Events for Veterans

Friday 28 August 2026 1 – 4 p.m.

Veterans Resource Fair at Tribute Fest

Bayfront Festival Park · Duluth, MN

Benefits, housing, employment and legal services under one roof on the Duluth waterfront, alongside Tribute Fest.

Hosted by Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MAC-V)

Saturday 29 August 2026

St. Cloud VA Summer Games

St. Cloud VA Health Care System, 4801 Veterans Dr · St. Cloud, MN

Twelfth year. Adaptive sports with wheelchair and ambulatory divisions, open to veterans enrolled at the St. Cloud VA.

Hosted by St. Cloud VA Health Care System

Tuesday 1 September 2026 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Military Appreciation Day — Minnesota State Fair

Dan Patch Park, Minnesota State Fairgrounds · St. Paul, MN

Veteran service organizations line Dan Patch Park all day, with a 10 a.m. program at the Leinie Lodge stage — Red Bull Band, and a closing flyover. MDVA staffs a booth all twelve days.

Hosted by Minnesota State Fair with MDVA

Wednesday 9 September 2026 Morning

Veterans Resource Fair for Military-Affiliated Students

NDSU Memorial Union · Fargo, ND

Third year of this one. Worth the drive if you are using the GI Bill in the Red River Valley — schools, VA reps and employers in the same room.

Hosted by North Dakota State University

Thursday 10 September 2026 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Free Legal Clinic for Low-Income Veterans

Minneapolis VA Health Care System, One Veterans Drive · Minneapolis, MN

Attorneys, MACV staff, County Veteran Service Officers and child support officers on hand all day. Legal trouble is one of the quieter reasons a job search stalls, and this is free. No estate planning.

Hosted by MACV with County Veteran Service Officers

11–13 September 2026 Three days of programming

Minnesota Military and Veterans Museum Grand Opening Weekend

New 40,000 sq ft facility near Camp Ripley · Little Falls, MN

The new museum opens on a 32-acre campus, on the 25th anniversary of 9/11. Ribbon cutting and Parade of Flags Saturday, a keynote from retired Gen. Paul M. Nakasone, and warbird flyovers.

Outdoor programming free; gallery entry $5 adult, $2 youth, free for active duty

Hosted by Minnesota Military and Veterans Museum

Friday 11 September 2026 From 7 a.m.

Yellow Ribbon Reintegration: Stronger Together

The Greysolon · Duluth, MN

Before, during and after deployment — the practical side of coming home, including your employment rights under USERRA.

Hosted by Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program

Saturday 12 September 2026 From 8 a.m.

Annual Joint Retiree Appreciation Day

Treasure Island Resort · Welch, MN

For military retirees and their families — pay, benefits, survivor and health-care briefings in one sitting.

Hosted by Minnesota military retiree services

Saturday 12 September 2026 12 – 8 p.m.

Field of Bands

Washington County Fairgrounds, 12300 40th St N · Stillwater, MN

A day of live music in memory of Randy Kopesky. Every dollar goes to local veterans and their families.

Hosted by Bayport American Legion / Yellow Ribbon Alliance Lower St. Croix Valley

Saturday 12 September 2026 7:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Ruck Life Twin Cities

3939 N 7th Ave · Anoka, MN

A two-mile loop you walk once, or five times for the All The Way patch. Ruckers fill their packs with donations for local veteran service organizations. Funds a 14-week trauma-recovery program for veterans and first responders.

Hosted by 23rd Veteran

Saturday 12 September 2026 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Salute the Troops Military Appreciation Day

Sutton Ridge Farm, 1500 West 200th Street · Jordan, MN

Seventh year of this one. An outdoor day honoring service members, built around veteran-owned businesses.

Hosted by Sutton Ridge Farm

Saturday 12 September 2026 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Strut For Mutts

Hilde Performance Center · Plymouth, MN

Bring the dog. An almost-3K loop around Plymouth raising money for a Twin Cities rescue that placed more than 2,000 animals last year — fixed leashes only, water stations along the route.

$48.70, rises after 11 Sept

Hosted by Rescue Network

Tuesday 22 September 2026 From 9 a.m.

Veterans Resource Fair & Claims Clinic

Faribault National Guard Armory · Faribault, MN

Bring your DD-214. Accredited service officers work claims on the spot.

Hosted by Rice County veteran services

Thursday 24 September 2026 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Veteran Benefit Review — Elk River

American Legion Post 112, 525 Railroad Drive · Elk River, MN

For veterans and spouses in Sherburne, Benton, Wright and Anoka counties. VBA, VA health care, MDVA, DAV and a claims representative on site. Bring your DD-214 — and if you do not have one, they can order it there.

Hosted by Sherburne & Wright County Veteran Service Offices with MDVA

Saturday 26 September 2026 Check-in 8 a.m., ceremony 9 a.m., walk 9:30 a.m.

ETS Walk to Stay in the Fight

Viking Lakes, 2685 Vikings Cir · Eagan, MN

A suicide-awareness walk — 2.3 miles in three loops around the ponds, the distance chosen for the veterans lost each day. Ceremony at nine, then live music, a food truck and veteran-owned booths until noon.

$40; free for children 12 and under

Hosted by Every Third Saturday

Saturday 26 September 2026 From 10 a.m.

Invisible Wounds Project: Concert For A Cause

Running Aces, 15201 Running Aces Blvd · Columbus, MN

Chris Janson headlines this benefit for the Invisible Wounds Project, which works on the injuries that do not show up on a discharge physical.

Hosted by Invisible Wounds Project

Thursday 1 October 2026 5:30 – 10:30 p.m.

Shelter from the Storm II

James Ballentine "Uptown" VFW Post 246, 2916 Lyndale Ave S · Minneapolis, MN

An evening of live music for MACV, the organization doing most of the work on veteran homelessness in this state.

Hosted by Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MAC-V)

Saturday 3 October 2026 From 5 p.m.

Roger Up Gala

Warehouse Winery · St. Louis Park, MN

Western-themed fundraiser for the Maple Lake nonprofit that runs outdoor programs, mental-health support and job help for veterans and first responders.

Ticket pricing to be announced

Hosted by Roger Up

Thursday 22 October 2026 From 5:30 p.m.

Bravo Zulu House Benefit Dinner

Metropolitan Ballroom, 5418 Wayzata Blvd · Golden Valley, MN

An evening for America's first sober home built for veterans with PTSD — and the push to open their new Women's House. Dinner, and a room full of people committed to the same mission.

Hosted by Bravo Zulu House & Trinity Sober Home

Wednesday 11 November 2026 Breakfast 8:30 a.m., program 10 a.m.

State of Minnesota Veterans Day Celebration

Duluth National Guard Training & Community Center, 4015 Airpark Blvd · Duluth, MN

The state's official Veterans Day observance, in Duluth this year. Free community breakfast first, program at ten. Open to everyone.

Hosted by Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs

Friday 20 November 2026

A Magnus Gala

Venue to be announced · Twin Cities, MN

Save the date: the Magnus Veterans Foundation's annual gala — the crew you'll also find working claims at county benefit reviews across the metro. Details land on their page as they firm up.

Hosted by Magnus Veterans Foundation

Wednesday 16 September 2026 12 – 4 p.m. ET

Virtual Military Spouse Hiring Event

Online

Employers hiring specifically around the spouse-employment problem, remote and portable roles included. LockLeed serves spouses through Gemini Workforce Solutions — email us and we will connect you.

Hosted by Hiring Our Heroes

Wednesday 23 September 2026 12 – 4 p.m. ET

Virtual Hiring Fair: Security Clearance Jobs

Online

The one to prioritize if you hold or held a clearance. Cleared defense and federal-contractor roles translate military experience most directly, and they pay for the clearance you carry.

Hosted by Hiring Our Heroes

Wednesday 30 September 2026 12 – 4 p.m. ET

Virtual Career Summit

Online

General-audience virtual hiring fair. A good first one if you have never done a virtual event and want to practice the format before a fair you actually care about.

Hosted by Hiring Our Heroes

12–14 October 2026 Three days

AUSA Annual Meeting & Exposition

Walter E. Washington Convention Center · Washington, DC

The largest land-power exposition in North America — tens of thousands of attendees and most of the defense industrial base in one hall. If you are targeting defense primes, that is where their hiring managers are that week.

Hosted by Association of the United States Army

Thursday 15 October 2026 Check the listing

Chicago Veterans Job Fair

Soldier Field, United Club (1st floor), 1410 Museum Campus Drive · Chicago, IL

The nearest large in-person veteran job fair to the Twin Cities this autumn. Around forty exhibitors registered so far, with Motorola Solutions sponsoring.

Free for job seekers; complimentary parking with validation

Hosted by RecruitMilitary / DAV

Tuesday 24 November 2026 Check the listing

National Virtual Career Fair

Online

The last big national virtual fair of the year, with employers hiring into January headcount.

Hosted by RecruitMilitary / DAV

4–6 January 2027 Three days

Student Veterans of America NatCon 2027

Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center · Grapevine, TX

The 19th annual gathering of student veterans, with a career expo attached. If you are finishing a degree on the GI Bill, this is the one worth budgeting for.

Hosted by Student Veterans of America