Things To Do

It?s time to rope and ride. The Hamel Rodeo returns to Corcoran Lion?s Park on Thursday evening, July 11, and runs through Sunday evening. The performances will feature bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, tie down roping, steer wrestling, team roping, barrel racing and the Bull Ridin? Bonanza.

Thousands of vocalists will be in Minneapolis this week for the largest LGBTQ+ choral event in the world. A total of 122 choruses from around the globe will join the GALA Choruses Festival. There will be hundreds of concerts during the five-day span, July 10-14. Many of the events are free and some are ticketed. The opening event is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Peavey Plaza on July 10. Check out the full schedule online at GalaChoruses.org.

After a five-year absence, Richfield is bringing back its Fourth of July celebrations and kicking them off on July 3. Thanks to an anonymous donor, they had the funds to put on this event, one the community has been asking for. You can follow along with the event and any weather updates here: https://www.richfield4th.com/

A gigantic bounce park has moved into Bloomington for the summer. FunBox is now open in the east lot across the street from Mall of America. It?s hard to miss since it?s 25,000 square feet of bright colored jumping zones. There are obstacles, games and challenges including a ninja wall, battle beam, obstacle course and 23-foot slide. Right now, it?s open Wednesday through Sunday and will be in place through Sept. 8. For more information visit FunBox.com

The horses will be galloping at Canterbury Park on July 3 and July 4 for special race days. On Wednesday there will be live racing, live music and Fireworks. On Thursday there will be wiener dog races in between horse races along with a hot dog eating contest and inflatable pig races. The top four dogs from each heat advance to the Best In Show races on Sept. 1 that will feature all five breeds that will race over the summer.

Rain didn?t stop the colorful street rods, custom and classic cars from rolling into the state fairgrounds for the 50th annual MSRA Back to the Fifties weekend. 10,000 cars from across the country will be on display at the fairgrounds on Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Sunday from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. There is live music and many state fair food vendors are open for the event.

In 1979, Pepsi announced the citizens of Farmington drank more Mountain Dew per capita than any other city. That was the beginning of the Dew Days festival. It no longer centers around Mountain Dew, but has been going strong for 45 years. The festival kicks off on June 20 and runs through June 23. You can see the full schedule of events on the Dew Days Facebook page.

The term backyard oasis definitely applies to the ten featured gardens on the Seward Garden Tour. It takes place on Thursday, June 20, from 6 to 8 p.m. followed by a garden party with refreshments and homemade gluten-free cookie bars. The tour is a fundraiser for the Seward Neighborhood Group. It is $15 to attend if purchased ahead of time or $20 on the day of the event. The tour is a fundraiser for the Seward Neighborhood Group. You can buy tickets at sng.org.

Ten stunning urban gardens in the Seward Neighborhood will be open to explore Thursday, June 20, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. with an after-party in one of the featured backyards. The event is $15 per ticket if purchased ahead of time, $20 on the day of the event. The tour is a fundraiser for the Seward Neighborhood Group.

There?s no shortage of pickleball facilities across the Twin Cities metro, but how many of those have an official rap music video? Chip?s Pickleball in Eagan does, plus a fitness center, sauna and cold plunge, a coffee shop, caf? and full bar. Chip?s opened in June and has 12 tournament-sized courts and is located at 980 Discovery Road in Eagan. They?re open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Celebrations ahead of Juneteenth on June 19 have kicked off in the Twin Cities. FOX 9's Rob Olson has the latest.

The Stone Arch Bridge Festival returns to this weekend to the Minneapolis riverfront. There will be 225 artists, two live music stages, more than 30 food vendors, two beer gardens and a vintage and vinyl market. New this year, there will be a public art installation called 100 Feet of Art and History. It combines the work of six local artists and it?s located on West River Parkway behind the Mill City Museum. The festival takes place on June 15 and June 16 along West River Parkway between North 4th Avenue and South 11th Avenue. It is free to attend.

Nearly two dozen of the Twin Cities' most incredible new and remodeled homes will be open for exploring over the next two weekends as part of the Artisan Home Tour. The homes stretch all the way east to Afton, south to Prior Lake and west to Independence. Home No. 5 on the tour is in Wayzata and boasts a Beauty and Beast two-story library plus several secret doors, one of which leads to a home theater. The homes are open from noon-6 p.m. Fridays through Sundays through June 23rd. The four remodeled homes are open on the final weekend only. Tickets are required ahead of time to enter the homes and can be purchased online, at the door or at Bachman?s.