The fair began in 1964 as a way to increase awareness of the arts while raising money for Uptown projects. Although the event has grown and changed over the years, its core mission remains the same. Each year, much of the proceeds from the fair are returned directly to the community to enhance numerous programs and activities.

Aside from showcasing amazing art, the fair is a celebration of the hip, refreshingly unconventional Uptown community. Uptown is a crossroads that connects the energy of the city and the calm of the lakes. It’s a destination that combines shopping and dining with nature and lifestyle. Centered around Lake Street and Hennepin Avenue, Uptown blends the sophisticated, the scenic and the stylish into a decidedly urban environment—a perfect potpourri of places to go and people to see. We urge you to explore our community during your visit and experience this fabulous neighborhood for yourself!

The Uptown Art Fair is a labor of love made possible by hundreds of volunteers, the generosity of sponsors, the kindness of local businesses, and supporters of the arts. In our humble (and admittedly biased) opinion, it’s the best art fair around and we think our 350,000+ patrons agree – visitors have made the Uptown Art Fair the 2nd most attended event in the State of Minnesota (only second to the Minnesota State Fair). We hope you enjoy it!