Things to do in Minneapolis & St Paul this weekend!
This Twin Cities Family Weekend Guide covers the weekend of July 30-31, 2022. To find our most recent guide, click here.
Looking for extra inspiration? As always, you can jump over to our JULY FAMILY GUIDE, our 2022 ULTIMATE TWIN CITIES SUMMER FUN GUIDE or our fully-stocked FAMILY FUN CALENDAR for more fun ideas on what to do this weekend in the Twin Cities with your kids!
Looking for ideas on what to do with your kids in the Twin Cities this week? Definitely jump over to our TWIN CITIES GUIDE TO FAMILY ACTIVITIES THIS WEEK.
Twin CIties festivals this weekend for the family
Anoka: Anoka County Fair
This could be a smaller, less intense experience for children than the Minnesota State Fair. Lots of free entertainment and carnival rides plus all that fair food. All weekend, July 30-31, 2022. $5-$10/pp, 6 & under FREE.
Chaska: River City Days
Arts & crafts fair, kids games and fire department water fights (Sat) & the parade (Sunday, 1pm). All weekend, July 29-31, 2022.
Crystal: Crystal Frolics
Family festival with fireworks (Fri), Kidsdance DJ & carnival, and llamas! (Sun). All weekend, July 29-31, 2022.
Jordan: Scott County Fair
This could also be a good starter fair experience for children than the Minnesota State Fair. Lots of free entertainment, the carnival, baby animals, activities for kids. All weekend. FREE admission, $10/parking.
Little Canada: Canadian Days
Lots of activities for kids including a Kids Parade, games & free face painting plus fireworks & the Sunday parade. All weekend, some activities may require a $3 button. July 29-31, 2022.
fun outdoor activities in Twin Cities parks this weekend
How to narrow down all this summertime family fun?
Featured here for the weekend is just a taste of all that’s going on across the Twin Cities. You can get the full schedule on our FAMILY FUN CALENDAR or browse the links below to search for local fun events & things to do with kids this weekend.
SOME FUN FAMILY IDEAS FOR THIS WEEKEND
Loring Park Art Festival
1382 Willow St, Minneapolis, MN 55403
Artists, interactive art, family events, food, music and unique entertainment around the walking paths and duck ponds of Loring Park—an idyllic setting for an outdoor art festival. The park also features a wading pool and playgrounds for kids. All weekend, July 30-31, 2022.
Living history open houses
- POND DAKOTA MISSION PARK: The FREE open houses typically feature hands-on activities to make the history lessons fun. This week learn how to start a campfire. Learn more about the park, located in Bloomington. July 30, 2022, 1-4pm.
- THE LANDING VILLAGE SAMPLER GUIDED TOURS: Get a taste of life in late 19th century Minnesota at this re-created historical village in Shakopee. July 30-31, 2022, 10am & 3pm. $5/pp.
Try visiting a new park or nature center!
Check out the links on our big list of Twin Cities nature & interpretive centers for details on which buildings are open; all of these locations have outdoor trails to hike. 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. This weekend’s featured photo comes from the nature play area WHITETAIL WOODS REGIONAL PARK in Farmington. You might want to dress for a sandy mess!
Find our list of the best Twin Cities Nature Playgrounds.
FEATURED TWIN CITIES PARK EVENTS THIS WEEKEND
STORY THEATRE WITH CHILDREN’S THEATRE COMPANY
Peavey Plaza, 1101 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55403
Bring your little ones on a trip downtown to explore storybooks through imaginative play and music with the Children’s Theatre Company every Saturday this summer. July 30, 2022. Session
EXPLORE MORE KID-FRIENDLY FUN IN DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS.
UNIVERSE IN THE PARK
Eastman Nature Center, 13351 Elm Creek Rd, Maple Grove, MN 55369
Get to the park early to make sure there’s time to explore the nature center exhibits, outdoor boardwalk, huge playground and nature play area and possibly the silky smooth bike trails around ELM CREEK PARK RESERVE. Then, get down to business with a short outdoor talk about astronomy followed by the chance to observe the night sky through telescopes. July 30, 2022. 8:45pm, FREE.
Cool off this weekend in the twin cities
This summer has been awesome in terms of temperature! We’ve done more exploring than usual of new splash spots – go ahead and browse the finds in our complete TWIN CITIES ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THE BEST BEACHES, POOLS, WATERPARKS & SPLASH PADS or continue for more ideas:
- MINNEAPOLIS WADING POOLS are fun, free and some are splashy and elaborate. We try to highlight a new location each week. Try the pool & playground (and indoor facilities if you need some AC) at WAITE PARK, or find our complete list at the link.
- We include our family favorites in our list of 20+ BEACHES, PARKS & PLAYGROUNDS TO TRY THIS SUMMER. Each week we’re excited to share a new beach one of our FFTC families has discovered – this weekend we’re highlighting SCHULZE LAKE BEACH in Eagan. The long, sandy beach is conveniently located right next to a parking lot, making it very easy to tote in your kids and swim gear. This is a no-frills beach, but has the woodsy feel of a spot away from the city bustle.
- Swimming pools are always a hit for their slides and fun features. Have you tried the JIM LUPIENT WATERPARK in Minneapolis yet? Fun features include 3 large water slides, a log water walk & a spray pool for tots. Go after 5pm and admission is just $3!
- Don’t forget that splash pads are a perfect place to cool off without the full commitment and cost of a day at the pool. This week we highlight the splash pad at LAKE PHALEN PARK & BEACH in St Paul. It’s a simple splash pad but twice as nice with a beach right nearby.
- Search our giant list of the best 35 Splash Pads & Wading Pools in the Twin Cities.
Many outdoor pools in the Twin Cities offer special tot swim hours so littler ones can get some splash time in before the big kids arrive. You can find these tot swims at the following pools this weekend:
SATURDAY TOT SWIMS
- CASCADE BAY: Little Mates Tot Swim – select areas of the waterpark open from 9:30-10:30am. $6/child, one adult free. 1360 Civic Center Drive, Eagan, MN 55122.
- CRYSTAL COVE: Little Splashers Pool Time is for kids ages 7 & under to enjoy the zero-depth entry pool. 10-11:30am, $3/child, adults free. 4848 Douglas Dr N, Crystal, MN 55429.
- HIGHLAND PARK AQUATIC CENTER: Tot time for kids 6 & under. 9:30-11am. $4/pp children and adults. 1840 Edgcumbe Rd, St Paul, MN 55116.
- RICHFIELD OUTDOOR POOL: Kids ages 7 & under get the zero-depth-entr
y wading pool and water play equipment to themselves. 10-11am, $9/kids, $11/adults. 630 East 66th Street, Richfield, MN 55423.
SUNDAY TOT SWIMS
- CASCADE BAY – Little Mates Tot Swim (see above)
- COMO REGIONAL PARK POOL: Tot Time swim is for kids ages 6 & under. 9:30-11am. $4/children and adults. 1151 Wynne Ave Saint Paul, MN 55108.
more ideas for things to do this weekend in the twin cities
Open Eye Figure Theater Show & Ice cream social
506 E 24th St #3732, Minneapolis, MN 55404
Watch performances of the Driveway Tour show TUCKER’S ROBOT (12:30, 1:30 & 2:30pm), play carnival games, try puppet making and cool off with free ice cream! July 30, 2022, 12-3pm.
YOU SCREAM, I SCREAM: TWIN CITIES ICE CREAM SOCIALS
A sultry July evening pairs perfectly with a slightly melty cone to slurp up before its melting point. At the link, find FREE and very low-cost ice cream socials in Twin Cities parks across the Minneapolis-St Paul metro area.
COOL OFF BY VISITING A WATERFALL!
We’re all familiar with the very urban MINNEHAHA FALLS – the most picturesque and famous waterfall in Minneapolis has trails above it and along the river below it. My kids love to descend the stairs to the creek and find the calm wading spot downstream on a hot day. Where else might a family find a beautiful waterfall to visit? Get our list of 8 Twin Cities Waterfalls less than an hour away.
TAKE A FAMILY BIKE RIDE!
Here are some suggestions for a trip that’s not too taxing to do with kids:
- Smooth & level trails near a beach & huge playground: ELM CREEK PARK RESERVE, Maple Grove
- Around a scenic lake: Pick one of the MINNEAPOLIS CHAIN OF LAKES.
- Feels far away but is totally urban: BATTLE CREEK REGIONAL PARK, St Paul.
- A little challenge for the mountain bikers: COTTAGE GROVE BIKE PARK or CARVER LAKE PARK, Woodbury.
TAKE A FAMILY DAY OR ROAD TRIP!
Summer weekends are prime for jumping in the car and exploring outside the city. We have fun itineraries sketched out for destinations within an easy drive from Minneapolis & St Paul: