Living in the Twin Cities
The University of Minnesota is located in both Minneapolis and St. Paul (together called the Twin Cities). The Minneapolis campus is divided by the Mississippi River creating an “East Bank” and “West Bank”. The Department of Spanish & Portuguese is located on the East Bank of the Minneapolis campus in Folwell Hall.
The Twin Cities is a vibrant metropolitan area with a thriving art, music, and theater scene. Over 400,000 residents in the area speak a language other than English at home, and 32% speak Spanish. Other language groups with a large presence in the region include African languages, Hmong, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Russian.
Many people are attracted to Minnesota because of our diverse seasons. Summer, winter, fall, or spring, the Twin Cities area is the perfect place to savor the seasons. When it's cold, students enjoy winter activities like skiing or hiking, or stay cozy in our skyways and tunnels. When it's warm, students visit our sparkling lakes, miles of bike trails, and dozens of outdoor festivals. Visit the sections below to learn more!
Many UMN graduate students choose to live in campus housing. Options for graduate students and their families include Commonwealth Terrace Cooperative (CTC) and Como Student Community Cooperative (CSCC). Childcare options are available at both cooperative sites.
Minneapolis neighborhoods close to Folwell Hall include Dinkytown, Prospect Park, Marcy Holmes, and Como. The following links include descriptions of many Twin Cities neighborhoods.
Student Parent Help Center is a fantastic resource for all information related to raising children while attending UMN. The SPHC has one full time dedicated Graduate Student Parent Counselor to serve the needs of graduate and professional students. They can point you in the direction of childcare, lactation areas, and financial services for student parents.
Many of our graduate students, faculty, and staff are parents and are more than happy to share other resources, favorite activities and things to do, etc.
Bell Museum
Weisman Art Museum
Walker Art Center
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Museum of Russian Art
Bakken Museum
MN History Center
Science Museum of Minnesota
American Swedish Institute
MN Children’s Museum
Mill City Museum
Midway Contemporary Art
Rosalux Gallery
Bockley Gallery
All My Relations Arts
Soap Factory
Soo Visual Arts Center
Obsidian Arts
Kolman & Pryor Gallery
University of Minnesota Theatre & Dance
Brave New Workshop Theatre
Chanhassen Dinner Theatres
Children's Theatre Company
Dark & Stormy Productions
Guthrie Theater
Illusion Theater
In the Heart of the Beast Puppet & Mask Theatre
Minnesota Jewish Theatre Company
Mixed Blood Theatre
Music Box Theatre
Pangea World Theater
Park Square Theatre
Penumbra Theatre Company
Pillsbury House + Theatre
Teatro del Pueblo
Ten Thousand Things Theater
The Jungle Theater
Theater Latte Da
Theatre in the Round Players
Youth Performance Company
Northrup Auditorium
Minnesota Orchestra @ Orchestra Hall
St Paul Chamber Orchestra @ Ordway Theater
7th Street Entry
First Avenue Mainroom
Palace Theatre
Capri Theater
Turf Club
Cedar Cultural Center
Icehouse
The Fitzgerald Theater
Varsity Theater
Dakota Jazz Club
Uptown VFW
State Theater
Orpheum Theater
Hook and Ladder Theater & Lounge
Amsterdam Bar & Hall
Cabooze
Myth Nightclub
Roy Wilkins Auditorium
Fine Line Music Cafe
Shaw’s
Bunker's
Apple Festival | Gibbs Farm, Falcon Heights
Rice Park Tree Lighting & WinterSkate Opening | St Paul
Holidazzle | Loring Park, Minneapolis
St Paul Winter Carnival | St Paul
Lake Harriet Winter Kite Festival | Lake Harriet Park, Minneapolis
12th Annual Art Sled Rally | Powderhorn Park, Minneapolis
City of Lakes Loppet Ski Festival | Bde Maka Ska, Minneapolis
Art Shanty Projects | Lake Harriet, Minneapolis
St. Paul’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade | Rice Park, St Paul
Minneapolis Arbor Day Festival | Theodore Wirth Regional Park
Cinco de Mayo | West Side neighborhood, St Paul
MayDay Parade & Festival | Powderhorn Park, Minneapolis
Art-A-Whirl | Northeast Minneapolis
Linden Hills Festival | Linden Hills Park, Minneapolis
Edina Art Fair | 50th & France, Edina
Northern Spark | Minneapolis
Midsommar Celebration | American Swedish Institute, Minneapolis
Twin Cities Jazz Festival | St. Paul
Uptown Food Truck Festival | Lake & Hennepin, Minneapolis
Lowertown Blues Fest | Mears Park, St Paul
Minneapolis Aquatennial
Loring Park Art Festival | Loring Park, Minneapolis
Uptown Art Fair | Minneapolis
Powderhorn Art Fair | Minneapolis
Fiesta Latina | CLUES St Paul
St Paul Food Truck Festival | Mears Park
Como Park Japanese Obon Festival | Como Park Conservatory, St Paul
Minnesota State Fair | Falcon Heights, St Paul