This Week in Geek (8/24/2026–8/30/2026)

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In-Person Events
Virtual Events

Welcome to This Week in Geek, your guide to events of interest to the Minnesota geek community for the week of Monday, August 24, to Sunday, August 30.

Although inclusion in This Week in Geek is not an official endorsement of any event or organizer, we do our best to feature events that appear safe, responsible, and consistent with our mission and values. If you feel that one of the events below is incompatible with Twin Cities Geek as an organization, we encourage you to contact us at info@twincitiesgeek.com with your concerns.

In-Person Events

Minneapolis Music in the Parks

What: Music, Community
When: Now through Monday, September 7
Where: Various parks around Minneapolis

Enjoy the free Music in the Parks series as it continues through summer. At least one group featured every day. Check out the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board calendar for a complete schedule of Music in the Parks performances.

The Pickup Truck Opera: Tales of Hoffman

What: Theater & Comedy, Music
When: Now through Sunday, September 13
Where: Various Locations

Opera hits the road in a blue pickup truck with a traveling performance of Tales of Hoffman, which showcases the adventures of a traveling poet in a world overrun by technology. All performances will be held outdoors in natural spaces throughout the state and ingeniously use the truck and trailer as a stage. This is the debut event of the season. See the website for a full schedule, including the different dates and locations.

Minnesota Renaissance Festival

What: Arts, Comedy & Theater, Educational, Family
When: Now through Sunday, October 4
Where: 12364 Chestnut Boulevard (Shakopee)

The Minnesota Renaissance Festival is celebrating its 55th season, and will be open weekends from August 22 to October 4! Come experience a wide variety of Renaissance-themed activities, including musical acts, comedy shows, artisan markets, food and drink, actors in costume, games, demos, jousting, and kid-themed events. The fest is open rain or shine, and tickets are $29.95 for adults, $27.95 for seniors, and $19.95 for children at the gate, and there are other discounted ticket and pass options available on the website. Please note, some events will require an additional ticket and those making the drive to the festival will either need to purchase a pre-paid parking pass at $18 to park on the MN Ren Fest Ground or plan on utilizing the park-and-ride lots with round-trip bus rides for $6.

Free Yoga at Union Depot

What: Sports & Fitness
When: Monday, August 24, and Wednesday, August 26, at 5:30 p.m.
Where: Union Depot

Get your yoga mat and water ready for a free yoga class at the beautiful Union Depot in St. Paul. This event is taught by Studio 9-to-5 in the Depot’s Waiting Room or in the East Plaza when the weather is nice. Monday’s class focuses on a total-body sculpt workout, while Wednesday’s class is less-intense general yoga for all levels. See the event page on the Union Depot website for more information.

Minneapolis Institute of Art Public Tours: Inspired by Books

What: Arts
When: Tuesday, August 25, at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Where: Minneapolis Institute of Art

Take a specially curated tour through the Minneapolis Institute of Art’s collection as inspired by books. Each month’s tour will focus on a different book for inspiration, with August exploring Sea of Grass: The Conquest, Ruin, and Redemption of Nature on the American Prairie by Dave Hage and Josephine Marcotty. Tours meet in the General Mills Lobby on the first floor.

Teen Writers’ Guild

What: Meetup, Books
When: Tuesday, August 25, at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Dayton’s Bluff Library

Every fourth Tuesday, teen writers can get together at the Dayton’s Bluff Library for encouragement, peer critiques, and opportunities to develop their craft. This meetup is free, with snacks and hot drinks provided

Minneapolis Movies in the Parks: Little Giants

What: Movies, Community
When: Wednesday, August 26, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: The Commons

Enjoy a night of community and movie magic under the stars! Movies start at dusk and are free and open to the public. Screening this week is Little Giants, a 1994 kids film where two brothers lead rival youth football teams in a classic underdog fight story. Starring Rick Moranis, Ed O’Neill, Shawna Waldron, and Devon Sawa. Check out the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board calendar for a complete schedule of Movies in the Parks screenings.

Minnesota State Fair

What: Community, Family, Food & Drink, Music
When: Thursday, August 27 through Monday, September 7
Where: Minnesota State Fairgrounds

Twelve days of fun from August 27 to September 7, famous for its foods on sticks, butter princesses, musical acts, prize-winning animals, arts and crafts, and limited-run beer! They don’t call it the great Minnesota get-together for nothing, and geeks of all stripes are likely to find activities that interest them. Adult tickets are $20 (see the ticket site for all costs and deals) for this family-friendly event, with Grandstand performances requiring additional tickets. See the website for more details on planning your trip, and be sure to check out our article regarding the character alignments of the new state fair foods!

Free Thursday Nights at the History Center

What: Educational, Family
When: Thursday, August 27, at 4:00 p.m.
Where: Minnesota History Center

Explore Minnesota’s history with free admission and parking to the Minnesota History Center on Thursday nights. Exhibits include Then Now Wow, Our Home: Native Minnesota, Weather Permitting, and more.

Racket‘s Book Release + 5th Anniversary Party

What: Meetup, Community
When: Friday, August 28, at 5:00 p.m.
Where: Arbeiter Brewing

Racket, a local news publication and the spiritual successor of City Pages, is celebrating their fifth birthday with a book release! The compendium will feature eight stories selected from their 5,000 article archive. Stop by the party to buy a copy, nerd out about independent media and local journalism, and maybe snag some free merch. The event is free to attend; food and drinks will be available for purchase.

Summer Friday Night Car Shows

What: Community, Family
When: Friday nights through September 18, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Downtown North St. Paul

Stroll downtown North St. Paul with plenty of shopping and food while appreciating classic cars and live music. Free.

KPOP MINNECON

What: Convention
When: Saturday, August 29 and Sunday, August 30, at 10:00 a.m.
Where: St. Paul RiverCentre

KPOP MINNECON returns for a second year with two packed days of k-pop music, dancing, and fan experiences. Expect live performances, meet-and-greets, panels, photo-card trading, and a vendor market, as well as plenty of opportunities to show your dance moves including workshops, battles, and random challenges. This year’s concert headliners are ICHILLIN’ and Justin Park, with opening performances by HOHYUN, JJANG.E, and more. Special guests include Kpop Demon Hunters voice actors Alan Lee (Mystery Saja) and Samuil Lee (Romance Saja). Convention passes are $30–50; concert tickets are sold separately and start at $58.

PokéCon Advanced

What: Convention
When: Saturday, August 29 and Sunday, August 30, at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Eagan Community Center

This Pokémon fan convention features tournaments, panels, cosplay, a dealer room, gym-leader battles, a concert, and more. Special guests include voice actor Bill Rogers and PokéTuber Check the Box. There will also be a free battery replacement clinic for Gameboy and Gameboy Advance cartridges. Weekend passes are $45 at the door.

MN Mechanical Keyboards 2026

What: Meetup, Science & Tech
When: Saturday, August 29, at 12:30 p.m.
Where: St. Paul College

MN Mechanical Keyboards is hosting their annual meetup at St. Paul College. Tickets are $10, which includes admission, giveaway entries, and goodies like a novelty keycap.

Greenharbor LARP Amtgard Outdoor Park Day

What: Sports & Fitness
When: Saturday, August 29, at 1:00 p.m.
Where: River Park (Brooklyn Park)

Play games and face off in battle with other live-action roleplay (LARP) enthusiasts. This free event is hosted by Greenharbor LARP, a local chapter of the global medieval-fantasy combat LARP organization Amtgard. New players are encouraged to join in on the fun and all equipment is provided for free.

Transvestite Soup Presents The Rocky Horror Picture Show

What: Film, Theater & Comedy
When: Saturday, August 29, at 11:30 p.m.
Where: The Parkway

Watch a screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, the “longest-running midnight movie of all time.” Transvestite Soup is the Twin Cities’ shadow cast for the showing, performing for your pleasure as part of the cult classic’s well-established tradition. Doors open at 11:30 p.m. and tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door.

Golden Girls Drag Brunch

What: Theater & Comedy, Food & Drinks
When: Sunday, August 30, at 10:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Where: Crave

Enjoy a themed drag performance and a delicious meal at one of Flip Phone’s popular brunch events. This week pays tribute to the OG fab four Rose, Sophia, Dorothy, and Blanche. Thank you for being a friend. Costumes are encouraged. Tickets are $20.98 and attendees must purchase an entrée during the event.

Minneapolis Central Craft Club

What: Arts, Meetup
When: Sunday, August 30, at 12:00 p.m.
Where: Hennepin County Library–Minneapolis Central

Craft it up on a Sunday afternoon with community at this free club that focuses on knitting, crochet, papercrafts, embroidery, and hand-sewing. Bring your own materials to make progress on your current project or begin something new with the materials provided.

Shieldmaiden Sunday

What: Gaming, Meetup
When: Sunday, August 30, at 12:00 p.m.
Where: Source Comics and Games

Shieldmaiden Sundays are a dedicated space for female-identifying (including trans women/femme) and nonbinary nerds and geeks at Source Comics and Games. This is a recurring weekly event providing a space for women to play games, chat about comics, cosplay, or just enjoy the company of other geeks. Be sure to check out the Source calendar for additional events!

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Virtual Events

825 Arts Minecraft Club

What: Gaming, Meetup
When: Monday, August 24, at 4:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Minecraft and Discord

St. Paul’s 825 Arts hosts a virtual gathering space “by kids for kids” in Minecraft with a club meetup every Monday where teens and preteens can play, design, participate in theme challenges, and just hang out. Check out the website for information on joining their server, a technical FAQ, moderation and safety information for parents, and other Minecraft events.

Virtual Pub Quiz Trivia Night

What: Trivia
When: Monday, August 24, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Twitch

Get your trivia on from the comfort of home with Geeks Who Drink’s online trivia night. Prove your mettle, and maybe learn a little something!

Virtual Makers Mornings

What: Community, Arts
When: Tuesday, August 25, at 10:30 a.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

Join fellow makers at this morning social hour hosted by the American Swedish Institute. This free event is open to all kinds of crafts and is intended as a place to share projects, make some progress, and socialize. Registration is required.

Smithsonian Associates Streaming Series—Chandra, a Space Telescope with X-Ray Vision

What: Educational, Science & Tech
When: Tuesday, August 25, at 11:00 a.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

The Smithsonian Institution, home to famed museums and world-class research centers, is bringing educational programs and art courses online for all to enjoy. At this event, expert panelists will discuss the Chandra X-ray Observatory launched in 1999, how it operates, its ability to reveal the unseen, and why it remains an important part of modern astronomy. General-admission tickets are $30, and there is a discount for members. Check out the streaming-series webpage for the many other upcoming events this week.

Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) and Pheasants Forever: Partners in Conservation

What: Educational
When: Wednesday, August 26, at 12:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

The Minnesota Women in Conservation host a series of free lunch-time webinars with “news you can use.” This event features Veronica Lundquist (Soil Health and Outreach Specialist at Aitkin County SWCD) and Jamie Horton (Farm Bill Biologist at Pheasants Forever) discussing “how Soil and Water Conservation Districts and Pheasants Forever work together as partners with you in conservation.”

Gaming Wednesdays for Teens: Virtual Gaming

What: Gaming
When: Wednesday, August 26, at 4:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

Weekly gathering to play online board and video games for grades 6–12. Hosted by the Ramsey County Library. Registration required.

Twin Cities Geek Art Club

What: Arts
When: Wednesday, August 26, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Discord

The Twin Cities Geek art club meets every Wednesday from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on the Twin Cities Geeks Discord. Hop on voice or video and chat while you create art, then share your finished pieces on the #art-club channel! This event is open to all. Join the server by visiting twincitiesgeek.com/discord.

America’s 250th Genealogy Series: Farming, Factories, and the Frontier: Midwest Genealogy Basics

What: Educational
When: Thursday, August 27, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

In recognition of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Dakota County Historical Society is presenting a genealogy series to help people uncover their family’s history. This installment starts with Midwest genealogy basics, looking at the history of the region, the people who called it home, and what historical documents can help piece together their stories. This event is free to attend, but there is a suggested donation of $5.

Transgender Technohorror with Mars Nicoli

What: Educational
When: Saturday, August 29, at 4:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual Event

Romancing the Gothic hosts weekly classes and events exploring gothic, romantic, and horror topics. This week explores how the internet and digital platforms that can be such a community lifeline for those living in isolation, can also exacerbate the divide and separation from in-person bonds and how this tension has manifested in recent trans-authored narratives in the horror genre with a particular look at the novel Brainwyrms by Alison Rumfitt. Romancing the Gothic events are free to attend, but donations or patronage to support the series are appreciated.

An SPN Watch Party with Jared Padalecki & Anson Gordon

What: Movies
When: Saturday, August 29, at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

Revisit the pilot episode of Supernatural with one of the main actors and someone who’s never seen the show before. During this live rewatch party, Jared Padalecki will be sharing stories from filming, on-set shenanigans, and attempting to explain 15 years of SPN lore to his long-time friend Anson Gordon. Admission is $25, or $130 including a signed print.

Virtual Transmission

What: Music, Nightlife
When: Saturday, August 29, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Twitch

The popular Transmission dance night is hosting a weekly virtual music-video stream. DJ Jake Rudh will be bringing New Wave, Alternative, and more ’80s-centric greats directly to your home. So, dance, dance, dance to the radio (or, in this case, Twitch stream).

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So, which of these events will you be attending? What events would you like to see featured in the future? Let us know in the comments section below or contact us via email. And don’t forget to add your events to the Twin Cities Geek Community Calendar!