Sample St. Paul
Entertainment Guide May 2025

“Dinosaurs: Land of Fire and Ice,” through May 11. Travel back in time and discover what life was like when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Dig for fossils, explore a swampy bog and oozing volcano, climb through icy terrain and more.

Exhibits and activities include “The Scramble,” “The Studio,” “Creativity Jam,” “Sprouts,” “Our World,” “Forces at Play,” “Shipwreck Adventures” and “Imaginopolis.” Tickets are $17 on weekdays and $19 on weekends. Admission is free the first Sunday of each month; reservations are required, and tickets are limited. The next free date is May 4.

“Girlhood (It’s Complicated),” through June 1. This exhibit from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History features more than 100 objects that explore how young women have influenced politics, education, work, health and fashion.

“Reframing our Stories” is featured through October. The exhibit was created from a decades-old box of photographs simply labeled “Indians.” Inside the box were dozens of pictures of Native community members, organizations, activities, and events that are relevant today.

“Our Home: Native Minnesota” features historic and contemporary photographs, maps and artifacts that show how Minnesota’s native communities have retained cultural practices, teachings and values.

Other exhibits include “Minnesota’s Greatest Generation,” “Then Now Wow,” “Grainland” and “Weather Permitting.” Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and college students, and $8 for children ages five to 17. Admission and parking are free on Thursdays, 4-8 p.m.

“Whoa, Nellie!” May 17-June 8. The whirlwind tale of a fake detective (and former child performer), whose countless criminal exploits and penchant for male attire made her a Minnesota media sensation in the late 1800s. From $59.

Schubert Club KidsJam: Making Art–A Storytelling Experience, May 1-3. Hours are noon-1 p.m. Thursday; 10:30-11:30 a.m. Friday; 10-11 a.m. Saturday; and 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Sunday. Free.

Courtroom Concerts: Elkina Piano Duo, noon-1 p.m., Thursday, May 1; PaviElle French, noon-1 p.m., Thursday, May 8. Free.

St. Paul Civic Symphony’s Mother’s Day Concert, 1-3 p.m., Sunday, May 11. Free.

Urban Expedition: Ethiopia, 1-3 p.m., Sunday, May 4. Authentic music, food, dance performances and crafts. Free.

Woodturning demonstration, 1-4 p.m., Sunday, May 18 in the AAW Gallery of Wood Art. Free.

Public Building Tour, 12:30 p.m.-1:15 p.m., every Sunday. Learn about the building’s history, gangster connections and restoration. Free.

“Here, Now,” through May 2027. Discover 150 artworks across media from historically significant and notable new artists. All are in the M’s permanent collection. The museum is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday-Sunday. Admission is free.

St. Paul Chamber Orchestra concerts: Steven Copes plays Prokofiev’s First Violin Sonata, 7 p.m., May 2-3. Coleman’s Sandbox Premiere with William Eddin, May 16-18. Both from $16.

Minnesota Opera presents “The Barber of Seville,” May 3-18. From $46.

“Girls Night: The Musical,” 7 p.m., Saturday, May 10. Follow five friends as they visit their past, celebrate their present and look to the future on a wild and hilarious night out. From $54.

Schubert Club presents Accordo with Silent Film: Women in Early Cinema, 7:30 p.m., Tues., May 13. Features six movies from the collection “Cinema’s First Nasty Women” with original live music by Accordo. From $31.

The Flint Hills Family Festival, May 30-31. Headliner performances are NOOMA, an opera for babies; Japanese taiko drummers GOCOO; 2025 Grammy winners Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band; 360 All Stars and Ada Twist, Scientist. All outdoor activities at the festival are free. Indoor performances start at $8 per person. Tickets for Lucky Diaz start at $15.

“Between Riverside and Crazy,” May 14-June 8. Ex-cop and recent widower Walter “Pops” Washington and his recently paroled son fight to keep their rent-controlled apartment in New York City, navigating old wounds, unexpected guests and life’s unpredictable challenges. From $25.

“Time Piece” – Three powerhouse percussive dance companies will unite in May, with performances at 7:30 p.m., May 8-10 and May 15-17 and 2 p.m. May 11 and 18. Tickets are $30.

Flying Foot Forum will present “Dandelions or How to Love Your Life,” a romantic, poetic, musical and meditative extravaganza that follows life’s seasons, and “Footfall,” a soaring and stomping assortment of soulful modern folk dances set to a Nordic, Celtic, and Eastern European folk soundtrack.

Zorongo Flamenco Dance Theatre will premiere “Amor de Dios,” a thought-provoking dance theater performance about Spain’s “Bebes Robados,” when newborn babies were taken and given up for adoption without the birth parents’ knowledge.

Katha Dance Theatre will present “Rhythms of the Sol: A Kathak Odyssey,” which celebrates the art of Kathak, a classical Indian dance form.

Minnesota Bridal and Wedding Expo, 1 p.m., Sunday, May 5. A wide selection of wedding professionals ready to help you find the perfect gown, reception venue, invitations, photographer, music, food, honeymoon destinations and more. Free with online registration or $10 at the door.

“Butterfly Odyssey” through September 1. An interactive, maze-based exhibit that allows you to experience the fascinating behaviors and inspiring resilience of wild and farmed butterflies. The exhibit also examines how tropical butterfly farming can support the local community, impact the environment, and protect ecosystems around the world.

Virtual Reality Transporter, through December 2026. Use the VRT to hurtle through the cosmos at fantastic speeds, scuba dive into prehistoric seas, and join the astronauts of Apollo 11 as they moonwalk for the first time. $9.95.

Museum Nights, 5-8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Explore museum galleries, check out special Science Live performances, enjoy food and drink, then catch an Omnitheater show. Tickets are $34.95 for adults and $24.95 for ages 4-17.

“National Parks Adventure” Omnitheater show, through May 30. Travel back in time with President Theodore Roosevelt and conservationist John Muir as they imagine a vast national parks system.

“Stellar Tours: A Star is Born” Omnitheater show, Wednesday-Sunday. Follow the life cycle of a star through this live digital telescope show.

Tickets are $34.95 for adults and $24.95 for ages 4-17 and include an Omnitheatre show.

“Rock Stars on Ice,” 7 p.m., Wednesday, May 21. Timeless rock classics fused with the athleticism and artistry of world-class figure skating. From $41.

Portraits of Indigenous Authors and Artists, through June 30, at 3rd Floor Exhibit Gallery at the Minnesota State Capitol, 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Now featured is a collection of fine art photography by John Ratzloff. This project started when Ratzloff was invited to photograph the life and natural beauty of White Earth Nation. His photography honors the voices and legacies of Indigenous leaders, offering a unique visual narrative that celebrates their contributions to art, culture and advocacy. Open weekdays 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturdays 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free.

“Framing Film: Painting Cinema’s Shadows,” through May 31 at Lost Fox, 213 4th St., St. Paul. Lowertown artist Richard Abraham presents paintings that interpret film frames from the 1940s and ’50s in oil paint, capturing the shadowy allure of the silver screen. Exhibit highlights include Humphrey Bogart’s weary cynicism and Bette Davis’ piercing gaze. Free.

St. Paul Spring Art Crawl continues in May