Mayor Jacob Frey described the atmosphere in downtown Minneapolis as a party during a Wednesday press conference announcing a busy summer events schedule.

“This is not just a bunch of people coming into work at 8:30 a.m. and leaving at 5 p.m.,” he said. “Downtown is a party. Downtown is a festival. And more and more people are coming downtown just to have some fun. So bring your friends, bring your family, bring ya ass downtown.”

Of course, Frey couldn’t not work in Anthony Edwards’ iconic “Bring ya ass” quote that’s on everyone’s lips this week, ahead of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ first Western Conference finals appearance in 20 years. It’s even encoded in Gov. Tim Walz’ declaration of May 22, 20224 as Wolves Back Day in Minnesota.

Then the mayor and other City officials, including Minneapolis Downtown Council President and CEO Adam Duininck, announced that more than 1,800 concerts, theatrical performances, games, and other events will take place in downtown Minneapolis through September. That's roughly the same amount of events as last summer, when downtown Minneapolis experienced many of its busiest days since before the pandemic.

Starting next month, Nicollet Mall will be activated during afternoons in the middle of the week, when most people are in the office, with a marketplace known as Nicollet xChange on Tuesdays, food trucks on Wednesdays, and a mix of activities for Downtown Thursdays. More information on those Downtown Council events can be found on the Summer’s Better Downtown page.

Every week from June through August, there will be live music in The Commons park near U.S. Bank Stadium on Wednesdays at 12 p.m. and Thursdays at 7 p.m. and in Water Works Park on Mondays at 7 p.m. The Commons will also host outdoor moving screenings on Wednesdays at dusk.

Peavey Plaza at the south end of Nicollet Mall will be filled with live music on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12-1 p.m.

The Minneapolis Farmers Market on Lyndale Avenue is open Wednesday to Sunday through October, and the Mill City Farmers Market is open on Saturdays through September. Free hourlong yoga or Pilates classes are held in the lawn near the Guthrie Theater, where Mill City Farmers Market is located, every Saturday at 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.

There will also be movie screenings, fitness classes, concerts, markets, and other events held in the 1-acre park outside of North Loop Green, a new mixed-use development near Target Field, starting in June.

Mayor Jacob Frey kicks off the Thursday press conference on Nicollet Mall outside of U.S. Bank Center. Photo by Brianna Kelly

Here are some of the biggest one-off summer events in order by date:

This summer, the Minnesota Twins will play 51 games at Target Field, the Minnesota Lynx will play 16 games at Target Center, and the Minnesota Vikings will play three games at U.S. Bank Stadium. Hopefully, there will be more Timberwolves games at Target Center beyond the two this week, too.

The first half of 2024 has already brought tons of activity to downtown Minneapolis. Foot traffic was up 45.3% in February compared to last March. About 330,000 people came downtown in April for Timberwolves games at Target Center and Twins games at Target Field, according to Meet Minneapolis.

“Revitalizing downtown is not a spectator sport,” Duininck said during the Wednesday press conference. “Everybody needs to jump in.”