7 Minnesota fall art festivals to check out

Meet the muralists brightening up St. Paul, get a psychic reading at Father Hennepin Bluff Park, or browse dozens of artist booths on the shores of Bde Maka Ska. Art festivals don’t end just because summer is winding down.

Now in its sixth year, artists in this mural-focused art festival paint the blank exterior walls of St. Paul’s Creative Enterprise Zone, a former industrial area. “We are working hard to make people who are living, working and playing here feel connection to the space,” festival producer Angela Casselton said. (Thu.-Sat., Creative Enterprise Zone, outdoor block party, bike tours and bus tours on chromazone.net)

This festival combines visual arts, mysticism and artisan vendors, offering a twist on the traditional art festival. Started four years ago in Linden Hills, this year the fair is at Father Hennepin Bluff Park in Minneapolis’ St. Anthony Main neighborhood. For the psychic-shy visitor, co-producer Eric Earll encourages people to be curious. “We combine art with someone getting a healing, tarot cards,” Earll said. “The energy is different.” There’s also a pet adoption event from noon-2 p.m. (10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., 420 SE. Main St., Mpls., free, facebook.com/events/1257374118671212/)

More than 120 artists in 59 locations take over the Longfellow and south Seward neighborhoods of Minneapolis. Discover every type of visual art, including drawing, painting and even fossil jewelry. Artists showcase their work in their homes, front yards and backyards, or professional studios. “The art of the crawl is, can you create enough density and pods or pockets, so people can see multiple artists without having to jump back into their car?” said Steve Clark, a volunteer and steering committee member. (10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat. & Sun., free, lolaart.org)

Now in its 22nd year, this festival brings art to the community while raising money for the Lakeville Art Center. “I believe we are the largest festival south of the river, as far as true art festivals,” Lakeville Art Festival Director Sarah Stowell said. Most of the more than 100 juried artists are local, with some from Iowa, Wisconsin, the Dakotas and other states. This year, the art center purchased a Glowforge 3D laser printer that they’ll use to create a community art project. The festival hosts artist demos, live music and food trucks. (10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sun., 20965 Holyoke Av., Lakeville, free, lakevilleartscenterfriends.org)

Payne Avenue in east St. Paul becomes one long walkable street gallery for a weekend. More than 20 venues open their doors, welcoming visitors into art installations, live performances, workshops, panels and more. Over half of the participating artists identify as people of color, and nearly half have direct connections to the East Side. This year’s theme “We Belong Together” calls for unity while also recognizing differences. (5-9 p.m. Oct. 10, noon-8 p.m. Oct. 11, noon-5 p.m. Oct. 12, 967 Payne Av., St. Paul, with nearby businesses and galleries, free, solidaritystreetgallery.org)

More than 30 venues participate in a weekend of art across 11 St. Paul neighborhoods for this biannual art crawl. The Schmidt Artist Lofts in the W. 7th neighborhood hosts more than 80 artists showing their work. F-O-K Studios at 106 W. Water St., just south of Harriet Island, hosts 50 artists throughout the weekend, with a free jazz night on Oct. 10, and various public programming including book readings, astrology readings and musical performances. “The Saint Paul Art Collective is turning the entire city into a gallery,” Executive Director Mariusz Kujawski said. (Oct. 10-12, various locations, free, stpaulartcollective.org)