It’s a big weekend in the Twin Cities metro area, with All-Star Game activities in full swing, the Imagine Dragons concert Saturday night at TCF Bank Stadium and the Basilica Block Party going on at St. Mary’s Basilica in downtown Minneapolis.
The weather was a little iffy earlier in the day, when some heavy showers moved through parts of Minnesota. But it sounds like the worst of the weather is over.
The @AllStarGame concert and the #basillicablockparty should be great tonight with rain clearing out just in time! pic.twitter.com/rA13pzmGbB
— Laura Betker (@LauraBetker) July 12, 2014
https://twitter.com/AllStarGame/status/488034778294132737
Baseball fans are also flocking to the FanFest exhibit at the Minneapolis Convention Center, which features daily events, speakers, the world’s largest baseball, family-friendly games, historical baseball memorabilia, and many other attractions. Click here for a complete list.
And it begins! #myfanfest #asg #mntwins pic.twitter.com/UBtgXJwDyX
— Amanda (@ajk3186) July 12, 2014
Cami is pretty excited to get Tony Oliva's autograph! #MyFanFest pic.twitter.com/ydJst8P5Sq
— Kevin K (@34KevinK34) July 12, 2014
The FanFest continues through Tuesday. The All-Star game itself won’t happen until Tuesday evening, but there are lots of other events each day until then. Here’s a list:
Saturday
– 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.: All-Star FanFest at the Minneapolis Convention Center (tickets are still available).
– 7:30 p.m. (gates at 5:30 p.m.): All-Star Concert with Imagine Dragons and Atmosphere at TCF Bank Stadium (free, but ticket required).
Sunday
– 8:30 a.m.: Color Run MLB All-Star 5K at the Minnesota State Fair Grounds (registration still open for later race times).
– 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.: All-Star FanFest at the Minneapolis Convention Center (tickets are still available).
– 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.: MLB All-Star Summer Pepsi Block Party in Butler Square (admission is free, food and drinks for purchase).
– 1 p.m.: Live music at Target Field Station. Trailer Trash to perform from 1-2 p.m., Chris Hawkey will perform from 2:15-3:30 p.m.
– 4 p.m. (gates open at 2 p.m.): All-Star Futures Game at Target Field (tickets still available).
Click here for the futures game roster.
Watch it on the MLB Network, or on the big screen at Target Field Station.
– Following the futures game (approximately 7:30 p.m.) Celebrity softball game at Target Field (tickets still available).
Click here to see who’s playing in the game.
Monday
– 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.: All-Star FanFest at the Minneapolis Convention Center (tickets are still available).
– 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.: MLB All-Star Summer Pepsi Block Party in Butler Square (admission is free, food and drinks for purchase).
– 3:30 p.m.: Live music at Target Field Station. Alex Rossi & The Root City Band will perform from 3:30-4:30 p.m., Sonny Knight & The Lakers will take the stage from 4:45-6 p.m.
– 4 p.m.: Gates open at Target Field (ticket to Home Run Derby required).
– 4:15-5:10 p.m.: American League batting practice at Target Field
– 5:15-6:10 p.m.: National League batting practice at Target Field
– 7 p.m.: Home Run Derby at Target Field (limited tickets available, additional tickets available on secondhand ticket websites).
Click here to see who’s participating.
Can’t make it? Watch the derby on ESPN or on the big screen for free at Target Field Station.
Tuesday
– 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.: All-Star FanFest at the Minneapolis Convention Center (tickets are still available).
– 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.: MLB All-Star Summer Pepsi Block Party in Butler Square (admission is free, food and drinks for purchase).
– 1 p.m.: All-Star Game red carpet parade down Nicollet Mall, between 7th and 13th streets.
– 3:30 p.m.: Gates open at Target Field (ticket to the All-Star Game required).
– 3:30-4:25 p.m.: American League batting practice at Target Field.
– 4 p.m.: Live music at Target Field Station. Young Ry will perform from 4-5 p.m., the Belfast Cowboys take the stage from 5:15-6:15 p.m.
– 4:55-5:50 p.m.: National League batting practice at Target Field.
– 7:12 p.m.: 85th MLB All-Star Game at Target Field (tickets available on secondhand ticket websites).
Click here to see who’s playing. Watch the game on FOX 9.
If you’re driving in downtown Minneapolis, be aware that many streets are closed due to all the extra activity. The city has posted a list and a map showing all the street closures, many of which will be in effect until Wednesday morning. You can see an interactive version of that map at MPR News. You can get the latest on street closures and traffic information by following the Minneapolis Police Department’s Twitter feed.
More than two dozen bars and restaurants in Minneapolis will stay open until 4 a.m. after Tuesday night’s All-Star game. The St. Paul Pioneer Press has a list of all of them.
The city of Minneapolis expects about 160,000 visitors over All-Star week, and it estimates the economic boost from those visitors and related activities will be around $75 million.
