Thursday, 14 May 2015

Team Building In Minneapolis – Fun Events To Enrich Corporate, Community And Family Culture

When the weather brightens, Minnesota companies are ready to take on team building activities in Minneapolis . National Geographic has voted the city into the World’s Top 10 Summer Destinations, so it’s no wonder that Minneapolis companies stay home for summer meetings, and Midwest firms take the short trip to their sister state to convene. Summer and early fall in Minneapolis are jam-packed with festivities celebrating arts, culture and fun. Corporate teams unite in supporting the community, either directly or indirectly, enriching family and community culture.

VENTURE UP - Minneapolis Team Building

Minneapolis is home to 18 Fortune 500 corporations, and many are generous sponsors for seasonal events and ongoing venues. Some of the top donors for summer happenings include United Healthcare, Target, 3M, US Bank Corp, Cargill, General Mils, Medtronic, Nortech, Ecolab, Xcel Energy, Merrill Corp, Pinnacle Living, Unison Elanco, and G&K Services, all of whom are on Venture Up’s client list.

minneapollis team building - venture up

Corporate meeting planners often hire Venture Up to align their team building activities in Minneapolis with a summer community event. The list below shows a good example of prime time events through summer and early fall. 
Summer Events

All Summer

Walker Art Center began in 1879 when lumber baron T.B. Walker built a room on his home to house his favorite paintings. He invited the public in for viewings, a humble start for a museum that is now one of the top five most-visited contemporary art museums in the U.S. The adjacent Minneapolis Sculpture Garden and the Museum attract 700,000 visitors annually.

May 25 - September 7

The Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Department is hosting 200 summer concerts and a selection of family friendly movies under the stars. Visitors and locals alike can enjoy the films and concerts spanning a range of musical traditions -- Jazz, Latin, Swing, Folk, Rock, Bluegrass and Classical.

Concert Schedule:

Lake Harriet Park
Monday, Wednesday - Saturday - 7:30 pm
Sundays - 2 pm & 5:30 pm

Nicollet Island Park
Mondays - 7 pm

Father Hennepin Bluff Park
Tuesdays - 7 pm

Minnehaha Regional Park
Wednesday - Friday - 7 pm

Bryant Square Park
Tuesdays & Thursdays - 6:30 pm

Theodore Wirth Regional Park
June 9, July 14, August 18 - 7 pm

May 9 - October 25, Saturdays

The Mill City Market overlooks the Stone Arch Bridge Crossing and the mighty Mississippi River. Nestled between the Spoonriver Restaurant and the Guthrie Theatre, the market features colorful artisan works and organic foods from local farmers and merchants.

Science Museum of Minnesota : Journey to Space
Ongoing through August 23

Join the space team of explorers at the Science Museum of Minnesota. Wannabe astronauts can now go beyond the museum’s Out-of-Gravity Experience and into a Journey to Space, a world premier film at the Omnitheatre. The 45-minute film shows NASA’s storied past, the evolution of the shuttle program and insights into how American discoveries in space have shaped the strategy of future exploration, including the study of Mars.

Open year-round. Wine-tasting through summer.
828 Constance Blvd. NE
Ham Lake, Minnesota
(763) 229-8824

The Willow Tree Winery offers a park-like setting for wine tasting, on a family-owned farm about 20 miles from the Twin Cities. Wines are made from cold-climate grapes and locally grown fruit. The web has next to nothing about this hidden gem. The internet shows 5 star ratings from visitors, and nearly 600 people ‘like’ its Facebook page. Maybe the Minneapolis Business Journal will write a story? This place won’t be a secret for long.

Ongoing

Extraordinarily diverse collections from around the world are right at home in the Minneapolis Institute of Art. A free, non-profit entity, the museum offers one of the finest art collections in America; paintings from Monet to Matisse; collections from Asia to Africa, and artifacts from around the globe spanning 40,000 years.

Summer Exhibitions:

Mark Mothersbaugh: Myopia
June 18 - August 30, 2015

Leonardo da Vinci, the Codex Leicester, and the Creative Mind
June 21 - August 30.

May 15 - 17 / First Thursdays year-round

Northeast Minneapolis is the hot spot for art. Visual artists working in the storied Northrup King Building host weekly open-studio events every Thursday. But the big event is the annual Art-A-Whirl, an open-studio tour with more than 250 visual artists. Art-A-Whirl has a 20-year history and is now one of the largest art tours in the nation. Visitors have a chance to meet with painters, sculptors, printmakers, photographers, ceramists, textile and fiber artists, and jewelers and tour furniture galleries. The Northrup King Building is in the heart of the Arts District in Northeast Minneapolis.

May 23 - June 28

An epic tale of a Dublin family’s survival following the Irish Civil War, Juno and the Paycock is one of the greatest plays of the 20th century.
Director Joe Dowling first opened the play in 1988 to rave reviews by the New York Times: “Dowling’s Juno is alive at every level – as a boisterous comedy, as wrenching tragedy, as blistering social commentary.” Dowling will also be directing the play at the historic Guthrie Theatre.

June 13
Minneapolis Convention Center Plaza

Parades of lighted bicyclists and pedestrians lit in neon line the streets and walkways of the Minneapolis Convention Center Plaza, marking the annual nocturnal Northern Spark Arts Festival. Celebrating five years, the event promises to surprise, provoke and inspire visitors in 2015. Event sponsors expect to draw 50,000 to the carnival of performers, musicians, and artists. Visitors can expect to see gigantic art, light projections on buildings, and interactive, technology-focused, site-specific art found only in Minneapolis.

Ongoing

The Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts is the Twin Cities’ newest arts center and the flagship for dance in Minnesota. Thanks to sponsor US Bank, the summer is full of a wide range of performances to suit tastes of the young and old. See the detailed List on the center’s website for non-stop fun events through summer and beyond.

June 20 - 21
Walker Art Center

Rock the Garden is a festive musical event on the sprawling manicured grounds outside Walker Art Center. The 2015 lineup features 10 bands, including Dan Deacon, Low, Bob Mould Band, Silversun Pickups and Metric. Entertainment spans the range of punk, Afrobeat and good ole rock n’ roll.

June 27
Theodore Wirth Park

The Tri-Loppet Off-Road Triathlon is a point-to-point race along the chain of lakes trails in Theodore Wirth Park. Teams willing to take on the big challenge will run 5k, paddle 7k and mountain bike 13k, all in the heart of the city. If you win, you could be $1,700 richer.

July 4
Minneapolis

Celebrating 5 years, the Twin Cities Half Marathon is gearing up for July 4, 2015. The Red, White and Boom event is limited to 3,200 runners. The route covers Saint Anthony Falls and Father Hennepin Bluffs Park, along the riverbank near the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. A series of parks stretch 70 miles by the river, allowing ample room for spectators and patriotic revelers.

July 10-11
Basilica of Saint Mary

The Basilica Block Party is a corporate-sponsored event that got its roots in 1995 when it was a fundraiser for the restoration of The Basilica of Saint Mary. Great food, fun and music still highlight the event, which still benefits the landmark, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A portion of the proceeds also benefit St. Vincent de Paul outreach program.

Mystic Lake Casino – The Beach Boys & The Doobie Brothers
July 4 and July 16

Mystic Lake is festive any time of year, but when Grammy award-winning Doobie Brothers or Beach Boys come to town things really get rocking. The Beach Boys play July 4, and the Doobie Brothers arrive July 16. A blend of rhythm and blues, country, bluegrass and rock n’ roll, Doobie music is fun for all generations. Tickets are also available for: Melissa Etheridge (June 25), Golden Boys – Frankie Avalon, Fabian and Bobby Rydell (May 29), Patti LaBelle (June 6).

July 22 - 25
Downtown Minneapolis

July is a non-stop party vacation in Minneapolis, with much of the fun at the Minneapolis Aquatennial. Teams of revelers take to the sun and the Mississippi waterway to celebrate the city’s 75-year history, and enjoy more than 75 events ranging from cardboard boat races , the Torchlight Parade and the Amazing Race .

July 13
Minneapolis Convention Center Plaza

A day of community team building, this team building event empowers area residents to be active – both mentally and physically. Activities span the range – from yoga to electric hopscotch, speed chess, to dueling banjos, DIY activities and square dancing. Fun for spectators and participants alike, the annual play day brings the community together in more ways than fun.

July 19
Nicollet Island Pavilion

In Minneapolis, family is everything. She has 10 Sister Cities around the globe, and everyone has a chance to celebrate each one of them at the annual Sister Cities Day Celebration & Ice Cream Social. A talented list of entertainers highlight the event. Performers include a multicultural child-adult choir, the famous Ballet Folklorico - Mexico Azteca, and professional martial artists. The event, including the ice cream social, is free for all. 

Menneapolis' Sister Cities:

 Santiago, Chile
Kuopio, Finland
Ibaraki City, Japan
Novosibirsk, Russia
Tours, France
Winnipeg, Canada
Harbin, China
Uppsala, Sweden
Eldoret, Kenya
Cuernavaca, Mexico
Najaf, Iraq
Bosaso, Somalia

Ongoing events & Parade July 25
Lake Harriet

Car fanatics and bike enthusiasts get artsy and competitive when it comes to the annual ArtCar and ArtBike Parade. The event draws hundreds of spectators and creative teams who dress their wheels for show and performance. Lake Harriet has never been lovelier with the bevy or beauties on wheels lining the roadway to the finish line at the Rose Garden. The following schedule is from the ArtCar and ArtBike website. 
Summer of ArtCars and ArtBikes 2015 Schedule

         Saturday May 16, 5 p.m.
Art-A-Whirl Cruise followed by dinner TBD
Line up at Grain Belt Brewery back parking lot

Saturday June 13, 9 p.m.
Northern Spark Cruise
Line up at 9 p.m., location TBD

Tuesday June 16
Northeast Parade
Line up at 6:00 p.m. on Central Ave. NE

Friday June 19, 6:30 p.m.
Manitou Grand Parade
Line up at 5:30 p.m. in White Bear Lake, dinner to follow parade

Saturday June 20, 2pm
Maiden Rock Parade and Chicken dinner picnic
(One hour drive down from the Cities)

Saturday July 25, 6 p.m.
The 21st Annual ArtCar + ArtBike Parade
Lake Harriet, Minneapolis
Line up at the Rose Garden, 4124 Roseway Road, Minneapolis 5 p.m.
Party after parade at the House of Balls to watch the Aquatennial Fireworks at dusk!

August 27 - September 7, 2 p.m. each day
Minnesota State Fair Daily Parade
Three ArtCars + ArtBikes daily!
July 27

It’s free, it’s fun, and there’s food! The Annual Dakota Jazz Club Street Festival is gearing up for the July 27 event held from noon to midnight on the Nicollet Mall. Music dominates the scene, with four music stages and fun activities for all ages. Stilt walkers, fire dancers, and other festive performers liven the event. The food isn’t free, but the variety will suit anyone from anywhere in the world -- bratwurst, chicks on a stick, blue cheese fondue, and veggie links are just a few in a long list of tasty treats that will leave you and your team dancing in the streets.

Year-round

Minnesota meets Russia in downtown Minneapolis. Minnesota is rich in Russian culture, as visitors to The Museum of Russian Art know well. Plans call for a new exhibit this summer, Russian Samovars, a delightful collection of those metal urns used to make Russian tea. The samovar, or “self boiler,” uses wood chips or dry pinecones lighted to burn water quickly and inexpensively. The collection is on loan from a Russian collector currently living in Florida.

August - Wednesdays

The world’s largest flour mill sits in majestic ruins on the Mississippi Riverfront, creating a dramatic backdrop for live concerts in Minneapolis. The nearby Mill City Museum hosts the events. Minneapolis bands dominate the lineup, with folksy music from five decades. The museum also shows the city’s roots in the flour industry, with exhibits depicting the ingenuity of settlers and pioneers, and the power of the mighty Mississippi River that sparked the evolution for what is Minneapolis today.

July 30-August 9
Minneapolis/Saint Paul

Now in its 22nd season, the Minnesota Fringe Festival is an adventure in theatre. The 11-day festival is an interactive experience that showcases performers of many genres and encourages audience interaction, with performers engaged and remaining in character. Shows last no longer than one hour. Venues in 2015 may include Minneapolis Theatre Garage, HUGE Improv Theater, Mixed Blood Theatre main stage, Theatre de la Jeune Lune's side stage, and the four stages at the University of Minnesota's Rarig Center for Performing Arts.

August 7-9
Uptown

The Uptown Art Fair features more than 350 artists from around the world. The collections represent 12 media, including sculpture, painting, jewelry, ceramics, wood, and mixed media. The fair is one of the largest juried fine arts fairs in the nation, and is the second largest event in Minnesota, second to the State Fair. The event also includes a youth art fair, music performances, kid activities, wine tasting and culinary competitions. More than 20 vendors are slated to provide crafts and festive food.

August 8-9
Loring Park

More than 140 artists working in a variety of media convene at the Loring Park Art Festival in Minneapolis as part of a robust summer program involving the community and visitors with local artists. The artists work in a variety of media, including painting, photography, printmaking, handmade paper, wood, jewelry, clay, sculpture, fiber, mixed media and glass. Musical events are scheduled on stage, and strolling musicians entertain visitors walking, dining and engaging in fun activities.

August 8 & 9
Powderhorn Park

The Powderhorn Art Fair in downtown Minneapolis is one of the finest juried regional art fairs in the country. Set in a pastoral 66-acre city park, Powderhorn Art Fair features 184 regional and national artists of varied disciplines, as well as a community showcase and group exhibitors from Minneapolis. Proceeds from the fair benefit park programs including the theatre, computer lab, teen center, music recording studio and pottery studio.

August 22-October 4
Festival Fairgrounds

Step back into the rollicking medieval days, where you can toss your cares to the wind, and speak your mind, fearing not the threat of the guillotine because it’s still illegal in Minnesota. The Renaissance Festival is where food and fun are a way of life. Costumed actors stroll the grounds, playing lutes and engaging visitors in fun, fresh and sometimes testy ways. Join in a meal and rip meat from the bone, muscle your way to the front of a jousting match and take on an ax-throwing competition, if you dare. Be sure to behave when the royal family appears, lest they cast their soldiers upon you and keep you from frolicking about.

August 27-September 7
State Fairgrounds

The granddaddy of them all, the Minnesota State Fair gets better every year. Attendance has climbed steadily over the years, to a record-breaking high of 1.824 million in 2014. Great entertainment and food are two big draws. The 2015 entertainment lineup includes Lynyrd Skynyrd and Patti LaBelle, and a string of popular performers, some of whom perform on stages throughout the 350-acre grounds. Hearty American food and ethnic delights are on the menu, with 450 food items at 300 food concessions. Visitors can also enjoy the state’s best agriculture competition, “infomercial” and home exhibits, and kiddie attractions, such as the Mighty Midway & Kidway, and the Haunted House. The fair has been held in Minneapolis since 1859. It’s come a long way, baby.
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