Free Twin Cities March Family Events & Activities

TWIN CITIES MARCH SPECIAL EVENTS – FREE

3/2/18: Forever Wild Family Friday: Invented by Nature | Lebanon Hills Park, Eagan | 7-8:30pm

3/3/18: Drop-in Discoveries: Reps & Phibs | Tamarack Nature Center, White Bear Lake | 10am-12

3/3/18: Free Kids Workshop: Periscope | TC Home Depot locations | The first Saturday of each month is workshop day at Home Depot. Kids get a kit to build, apron and pin while supplies last; adults must accompany their kids.

3/3/18: First Free Saturday: Kids Film Fair | Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, 10am-3pm | Activities are geared towards kids ages 6-12, but don’t let that stop you from bringing your littler ones! Free gallery admission for the whole family every first Saturday of the month.

3/6/18: Free Tuesday @ Washington County Parks | SE Metro, find a listing of parks here | Explore Washington County Parks with no vehicle permit required the first Tuesday of the month (non-holiday).

3/10/18: Second Saturdays at TPT | Twin Cities PBS, St Paul | 8-11am | Activities are all free but reserving a time slot is required. SOLD OUT

3/10/18: Saturday Family Fun: Snow Venture | Springbrook Nature Center, Fridley | 10-11am

3/10/18: SPCO Free Family Music: Xplorchestra | Capri Theater, Minneapolis | Concerts at 10am | Designed for kids ages 5-9, the 50-minute program is a wonderful way to introduce children to classical music. Read more about free family music programs with the St Paul Chamber Orchestra HERE.

3/11/18: Urban Expedition: Bolivia | Landmark Center, St Paul | 1-3pm | Travel the globe without hopping a plane through music, food, crafts and more.

3/11/18: Family Day: Pop! | Minneapolis Institute of Art, 11am-5pm

3/11/18: Puppet Adventures of Ned the Naturalist | Silverwood Park, St. Anthony | 1-3pm | Join Ned the Naturalist as he stops Trasher the Trash Can from trashing nature. Make-and-take art to follow.

3/13/18: Ballet Tuesdays | Landmark Center, St. Paul | 12-1pm | Excerpts from the classics, perfect for budding ballerinas.

3/17/18-3/18/18: All Things Green Weekend | Como Park Zoo & Conservatory, St Paul, 10am-4pm | Games, crafts and animal talks for the whole family presented by Xcel Energy.

3/18/18: Free Family Art Day | Rumriver Art Center, Anoka | 2 sessions: 12 & 2pm | Take a free, hour-long art class designed for kids ages 5+ with caregivers. Reservations are required and can be made by phone at 763.323.8830 or online here.

3/18/18: Family Fun Day: Under the Snow | Carl Kroening Interpretive, Minneapolis | 1-3pm | Drop in for naturalist-led activities and self-guided exploration of the visitor center’s interactive exhibits.

3/18/18: Target Free 3rd Sunday | Minnesota Children’s Museum, St Paul | 9am-5pm | Explore the newly renovated and expanded museum free! Keep in mind that this program is very popular and you may wait in line to be admitted.

3/19/18: Free 3rd Monday | Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Chaska | 8am-4pm

3/24/18: Free Ink Day | Highpoint Center for Printmaking, Minneapolis, 12-4pm | Drop in for Winter Free Ink Day. This event will focus on relief printmaking. Visitors of all ages are invited to carve blocks and create prints. Learn More: Family Fun: Free Ink Day at Highpoint Center for Printmaking

3/24/18 & 3/25/18: It’s Tapping Time | Harriet Alexander Nature Center, Roseville, 10am-4pm | Help volunteers as they tap maple trees, collect sap and boil it to make delicious maple syrup. Learn about traditional syruping methods, listen to Native American stories, and taste maple treats. It’ll make a sweet family outing. Typically this takes place the last weekend of March.

The following Twin Cities museums are FREE to visit:

• Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis – FREE daily, plus Family Day is great for all ages.
• Minnesota History Center, St Paul – lots of interactive exhibits (FREE Tuesdays after 3pm)
• Walker Art Center, Minneapolis – FREE Thursday evenings & First Saturdays of each month
• Weisman Art Museum, Minneapolis – FREE daily

We are thrilled to partner with MN Waldorf School as our Winter Fun Sponsor.  Looking for more information on Waldorf Schools?  Check them out!

TWIN CITIES EASTER FAMILY EVENTS – FREE ADMISSION

Grab your baskets and hop on over to any of these FREE Twin Cities Easter egg hunts! For our complete list of hunts around town, click HERE.

3/24/18: Excellent Egg Frenzy | HealthEast Sports Center, Woodbury
3/24/18: Annual Spring Egg Hunt | Van Cleve Park, Minneapolis
3/24/18: EggStravaganza Helicopter Egg Drop | North Commons Park, Minneapolis
3/24/18: Vadnais Heights Easter Egg Hunt | Community Park, Vadnais Heights
3/24/18: Easter Eggstravaganza | Good Shepherd Lutheran Church & School, Burnsville
3/24/18: Easter Egg Hunt & Candy Grab | Shakopee Community Center, Shakopee
3/24/18: Community Egg Hunt | Rich Valley Athletic Complex, Inver Grove Heights
3/24/18: Rosemount Lions Club Spring Egg Hunt | Ames Soccer Complex, Rosemount
3/24/18: Easter Experience | Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, Plymouth
3/24/18: Egg Scramble (←PDF Rec Guide)| Veterans Memorial Park, Richfield
3/25/18: Aqua Egg Hunt | Rich Valley Athletic Complex, Inver Grove Heights
3/25/18: Easter Bunny Bonanza | United Methodist Church of Anoka
3/30/18: Flashlight Egg Hunt | Creekview Park, Minneapolis
3/30/18: Tiny Tot Spring Party | Logan Park, Minneapolis
3/31/18: Bunny Brunch & Big Egg Hunt | Sibley Rec Center, Minneapolis
3/31/18: Bunny Party & Egg Hunt for kids 7-12 | Windom Park NE  Minneapolis
3/31/18: Easter Kids Kraft | Scott County Historical Society, Shakopee
3/31/18: Spring Egg Hunt | Northwest Campus Hancock Rec Center, St Paul
3/31/18: Spring Egg Hunt | Casey Lake Park, North St Paul
3/31/18: Bloomington Egg Hunt & Family Fun | Normandale Lake Bandshell
3/31/18-4/1/18: Largest Egg Hunt in Blaine | Northpoint Elementary School, Blaine

TWIN CITIES ST PATRICK’S DAY EVENTS – FREE

Lucky for us, the holiday falls on a Saturday this year, perfect for enjoying the parades and other festivities in the Twin Cities.

St. Paul’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade (Saturday, March 17 | Rice Park | Noon | FREE)

Minneapolis’ St. Patrick’s Day Parade (Saturday, March 17 | Marquette Ave | 6:30 pm | FREE)

MAPLE SYRUP FAMILY PROGRAMS – FREE

3/4/18-3/25/18: Sap to Syrup | Eastman Nature Center, Dayton | March Sundays, 1-4pm | All ages drop in program. Discover maple syruping history and techniques. Taste the final product.

3/11/18: Maple Sugaring | Pond House, Bloomington | Drop-in program 2-4 pm | Indoor and outdoor activities for all ages.

3/24/18-3/25/18: It’s Tapping Time! | Harriet Alexander Nature Center, Roseville | 10am-4pm

ONGOING MARCH WEEKENDS – FREE

Minneapolis Institute of Arts | Minneapolis | Daily, 11am-5pm

Como Park Zoo & Conservatory | St Paul | Daily, 10am-6pm, suggested donation of $2/child & $3/adult, but all welcome whether or not you choose to donate. Seasonal events include the opening of the Spring Flower Show in the Conservatory’s sunken garden, storytime at noon, and animal programs throughout the day.

Materials Lab | Minnesota Museum of American Art, St Paul | Open during exhibition hours, ongoing Sat/Sun, 10am-4pm. All ages can drop in and get creative with available materials and a little guidance. The Minnesota Museum of American Art has opened in a brand new space. Programming will resume in the Center For Creativity in April.

Saturday Live! | George Latimer Central Library, St. Paul | 11:15am | Fresh entertainment every Saturday including live music, puppetry, magicians and more.

Lakeshore Learning Free Crafts for Kids | TC locations | Ongoing Saturdays, 11am-3pm

Nature Rocks! Open House | Eden Prairie Outdoor Center | 9am-noon | Ongoing Saturdays of each month enjoy free family-friendly activities such as hiking, hands-on interaction with live animals, craft projects and more.

Bell Museum of Natural History | Minneapolis | Ongoing Sundays, 12-5pm | Explore the very kid-friendly Touch and Feel room and the wildlife dioramas free each Sunday. The Bell Museum will be closed through summer 2018 when it will reopen in a brand new location.

March Free Family Fun Days | Three Rivers Parks
Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park (Brooklyn Park side of the river) Sundays: 3/11, 3/25, 1-3pm
Richardson Nature Center: Sundays: 3/4, 3/11, 3/18, 3-4pm

Gideon Pond House Open House | Pond Dakota Mission Park, Bloomington | Ongoing Sundays, 1:30-4pm | Drop by for a house tour and living history activities.

ONGOING MARCH WEEKDAYS – FREE

Parent/Tot Time & Preschool Open Gym | Apple Valley Community Center | Ongoing Mon/Wed/ Fri, 9:30-11am | Ages: 5 & under w/ caregiver | Burn off some energy with other kids, develop motor skills and coordination. A special tot time for tykes ages 2 & under is held from 9-9:30am followed by open play for 5 & under until 11.

MOA Toddler Tuesdays | Mall of America Rotunda | Ongoing Tuesdays, 10am – noon | Live entertainment and activities guaranteed to excite the stroller set. Upcoming event schedule here.

Free Tuesday Nights | Minnesota History Center, St Paul | Ongoing Tuesdays, 3-8pm | Explore the highly interactive and kid-friendly exhibits.

Wee Wednesdays | Midtown Global Market, Minneapolis | Ongoing Wednesdays, 10:30am – 1pm. In the past, MGM has offered dance troupes, cooking lessons, and live animals to entertain kids. Stay for lunch — there are many tasty ethnic vendors to choose from, and several offer specials on Wednesdays. Park in the adjacent Midtown Exchange Ramp up to 1.5 hrs. free with validation.

Games Galore | Union Depot, St Paul | Ongoing Wednesdays, 10am-8pm | Play giant-sized versions of classic games including chess, checkers, Connect Four, Dominoes and more.

Lil Explorer Thursdays | Como Park Zoo & Conservatory, St. Paul | Ongoing Thursdays starting through April 2018, 10am-noon | The hall between the Visitor Center and the Conservatory is filled with hands-on activities, manipulatives, art projects and games perfect for the 4 & under set. Explore a different theme each week.

Free Children’s Entertainment | Edinborough Park Amphitheater, Edina | Thursdays, noon.

Top Preschool Storytimes in the Twin Cities – many local bookstores, libraries and other businesses offer FREE storytimes during the week. Click the link to read our picks.

Kid-friendly Twin Cities coffee shops and cafes with dedicated FREE play spaces.

Twin Cities Nature Centers offer FREE admission and hands-on exhibits and outdoor play opportunities most days of the week.

St. Paul Recreation Centers offer free open gym Tot Times at 16 sites across the city.

Minneapolis Recreation Centers also offer free options. Click this link and search “parent tot”.

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