Past Events
July 2018
Upper St. Anthony Falls Open House & Picnic
Experience Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam like never before! For the first time in the lock's history, enjoy a picnic on the lock wall surrounded by panoramic views of the falls, explore the visitor center, interact with National Park Service rangers, and discover the history and impact of the falls on Minneapolis and the nation. Bring your own food or purchase from the nearby Mill City Market or an Aquatennial vendor outside of the Lock. Some blankets provided…
Find out more »September 2018
Illuminate the Lock
Illuminate the Lock returns, Thursday and Friday, Sept. 20-22, at the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam, 1 Portland Ave., with a new project, Returning the River, an experimental, participatory opera about the Mississippi River.
Find out more »August 2019
Mississippi River History
Theater of Public Policy: Mississippi River History: Saturday, Aug. 17, 6:30-8:30 pm. parkconnection.org/events/2019/t2p2. Upper St. Anthony Falls Visitor Center, 1 Portland Ave. Issues and stories of the Mississippi River come to life through engaging conversations and improvisation with the Theater of Public Policy. Enjoy a program with expert guest John Anfinson, superintendent at Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. The Theater of Public Policy advances the understanding of complex ideas and issues by unpacking them through smart conversation and improvisational…
Find out more »December 2020
Madweyaashkaa: Waves Can Be Heard–postponed
This year's Illuminate the Lock project features Madweyaashkaa: Waves Can Be Heard by Moira Villiard. The showing celebrates the resilience of Indigenous women in an animated video collage projected onto the 400 x 50-ft. wall of the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam and synced with a soundscape of music composed by Lyz Jaakola (Fond du Lac Band of Ojibwe) and a recorded narrative by Dakota/Ojibway First Nation elder Millie Richard. Viewers will also find three silent video projections with…
Find out more »February 2021
Madweyaashkaa: Waves Can Be Heard rescheduled
This year's Illuminate the Lock project features Madweyaashkaa: Waves Can Be Heard by Moira Villiard. The showing celebrates the resilience of Indigenous women in an animated video collage projected onto the 400 x 50-ft. wall of the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam and synced with a soundscape of music composed by Lyz Jaakola (Fond du Lac Band of Ojibwe) and a recorded narrative by Dakota/Ojibway First Nation elder Millie Richard. Viewers will also find three silent video projections with…
Find out more »June 2022
Lock and dam tours
A federal study will begin soon to consider the future of the Lower St. Anthony Falls and Lock and Dam No. 1 (a.k.a. Ford lock and dam) now that they no longer serve their original purpose. What should be done with these structures? Is dam removal a feasible option? To educate community members about this issue and the big possibilities for our river, Macalester College, Friends of the Mississippi River and several other partners will host a series of lock…
Find out more »