The Twin Cities are well-known for their summer events calendar. In addition to music festivals like Rock the Garden, the summer is stockpiled with fairs and free (or nearly free) outdoor concerts nearly every weekend in the season. Local block parties combine all these elements to fill the streets with food trucks, art galleries, entertainment and most importantly, lots of outdoor music.

Here's a starter guide to some of the summer's biggest free or inexpensive outdoor music events; click on the headlines for more information on each. (We're updating this post as the summer goes on.)

If you're not already a fan of jazz, you may be after attending Lowertown's annual Jazz Festival. Featuring three days of world class jazz music and free clinics hosted by McNally, the festival delights seasoned jazz fans and newbies alike.

Day One:

6:00 p.m. Delfeayo Marsalis Quartet

8:00 p.m. Joey Alexander

Day Two:

8:30 p.m. Ellis Marsalis Quartet

Day 3:

6:00 p.m. Russell Malone

7:30 p.m. Michael Franti & Spearhead

8:30 p.m. John Pizzarelli Quartet

Click here for full schedule of local artists.

Admission: Free.

Every year GLBT individuals and allies gather in Minneapolis for the Twin Cities annual Pride Festival, a colorful and jubilant display of, well, pride. The festivities also include the famed Pride Parade, which runs through downtown from 3rd St. & Hennepin. The Pointer Sisters and Adore Delano play a ticketed show on Saturday night; free performances in Loring Park throughout the weekend are TBA.

Admission: Free.

A congregation of 60 metro area food trucks, gathered along Hennepin Ave. between Lake St. and 31st. Sample food and beer and enjoy outdoor concerts from Brat Pack Radio and other local bands throughout the day.

Admission: $2 plus food and beverage fees. 

This volunteer-driven midsummer music and art festival in South Minneapolis features a broad range of rock and blues performances, arts and cultural booths, and craft food and beverages.

Admission: GA $20 in advance

Celebrate the French national holiday outside Barbette with artwork, French-inspired foods, and of course, live music.

Stage:

MC Foxy Tann

Kate Lynch & Her Most Excellent Fellows

Bad Bad Hats

Nadine Dubois & Les Folies Risque

Babes in Toyland

Street:

Brass Messengers

Infiammati Fire Circus

North Star Rollergirls

Admission: Free.

Located in St. Paul's Mears Park, this musical celebration is the Twin Cities' largest blues festival. Bring your lawn chairs and settle in for two days of summer funk and fun.

Day One:

Famous Dave's Main Stage:

4:30 p.m. The Good, the Bad and the Funky

6:00 p.m. Otis Day & the Knights

8:00 p.m. The Family Stone

Juke Joint Stage: DJ Ray Richardson

Day Two:

Famous Dave's Main Stage:

12:00 p.m. Winner of Famous Dave's Battle of the Blues Bands

1:15 p.m. Lil'Ed and The Blues Imperials

2:45 p.m. The Butanes Soul Revue

4:15 p.m. Corey Stevens

6:15 p.m. Bernard Allison

8:30 p.m. Booker T Jones

Juke Joint Stage:

12:45 p.m. Hurricane Harold & Doug Otto

2:25 p.m. McNally Smith Band

3:45 p.m. Joel Zoss

5:30 p.m. Kim Simmonds of Savoy Brown

7:45 p.m. Kim Simmonds of Savoy Brown

Admission: Free. 

The food truck fair returns for a second time this season, this time in St. Paul at Kellogg & 7th St. with 40 local food trucks and a lively outdoor show by Night Lights Jams.

Admission: $2 plus food and beverage fees.

In the North Loop, you can enjoy free concerts from local talent, beer and treats and, of course, plenty of pizza.

Lineup:

Lizzo

Carnage the Executioner

Run Westy Run

Holidae

Bruise Violet

Sean Anonymous

Charlie Parr

Megan Hamilton

Marah in the Mainsail

School of Rock

Admission: Free.

The tenth annual Red Stag Block Party will pair five teams of local brewers to create original collaborative beers. Food and music TBA.

Lineup:

Night Moves

Mark Mallman

Sims

Black Market Brass

Farewell Milwaukee

Brady Scott

(set times TBA)

Admission: Free.

Summit Brewing Company commemorates its 30th year with a Backyard Bash for the record books. The festival is located in St. Paul behind Summit Brewery, and features art and music and plenty of beer to wash it down with.

Lineup:

Bob Mould

Bully

deM atlaS

Bad Bad Hats

Apollo Cobra

Nooky Jones

Hotpants DJs

(set times TBA)

Admission: $30 advance/$40 day of

Raisa Elhadi is a student at the University of Minnesota—Twin Cities.