Watermark Sketch Minneapolis 2026 (2-Day Event)

Urban Sketchers Twin Cities invites you to Watermark 2026. Register now for this two-day sketching event celebrating the Mississippi riverfront and the Historic Mill District area of Minneapolis. Festivities begin Friday, September 25 at 6pm and continue through Saturday, September 26, 2026.

While this is a free event, if you are able, please consider making a donation to help cover costs and make this event possible in the years to come. You can make a donation through Eventbrite by adding a donation on the ticket page (Eventbrite fees added) or send money with Zelle® to Urban Sketchers Twin Cities (urbansketcherstwincities@gmail.com).

DETAILED SCHEDULE:

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25-

4:45-6:00- (optional)- Sketchers gather on their own for dinner at local restaurants such as Aster Cafe or Jefe Cucina.

6:00-7:00- Registration, Welcome/Reception with light snacks at the A-Mill Performance Hall (315 Main St. SE). Chicago artist Jenny Jing Zhang will have a table set up for questions and purchasing her work.

7:00-8:00- Jenny Jing Zhang Presentation- “Mixed Media: Changing Gears Based on the City’s Essence”

8:00- Closing remarks, raffle winners, review Saturday’s schedule/locations, Q/A.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26-

8:00-9:00- Coffee/breakfast on your own. Options include Mill City Farmers Market, which opens at 8 am. Or stop by Farmers Kitchen + Bar or FRGMNT- Mill District for a coffee and pastry before the day starts.

9:00- For those taking the Owámniyomni Okhódayapi tour, please meet at 100 Portland Avenue S. Everyone else, meet in front of the Guthrie Theater on the corner of S. 2nd Street and Chicago Ave.

9:15-10:15- Sketch Stop #1- Mill City Farmers Market. There is a lot to sketch at the market, which is situated between the Guthrie Theater and Mill City Museum. Feel free to sketch on your own or take part in the following opportunities:

1. For people new to urban sketching—we will offer “A Demo for Doodlers” with Lori Tolonen to get people started.
2. For those who are interested in Reportage, Owámniyomni Okhódayapi will be leading a tour of the area in conjunction with their project to restore a section of the riverfront by Mill Ruins Park. This is an informational tour and not a sketching opportunity. But the information can inform your sketching for the rest of the day. 50 spots available for this tour. SEPARATE TICKET REQUIRED. Register here.
3. Sarah Harris will be taking a group inside the Guthrie Theater Properties Shop for a behind the scenes look at the tools and projects currently underway. This is a sketching opportunity. 25 spots available. SEPARATE TICKET REQUIRED. Register here.

*Note: Events listed above happen simultaneously. Please only register for one event. These tickets are only available to Watermark 2026 Participants. Make sure you register for Watermark 2026 first.

10:30-12:00- Sketch Stop #2- Demos by Jenny Jing Zhang and Urban Sketchers Twin Cities artists Bill Beaupre, Pam Enz, Jinjer Markley, and Sarah Harris.

12:00-1:30- Lunch- Sketchers gather on their own at various places for lunch. Grab something at the Mill City Farmers Market (open until 1pm) and picnic along the river or at Gold Medal Park. Or check out local restaurants such as Farmers Kitchen + Bar, Kindee Thai Restaurant, or Fathead Bill’s.

1:45-2:45- Sketch Stop #3 -Sketch at Gold Medal Park (Second Street and 11th Ave S).

3:00-4:00- Stop #4- Sketch Mill City Museum (704 S 2nd St) and Stone Arch Bridge.

4:15-4:30- Throw down/Group Photo at the plaza outside Owámniyomni Okhódayapi building (100 Portland Ave). Official end of Watermark 2026.

4:30-7:00- (optional) Crooked Pint Ale House (501 Washington Avenue South) for post-sketch socializing and sharing.

OTHER INFORMATION:

Go to FAQ's for info. about parking, what to bring, etc...

Go to SPONSORS to learn more about companies providing art supplies at our event.

Go here to learn more about Urban Sketchers Twin Cities, or find us on Facebook.

Ready To Register? Check This Out:

Registration and tickets are required to attend Watermark. Your ticket guarantees entry to all events Friday and Saturday.

Please read through the Participant Waiver below before you register.

PARTICIPANT EVENT WAIVER:

By attending 2026 Watermark Sketch Minneapolis, I acknowledge that the nature of the event could possibly expose me to hazards or risks that could result in my illness, personal injury or death and I understand and appreciate the nature of such hazards and risks. I hereby accept all risk to my health and of my injury or death that may result from such participation, including transportation and all other adjunct activities, and I hereby release Urban Sketchers, Urban Sketchers Twin Cities, its governing board, officers, employees and representatives from any liability to me, my personal representatives, estate, heirs, next of kin, and assigns for any and all claims and causes of action for loss of or damage to my property and for any and all illness or injury to my person, including my death, that may result from or occur during my participation in 2026 Watermark Sketch Minneapolis whether caused by any type of negligence of Urban Sketchers, Urban Sketchers Twin Cities, its governing board, officers, employees, or representatives, or otherwise. I further agree to indemnify and hold harmless Urban Sketchers, Urban Sketchers Twin Cities and its governing board, officers, employees, and representatives from liability for the injury or death of any person(s) and damage to property that may result from my negligent or intentional act or omission while participating in the event.

I HAVE CAREFULLY READ THIS AGREEMENT AND UNDERSTAND IT TO BE A RELEASE OF ALL CLAIMS AND CAUSES OF ACTION FOR MY INJURY OR DEATH OR DAMAGE TO MY PROPERTY THAT OCCURS WHILE PARTICIPATING IN THE ABOVE DESCRIBED ACTIVITY AND THAT IT OBLIGATES ME TO INDEMNIFY THE PARTIES NAMED FOR ANY LIABILITY FOR INJURY OR DEATH OF ANY PERSON AND DAMAGE TO PROPERTY CAUSED BY MY NEGLIGENT OR INTENTIONAL ACT OR OMISSION.

Furthermore, by registering for the 2026 Watermark Sketch Minneapolis, I grant permission for photography, video, and audio recording to be made of me/my likeness and to be used without compensation or use-specific approval by Urban Sketchers Twin Cities and/or Urban Sketchers, and its representatives, indefinitely.

Food allergy warning: We cannot guarantee that food provided at the 2026 Watermark Sketch Minneapolis will be allergen free. Please be advised food may have come in contact or contain peanuts, tree nuts, soy, milk, wheat, or eggs.

If the event registrant is under the age of 18, I certify that I, as the registrant’s parent/legal guardian, have obtained permission from the USk Twin Cities organizers to register a minor and I accept all legal obligations.

DEMO INFORMATION: Demos run simultaneously Saturday, September 26th 10:30am-12:00pm. Participants may select a demo(s) to attend on the event weekend. There is no additional registration, you may just go to one or more of your choice on Saturday morning.

DEMO ARTISTS: