• This event, honoring Native American culture and tradition, is the largest powwow in the Midwest, attended by more than 1,200 members of tribes from around the United States and Canada to share their music, food, artistry and dance. The powwow has been held annually for over 40 years and is hosted by the Mille Lacs band of Ojibwe Indians in central Minnesota.
  
  

Scandinavian Hjemkomst Festival

• This three-day event in Moorhead celebrates the Scandinavian culture and traditions of the many Minnesotans with Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, Finnish and Icelandic roots. The food, dancing and entertainment are all authentic; a Nordic marketplace featuring local and international artisans is available to meet all of your Scandinavian shopping needs.