Taste of Minnesota returning, moving to Minneapolis
MINNEAPOLIS – A major Minnesota event is making its big comeback this summer, and you'll like the price of admission.
Three blocks of Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis will shut down in July for two afternoons of free music and food at Taste of Minnesota.
Nostalgia kicked in for people talking about the iconic event, formerly held in St. Paul, that's been missing from summer for nearly a decade. Fans of the event shared their memories of concerts, fireworks and food with WCCO.
"We ate so much cheesecake," one woman said. "It was my favorite thing ever."
The musical headliners will be Big Boi from Outkast and Third Eye Blind. Organizers are expecting 100,000 people over the two days.
City leaders say they have a safety plan specifically for summer events like this. Part of that plan includes "a coordinated, real-time response to data showing problematic 'hot spots.'"
"Crime is down in just about every single category from carjackings to homicides to shootings to thefts," Mayor Jacob Frey said.
The decrease comes as Minneapolis police staffing levels remain low. The department's more than 300 officers short of what they could have.
Taste of Minnesota will take place July 2-3. Metro Transit will provide free buses downtown.
The main stage will be set up at the Third Street parking lot across from the library.
There's a bill at the Capitol proposing a one-time payout of $1.8 million to the Minneapolis Downtown Council for Taste of Minnesota.
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