Hey Minneapolis friends! We're officially in full summer mode over here, and July is looking packed with amazing events around the Twin Cities. Between the food festivals, fireworks shows, and lake activities, we're pretty sure July might pan out to be our favorite month of the year. Ernie's already practicing his best "festival dog" behavior, and we're so excited to have him there with us!

Here's our honest breakdown of the July events we're most excited about, plus all the details you need to know!

Red, White and Boom!: Fourth of July Done Right

When: July 4th, 10 AM - 10 PM
Where: Water Works Park and West River Parkway

If you're still figuring out your Fourth of July plans, honestly, this event seems like the perfect solution. We're definitely hitting up the DJ Dance Party from 9-10 PM because, how can we ever turn down a good dance party? If you're looking for things to do earlier in the day, they have a Pickleball tournament from 3:30-8:30 PM that's open play, no registration required.

But here's what we're really excited about: they're bringing 12 different food truck options. We're already strategizing which ones to hit first (and second, and probably third). Plus, the fireworks show at 10 PM is going to be the perfect way to cap off the night.

The fact that it runs from 10 AM to 10 PM means you can basically make a whole day of it. Get the full list of events and activities at Red, White and Boom's official page to plan your perfect Fourth!

Taste of Minnesota: Our First Real MPLS Food Adventure

When: July 5-6
Why we're pumped: This will be our first time at Taste of Minnesota, and we're basically treating it like our personal Minneapolis food tour. We've been hearing about this event ever since we moved to Minneapolis, and we're so stoked it's finally here!

What's got us most excited? Obviously the chance to sample tons of local eats in one spot, but we're also really looking forward to the live music lineup. There's something about good food + good music that just screams perfect date day to us. We're planning to pace ourselves and try to hit as many local vendors as possible.

Check out all the vendor details and music lineup at Taste of Minnesota's website to plan your perfect food adventure!

Minneapolis Aquatennial: Four Days of Summer Fun

When: July 23-26
The Big Picture: This is the main Minneapolis summer celebration, and we're here for all of it. The Minneapolis Aquatennial has something for everyone during these four amazing days.

Wednesday & Thursday (July 23-24): Water Ski Shows

The Twin Cities River Rats Aquatennial Water Ski Show at 6:30 PM on both nights sounds absolutely incredible. Water skiing on the Mississippi River? Sounds too good to be true.

Friday & Saturday (July 25-26): Twins Game Time

We haven't been to a Twins game in forever, so we're thinking about catching the 7:10 PM games on either Friday or Saturday to see what special Aquatennial festivities they have planned. Nothing beats baseball + summer festival vibes!

Saturday (July 26): The Grand Finale Day

This is where things get really exciting:

Morning/Afternoon: We're planning to check out the Loring Park Art Festival from 10 AM-6 PM. Fun fact, we've never actually been to Loring Park, so this is the perfect excuse to explore a new part of the city. We're thinking coffee, art browsing, and Ernie getting all the attention he deserves. By this time, he'll finally be ready to adventure with us.

Late Afternoon: The MN Cars & Coffee show from 4-7 PM at W. River Parkway near 3rd Ave. Bridge sounds pretty cool, especially with music and festivities leading up to the fireworks.

Evening: MPLS Craft Market and MPLS Vintage Market from 4-10 PM at Chicago Mall – perfect for some pre-fireworks browsing!

The Main Event: Target Fireworks at 10 PM at W. River Parkway. This is THE fireworks show everyone talks about, so we'll definitely be claiming our spot early.

Seriously, the Aquatennial website has everything laid out with maps and timing so you can plan your perfect day. They've got every event in an easy to navigate format that makes planning super simple!

Keep checking back as the list might be updated as we discover new events!