Family Fun Twin Cities - Family Sports & Fitness

Family Sports & Fitness – Family Friendly Activities to Get Moving

Participating in family sports and fitness is a great way to spend time together and create strong family bonds through teamwork and family fun. A 2018 study has found that fathers who exercise raise healthier children – even into adulthood. Why not find fun ways to set good examples of healthy lifestyles, get moving with the entire family and have some fun together. Bonus, you avoid childcare expenses when you workout together. We keep a running list (haha punny) of events that have been submitted to us here.

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If you have a sporting event you would like to share, please keep in mind our parameters and mission. Events must be something that can be participated in as a family and it must be a stand-alone event with no long-term commitment. Please feel free to email Joy with your submissions 

Table of Contents

TWIN CITIES FAMILY SPORTS & FITNESS CALENDAR

MARCH 2023

March 4 – June 11, 2023: Public Skating

The Rec Center, 3700 Monterey Drive, St. Louis Park, MN 55416
Spring open skate hours: Monday, Wednesday & Friday, 12pm-1:30pm; Saturday: 10:15-11:45am; Sunday 2-3:30pm. Closed Easter and Memorial Day weekend. Call ahead to confirm. 952-924-2567, opt. 7. Admission: $4-$5; Skate rental: $3; Sharpening: $5.

Public Ice Skating at The Rec Center in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. Image courtesy of the City of St. Louis Park.
Image courtesy of the City of St. Louis Park

March 25, 2023: Hot Dash Tater Trot

Boom Island Park, 724 Sibley St. NE Minneapolis, MN 55413
Kids can participate in either the 5K or 10K; or enter the kid-friendly one mile, half mile or pre-K dashes. Earn a finish line medal and a Hot Dash Miir 16oz tumbler—to keep your favorite drinks perfectly cold, or warm. 8am-11am. Learn more and sign up: Adult Registration $35-$80; FREE for kids 18 years and younger.

APRIL 2023

Tuesday, April 4, 2023: Base Camp Open Climb

Base Camp, 201 Bloomington Road, Saint Paul, MN 55111
Open climbing and archery with trained staff. Parents must stay. 6-9pm. Ages 5-Adult. $10/climber; non-climbing adults FREE. Register here.

Rock Climbers receiving instruction at Base Camp in Bloomington Minnesota

April 22, 2023: Trail Mix Race

Lake Rebecca Park Reserve, 9831 Rebecca Park Trail, Rockford, MN 55373
6K, 12.5K, 25K and 50K. Run through the trails of Lake Rebecca in this race that is probably best for more experienced running families. Learn more and sign up: Registration $25-$80.

April 29, 2023: Get in Gear

Minnehaha Park, 4801 South Minnehaha Park Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55417
5K, 10K & half marathon. Free training with Trackster. All participants get a free shirt. As always, kids run FREE at Twin Cities in Motion races. Learn more and sign up: Adult Registration $35-$90; FREE for kids 18 years and younger.

Get the Bikes Out!!

Time to pull out the bicycles and helmets. Anne and family have been mapping the best Bike Trails in the Twin Cities. These are great for older kids with some endurance:

Or try out the Carver Lake Bike Playground!

MAY 2023

Tuesday, May 2, 2023: Base Camp Open Climb

Base Camp, 201 Bloomington Road, Saint Paul, MN 55111
Open climbing and archery with trained staff. Parents must stay. 6-9pm. Ages 5-Adult. $10/climber; non-climbing adults FREE. Register here.

Sunday, May 7, 2023: Bud Break 5K & 1K Kids Race

Farm at the Arb, 3210 W 82nd Street, Chanhassen, MN 55317
Both timed and untimed 5K races and a 1K race for kids through the beautiful arboretum gardens. $10-$30/racer. Register here.

Make A Day of It: How to Explore the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum with Kids

Children looking at plants at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

May 20, 2023: Women Run the Cities & Kids Run the Cities

Minnehaha Park, 4801 South Minnehaha Park Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55417
5K, 10K & 10 mile. Free training with Trackster. All participants get a free shirt. As always, kids run FREE at Twin Cities in Motion races. Learn more and sign up: Adult Registration $35-$80; FREE for kids 18 years and younger.

JUNE 2023

June 3, 2023: Shakopee Community Ed Color Run

Sun Path Elementary School, 2250 17th Ave E, Shakopee, MN 55379
Runners get splashed with colors as they run to raise money for Community Ed. There is also a free 1/4-mile fun run for children and a book exchange for kids and adults. Registration $20; All Ages.

Tuesday, June 6th: Base Camp Open Climb

Base Camp, 201 Bloomington Road, Saint Paul, MN 55111
Open climbing and archery with trained staff. Parents must stay. 6-9pm. Ages 5-Adult. $10/climber; non-climbing adults FREE. Register here.,

June 12-August 27, 2023: Public Skating

The Rec Center, 3700 Monterey Drive, St. Louis Park, MN 55416
Summer open skate hours: Saturday: 10:15-11:45am; Sunday 2-3:30pm. Call ahead to confirm. 952-924-2567, opt. 7. Admission: $4-$5; Skate rental: $3; Sharpening: $5.

Public Ice Skating at The Rec Center in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. Image courtesy of the City of St. Louis Park.
Image courtesy of the City of St. Louis Park

SUMMER FITNESS IN THE PARKS

FREE fitness in the park programs can be ideal opportunities for parents to exercise while kids play on a nearby playground. Keep checking back. We expect a good collection of options by June.

St. Louis Park Outdoor Yoga

Wolfe Park, 3700 Monterey Drive, St. Louis Park, MN 55416
A free hour of yoga at the amphitheater on Thursdays & Saturdays.  Thursday, June 22nd-August 3rd, 8am-9am (except July 5); Saturday June 24th-July 29th, 10am-11am. Ages 16+. FREE. Drop In.

Playground: Wolfe Park’s playground is directly behind the amphitheater. However, trees will block your view, so this outing is best when you are ready to let your kids out of your site.

JULY 2023

July 11, 2023: Kids Color Run

Otsego Prairie Park, 13355 90th Street NE, Otsego, MN 55330
A FREE color run for kids includes an obstacle course inflatable and other fun surprises. Wear sunglasses and white shirts to show the color. Part of Splash & Play Tuesday. 10am. Registration Required.

Tuesdays July 11: Base Camp Open Climb

Base Camp, 201 Bloomington Road, Saint Paul, MN 55111
Open climbing and archery with trained staff. Parents must stay. 6-9pm. Ages 5-Adult. $10/climber; non-climbing adults FREE. Register here., 

Tuesdays July 15: Minnewashta Mud Run

Lake Minnewashta Regional Park, 6900 Hazeltine Blvd, Excelsior, MN 55331
Run a family-friendly, muddy  obstacle course, including the limbo, crazy maze, hay bale climbing, giant waterslide, and sandcastle building. Get hosed down by the Chanhassen Fire Department at the end of the race. The main race is 3.4 miles (you can stop after 1.7 miles); $45-$55/pp. Mini Mud Run is a ¼-mile; $19-$29/pp. 8am. Register Here.

AUGUST 2023

August 1, 2023: Kids Color Run

Otsego Prairie Park, 13355 90th Street NE, Otsego, MN 55330
A FREE color run for kids includes an obstacle course inflatable and other fun surprises. Wear sunglasses and white shirts to show the color. Part of Evenings in the Park. 6pm. Registration Required.

Tuesdays, August 1, 2023: Base Camp Open Climb

Base Camp, 201 Bloomington Road, Saint Paul, MN 55111
Open climbing and archery with trained staff. Parents must stay. 6-9pm. Ages 5-Adult. $10/climber; non-climbing adults FREE. Register here.,

FALL 2023

Tuesdays, Sept 5, Oct 3, Nov 7, Dec 5, 2023: Base Camp Open Climb

Base Camp, 201 Bloomington Road, Saint Paul, MN 55111
Open climbing and archery with trained staff. Parents must stay. 6-9pm. Ages 5-Adult. $10/climber; non-climbing adults FREE. Register here., 

Saturday September 30, 2023: Twin City Marathon Family Events

State Capitol Grounds, 75 Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard., St Paul, MN 55155 
Free Kids events for all ages Diaper Dash to 5K plus family activities. 8am-12pm. FREE. Save the Date for 2023: Saturday, September 30 – Sunday, October 1, 2023.

2023 TBA: Autumn Woods Classic

Elm Creek Park Reserve, 12400 James Deane Parkway, Maple Grove, MN 55369
An experience for the whole family to run/walk a 10K, 5K, or 1K. Enjoy the fun of Camp S’More, including family-friendly activities, music, games, prizes, and S’mores!  7am-12pm. $10-$40/pp.

2024 TBA: Try Hockey Free Day

Rinks around the Twin Cities.

Learn more about Try Hockey Free Day here.

WINTER 2024

2024 TBA: Kidarod East

Thompson County Park, 360 Butler Ave E., West St Paul, MN 55118
A 2-mile adventure race for kids and families that combines hiking, climbing, pulling, and sliding. 11am-3pm. Ages 5+. $31.45-$37/racer. Register here.

2024 TBA: Kidarod West

Fish Lake Regional Park, 14900 Bass Lake Road, Maple Grove, MN 55311
A 2-mile adventure race for kids and families that combines hiking, climbing, pulling, and sliding. 11am-3pm. Ages 5+. $37/racer. Register here.

2024 TBA: Indoor Race Against Racism

Minneapolis Sports Center, YWCA Midtown, 2121 East Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN 55407
The YWCA is holding this family-friendly race indoors. All children will receive a ribbon for finishing. Participate in other fun activities in the Minneapolis Sports Center. 8am-1pm. Kids FREE; Adults $20. Register here.

17 BEST SPORTS & FITNESS PROGRAMS TO DO AS A FAMILY

Memory Lanes and other bowling alleys
  1. Go Bowling. Our junior reporter, Andy shared his favorite kid-friendly bowling alleys: A Strike of Fun: Twin Cities Bowling Alleys.
  2. Cycling. Take a Family Bike Ride.
  3. Play Backyard Games Together60 Fun Outdoor Games for Kids
  4. At Home Activities: 45+ Fun Physical Activities for Kids of All Ages, Categorized.
  5. Explore Local Parks. Don’t know where to start? We have over 400 park reviews in our directory.
  6. Go Swimming. Or even just play at an Indoor Water Park any time of year. In the summer months pick from outdoor Beaches, Pools, Water Parks & Splash Pads.
  7. Put you way through a miniature golf course. The Twin Cities has both indoor and outdoor options: FFTC’s Guide to Mini Golf Courses in the Twin Cities.
  8. Grab some Frisbees and try disc golf. There are plenty of free courses in local parks: Disc Golf in the Twin Cities. If kids are smaller, just toss a frisbee around in any park or green space.
  9. Try Archery. Although there is an initial cost to starting up this sport, it could be fun for the whole family. Some ranges are only open April to November, but others are year round. Archery Ranges around the Twin Cities.
  10. Try Ziplining! We Like Kerfoot Adventure Park.
  11. Join A Family-Inclusive Community CenterFind a List of Family-Friendly Community Centers Here.
  12. Go on a StoryWalk – Parks around the Twin Cities host story trails throughout the year – but particularly in the warmer months.
  13. Play Table Tennis. Don’t have your own ping pong table? Visit Union Depot on Wednesdays for Games Galore., where they provide table, rackets and ping pong balls.
  14. Practice Yoga. Between Fitness in the Parks programs and Union Depot’s Free Yoga classes, there are so many free opportunities for Yoga in the Twin Cities. Parents with younger children, can bring them along, and if it doesn’t work out, no big loss, try again in a few months. Parents of teenagers, could start a practice together.
  15. Frequent an Indoor Playground or Trampoline Park. Many of our favorite Twin Cities Indoor Playgrounds & Trampoline Parks offer memberships.
  16. Go Canoeing or kayaking. We do live in the Land of Lakes. Find watercraft rentals at many Three Rivers Parks and at the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes Parks.
  17. Take on A Challenge Course:

14 FREE SPORTING ACTIVITIES & EXERCISES TO DO WITH KIDS AT THE PARK

Most local parks have a variety of sports facilities just waiting for family fun. Consider it your free family health club in the fresh air. You don’t need to keep a great deal of equipment in your car. Many can be used with just an inexpensive playground ball or soccer ball and can be adjusted for family members of all ages. Make this part of your summer lunch routine by choosing a park that offers Free Summer Meals for Kids. If you find a team sport your child loves, the parks also offer affordable youth leagues.

Find a Nearby Park Here: Twin Cities Parks & Playgrounds Search

Here is a list of our favorite sports games and activities to break a sweat in your local park:

  1. Volleyball. Nets are up on the sand courts in local parks for most of the warmer seasons.
  2. Basketball. Almost all parks have basketball courts or half courts. You only need a single hoop to practice shots, play a game of HORSE or Around the World or just do some dribbling drills.
  3. Baseball, Softball or Kickball. If you don’t want to carry all the baseball gear, just bring along a playground ball and make it a family game of kickball.
  4. Dodgeball. Any park with approximately 30 square feet of open space can host a dodgeball game.
  5. Soccer. Another sport that only needs an open space to practice.
  6. Gaga Ball. More and more parks are adding gaga pits.
  7. Racquetball. Even if a park doesn’t have racquetball courts, you can practice against a brick wall. Other racket sports include Tennis and Badminton. Younger kids can practice against a wall or families can adjust the size of the playable court to fit their child’s abilities.
  8. Kite Flying. We love adding kites to Easter baskets for an excuse to play at the park in the spring. We’ve also tried Boomerang Throwing. Both activities can be practiced in any open green space and take some learning but can be fun once you get the hang of it.
  9. Pull Ups on the monkey bars. A few minutes of play with your kids will work your arm muscles. If the ground is dry, add in some Push Ups and Sit Ups.
  10. Swinging. Whether you are pushing your kids or swinging yourself, the swings can be a muscle strengthening exercise.
  11. Park Running. For fun, use an open green space to do running styles like high knees or butt kicks or silly races like bear crawl or crab walk. If you are more serious, check out the training programs designed by Twin Cities in Motion to prepare for a 5K.
  12. Walking, roller skating, skate boarding, and scootering can all be done on the paved paths of city parks. Larger parks often offer hiking and biking paths.
  13. Geocaching & Orienteering. There are geocaches hidden in parks all over the cities. Grab the app from geocaching.com to get started. Orienteering is a little like geocaching, but adds an element of speed. The Minnesota Orienteering Club offers several permanent course maps for local parks for a small fee.
  14. Open Gym. Saint Paul and Minneapolis, in particular, offer regular open gym times at most of their recreation centers. If you can’t find a park location, some of the local gymnastics studios and parkour gyms also offer open gym times for a small fee.
Find a list of ideas for getting kids appropriately active from Table 3-1 of Health.Gov’s Physical Activity Guidelines

5 ONLINE OPTIONS FOR FITNESS ON YOUR OWN SCHEDULE

  1. The YMCA offers streaming workout videos for all ages. Most of this is adult-oriented, but they have a series of youth soccer videos. 
  2. Core Power Yoga has on demand classes.
  3. Go Noodle is recommended by schools for helping kids stay active in small places with fun exercise videos (some of them featuring Koo Koo Kangaroo!). One of our favorite ways to make screen time a little healthier.
  4. 12Bursts Program is recommended by Three Rivers Parks, for staying active at home: “Our partners at Cycle Health launched a fun new initiative the whole family can do at home! The 12Bursts program encourages physical activity through 12 activity “bursts” of five minutes each. Complete each day’s free Daily Dozen challenge in whatever way best fits your schedule. No special skills or equipment required. Learn more and get started today!”
  5. Play Ball! Minnesota Virtual Academy Webinars – Free webinars from Twins staff and Play Ball! Minnesota partners.

Active Play & Sports Birthday Parties

Family Fun Twin Cities Guide to Birthday Parties in the Twin Cities - You're Invited - Book A Active Play / Sports Birthday Party - Twin Cities Birthday Party Venues & Ideas for Kids
Book an Active Play Birthday Party
5 ways to make family exercise a reality

5 Ways to Fit Simple Fitness into Family Time

Here are five fun sports programs parents can fit into a family lifestyle – even with young children. I have a few ideas as to how to make it a game that you will play, too.

1)    Do simple weightlifting.

But instead of using dumbbells, use soup cans. Everyone can use soup cans. You may need more weight than  a soup can, but this is a great way to introduce weightlifting to your kids.

2)    Do sit-ups with you child sitting on your belly.

Everytime you come up, poke them in the belly.

3)     Line dance together.

While I don’t recommend doing exercise videos together (my kids got bored within 30 seconds), you can teach them some line dances. In my opinion the best one to increase your heart rate is “Cotton-Eyed Joe.”

4)     Try some kid-friendly yoga.

There are lots of videos on YouTube for this. Find a family favorite to promote flexibility and build strong bones for a lifetime of good health.

5)     Go swimming.

This may be just a once a week–maybe even less–activity, but it is fun for the whole family.

2 Creative Exercise Alternatives

1. Family Dance 

Tapestry Folkdance Center’s Family Dance in South Minneapolis.  Every 2nd Saturday from 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m., bring your family and learn some European and American folkdances.

 2023: Currently virtual and pay-as-you-can. Contact Tapestry to get a link.

2. Aerial Arts

If you want something truly exhilarating, head to NE Minneapolis and sign up for age-appropriate classes at Xelias Aerial Arts Studio owned by Meg Elias Emery.

Twin Cities Fitness Centers

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