Twin Cities Guide to Family Activities this Weekend: April 18-19, 2026
Things to do in Minneapolis & St Paul this weekend!
This Twin Cities Family Weekend Guide covers events in Minneapolis & St Paul the weekend of April 18-19, 2026. Want to discover family fun this weekend across the Twin Cities Metro Area? Browse our guides for the Northwest, Northeast, Southwest & Southeast communities. Happy exploring, wherever your weekend may take you!
Welcome to April in the Twin Cities!
How best to plan your weekend family fun as the days grace us with more light and warmth? Start with our planning tools here:
More weekend events around the Twin Cities Metro Area
Fun activities in the parks this weekend in Minneapolis & St Paul
Featured here for the weekend is just a taste of all that’s going on across the incredible Twin Cities park systems. You can get more ideas on our FAMILY FUN CALENDAR or browse the links below to search for local fun events & things to do with kids this weekend in parks across the Minneapolis-St Paul metro. Featured Twin Cities park events this weekend include:
Celebrating Earth Day in the Twin Cities!
While this is a chance to teach our children about good stewardship of our planet, it is also the perfect excuse to get out and enjoy the long-awaited spring. Check out some of our Twin Cities Earth Day ideas:
ACROSS MINNEAPOLIS Earth Day Park Cleanup Events
Check our list of 8 park cleanup events you can sign up or grab your own gear and head out to clean up your own neighborhood or maybe just your backyard! Most of these take place on April 18, 2026.
ST PAUL ExploraTots at Como Regional Park
Nature play stations include a story, a hike, and a take-home activity appropriate for the age range of 3-5 years. Must register in advance, space is limited. Don’t grab a spot? Plan ahead – this event is held monthly. April 18, 2026, 10-11:30am. FREE.
JUMP OVER HERE FOR MORE TWIN CITIES EARTH DAY EVENTS.
Try visiting a new park or nature center!
Check out the links on our big list of Twin Cities nature & interpretive centers for details. All of these locations have outdoor trails to hike and fun indoor exhibits. Did you know that several of these nature centers have natural playgrounds nestled within them? You can build with natural materials, climb, balance, even wade and garden at some of the more elaborate spaces. For more about these, find our list of the best Twin Cities Nature Playgrounds.
More ideas for things to do this weekend in the Twin Cities with kids – Minneapolis & St Paul
MINNEAPOLIS Minnesota Twins: Sunday Kids Day
Target Field, 1 Twins Way, Minneapolis, MN 55403
Super fun and special things to do for kids at Target Field on Twins Sunday home games! Gate 34 turns into Bullseye Backyard, kids can run the bases postgame, kids meals are half off and you can score free ice cream at select vendors! We have all kinds of cool info about taking kids to the ballgame on our FUN AT TARGET FIELD page. April 19, 2026, 1pm. Tickets start at $16.
ST PAUL Como Planetarium: One World, One Sky
780 W Wheelock Pkwy #1315, St Paul, MN 55117
In this planetarium show, Big Bird and Elmo travel to the moon and talk about the night sky along the way. Best for younger audiences. Get your tickets at the link. April 18, 2026, show at 9:30am. Cost is $6-$10 per person.
ST PAUL The Great Minnsect Show
St. Paul Student Center, 2017 Buford Ave, St. Paul, MN
Bugs can be lots of fun! Especially at this insect exhibition with games, crafts, food, specimens and specialists to tell you all you ever wanted to know about bugs. Held at the University of Minnesota’s St Paul Student Center. April 18, 2026, 9am-3pm. FREE.
MINNEAPOLIS Puppets at the Castle
American Swedish Institute, 2600 Park Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, 55407
A special preschool playdate with activities, crafts, music, storytelling and more, each month offering a new theme. The fee includes both the program and admission to the Turnblad Mansion, a real “castle” right in Minneapolis! Your kids will love exploring the nooks and crannies of the estate, plus tinkering around in the children’s gallery. Register your space as soon as you can plan; the program sells out. April 18, 2026, 9-10am. Cost is $30 per family.
More free or low cost things to do this weekend in the Twin Cities
Special Saturday storytimes this weekend in Minneapolis & St Paul!
ST PAUL Red Balloon Author Storytime
891 Grand Ave, St Paul, MN 55105
Local author Yvonne Pearson shares her picture book Rainbow Colors at the charming bookshop. April 18, 2026; 10:30am. FREE.
ST PAUL First Chapter Storytime at Next Chapter Bookseller
38 Snelling Ave S, Saint Paul, MN 55105
A picture book read-aloud plus related activity just for kids. April 18, 2026, 10:45am. FREE.
ST PAUL Saturday Vibe: Family Storytime
George Latimer Central Library, 90 West 4th Street, St Paul MN 55102
Cozy up for a special family storytime, then the library encourages you to hang around and explore their preschool math-themed Play & Learn area. Feel free to bring your older kids too – if they can be trusted in quiet spaces, the beautiful building is worth exploring. April 18, 2026, 11am-12pm. FREE.
MINNEAPOLIS Stories & Crafts in the Gallery
Museum of Russian Art, 5500 Stevens Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55419
The museum occasionally offers a FREE Storytime in the Gallery with no charge for adults to accompany their kids. Explore the galleries with a scavenger hunt after the reading. Best for kids ages 4-8. Please register ahead. April 18, 2026, 10:30-11:30am. FREE.
MINNEAPOLIS Institute of Art: Art Play!
2400 3rd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55404
Free, drop-in art projects for all ages the first and third Saturday of the month. In April, the medium is fabric & flowers. Then take a scavenger hunt through the galleries – I’ve done this with tweens and teens and it’s lot of fun! April 18, 2026, 10am-2pm. FREE.
ST PAUL Free Open Swim Sundays at Great River Water Park
270 Lexington Pkwy N, St Paul, MN 55104
A special FREE open swim hosted ongoing Sundays with water safety training provided from 2:30-3pm. The zero-depth entry splash pool is perfect for tots trying to get used to the water and there are two tube waterslides for the big kids. April 19, 2026, 12-5pm.
