After years away, one of Minneapolis’s most beloved summer traditions is officially back. The Uptown Art Fair returns August 7–9, 2026, with a reimagined footprint along Lake of the Isles and The Mall — juried artists from more than 40 states, live entertainment, and family-friendly activations, all set against one of the prettiest stretches of the city. If you’re planning to come in for the comeback weekend, here’s how to turn an afternoon of art browsing into a full Minneapolis getaway — with a historic mansion as your home base.
The Uptown Art Fair, reimagined for 2026
The fair runs Friday, August 7 from 1–7 pm, Saturday, August 8 from 10 am–6 pm, and Sunday, August 9 from 10 am–4 pm. Instead of its old Hennepin-and-Lake crossroads, this year’s edition spreads out along Lake of the Isles and The Mall — the graceful parkway green that links the lake to Hennepin Avenue. Expect juried visual art, immersive public art, food and beverage vendors, and a genuine neighborhood-comeback spirit: the Uptown Association says half the proceeds will be reinvested directly into the Uptown community. Admission details and maps are on the official attendee page.
Lake of the Isles itself is worth the trip — a chain-of-lakes gem with a scenic walking loop, canoe-dotted water, and skyline views, all managed by the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board. Come early on Saturday, browse the booths, then walk off your mini-donuts along the shoreline.
Why a Loring Park mansion is the perfect art-fair home base
300 Clifton — the historic Eugene J. Carpenter Mansion, on the National Register of Historic Places and considered the finest Georgian architecture in Minnesota — sits just off Loring Park, about five minutes by car (or a lovely bike ride through the Lowry Hill greenways) from the fairgrounds. You’ll spend your day among 40 states’ worth of painters, potters, and printmakers, then come home to hand-painted murals, carved fireplaces, and English gardens of your own.
Every stay comes with the mansion’s two favorite after-hours rituals: a soak in the four-season garden hot tub under the stars, and a nightcap down in Gertrude’s Cistern, our speakeasy and haunted video lounge with heated reclining seats. Choose from distinct guest rooms — from the sparkling Crystal Mansion to the Grand Edwardian to the cozy Coachman’s — and you’ve got an art-fair weekend that feels like a piece of art itself.
Make it a full Minneapolis arts weekend
The Uptown Art Fair lands in the middle of the city’s busiest arts stretch of the summer. The Minnesota Fringe Festival runs August 6–16, with hundreds of indie theater performances across the city — several venues an easy hop from the mansion. Prefer visual art on a grand scale? The Walker Art Center and the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden — home of the iconic Spoonbridge and Cherry — are a short stroll across Loring Park from our front door. And if you’re already dreaming one weekend further ahead, Ed Sheeran plays U.S. Bank Stadium on August 15 — book that Saturday early.
Want the city’s stories served up with your art? Minneapolis Trolley Tours runs vintage-trolley sightseeing and ghost tours all summer — their Best of Minneapolis lists are a handy weekend planner — and the haunted Pillsbury Club mansion pours spooky-themed drinks in its speakeasy bar. Traveling with a group, or staying longer for the whole Fringe run? Our sister property Oakland’s on 9th offers furnished studios downtown. For more trip-planning inspiration, Meet Minneapolis keeps a full citywide calendar.
Tips for art fair weekend
Go early. Saturday morning right at 10 am is the sweet spot — cooler air, easier parking, and first pick of the one-of-a-kind pieces. Friday’s 1–7 pm session is the most relaxed for actually talking with artists. Bring a tote for small purchases, and remember Sunday wraps at 4 pm. Street parking near Lake of the Isles fills fast, so consider biking from the mansion or ride-sharing — you’ll be back in the hot tub before the sunset fades.
Book your art fair stay at 300 Clifton
Comeback weekends have a way of selling out — the fair’s return has been years in the making, and August is already the busiest stretch of the Minneapolis summer. Check availability for August 7–9 and claim your room at the mansion. Art all day, stars and steam all night — that’s how you do the Uptown Art Fair’s encore right.
Keep reading: catching a show while you’re in town? Here’s where to stay near Target Center for this summer’s concerts — J. Cole, Tame Impala, Olivia Dean and more.