Twin Cities Networking Events August 15-31
Celebrating our 10 Year Anniversary this month with amazing events, workshops and ways to connect!
Hi friends — welcome back to Twin Cities Collective!
This is an exciting month because on August 24, Twin Cities Collective celebrates our 10 year anniversary!
What started in 2016 as a blogging group turned into events for creatives turned into a podcast, a Facebook group, an annual awards, a membership for networking events and now a 2x monthly Networking Newsletter & Virtual Workshops.
TCC has been a real journey for me the past 10 years and I’m so excited to continue this group as a Substack Newsletter in addition to my own work at Red Thread Studio and my personal Substack Red Thread Toolbox.
We now have over 6K readers here on Substack and keep growing!
Before I share the rest of our events
Join our next Marketing Workshop!
As some of you know, I launched a membership across both of my substacks-sign up for either one and you will get the benefits of 2 monthly workshops & Notion Office Hours for just $5/month!
If you want to come to check out the workshop, it’s $10 for each.
This month’s topic: AI For the Rest of Us
“AI for the Rest of Us” is a practical workshop showing small-business owners how to use AI for content, ideas, and consistent marketing without losing their unique voice.
You’ll learn to direct AI effectively, refine its output, and turn rough ideas into authentic marketing content. Whether you’re new to AI or already experimenting, you’ll leave with actionable strategies to save time, communicate clearly, and market more intentionally.
Paid Members: Check out the link below to get your free tickets.
If you are a paid subscriber of Red Thread Toolbox, the exclusive link to the workshop is in this week’s issue here
📅 Upcoming Twin Cities Events: August 15–31
Saturday August 15
RISING Her Bar: Your Online Presence as Your Digital Storefront
🗓 Saturday, August 15 · 1:00–4:00 PM
📍 ModernWell Co, 2909 S Wayzata Blvd, Minneapolis
🎯 Ambitious women entrepreneurs in Minnesota ready for bigger, bolder moves
🎉 Keynote + panel of women entrepreneurs on turning your online presence into a growth tool, a guided discussion on marketing/sales, then a networking session and vendor showcase. Hosted by Her Time of the Month x Rising Starz Design Studio.
💵 Free
🔗 Register
Sunday, August 16
MPLS Craft Market
🗓 Sunday, August 16 · 12:00–5:00 PM
📍 Sociable Ciderwerks, Minneapolis
🎯 Anyone who loves shopping local — and small business owners looking for vendor inspiration
🎉 Mobile craft market featuring a rotating lineup of local makers and designers. Great low-key way to support small businesses this weekend.
💵 Free to attend
Monday, August 17
2026 Vikings VIP Training Camp Experience
🗓 Monday, August 17 · 12:00–4:30 PM
📍 TCO Performance Center, Eagan
🎯 Vikings fans who also want a multi-chamber mixer built in
🎉 A behind-the-scenes look at training camp with networking across Eden Prairie, Apple Valley, Burnsville, Dakota County, Lakeville, and other regional chambers. Food, beverages, and parking included. Heads up: this one has already started a waitlist, so check availability before counting on a spot.
💵 Paid / waitlist
Tuesday, August 18
Twin Cities North Chamber: Annual Meeting
🗓 Tuesday, August 18
📍 Forgotten Star Brewery, 38 Northern Stacks Drive, Fridley, 3:30–5:00 PM
🎯 Chamber members
🎉 TCN’s annual meeting for members. Pricing not confirmed — check listing.
💵 Open to members
Excelsior Chamber: Coffee & Commerce hosted by Craig Anderson (Wintrust Mortgage)
🗓 Tuesday, August 18 · 9:00–10:00 AM
📍 Dunn Brothers Coffee, Excelsior
🎯 Chamber members and west-metro business owners
🎉 A monthly networking coffee morning — easygoing, low-pressure morning connection.
💵 Free
AGC Rosemount: Powerhouse Partners Visitor Day
🗓 Tuesday, August 18 · 11:30 AM–1:00 PM
📍 Fireside Restaurant & Bar, 3410 150th St W, Rosemount
🎯 Entrepreneurs and business owners curious about referral-based networking
🎉 A visitor day to see an AGC POD in action — meet members, observe how it works, and learn about referral-sharing and structured accountability. Free lunch provided.
💵 Free
🔗 Register
MnTech: Tech on Tap
🗓 Tuesday, August 18 · 4:00–6:00 PM
📍 Utepils Brewing, 225 Thomas Ave N #700, Minneapolis
🎯 Tech professionals and anyone tech-curious
🎉 Casual networking and craft drinks, organized by the Minnesota Technology Association.
💵 Free
Wednesday, August 19
Women in Networking (WIN) — Third Wednesday Series
🗓 Wednesday, August 19 · 9:30–11:00 AM
📍 RE/MAX, 7700 France Ave S, Edina
🎯 Women in business
🎉 A structured networking event for women who want intentional introductions and business-focused conversation.
💵 Paid / ticketed
🔗 Register
Twin Cities North Members Connect at Flaherty’s Arden Bowl
🗓 Wednesday, August 19
📍 Arden Hills, MN
🎯 Twin Cities North Chamber members
🎉 Casual member networking mixer at Flaherty’s Arden Bowl.
💵 Free
AI for the Rest of Us: Marketing Workshop
🗓 Wednesday, August 19 · 12:00 PM CT
📍 Online / Virtual
🎯 Small business owners who want to use AI tools without losing their voice
🎉 A practical marketing workshop on using AI tools while staying authentically you. Note: exact registration link not yet confirmed — verify before publishing.
💵 $10 non-members / Free for paid subscribers
🔗 Link
Clouds and Waves Social Hour
🗓 Wednesday, August 19 · 3:00–8:00 PM
📍 The Market at Malcolm Yards (Main Food Hall), 501 30th Ave SE, Minneapolis
🎯 Founders, technologists, creators, and MN’s innovation community
🎉 Casual social hour hosted by CirrusNorth x Ride The Next Wave — food, drinks, and good conversation at the tall tables in Malcolm Yards’ food hall.
💵 Free
Thursday, August 20
NAWBO-MN: Monthly Member Breakfast
🗓 Thursday, August 20 · 8:00–9:00 AM
📍 Twin Cities (Virtual)
🎯 Women business owners
🎉 Connect For Growth monthly member breakfast. Free for members; guests can attend twice before joining.
💵 Free for members
TeamWomen: Energy Breakfast (August)
🗓 Thursday, August 20 · 7:30 am - 9:00 am
🎯 Women in business who want a productive, structured networking breakfast
🎉 Informal networking over continental breakfast, followed by a 60-second presentation from each attendee. Bring plenty of business cards.
💵 Paid
Innovate MN: August Idea Happy Hour
🗓 Thursday, August 20 · 4:00–6:10 PM
📍 Bruhaven, 1368 La Salle Ave, Minneapolis
🎯 Startup founders, corporate innovators, and business owners with an idea to pressure-test
🎉 Get 15 minutes of honest feedback on your idea from professionals across different industries.
💵 Free
Twin Cities Medical Device Networking Group: August Happy Hour
🗓 Thursday, August 20 · 4:30–6:30 PM
📍 Padraigs Brewing, Minneapolis (55413, near BauHaus)
🎯 Medical device industry professionals — feel free to bring coworkers
🎉 Casual happy hour for the Twin Cities medical device crowd. No ticket needed at the door — just RSVP for a headcount.
💵 Free
🔗 RSVP
Friday, August 21
CreativeMornings/Minneapolis — August
🗓 Friday, August 21 · 8:15 AM
📍 Silverwood Park, St. Anthony
🎯 Creatives, entrepreneurs, and anyone who likes starting the day with fresh ideas
🎉 Free monthly breakfast talk for the creative community. Speaker: Amanda Lovelee. August’s global theme is Nakhlah.
💵 Free
Confirmed directly against CreativeMornings’ own site — this is the correct date/venue/speaker. The Aug 22 / PAIKKA / “Nomad” listing that was previously here turned out to be incorrect (August’s actual global theme is Nakhlah, not Nomad) and has been removed.
38th+CHI Art Crawl (inaugural)
🗓 Friday, August 21 · 5:00–7:00 PM
📍 38th & Chicago Ave, Minneapolis
🎯 Anyone who wants to discover local art and small businesses in the neighborhood
🎉 The very first 38th+CHI Art Crawl, part of the monthly Open HeARTh event. Stops include Mystic Healing Stones, Bichota Coffee, Listen 2 Us Studio, The Third Place Gallery, Plot Gallery, and the Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center.
💵 Free
Sunday, August 23
Local Love Market at Honour Coffee
🗓 Sunday, August 23 · 3:00–9:00 PM
📍 Honour Coffee & Raw Juice, 451 Stinson Blvd NE, Minneapolis
🎯 Anyone who loves local makers, vintage finds, and a good coffee shop hang
🎉 Local Love Market returns to Honour Coffee — handmade ceramics, vintage clothing, art, books, jewelry, plus coffee, acai, raw juice, tarot readings, aura photography, and 35mm portraits by Margo Jane. Pup-friendly.
💵 Free
Tuesday, August 25
Excelsior Chamber: Executive Roundtable — Small Business
🗓 Tuesday, August 25 · 8:30–9:30 AM
📍 Excelsior, MN (see chamber listing for host location)
🎯 Small business owners and professionals
🎉 A collaborative discussion space to connect, share insights, and talk through a timely small-business topic together.
💵 Free
🔗 Register
2026 Bloomington Business Connections
🗓 Tuesday, August 25
📍 Bloomington, MN
🎯 Local business owners and community members, including folks from neighboring cities
🎉 A monthly opportunity to connect with local city leaders, Chamber leadership, and local businesses. Open to the public and free to attend.
💵 Free
Wednesday, August 26
Eden Prairie Chamber: Business@Breakfast Speed Networking
🗓 Wednesday, August 26 · 7:15–8:30 AM
📍 Eden Prairie, MN (see chamber listing for host location)
🎯 Chamber members and local business owners
🎉 Every attendee gets a 60-second commercial about their business — August’s edition is a speed-networking format for faster rounds of introductions.
💵 Paid
NIA Twin Cities: Speed Networking For Charity
🗓 Wednesday, August 26
📍 Dave & Buster’s, Twin Cities
🎯 Business professionals who want to network for a good cause
🎉 One of three special charity speed networking nights this year. Ticket price includes a reserved seat and a drink ticket, with proceeds benefiting a featured local nonprofit.
💵 Paid
🔗 Register
AGC Cruise for Business
🗓 Wednesday, August 26 · Boarding 5:30 PM, cruise 6:00–8:00 PM
📍 DOCKS at 98 Walnut Street, Hudson, WI
🎯 Business professionals who want to network somewhere memorable
🎉 A scenic river boat cruise mixer aboard the Grand Duchess along the St. Croix River. Light hors d’oeuvres and cash bar on board — bring business cards, and bring a date or partner if you’d like. Sold out last year with 150+ attendees, expected to sell out again.
💵 $31 + tax
🔗 Register
Thursday, August 27
WeMN Hosted Event: In-Person Co-Working Meetup
🗓 Thursday, August 27 · 1:00–3:00 PM
📍 The Coven Richfield, 6440 Nicollet Ave, Richfield
🎯 Women entrepreneurs who want dedicated focus time alongside other business owners
🎉 A casual in-person co-working session hosted by Women Entrepreneurs of Minnesota — bring your laptop, your current project, and get some focused work time in a supportive space.
💵 Check listing
Eden Prairie Chamber: Emerging Leaders Pickleball Event
🗓 Thursday, August 27 · 4:00–6:00 PM (the chamber’s own listing shows Aug 14 in the description text but Aug 27 on the calendar — worth a quick call to confirm before sharing widely)
📍 Mega Pickleball, 2929 Water Tower Pl, Chanhassen
🎯 Emerging leaders and up-and-coming professionals
🎉 A fun, active way to network and learn more about the Emerging Leaders committee.
💵 $10 Members / $20 Non-Members
🎡 The Minnesota State Fair Opens!
🗓 Thursday, August 27 – Monday, September 7 (12 days straight, no off days)
📍 MN State Fairgrounds, Falcon Heights/St. Paul
🎯 Everyone — this is the big one
🎉 The Great Minnesota Get-Together. Not a networking event, but it’s the single biggest happening of the month and absolutely worth featuring — tons of local vendors, makers, and small businesses have booths, so it doubles as a great way to support local while you’re there for the cheese curds.
💵 Paid admission
Where will I be heading this month?
Clouds & Waves, Medical Device Meetup & AGC Boat Cruise!
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