Meet at Mia: Summer Series 2026
Celebrate Minnesota as a melting pot for our third year of the Meet at Mia Summer Series. Experience different aspects of Minnesota each week, from state pastimes like cornhole and the State Fair, to local artist collectives and celebration of identity. Each week features music, art making, and unique food and drinks.
June Programs
June 4 | Summer Kickoff
Kick off summer at Mia with a performance by NUNNABOVE. Make art with Mia teaching artists, then head to the Print Study Room to see unique summertime prints. Be sure to wash your hands after eating ParraLily’s award-winning fries.
Groove with NUNNABOVE, 6 p.m.
Make with Akiko Ostlund
Create with Laura Wennstrom
View unique prints in Mia’s Print Study Room
Eat ParraLily Food Truck, 5–8 p.m.
Enjoy Unbakeable Food Truck, 5–8 p.m.
June 11 | Word Play
Joyeux anniversaire, Gustave Courbet! The late French Realist painter was known to include puns in his artwork, typically taking a dig at the bourgeoisie. Celebrate his birthday with music, making, and a little bit of magic.
Dance with DJ Diane Miller
Make with Sophia Weisensel
Enjoy magic by Mike Davis, 6–8 p.m.
Guess along with Trivia Mafia
Play Mia Mad Libs
Eat Trickster Tacos, 5–8 p.m.
June 18 | Celebrate Juneteenth
Celebrate Juneteenth at Mia with a night of music hosted by Brass Solidarity. Tour Black artists in Mia’s collection and make your own art with Whitney Terrill. West Indies Soul Food Truck returns!
Jam with Brass Solidarity (full lineup coming soon), 5–9 p.m.
Print with Whitney Terrill
Tour a selection of Black artists at Mia
Explore Mia’s Print Study Room
Eat West Indies Soul Food, 5–8 p.m.
June 25 | Pride in Concert
Start Pride weekend a little early with a performance by Keep for Cheap. Amar Agba leads art making and MN Nice Cream provides the sweets. Take home memories from the Traveling Photobooth.
Rock with Keep for Cheap, 6 p.m.
Make with Amar Agba
Tour 2SLGBTQIA+ artists in Mia’s collection, 6 and 7:15 p.m.
Pose with the Traveling Photobooth
Eat MN Nice Cream, 5–8 p.m.
July Programs
July 9 | Brit Pop
Celebrate English painter David Hockney’s 89th birthday! Dive into our metaphorical swimming pool with a tour of Mia’s permanent collection exploring themes seen in Hockney’s work. Diane Miller spins tunes while Sarah Nicole leads art making.
Dance with DJ Diane Miller
Create with Sarah Nicole
Tour Mia’s permanent collection, 6 and 7:15 p.m.
Eat Las Twins food truck, 5–8 p.m.
Drink MinneTea, 5–8 p.m.
July 16 | Cutting Edge
Enjoy Mia’s selection of avant garde (or experimental) sculptures and make your own with Northern Clay Center. Lone Rock Bride provides the music while MinneTea brings the sips.
Jam with Lone Rock Bride, 6 p.m.
Sculpt with Northern Clay Center
Quiz yourself with Trivia Mafia
Drink MinneTea, 5–8 p.m.
Eat Brick Oven Bus, 5–8 p.m.
July 23 | Sharing Stories
We express ourselves through the clothes we wear, but can our clothing also tell a story? Mayan huipiles do, through embroidered motifs. Not just clothing, they’re a way to communicate and share living history. Send off “An Indigenous Art: Huipiles from Mia’s Collection” (closing August 2) with this special program.
Groove with DJ TaliaKnight
Weave with Ivonne Yanez
Craft with Textile Center
Tour “An Indigenous Art: Huipiles from Mia’s Collection” 6 and 7:15 p.m.
Eat Que Tal Street Eats, 5–8 p.m.
July 30 | Containing Multitudes
Walt Whitman has no problem contradicting himself. After all, he contains multitudes. Explore what it means to be you before “Containing Multitudes” closes on August 2. Trickster Tacos brings the bites while Courtney Yasmineh performs her beloved north woods anthems.
Listen to Courtney Yasmineh, 6 p.m.
Tour “Containing Multitudes,” 6 and 7:15 p.m.
Eat Trickster Tacos, 5–8 p.m.
August Programs
August 6 | Dog Day
Who let the dogs out? Mia, for the second year in a row! Bring your furry friend to the courtyard (on a leash!) and take a picture with The Traveling Photobooth. Laura Wennstrom helps you create a frame for your portrait. Have a pooch with no patience? Grab a pup cup for the road from the Sota Fountain.
Move with Nina Luna, 6 p.m.
Pose with The Traveling Photobooth
Frame your furry friend with Laura Wennstrom
Tour Dogs in Mia’s collection, 6 and 7:15 p.m.
Play with Cornchip Dog Collective
Dine on Las Twins, 5–8 p.m.
August 13 | Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes
The rhyme might be for kids, but the exhibition is for everyone. Experience photographs of the human body before collaging your own. Cast adornments with WOW Mobile Metal Lab, and fill your stomach with ParraLily. Enjoy a live performance from Chutes at 6 p.m.
Jam with Chutes, 6 p.m.
Make with Akiko Ostlund
Cast with WOW Mobile Metal Lab
Eat ParraLily, 5–8 p.m.
Tour “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes”
August 20 | Movie in the Park: The Devil Wears Prada
Not only are new textiles on view now, but Mia is preparing for “Paris Couture,” our next special exhibition opening on October 4. Experience all things fashion this evening with a performance by Mother Soki. End the night with a screening of The Devil Wears Prada. Florals outside of spring? Groundbreaking.
Listen to Mother Soki, 6 p.m.
Tour fashion on display
Create with Textile Center
Eat Que Tal Street Eats, 5–8 p.m.
Watch The Devil Wears Prada, sunset (approximately 8 p.m.)
August 27 | Summer on a Stick
For those who want the State Fair experience without the crowds (or the parking), visit Mia instead! We’ve got lawn games, live music, and delicious food. Mia may not have a Miracle of Life building, but we’ll celebrate the Miracle of Art!
Groove with Ozone Creations, Bakkwooddrift, and Gifted Handz, 5 p.m.
Create with Laura Wennstrom
Watch Alondra M. Garza’s live painting demonstration
Search on a scavenger hunt with Michael Gaughan
Eat KCM Eggrolls and MN Nice Cream, 5–8 p.m.
September Programs
September 3 | Building Blocks
Kenzo Tange is one of Japan’s most celebrated architects, and we have his work in our own backyard. Like, you’re looking at it. Celebrate the late artist’s birthday (September 4) alongside his 1970s addition to Mia’s building.
Jam with Maygen & The Birdwatcher
Craft with Akiko Ostlund
View artwork in Mia’s Print Study Room
Eat ParraLily, 5–8 p.m.
Drink MinneTea, 5–8 p.m.
September 10 | Movie in the Park: In the Heights
Kick off Hispanic Heritage Month a little early with the new exhibition “María Berrío: Songlines” (opening September 12) and newly installed Latin American paintings.
Groove with DJ TaliaKnight
Make with Alondra M. Garza
Tour brand-new paintings from “Meeting Point: The Mary Ingebrand-Pohlad Collection of Latin American Art,” 6 and 7:15 p.m.
Watch In the Heights, sunset (approximately 8 p.m.)
Eat Que Tal Street Eats, 5–8 p.m.
September 17 | Sweater Weather
Don’t hold us to the theme! Minnesota weather is unpredictable, and we wrote this in March. Wrap up summer in the courtyard with a performance by Gozie Ukaga. Craft with Laura Wennstrom and WOW Mobile Metal Lab, and enjoy Hana Bistro as we sail into fall.
Jam with Gozie Ukaga, 6 p.m.
Create with Laura Wennstrom
Pour with WOW Mobile Metal Lab
Tour cozy artworks, 6 and 7:15 p.m.
Eat Hana Bistro, 5–8 p.m.