Albertville-St Michael Area Family Fun

THINGS TO DO IN THE ALBERTVILLE-ST MICHAEL AREA WITH KIDS & FAMILY

Looking for things to do beyond shopping in the Albertville-St Michael area? Bargain-hunters often zero in on this area for the Albertville Premium Outlets mall, but there’s so much more going for it. We have loads of ideas for entertaining kids in these communities plus neighboring Buffalo, Elk River, Hanover, Otsego and Rogers, Minnesota. Read on for seasonal events, the best parks, fun attractions and family dining.

KID FRIENDLY EVENTS THIS WEEK NEAR ALBERTVILLE, MINNESOTA

Find this week’s Albertville, Minnesota-area, family fun including the nearby northwestern suburbs of the Twin Cities: Buffalo, Elk River, Hanover, Otsego, Rogers & St Michael. Find our full Twin Cities Family Fun Calendar here.

ALBERTVILLE-ST MICHAEL AREA SPECIAL EVENTS, FESTIVALS & SEASONAL ACTIVITIES

Winter in the Albertville area: Sledding, snow tubing, skiing & ice skating

Outdoor Ice skating rinks in the Albertville Area

ALBERTVILLE: CENTRAL PARK is the place for free outdoor ice skating in the city of Albertville. The park includes one full size hockey rink, a half size hockey rink and a pleasure skate rink. 5801 Lander Avenue NE, Albertville MN.

ST MICHAEL: The lower segment of RECREATION CENTER PARK contains, during the winter, hockey rinks, a pleasure ice skating rink and a warming house. Call (763) 496-6820 for any questions. 3316 Lander Ave NE, St Michael, MN 55376. Seeking an indoor ice skating option? The ST MICHAEL ICE ARENA typically offers public open skate hours on the weekends for around $5. (No skate rental available.) Skate hours are published on their social media page.

The best sledding hills in the Albertville Area

Winter festivals & activities in the Albertville – St Michael area

Buffalo Kites on Ice

Sturges Park, 401 Lake Blvd S, Buffalo, MN 55313
Kites fill the sky above Buffalo Lake, kite building workshop for kids, food trucks, hot chocolate and treat vendors. February 10, 2024, 11am-3pm, FREE. Find more WINTER FESTIVALS near the Albertville – St Michael area, Minnesota.

Christmas & holiday events in the Albertville – St Michael area

Albertville Christmas in the Park

Central Park, 5801 Lander Ave. NE, Albertville MN
So much fun in the park to kick off the holiday season: a Christmas tree lighting with Santa & Mrs Claus, horse-drawn wagon rides, caroling, smores over the fire and warm beverages. December 3, 2023, 2-4pm.

Buffalo Deck the Halls

Sturges Park, 505 2nd Ave S Buffalo, MN 55313
Santa arrives at 3pm to kick off the family fun that ends with a tree lighting at 5pm. December 2, 2023.

Elk River Santa in the Park

Rivers Edge Commons, 679 Main St NW, Elk River, MN 55330
Join Santa in the Park for the annual tree lighting. Families will have an opportunity for a photo with Santa Claus, free petting zoo, kids craft station, carolers and shopping. Reservations required to visit with Santa. December 2, 2023. 2pm-5pm, FREE.

Rogers Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremon y

21st Century Event Center, 12716 Main Street, Rogers, MN, 55374
Hot cocoa, cookies, caroling and a special activities beginning at 6:00 p.m. with the tree lighting at 7:00 p.m. December 1, 2023; 6pm-8pm.

Victorian Caroling at Historic Hanover Bridge

Millpond Trail, Hanover, MN 55341
Sing-along Christmas carols, llamas in their seasonal best, hot cider and cookies and photo opportunities with St Nick are all part of this Victorian-inspired holiday festival. Located at the historic Hanover Bridge. December 1, 2023, 6-8pm. FREE.

St Michael Winterfest & Tree Lighting

Town Center Park, 11800 Town Center Drive NE, St Michael MN
So good they brought the festival back for a third year! Santa, Mrs Claus & reindeer will be there and the holiday tree will shine. Lots of activities: caroling, bingo, storytime, smores over the fire and hot beverages. December 2, 2023, 3-6pm.

Santa’s Wonderland at Cabela’s

20200 Rogers Dr, Rogers, MN 55374
Make your reservation to meet with Santa and get a free photo. Plus, browse Santa’s Toy Shop and take in the other fun attractions at Cabela’s. November 4-December 24, 2023.

Santa at Nathes 101 Market

8980 Quantrelle Ave NE, Otsego, MN 55330
An afternoon of fun with Santa at the market: a digital photo, face painting, a Santa ornament and treats. December 2, 2023, 1-5pm. $7/family.

Find more places to visit Santa in the Albertville area

Christmas & Holiday Lights Displays in the Albertville – St Michael Area

ELK RIVER: The city publishes a map of holiday light displays for an easy DIY tour.
ST MICHAEL: The STMA Holiday Lights Tour is a route that includes 8 of the best holiday lights displays in the St Michael area – make sure to check the link for a map plus pictures and descriptions so you can preview your family’s tour. These winners simply dazzle.

FIND MORE HOLIDAY LIGHTS DISPLAYS NEAR ALBERTVILLE & ST MICHAEL ON OUR HUGE LIST and hundreds of holiday events in our 2023 TWIN CITIES CHRISTMAS & HOLIDAY GUIDE.

More winter fun near Albertville

For more outdoor winter fun in the Twin Cities check out our round up of free outdoor ice skating rinks our Winter Survival Guide and our Winter Family Festival Calendar – all filled with ways to enjoy the cold season.

Summer in Albertville-St Michael

Summer in Albertville-St Michael: Festivals & Activities

Albertville

Albertville Friendly City Days

Albertville’s annual summer festivals includes a carnival running Thu-Sun; Saturday kids events including a fire truck display, Kiddie Parade, Kids Pedal Tractor Pull, and a “Toddler Town” activity area. June 7-11, 2023.

Albertville Lions Summer Concert Series

Lions Depot in Central Park, 5801 Main Ave NE, Albertville, MN 55301
Free live concerts in the park – bring your own seating and refreshments, or purchase grill items at the farmers market. Thursdays starting June 15, 2023, 6-8:30pm.

Albertville Central Park – summer activities

Central Park, 5801 Main Ave NE, Albertville, MN 55301

READING IN THE PARK – Kids in eighth grade & under are invited to attend storytime in the park followed by the chance to take home a free book. Wednesdays, June 21-August 2, 2023. 9-10am. The program also takes place at ST MICHAEL TOWN CENTER PARK (Tuesdays, June 13-August 1, 2023, 9am) and HANOVER SETTLERS PARK (Thursdays, June 15-August 3, 2023, 9am).
KIDS DAY AT ALBERTVILLE FARMERS MARKET – Pick this day to bring the kids to the farmers market so they can have the run of the mobile ninja gym, meet a deputy and his K9, pet some animals and maybe try some new veggies. July 6, 2023, 3-6pm. FREE.
ALBERTVILLE PENNY CARNIVAL – Yes, carnival games and prizes for just a penny! July 15, 2023, 10-12pm.

Buffalo

Buffalo Days

Highlights of the city’s summer festival: the requisite carnival Wed-Sun, a kiddie parade on Thursday, Friday fireworks at dusk and a Grand Parade on Saturday at 6pm. June 11-18, 2023.

Buffalo Concerts in the Park

Sturges Park, 505 2nd Ave S Buffalo, MN 55313
Thursday nights from June 29 through August 31, 2023.

HEADED TO BUFFALO FOR THE DAY? TAKE ALONG OUR LIST OF THE TOP 6 THINGS TO DO IN BUFFALO, MINNESOTA, WITH KIDS!

Elk River

Elk RiverFest

18599 Gary St, Elk River, MN 55330
Families with young ones will definitely want to check out the Kids Zone in Orono Park with face painting, inflatables, petting zoo, skatepark show and more. July 29, 2023, 10am-2pm.

Elk River Entertainment in the Park

Woodland Trails Regional Park, 20135 Elk Lake Rd NW, Elk River, MN 55330
Kid-friendly entertainment on Thursdays from 10:30am to 11:15am. June 15 through August 10th, 2023.

Elk River Riverfront Concert Series

Rivers Edge Commons Park, 679 Main St NW, Elk River, MN 55330
A series of tribute bands and cover bands play Thursday nights at 7pm. June 15 through August 17, 2023.

Hanover

Hanover Harvest Festival

Tons of old-fashioned kids carnival games (for a small fee), a mobile video game truck, cow pie bingo (?), classic car show, petting zoo, garden tractor pull, fireworks and lots more. August 5, 2023.

Hanover Concert in the Park Series

Settlers Park, 11230 5th St NE Hanover MN 55341
Dates for live music in the park: June 16, July 13 & August 9, 2023. Enjoy a free summer concert outdoors in the park!

Otsego

Splash & Play Tuesdays

Otsego Prairie Park & Splash Pad, 13355 90th St NE, Otsego, MN 55330
Cool off in the park’s splash pad and enjoy kids entertainment on select Tuesdays at 10am. We’re talking a kids DJ, theater in the park, a free color run, visit from the Raptor Center and more.

Rogers

Rockin’ Rogers

Thursday Family Night has a kid band, a local band, carnival, and kid games. Parade Saturday at noon. Don’t miss all the summer festival fun in Rogers. June 15-17, 2023.

St Michael

St Michael Daze & Knights Festival

Bounce in the inflatables (grab a wristband), listen to live music, hunt for the medallion, and play family Bingo. August 11-12, 2023.

Albertville-St Michael area swimming, beaches & splash pads

Beebe Lake Park & Beach

7250 10th St NE, St Michael, MN 55376
The park has a popular unguarded beach with nearby restrooms and shady areas where you can spread your blanket. Our visit confirmed that the sand is clean and the water is clear. The sand covers both the shore of the beach and the roped in areas of the water. The county has enacted a 5mph speed limit for boats in the area of the beach, keeping the wake down – ideal for your younger swimmers. Open 6am-half hour after sunset. FREE.

We rate Beebe Lake Beach one of the best beaches in the Minneapolis-St Paul Metro Area! Find more of the best at the link.

Orono Park Beach

18599 Gary Street, Elk River, MN 55330-5600
You won’t want to miss cooling off during the summer in Orono Lake, a widening in the Elk River. There’s a well-kept and sandy beach, exciting new destination playground, splash pad for pre-swimmers, covered picnic pavilions, a little nature play area and a skatepark. Arm yourself with a picnic and prepare to spend the whole day!

Otsego Prairie Park Splash Pad

13355 90th St NE, Otsego, MN 55330
Another splash pad option in the Albertville-St Michael area. This park also has nice playgrounds and picnic areas. Open daily 9am-9pm Memorial day into September as weather permits.

St Michael Town Center Park Splash Pad

4320 Landmark Drive NE, St. Michael, MN 55376
The area’s newest splash pad opened in 2021. The one has a giant dump bucket for maximum thrills.

Downtown Buffalo Splash Pad

Buffalo’s splash pad is made up of simple fountains within easy walking distance of downtown. Families will find nearby picnic tables and a the music trail full of oversized instruments.

Fall in Albertville-St Michael