May is literally blooming with free events and activities in the Twin Cities! For more ideas on how to find free Twin Cities events for kids and families in May visit our:
- TWIN CITIES MAY FAMILY GUIDE
- THINGS TO DO IN THE TWIN CITIES IN MAY (SORTED BY AGE)
- FAMILY FUN CALENDAR
- ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SPRING IN THE TWIN CITIES
Want to find free things to do in the Minneapolis-St Paul area this weekend with your kids? Find our current TWIN CITIES WEEKEND FAMILY GUIDE, packed with suggestions.
50 FREE THINGS TO DO IN THE TWIN CITIES THIS MAY
Same some ching for that summer vacation – you don’t need to spring for pricey family outings when there’s so much free stuff to take advantage in our exciting Twin Cities during the month of May.
Twin Cities spring festivals with free admission
BROOKLYN PARK Spring On the Farm
4345 101st Ave N, Brooklyn Park, MN 55443
Greet sweet farm babies, watch farm demos, help in the garden and more. May 16, 2026.
BROOKLYN PARK Twin Cities Bird Festival
10360 West River Rd, Brooklyn Park, MN 55444
View live raptors and take a family-friendly bird walk. Explore the hands-on exhibits at the Gateway Center, traverse the Treetop Trail or the exciting dam across the river. May 2, 2026.
MINNEAPOLIS Art-a-Whirl
1500 Jackson St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413
Appealing to families: artist demos and kid-friendly workshops, an art car parade and coloring contest. May 15-17, 2026.
MINNEAPOLIS May Day Festival & Parade
Bloomington Ave & Powderhorn Park
Annual parade features puppets and community-made floats followed by a festival in Powderhorn Park. May 3, 2026.
SCANDIA Opening Day at Gammelgården Museum
20880 Olinda Trail N, Scandia, MN 55073
Step back into the 1850’s with Swedish immigrant family activities and tours, all free today in celebration of a new spring season. May 2, 2026, 10am-4pm.
ST PAUL Flint Hills Family Festival
Ordway/Washington Street
Super family-friendly festival with a huge lineup of free activities for kids plus a wide variety of food trucks. May 29-30, 2026.
WAYZATA Spring Splash
734 Lake St E, Wayzata, MN 55391
Held on the Panoway, an afternoon of fun activities to get you excited about summer programming. Free food and ice cream treats. May 2, 2026.
Twin Cities free spring fun in the parks – Minneapolis & St Paul
There is so much FREE family fun to be had out in Twin Cities-areas parks during the lovely month of May. Here’s a sampling of the best free events Twin Cities-area parks have to offer this month:
Como Park Zoo & Conservatory Spring Checklist
1225 Estabrook Dr, St Paul, MN 55103
Seasonal events in May include Part 2 of the Spring Flower Show in the Conservatory’s Sunken Garden. Soak up the extra warmth with the tropical indoor exhibits and animal enclosures. Suggested donation of $2/child & $3/adult, but all welcome whether or not you choose to donate. Spring hours in May 2026, 10am-4pm.
More spring fun at COMO PARK ZOO & CONSERVATORY:
- Como Little Explorers Thursdays. Each themed week is packed with free games, art projects and sensory tables. Thursdays in May 2026, 10am-12pm.
- Cafejian’s Carousel Free Ride Tuesday – May 26, 2026
MORE FREE EARLY SPRING FUN in Minneapolis & St Paul parks not to miss:
- Parks like NORTH MISSISSIPPI REGIONAL PARK in Minneapolis often offer free outdoor programming for families complete with the engaging KROENING NATURE CENTER.
- Free kids GARDEN STORYTIME AT ELOISE BUTLER WILDFLOWER GARDEN starts the first full week of May and offers outdoor stories and guided nature walks for kids on Thursdays & Sundays.
- EXPLORATOTS meets at historic Como Streetcar Station twice in May with free outdoor exploration for preschoolers.
Free outdoor fun in the Twin Cities North Metro parks
There are a few remarkable nature playgrounds in the Twin Cities North Metro – beautiful places where kids can, for free, spend hours climbing, sliding, splashing, digging, building and exploring. We recommend our favorites:
BROOKLYN PARK MISSISSIPPI GATEWAY REGIONAL PARK boasts a beautiful nature-inspired playground, Treetop Trail walk and splashy water play area.
COON RAPIDS Get your kids hooked with a FREE FISHING CLINIC hosted by Anoka County Parks. May 2, 2026.
LINO LAKES Indoors and out, WARGO NATURE CENTER delivers serious free fun. Note there is no vehicle fee to visit the building and Maple Hollow Nature Play Area.
WHITE BEAR LAKE Do not let the your kids miss the amazing DISCOVERY HOLLOW NATURE PLAYGROUND, the standout piece of TAMARACK NATURE CENTER. Free outdoor fun at its best!
Free outdoor fun in the Twin Cities South Metro parks
BLOOMINGTON RICHARDSON NATURE CENTER is always cooking up something interesting to learn during their Drop-In Discovery Days each week in May. 1-3pm.
BLOOMINGTON Free, hands-on living history moments are offered every Saturday at POND DAKOTA MISSION PARK. Open houses run 1-4pm.
EAGAN Pack a picnic and wander the self-guided trails through CAPONI ART PARK. Admission is free every day.
FARMINGTON Forever Wild Family Friday is held this month in WHITETAIL WOOD REGIONAL PARK – home to a sandy and splashy nature play area.
Free outdoor fun in the Twin Cities West Metro parks
EDEN PRAIRIE Nature Rocks! Outdoor Center Open Houses offer free, drop-in animal encounters and the chance to learn about upcoming nature programs and events. May 2.
Free Twin Cities swimming, wading & splashing in May
These outdoor swimming holes typically open Memorial Day Weekend, weather permitting. Make sure to double check the websites before packing up the swimsuits and heading out.
BURNSVILLE Nicollet Commons Park water feature
12550 Nicollet Ave, Burnsville, MN 55337
The prettiest splash pad you ever did see. Open daily when weather permits. Plan ahead: Free kids entertainment is offered weekly during the summer.
MINNEAPOLIS Wading Pools & Beaches
We have all the details on the FREE MINNEAPOLIS WADING POOLS and the FREE MINNEAPOLIS BEACHES Please note that wading pools attached to a Minneapolis public school will remain closed until the school year is done. Beaches remain unguarded until mid-June. Open daily 10am-9pm. FREE.
Twin Cities free fun with arts & crafts in May
- ANOKA Rumriver Free Family Art Day
- EAGAN Art House First Friday
- EDINA First Saturday Art Lab
- MINNEAPOLIS Institute of Art Family Day
- MINNEAPOLIS Walker Art Center First Free Saturday
- MULTIPLE LOCATIONS Home Depot Kids Workshops
- MULTIPLE LOCATIONS Fleet Farm Free Kids Workshop
More free Twin Cities family entertainment in May
Free special events for families: Touch-a-Truck calendar
Treat your kids to the thrill of getting up close to important safety & service vehicles! We’re talking fire trucks, ambulances, plows, police cars and other rescue rigs. May is THE biggest month to see them while communities observe National Public Works Week. A sampling of our TWIN CITIES MAY TOUCH-A-TRUCK CALENDAR:
- EDINA VEHICLE DAY – Valley View Middle School
- INVER GROVE HEIGHTS TOUCH-A-TRUCK – VMCC
- MENDOTA HEIGHTS TOUCH –A-TRUCK – Mendakota Park
- OTSEGO TOUCH-A-TRUCK – Prairie Park
- ARDEN HILLS TOUCH-A-TRUCK – Perry Park
- COON RAPIDS PUBLIC WORKS OPEN HOUSE
- FOREST LAKE BIG RIG DAY – Hardwood Creek Library
- FARMINGTON POLICE DEPT OPEN HOUSE
- EAGAN BIG RIG RALLY – Central Maintenance
- BURNSVILLE PUBLIC WORKS OPEN HOUSE – Maintenance Facility
- PRIOR LAKE SOMETHING ‘BOUT A TRUCK — Maintenance Center
Free Twin Cities bike rodeos in May
May is the perfect time for young bicyclists to learn safety skills before summer sets in! Here’s where you can do so for FREE in the Twin Cities metro:
- CHASKA Community Bike Rodeo – May 11
- COON RAPIDS Bike Rodeo – May 30
- CRYSTAL Bike Rodeo – May 7
- MINNEAPOLIS Lyndale Wheels & Bike Rodeo – May 16
- PRIOR LAKE Bike Rodeo – May 30
- STILLWATER Youth Bike Safety Rodeo – May 16
Find more free things to do in the twin cities!
Free abounds in the Twin Cities. Many local bookstores, libraries and other businesses offer free storytimes during the week. Local coffee shops & cafes serve parents with free dedicated play spaces. And dozens of St Paul & Minneapolis recreation centers offer free open gyms and tot times to run your littles ragged.
Awesome content and ideas. Thank you.
Thank you.
Great ideas for the family. We have a family of six, so time, scheduling, and money are important. Thank you for the wonderful ideas.
We are so glad you find it useful, Virginia. Anne, Gianna and I also each have 4 kids, so we know the balancing act between time, scheduling & money and still finding family fun time. Please drop us a line if you find anything cool we’ve missed.