Sample St. Paul
Entertainment Guide April 24-27

“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 April 6.

“Girlhood (It’s complicated),” through June 1, 2025. 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 2025. 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.

Courtroom Concerts: Lumina, April 24. Free.

Romanian Easter Traditions, 1-3 p.m., each Sunday in April, except April 20. Visit the Romanian American Cultural Center to learn about painted eggs, Easter customs and painted icons on glass. Free.

BandWidth Community Band Festival, noon-6 p.m., Sunday, April 27. Marches, concert band classics, pop, Broadway, and jazz music performed by some of the top volunteer-based ensembles in Minnesota. 

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

“when you’re in the mirror…” new exhibit on display through April 27. View portraits that consider the repercussions of perception through a relational emphasis.

“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.

Minnesota Roller Derby, 6 p.m., Saturday, April 26. From $22. 

“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.

OmniTheatre:
“Extreme Weather” – An up-close look at some of the most astonishing and potentially deadly natural phenomena. Learn what causes turbulent tornadoes, receding glaciers and rampant wildfires.

“Cuba” – Journey to the heart of the Caribbean through the eyes of those exploring under the ocean’s surface and dancing in the streets of Havana.

“Fungi Web of Life” – The film unravels how plants and animals would not exist without mushrooms, molds, yeasts and toadstools.

“Secrets of the Sea” – From the smallest krill to the largest whales, explore how ocean ecosystems depend on biodiversity and a surprising level of animal cooperation.

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

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.