Freeloader Friday: 45 Free Things To Do This Weekend

With lots of free concerts, a few pop-up markets, and a late-night dance party.

FRIDAY

The Matt Arthur Contraption

8 p.m. White Squirrel Bar, 974 W. Seventh St., St. Paul.

Bonnie Drunken Lad

Irish tunes. 7 p.m. Padraigs, 945 Broadway NE, Minneapolis.

The Strum Brothers

6-9 p.m. 11 Wells Spirits, 704 Minnehaha Ave. E., St. Paul.

Model Cars & Vintage Toys Extravaganza

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 5-9. Your Turn LLC, 6870 Washington Ave. S., Eden Prairie.

The Haws, The Beavers 

10 p.m. 331 Club, 331 13th Ave. NE, Minneapolis.

Friday Night Open Mic

21+. 10 p.m. The Comedy Corner Underground, 1501 S. Washington Ave., Minneapolis.

First Friday Dance Party Vol. 4

With tunes from DJ Robbins Brazil and DJ Molefacekiller, Rocket Pizza serving eats, and local vendors. RSVP for a free Axman party bag. 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. BlackStack Brewing, 755 Pryor Ave. N., St. Paul.

A man and his rubber chicken hit the dance floor. BlackStack Brewing

Holiday Markets

Raging Art On 

Shop all kinds of rockin’ items from local artists. Free. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wed.-Sat. through Jan. 6. Gamut Gallery, 717 S. 10th St., Minneapolis.

Winter Skolstice at Viking Lakes

Featuring vendors, holiday-themed cocktails, food trucks, free live music, outdoor activities for kids, and more. While some events have cover charges, many happenings are free admission. 4-9 p.m. Mon.-Wed.; 4-10 p.m. Thu.-Sat.; 3-10 p.m. Sun. through Feb. 24. Viking Lakes, 730 Vikings Pkwy., Eagan; find a complete schedule at explorevikinglakes.com.

Shrimp Olympics | Natalie Jane Zavoral

SATURDAY

Valors, Poison Ivy and The People, Shrimp Olympics

10 p.m. to 1 a.m. 331 Club, 331 13th Ave. NE, Minneapolis.

Early Show

With Superfloor, High Tiny Hairs, and Rank Strangers. 1-4 p.m. White Squirrel Bar, 974 W. Seventh St., St. Paul.

Confucisaurus

With Sunshine and the Night Walkers. 9 p.m. White Squirrel Bar, 974 W. Seventh St., St. Paul.

Clothing Swap

Zero Waste Minnesota and Tare Market team up for a swap party. All genders and styles are welcome, and unclaimed items will go to Prop Shop EP. Noon to 2 p.m. Tare Market, 945 Broadway St. NE, Minneapolis.

Happy New Queers

This LGBTQ+ pop-up features 10 vendors. 2-8 p.m. Wandering Leaf Brewing Company, 2463 Seventh St. W., St. Paul.

Open Studio Saturdays

Open studios, sales, special receptions, and more. Noon to 4 p.m. Northrup King Building, 1500 Jackson St. NE, Minneapolis. 

Beer Poking Parties

Try the new Eisbock on the (heated) patio. 11-5 p.m. Northbound Smokehouse & Brewpub, 2716 E. 38th St., Minneapolis.

Free First Saturday | Walker Art Center

Free First Saturday 

Featuring open galleries, art activities, film screenings, and more. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (free admission ‘til 5 p.m.). Walker Art Center, 725 Vineland Place, Minneapolis.

Free and Easy

8:30 p.m. Mainstreet Bar & Grill, 814 Mainstreet, Hopkins.

Rusty Playground

Americana with a bluegrass twist. 7-10 p.m. Excelsior Brewing Company, 421 Third St., Excelsior.

Mill City Caravan

Hot Club jazz. 7 p.m. Padraigs, 945 Broadway NE, Minneapolis.

Grunge Unplugged 

6 p.m. Badger Hill Brewing, 2805 Winners Cir. Dr., Shakopee.

The Twin Cities Record Show

Featuring six vendors with albums, 45s, and music memorabilia, plus beer poking starting at noon. 1-5 p.m. Forgotten Star Brewing, 38 Northern Stacks Dr, Fridley,

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