Plan Your Visit

ART SHANTY PROJECTS
SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS
JANUARY 18 - FEBRUARY 9, 2025
10AM-4PM

BDé UMáŋ / LAKE HARRIET – MINNEAPOLIS, MN

PROGRAM UPDATE, 2/1/24

Due to warm weather and deteriorating ice conditions, Art Shanty Projects ended early. Thank you to the 10,000 visitors who attended on our one glorious weekend, Jan 27-28!

If you love the shanties and the creative community we foster, please make a donation today to ensure our future. We rely on donations from visitors to fund our program, and with the shortened duration we have a significant budget gap to fill. People have already shown up with generosity but we still have more to raise in order to end this year successfully and begin planning for next time.

PROGRAM UPDATE, 1/19/24

We will be ON ICE starting January 27!

Art Shanty Projects was scheduled to launch our 20th Anniversary season on January 20 on the frozen water of Bdé Umáŋ / Lake Harriet in South Minneapolis. As of Thursday, January 11 there was still open water on the lake but incoming subzero temperatures gave a possibility of a deep freeze, and we waited for the ice to form. we’re at 14 inches and counting, more than enough to be on the lake!

Our opening date was postponed to January 27th. The program will end as scheduled, on February 11 with no extension.

Performances originally slated for opening weekend have been rescheduled.

Getting there

Location

Bdé Umáŋ / Lake Harriet – Minneapolis, MN

We are monitoring ice conditions, and will make updates here as to whether we’ll be on ice or on shore.

We are operating in an urban winter environment where parking is limited. We encourage carpools, biking, walking, skiing, skating and using public transit to get to our event!

Parking

For those driving to the event, there is a small paid parking lot on the northwest side of the lake (“Bandshell Lot”), as well as free street parking spots around the parkway that circles the lake.

Please be mindful that this is a neighborhood and respect that we are sharing the streets with residents and businesses.

NOTE: The other pay lot north of the lake (“North Lot”) is reserved for artists and staff and is marked as such. Please respect their need to use it so they can present our programming! Any cars without a permit are subject to towing. If you have any questions about parking when on site, please ask a volunteer or staff member. They will all be wearing a sash!

Ride the Shuttle on Kite Fest Day (January 25)!

We’re sharing space with the Winter Kite Festival on Saturday, January 25! This joint event always attracts large crowds, so plan to give yourself extra time to arrive.

SHUTTLE:

Once again there is a FREE shuttle to help ease traffic congestion for these joint events. The shuttle departs from the Executive Building parking lot on the west side of Bde Maka Ska (3033 Excelsior Blvd, Mpls). It runs from 11am – 5pm on this one day only. We HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you take the shuttle on January 25!

PARKING IS LIMITED:

Accessible parking spots are available in the Bandshell lot. Other than these accessible spots, the parking lots at Bdé Umáŋ / Lake Harriet will NOT be available to the public and there will be no parking on either side of Linden Hills Blvd from W 43rd Street to W 40th Street.

Limited parking is available around the lake and in the neighborhood for those arriving in the morning before the shuttle starts running.

Public Transit

Closest bus stop is the 6. Get off at the Richfield Rd & William Berry Pkwy stop. Head down William Berry Pkwy to Lake Harriet Pkwy (a .5 mile walk).

At the Lake

Event Map

Shanties, Performances + Art Actions

This year we are featuring 20 shanties and over 20 performances + art actions. Read the project descriptions here!

Every shanty is activated by artists from 10am – 4pm during each program day. Performances + art actions happen within the village at scheduled times.

Check out the 2025 schedule of Performances + Art Actions here!

Food & beverages

Hot food and beverage vendors are at the festival daily from 10am – 4pm. They are situated near the Bread & Pickle building (B&P is closed for winter). Enjoy lakeside dining at the picnic tables on the patio!

SCHEDULE

Saturday, January 18: D&D Goodies, Misfit Coffee, Youniverse Foodie Waffles
Sunday, January 19: D&D Goodies, Misfit Coffee, Taqueria el Patron

Saturday, January 25 (kite fest day): Ben & Jerry’s, Blue Tin Cup Kafé, KCM Eggrolls, Taquería El Patron, Youniverse Foodie Waffles
Sunday, January 26: Blue Tin Cup Kafé, D&D Goodies, Youniverse Foodie Waffles

Saturday, February 1: KCM Eggrolls, Misfit Coffee, Youniverse Foodie Waffles
Sunday, February 2: D&D Goodies, Misfit Coffee, Youniverse Foodie Waffles

Saturday, February 8: Blue Tin Cup Kafé, D&D Goodies, Habanero Tacos
Sunday, February 9: Blue Tin Cup Kafé, D&D Goodies, Habanero Tacos

Accessibility

Art Shanty Projects embraces the spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in our commitment to ensuring that all members of our community can participate as fully as possible in our festival.

Parking: Accessible parking is available to permitted cars in the Bandshell Lot nearest Bread & Pickle.

Ramps: Two ADA compliant ramps will bring visitors from the shore down to the surface of the lake. These are located at the edge of the lake on the patio in front of Bread & Pickle. From the ramps, head to the welcome gate (a path is plowed in the event of deep snow). NOTE: There is a second plowed path near 42nd Street that leads towards the gate – be prepared for a big step down to the ice here (no ramp).

Kicksleds are available to transport folks with limited mobility onto the ice and throughout the village. One is equipped to accommodate a wheelchair. Meet at the Kicksled Stop at the bottom of the ramps (in front of Bread & Pickle) where staff and volunteers will greet you and escort you onto the ice. You can also use them with your friend!

Paths: Pathways will be plowed on shore around existing park infrastructure, and on ice from shore to gate and throughout the village if there is deep snow.

Restrooms: Porta-potties are available on shore near the parking lot, including ADA units. Park buildings are not heated or winterized, and there are no indoor restroom facilities.

Sign Language Interpreters & Audio Describers: ASL interpretation and audio description services are available from 11am – 2pm each SUNDAY of the festival. Meet at the Welcome Shanty to the village and we will connect you with your guide!

Printed Maps/Guides: Printed guides will be available with descriptions of shanties and performances, artists involved, and relevant accessibility and sensory information. Ask for one at the Welcome Shanty just inside the entrance gate.

See our ACCESS page for more information!

If you have accessibility needs, questions or requests, please contact Syd in advance of festival days (weekdays are best!) at sydney@artshantyprojects.org.

Public Art + Public Health

Art Shanty Projects is a joyful expression of public art, and we have a commitment to prioritize public health in our operations. We maintain a mix of classic shanties (those with an interior experience), as well as some open air shanties. ALL of our performances + art actions are in the open air. Choose your own comfort level when participating!

We nurture a culture of mask-wearing — don’t be shy if you want to wear one. They’re SAFE & WARM!

SLIDING SCALE DONATIONS

The radical generosity of many makes Art Shanty Projects accessible to all. We are a people-powered festival – individual donations make up 60% of our budget!

Suggested donation: $10-20
Please offer an amount that is meaningful to you. No one is turned away! All are welcome.

Cash is the quickest and easiest option for everyone in the cold – and helps us out because we incur no fees! We do accept credit cards and “tap” with smartphones at the Welcome Shanty near the arch/gate structure.

_{TIP: 2025 season members (gifts of $25 or more) are invited to special nighttime parties with the artists! If you’re a current member, just let us know when you arrive! (Your membership button is waiting for you in the Welcome Shanty.)}

More info about donations

Got questions about donations? Check our our Donations Frequently Asked Questions! Give in advance to skip the line at the gate!

Things To Know

Weather

Bdé Umáŋ / Lake Harriet – Minneapolis, MN

This is Minnesota, and the weather on the lake can be especially dynamic! Of course this is all part of the fun and adventure of Art Shanty Projects.

Be prepared for snow, wind(!), wet and/or slippery surfaces, or even rain. We recommend dressing in layers with a wind-breaking layer on the outside (if you can), and wearing boots with thick soles (the surface of the icy lake is much colder than walking on the sidewalk).

Waterproof options are best! Compression socks work remarkably well to keep feet warm! Surfaces can be slippery and conditions can be variable, even in the park / on shore. Waterproof boots and traction devices (like Yak Trax) are recommended!

We need 10″ of good ice to have our program – and we will only install and do it on ice if it’s safe to host artists & visitors! We do regular ice checks during the program for ice safety, and if the weather turns too warm there is always the potential that the shanty village will be moved to shore. If this is the case, we will update the website and social media to announce it.

Crowds & QUIETER TIMES

We operate in public space, which can be unpredictable! We cannot control the flow of people, however we have some tips and observations from past years to help guide visitors.

If you’d like a quieter experience we recommend coming first thing in the morning, or on colder days, when fewer people are in the village.

If you’d rather experience the village full of people, we recommend coming in the afternoons and on warmer/sunnier days. We predict the BUSIEST day to be January 25th when we share the lake with the Kite Festival.

Nearby ATMs

PETS (mostly dogs!)

We understand the joy of bringing your pets with you! We ask that you keep the lake, park and the art clean by picking up after pets. BYO bag, though some are provided at pet waste stations near the Welcome Shanty for your convenience if you forget.

PSA about dogs + public art in particular:

Well-behaved, socialized dogs (accompanied by mindful humans, tethered by a leash) are welcome in the shanty village, but they are NOT allowed inside shanties. THAT SAID, there are a lot of strange sights and sounds at our program that might stress your doggo out. And that’s not good for anyone. If you’re not sure how your pooch will react to things like music, odd antics, cold paws on the ice, strangers, costumes, crowds, physical activities, colorful art and other dogs, please consider leaving them at home.

Animals are not allowed inside individual shanties, with the exception of service animals.