The Minneapolis Convention Center’s answer to the Republican National Convention in St. Paul is CivicFest, an extravaganza of American democracy, replete with historical document displays, a fake Oval Office for taking gag photos and other educational exhibits. But CivicFest’s unavoidable lesson is that democracy comes with corporate sponsors and a $15 cover charge. MnIndy picked Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie’s brain for free or lower-cost ways to celebrate civics on your own. MORE »