MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. | A little-known form of storytelling is getting a spotlight in Minneapolis this month as the city’s Crankie Fest returns with performances, live music and a free workshop for children.
The festival’s first 2026 event is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 19, when a free kids workshop will take place at the Stewart Park Building from 1 to 4 p.m.
What Is a Crankie?
A crankie is a hand-operated storytelling device built around a long illustrated scroll. As the scroll moves through a viewing box, performers can combine the changing images with music and spoken storytelling.
The form has roots stretching across several storytelling traditions and later became associated with moving panoramas in early America. Minneapolis Crankie Fest describes the art as a scrolling story that can range from traditional performances to experimental and humorous work.
Free Workshop Opens the Festival Week
The Sept. 19 workshop is designed to introduce children to the crankie format before the festival’s main performance weekend.
The workshop will be held in the multipurpose room at the Stewart Park Building, 2700 12th Ave. S., Minneapolis. The event is listed as free, with registration available through the festival organizers.
The setting at Stewart Park gives families a chance to explore the unusual art form in a neighborhood community space.
Main Festival Returns Sept. 25-27
The main Minneapolis Crankie Fest is scheduled for Sept. 25, 26 and 27, with three evenings of crankie performances, live music and popcorn.
Organizers say the festival provides a platform for both established performers and artists who are new to the form. The 2026 lineup includes multiple crankie artists, with musical accompaniment from Mumblin’ Drews Old Fangled Orchestrators.
A Growing Minneapolis Arts Tradition
Minneapolis Crankie Fest began in 2022 and has developed into a local celebration of the scrolling-story art form.
Organizers describe the event as a homegrown festival connected to Minneapolis’ puppetry and performing arts community. The program includes pieces ranging from traditional to experimental, giving artists room to explore the format in different ways.
The festival’s organizers also say previous shows have sold out, highlighting the growing local interest in an art form that remains unfamiliar to many audiences.
An Unusual Arts Event in Minneapolis
The Crankie Fest stands apart from a conventional concert or theater production because the storytelling itself is built around a moving physical scroll.
That combination of visual art, music, puppetry and live storytelling gives the Minneapolis event a distinctive identity while introducing audiences to a form that has largely remained outside mainstream entertainment.
Event Details
The free children’s workshop is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 19, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Stewart Park Building, 2700 12th Ave. S., Minneapolis.
The main Minneapolis Crankie Fest performances will follow on Sept. 25-27.