Mark your calendars for a free, all-ages celebration filled with live music, community, and summer fun.

Event Details

What: Dakota Block Party 2026
When: Saturday, SEP 26, 2026 | 2–10pm
Where: Nicollet Mall
Cost: Free and open to the public

OUTSIDE ON NICOLLET MALL

Nicollet Stage Live Music Lineup:

• • L.A. Buckner & BiG HOMiE at 2pm

• • Nathan & The Zydeco Cha Chas at 3:30pm

• • Liv Warfield at 5pm

• • Dylan Salfer at 6:30pm

• • Sounds of Blackness feat. Jamecia Bennett at 8:30pm

 Treble Makers Kids’ Corner (Outside Tent):

The Treble Makers kids’ area returns with even more activities this year including:

• • Kid-friendly songs from Papa Siama and Auntie Dallas at 2:15pm

• • Kid-friendly songs from The Bazillions at 3pm

• • Instrument “petting zoo”

• • Face painting

• • Doughnut decorating

• • Tie-dye activities

• • Sparkle hair extensions

• • Sidewalk chalk art

• • & More!

MPLS Craft & Vintage Market:

Explore the craft and vintage market on Nicollet.

Food:

• • Dakota Grill tent by Chef Asher Zulkosky

• • Food trucks from around the Twin Cities – Naturally Nawlins, Come and Get it, Purple People Feeders, Rollin Nolen, Thai Thai Street Food

Drinks:

• • Bar tent by Pryes & The Wine Company

Dakota Merch Tent:

• • Located on Nicollet

INSIDE AT THE DAKOTA

Dakota Stage Live Music Lineup (Reserve a table for a timeslot below for FREE):

TIME SLOT 1 (2:30 – 5pm)
Moore by Four
Lucia Sarmiento

TIME SLOT 2 (5:30 – 8pm)
Joe Pulice Big Band
Karrin Allyson

TIME SLOT 3 (9:30pm)
The New Standards

*To give as many guests as possible an opportunity to experience the indoor performances, Dakota will offer FREE reserved seating during three designated time blocks, along with standing-room access. Guests may reserve seats for one time block in advance. Additional seats will be held for the day of the Block Party and offered on a first-come, first-seated basis.

INSIDE AT THE QUINLAN ROOM BY DAKOTA

Inside the historic Young-Quinlan Building, the new Quinlan Room by Dakota adds more music and activities to this year’s Block Party. These activities will include:

• • Music Education with MacPhail (2-5pm)

  • • Performance from the MacPhail Faculty Ensemble
  • • Music Education Fair
  • • Electronic Music Lab
    
    • • MacPhail Center for Music is one of the preeminent music schools in the country. As the nation’s largest community music school, MacPhail serves more than 15,000 students each year, spanning all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. Its Varsity Ensembles feature top student talent from around the area.

• • Swing Dancing with the Southside Aces (6-9pm)

  • • Including complimentary dance instruction from Shannon Butler at 6pm! 

  • • Founded in Minneapolis in 2003 by clarinetist Tony Balluff and sousaphone player Erik Jacobson, Southside Aces celebrates early jazz, ragtime and New Orleans traditions, drawing inspiration from the music of Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Sidney Bechet and other pioneers of the genre

VIP PACKAGE OPTIONS

VIP Platinum

VIP Platinum Level Perks Include:

• • Exclusive VIP Lounge Access Inside: Enjoy dedicated access to our Upper Private Dining Area throughout the event, featuring a pop-up bar and light snacks.

• • VIP Patio Access Outside: Relax in the dedicated VIP Patio with comfortable seating.

• • Come & Go Access: VIP Platinum members can leave and return at any time during the indoor shows.

• • Dedicated VIP Entrance: Skip the main entrance and enter through our exclusive VIP Door to get inside.

NOTE FOR PLATINUM A-TRAIN MEMBERS:

If you are a Platinum A-Train Member, no action is required. You and a +1 will simply pick up your VIP passes at Will Call on the day of the Block Party. If you would like to reserve a table inside the Dakota, please do so above under “INSIDE AT DAKOTA”