Minneapolis is getting a full tropical takeover this month, as Graze Food Hall by Travail turns its North Loop yard into an outdoor luau with Polynesian food, tiki drinks, live music, hula performers and fire dancers.
The Island Hopper Luau is set for Friday, Aug. 14, from 4 to 9 p.m., according to KSTP. Molly Hermann, Graze’s director of operations, appeared on the station’s Sunday broadcast to preview the event, which will let guests sample dishes from nine kitchens while collecting bites through an Island Hopper “passport.”
What The $50 Island Hopper Passport Includes
The standard passport costs $50 before tax and fees, while a $70 VIP version includes a tiki drink and a mug to take home, according to the ticket page. The passport-style setup is designed for grazing rather than sitting down to one formal meal, with options ranging from Kalua pork and Spam sliders to mango barbecue chicken nachos, tuna poke bowls, Hawaiian-style meatballs, coconut shrimp and mango sorbet.
Graze’s official event calendar says the afternoon begins with a DJ, tropical bites and tiki drinks in the yard. From 6 to 9 p.m., the entertainment lineup expands to live music, hula and fire dancers, a limbo contest and other games.
The Tiki Party Keeps Going Indoors
Once the outdoor portion winds down, the party is scheduled to move inside, where a DJ will continue from 9 to 11 p.m. and guests can keep ordering island cocktails, according to the event listing.
The luau arrives as Travail continues reshaping Graze with new food concepts and programming. The Minnesota Star Tribune recently reported that DeCoco’s Pasta Bar joined the North Loop hall, adding another reason for diners to treat the venue as an all-evening stop rather than a quick food-court run.
