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
AUGUST 2023
Now-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.
SEPTEMBER 2023
Tuesday, Sept 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 9, 2023: Family Dance
Tapestry Folkdance Center 3748 Minnehaha Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55406
Tapestry Folkdance Center’s Family Dance in South Minneapolis. Every 2nd Saturday from 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m., bring your family and learn some European and American folkdances. Find More Information and Email Contact Here.
Sunday, September 10, 2023: 5K Scoot, Walk, Run for Mobility Scooters for Veterans
2495 Victoria Street North, Saint Paul, MN US 55113
Complete this family-friendly, intergenerational 5K virtually or in person. Participants can use a scooter, rollerblades, a walker or run or walk. 9am-11am. $40/pp. 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.
OCTOBER 2023
Tuesday, Oct 3, 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, Oct 7, 2023: Walk for Water-Twin Cities
Upper Landing Park,180 Shepard Road, St Paul, MN 55012 (Behind the Science Museum)
The Twin Cities Walk for Water raises money to bring clean, safe water to 2,500 people in need around the world. Participants will carry an empty bucket for approximately 1.5 miles, fill it and return with the filled bucket along the same route. There will be plenty of fun and games for all ages and opportunities to learn about the global water crisis and experience stories from those Water Mission serves. Water carried will be treated by Water Mission’s Living Water Treatment System. The Walk will finish up with a post-walk family friendly celebration event. 6-9pm. Ages 5-Adult. $10-$25/participant. Register here.
Saturday, Oct 14, 2023: Family Dance
Tapestry Folkdance Center 3748 Minnehaha Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55406
Tapestry Folkdance Center’s Family Dance in South Minneapolis. Every 2nd Saturday from 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m., bring your family and learn some European and American folkdances. Find More Information and Email Contact Here.
Saturday, Oct 28, 2023: Boo Dash
851 Lake St East, Wayzata, MN 55391
Choose a 5K or 1-mile Family Fun Run. Extend the fun with a costume contest, pie eating contest, pumpkin derby and Wayzata’s Halloween Boo Blast. 9am-Noon. (Boo Blast runs 11am – 2pm)
NOVEMBER 2023
Saturday, November 4, 2023: Try Hockey Free Day
Rinks around the Twin Cities.
Try Hockey For Free Days in 2023-2024
On the fence about making the investment to put your kid in hockey? I understand. I’ve been there myself. And I highly recommend you give the sport a try for free at a Try Hockey For Free Day event. This program gives kids (ages 4-9) a shot at experiencing the basics of hockey without financial
Tuesday, Nov 7, 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, Nov 11, 2023: Family Dance
Tapestry Folkdance Center 3748 Minnehaha Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55406
Tapestry Folkdance Center’s Family Dance in South Minneapolis. Every 2nd Saturday from 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m., bring your family and learn some European and American folkdances. Find More Information and Email Contact Here.
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.
November 23, 2023: Turkey Day 5K
Downtown Minneapolis, 4th Street S and Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55401
Join Twin Cities in Motion for a pre-feast 5K on Thanksgiving morning. Joggers, walkers and strollers are welcome at this all ages race. TCM events are always FREE for kids 18 and under. 9am-4pm. $35-$60/adult (Register early for the lowest rates).
DECEMBER 2023
Tuesday, 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, Dec 9, 2023: Family Dance
Tapestry Folkdance Center 3748 Minnehaha Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55406
Tapestry Folkdance Center’s Family Dance in South Minneapolis. Every 2nd Saturday from 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m., bring your family and learn some European and American folkdances. Find More Information and Email Contact Here.
December 9, 2023: Nordic Opener
Elm Creek Park Reserve, 12400 James Deane Parkway, Maple Grove, MN 55369
Three Rivers Park System’s annual Nordic Opener welcomes beginner to expert skiers, offering FREE skiing, mini-lessons, a winter village and races. All Ages. 9am-4pm. FREE.
Family Skiing and Snowboarding in the Twin Cities
Whether you have littles just getting warmed up in winter sports like skiing and snowboarding or you’re dealing with tweens and teens who seek more of a thrill, we’ve got family skiing and snowboarding suggestions for the season. One of the perks of living in Minnesota is the multitude of options for winter sports like
WINTER 2024
Saturday, February 24, 2023: Try Hockey Free Day
Rinks around the Twin Cities.
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
- Go Bowling. Our junior reporter, Andy shared his favorite kid-friendly bowling alleys: A Strike of Fun: Twin Cities Bowling Alleys.
- Cycling. Take a Family Bike Ride.
- Play Backyard Games Together: 60 Fun Outdoor Games for Kids
- At Home Activities: 45+ Fun Physical Activities for Kids of All Ages, Categorized.
- Explore Local Parks. Don’t know where to start? We have over 400 park reviews in our directory.
- Explore Outdoors Saint Paul
- Washington County Parks offers a variety of downloads to help explore their parks.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Try Ziplining! We Like Kerfoot Adventure Park.
- Join A Family-Inclusive Community Center. Find a List of Family-Friendly Community Centers Here.
- Go on a StoryWalk – Parks around the Twin Cities host story trails throughout the year – but particularly in the warmer months.
- 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.
- 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.
- Frequent an Indoor Playground or Trampoline Park. Many of our favorite Twin Cities Indoor Playgrounds & Trampoline Parks offer memberships.
- 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.
- 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:
- Volleyball. Nets are up on the sand courts in local parks for most of the warmer seasons.
- 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.
- 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.
- Dodgeball. Any park with approximately 30 square feet of open space can host a dodgeball game.
- Soccer. Another sport that only needs an open space to practice.
- Gaga Ball. More and more parks are adding gaga pits.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Swinging. Whether you are pushing your kids or swinging yourself, the swings can be a muscle strengthening exercise.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
5 ONLINE OPTIONS FOR FITNESS ON YOUR OWN SCHEDULE
- The YMCA offers streaming workout videos for all ages. Most of this is adult-oriented, but they have a series of youth soccer videos.
- Core Power Yoga has on demand classes.
- 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.
- 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!”
- Play Ball! Minnesota Virtual Academy Webinars – Free webinars from Twins staff and Play Ball! Minnesota partners.
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.
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.