SECIA sponsors a wide array of events to bring the SE Como community together. Many of our events are hosted at Van Cleve Park, the hub of the Como neighborhood. Find out more information about some of our recurring events such as the Como Cookout, SE Como Bike Fest, and Como Clean-Up.
As of Spring 2020, we are hosting our events online over Zoom. We will post events on social media and in our e-newsletter.
Upcoming events will always be listed on the SECIA Event Calendar.
Como Cookout – Back in 2021!
Join 600 of your friends and neighbors at the annual Como Cookout for live music, free food, fun games, entertainment, arm wrestling tourney, a resource fair and more! This event is held every September with support from Van Cleve Park, Two Fat Guys and a Grill and U of M Off-Campus Living. The cookout includes menu items such as all beef hotdogs, sweet corn, baked potatoes, chips, apples and bananas, Qdoba mini burrito cups, cotton candy, and popcorn! Visit with neighbors and community organizations, climb a rock wall, dance to Brazil Arts Twin Cities, along with many other awesome activities. This event is lots of fun for young and old alike!
This month’s cookout is on Saturday, October 2nd from 11AM-5PM. Visit the page for more information.
Housing Forum
The best thing you can do as a tenant or homeowner is being informed. This series brings important information about housing and seeks to organize neighbors around housing issues. The first event of the series is on September 16th: Tenant’s rights and resources.
Produce Distribution & Drop-in Days for Unsheltered Neighbors:
We’re hosting a series of free produce distribution events and resource drop-in days for unsheltered neighbors. These events are once a month at different times, though sometimes there are joint events. Visit this page for more information.
Arts Programming
Art workshops are coming to SE Como! These family friendly classes are taught by art teachers, students, and other art lovers right here in SE Como.
SE Como Bike Fest
Bike, walk, or drive over! The SE Como Bike Fest is a recurring event held at Van Cleve Park for bikers or wannabe bikers. Bike Fest is jam packed with demonstrations, workshops, bike tours and giveaways. The event includes an appearance from Bike Cops for Kids to distribute and fit kids helmets. You might even leave with a FREE bike if you enter our giveaway!
Do you have an unused bike or bike-related supplies still in good condition? Contact SECIA at [email protected].
Como Clean-Up
Como Pride! Como Clean! Join SECIA and the U of M’s Office of Off Campus Living in the Como Clean-up each fall and spring. At Van Cleve, small teams of volunteers are assigned to a section of the neighborhood to clean up trash. All materials including color-coded bags, gloves, and maps will be provided. We encourage you to take on cleaning up the neighborhood as a daily activity as well!
Previous Events
A special thanks to the U of M Good Neighbor Fund for supporting these events.
Pollinator Party: brought the community together in celebration of our native plant gardens and the pollinators that inhabit them. The event included games, crafts, music, and a pollinator parade.
Como Kids Summer 2021: Como Kids! was an event series for families in the neighborhood to connect. Children and families enjoys games, crafts, movies, and more.
Global Game Night: Como residents come from all over the world! SECIA’s Global Game Night was an event to bring SE Como neighbors together to celebrate this diversity. The event included games from around the world and traditional treats.
Open Eye Theater at Van Cleve Park: SECIA hosted an Open Eye Theater performance at Van Cleve Park for SE Como residents to enjoy music, puppetry, live performance and storytelling all in one show!
UMN Raptor Center at Van Cleve Park: The Raptor Center gave SE Como residents the ability see birds of prey up close, including a bald eagle presentation!
Loft Literary Center classes: In collaboration with the Loft Literary Center, SECIA sponsored two week-long writing classes during Summer of 2019 at Van Cleve Park. A Nature writing/science journaling class was lead by Amber Stoner and a songwriting class was lead by Ben Connelly.
The Works Museum Family Science Night: In collaboration with The Works Museum, SECIA hosted a family science night full of hands-on science projects at Van Cleve Park.
Heart and Soul Drum Academy: Como residents enjoyed a performance from the Heart and Soul Drum Academy, which included Djembe hand drumming and dancing from youth ages 3-17.
Brazil Arts Twin Cities Carnival: In collaboration with Brazil Arts Twin Cities, Van Cleve Park hosted brasil carnival show with a dance performance by Ginga, Samba Batucada performance, and live dance music by Robert Everest.