Things to do in Minnesota: 5 things to do this weekend (June 26–28)
Special Olympics 2026: Meet Lucy Haugland
The 2026 Special Olympics USA Games have officially kicked off in Minnesota. Thousands of incredible athletes are flocking to the University of Minnesota to compete. FOX 9's Ian Leonard introduces us to one standout competitor, Lucy Haugland.
(FOX 9) - From a best ribs competition, to Special Olympics USA games and the Twin Cities Pride parade, there’s plenty to do throughout Minnesota this weekend.
The Great Midwest Rib Fest
- June 25–27
- Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, Prior Lake
- Free; More information here
Hosted at Mystic Lake Casino Hotel in Prior Lake, this free, three-day outdoor event combines a professional rib-cooking competition with national touring act musicians.
2026 Special Olympics USA games
- University of Minnesota and National Sports Center; Minneapolis and Blaine
- June 20–26
- More information here
The 2026 Special Olympics USA games will unite 3,000 athletes, 1,500 coaches, 10,000 volunteers and 75,000 fans from all 50 states.
The University of Minnesota’s campus will host several events, while the National Sports Center in Blaine will host select events as well.
The men who carried the Flame of Hope
FOX 9 Meteorologist Ian Leonard interviews David Person and Dallas Stadick about the final leg of the Special Olympics Torch Run.
Hmong International Freedom Festival
- June 27–28
- Como Park’s McMurray Field, St. Paul
- More information here
The 44th annual celebration will also acknowledge the 50-year anniversary of Hmong freedom in Minnesota. The Hmong International Freedom Festival has been acknowledged as the largest Hmong sports tournament in the nation, with last year’s event seeing nearly 60,000 attendees, hosting 200 sports teams, and featuring 200 vendors.
Lakes Jam
- June 24–27
- Brainerd International Raceway, Brainerd
- More information here
The annual outdoor music festival this year features country stars like Bailey Zimmerman, Tucker Wetmore and Neal McCoy, plus mud racing, water cross tournaments and more.
![2025 Twin Cities Pride Parade in Mpls, aerial view [RAW]](https://static-media.fox.com/fmcv3/prod/fts/A-840448/z86v7roaoo9jrtas.jpg)
2025 Twin Cities Pride Parade in Mpls, aerial view [RAW]
The 2025 Twin Cities Pride Parade in Minneapolis. Twin Cities Pride is one of the largest Pride festivals in the country.
Twin Cities Pride Festival
- June 27–28
- Loring Park, Minneapolis
- More information here
The annual celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community brings together three stages of entertainment, and more than 650 food and craft vendors. The highly anticipated Twin Cities Pride Parade then takes place on Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., starting at 3rd & Hennepin Avenue, and running down Hennepin to Spruce.