Things to do in Minneapolis & St Paul this weekend!
This July Twin Cities Family Weekend Guide covers the weekend of July 8-9, 2023. Find our most recent guide here. As always, you can check our JULY FAMILY GUIDE, our 2023 ULTIMATE TWIN CITIES SUMMER FUN GUIDE or our FAMILY FUN CALENDAR for more fun ideas on what to do this weekend in the Twin Cities with your kids!
TWIN CITIES FESTIVALS THIS WEEKEND FOR THE FAMILY
ANDOVER: Family Fun Fest
At this Twin Cities summer festival, look for family entertainment including magic & juggling shows, a street dance & fireworks. July 7-8, 2023.
ANOKA: Riverfest
Sidewalk chalk and rock painting for kids along with a huge craft marketplace and food vendors. July 8, 2023.
LAKEVILLE: Pan-o-Prog Summer Festival
Family Fun Fair & Carnival all weekend, plus two parades on Saturday, including one for kids to participate in. July 8-9, 2023.
LINDSTROM: Karl Oskar Days
Celebrate Swedish heritage with a Kids Zone in Beach Park, live music, a parade, craft fair and fireworks. All weekend, July 7-8, 2023.
ROBBINSDALE: Whiz Bang Days
Live music, a parade & fireworks this weekend. July 8-9, 2023.
Get planning for more Twin Cities community festival fun through July!
FUN OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES IN TWIN CITIES PARKS THIS WEEKEND
Featured here for the weekend is just a taste of all that’s going on across the incredible Twin Cities park systems. You can get more ideas on our FAMILY FUN CALENDAR or browse the links below to search for local fun events & things to do with kids this weekend in parks across the Minneapolis-St Paul metro.
SOME FUN FAMILY IDEAS FOR THIS WEEKEND
Summers in Minnesota just beg for a picnic – meals outdoors on blankets with the early evening sun still streaming down and juicy summer fruits packed in the cooler. All of the picnic sites featured on our list of 10 PLACES FOR THE PERFECT PICNIC IN MINNEAPOLIS are located within lovely Minneapolis parks. Get inspired for picnic sites and picnic foods at the link.
FEATURED TWIN CITIES PARK EVENTS THIS WEEKEND
Saturday Mornings on Gale Woods Farm
7210 County Rd 110 W, Minnetrista, MN 55364
GALE WOODS FARM invites you and your kids to visit the animals and explore the barn, gardens, greenhouses and pastures. Drop in between 9:30am-noon. July 8, 2023, $6/pp.
Second Saturdays at Grimm Farm
7720 Grimm Road, Victoria MN 55386
Step back in time with interpreters and old-fashioned lawn games. Plus, lots more outdoor exploration to do at CARVER PARK RESERVE, including the LOWRY NATURE CENTER. July 8, 2023, 1:30-4pm. FREE.
More fun at Lowry Nature Center this weekend: Universe in the Park
The program starts with a 20-30 minute presentation at 8:30 p.m. and then, weather permitting, an opportunity to view the sky through telescopes until 10 or 11 p.m. Participants can learn how to use a star map and go home with a free one. July 8, 2023.
Puppet Adventures & Let’s Get StARTed
Silverwood Park, 2500 County Rd E, St Anthony, MN 55421
Take in a puppet show followed by make-and-take nature-inspired art. July 9, 2023, 1-3pm. FREE.
Try visiting a new park or nature center!
Check out the links on our big list of Twin Cities nature & interpretive centers. Did you know that several of these nature centers have natural playgrounds nestled within them? You can build with natural materials, climb, balance, even wade and garden at some of the more elaborate spaces. This weekend’s featured photo comes from the nature play area at PATRICK EAGAN PARK. It has natural elements for unstructured play and some surprises – like an exciting zip line! We include this park in our list of the BEST PARKS IN EAGAN, MINNESOTA TO TRY THIS SUMMER.
Find our list of the best Twin Cities Nature Playgrounds.
COOL OFF THIS WEEKEND IN THE TWIN CITIES
As summer heats up into July, it’s time to visit your favorite splash spot – or find a new one! Jump over to our complete TWIN CITIES ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THE BEST BEACHES, POOLS, WATERPARKS & SPLASH PADS or continue for a few ideas:
Featured Minneapolis wading pool: Waite Park
Minneapolis wading pools are fun, free and some are splashy and elaborate. Find our complete list at the link. This weekend we’re highlighting the wading pool at WAITE PARK. The pool is a zero-entry style with a splash-pad type water sprayer on the shallow end. 1810 34th Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418.
Featured Twin Cities beach: Wirth Lake Beach, Minneapolis
We include our family favorites in our list of 20+ BEACHES, PARKS & PLAYGROUNDS TO TRY THIS SUMMER. We discovered the terrific WIRTH LAKE BEACH last summer! Sandy, smooth and clean, this beach is one of our favorites in Minneapolis. There’s a large playground and Park & Rec often drops by with activities for kids. Nearby curiosities include ELOISE BUTLER WILDFLOWER GARDEN & BIRD SANCTUARY & THE QUAKING BOG. 3200 Glenwood Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55405.
Featured outdoor swimming pool: Como Regional Park Pool, St Paul
Swimming pools are always a hit for their slides and fun features. Have you tried COMO REGIONAL PARK POOL in St Paul yet? There’s a great splashy area for toddlers, a lazy river, climbing plunge and an exciting zip line! 1151 Wynne Ave, St Paul, MN 55108.
Featured Twin Cities splash pad: Huset Park West, Columbia Heights
Don’t forget that splash pads are a perfect place to cool off without the full investment of a day at the pool. This week we highlight the splash pad at HUSET PARK WEST in Columbia Heights. Scoot through the spraying hoops and watch out for the dump buckets (or don’t!) A playground and picnic shelter are located conveniently nearby. Get our huge list of the best 40 Splash Pads & Wading Pools in the Twin Cities!
Many outdoor pools in the Twin Cities offer special tot swim hours so littler ones can get some splash time in before the big kids arrive. You can find these tot swims at the following pools this weekend:
Saturday Tot Swims
- CASCADE BAY: Little Mates Tot Swim – select areas of the waterpark open from 9:30-10:30am. $6/child, one adult free. 1360 Civic Center Drive, Eagan, MN 55122.
- CRYSTAL COVE: Little Splashers Pool Time is for kids ages 7 & under to enjoy the zero-depth entry pool. 10-11:30am, $3/child, adults free. 4848 Douglas Dr N, Crystal, MN 55429.
- RICHFIELD OUTDOOR POOL: Kids ages 7 & under get the zero-depth-entr
y wading pool and water play equipment to themselves. 10-11am, $11/pp. 630 East 66th Street, Richfield, MN 55423. - SANDVENTURE AQUATIC CENTER: Kids ages 0-6 can swim in the zero-depth entry pool and play in the sand beach. 9:15-10:45am. $5/child, adults free. 1101 Adams St S, Shakopee, MN 55379.
Sunday Tot Swims
- CASCADE BAY – Little Mates Tot Swim (see above)
- COMO REGIONAL PARK POOL: Tot Time swim is for kids ages 6 & under. 9:30-11am. $4/children and adults. 1151 Wynne Ave Saint Paul, MN 55108.
- HIGHLAND PARK AQUATIC CENTER: Tot time for kids 6 & under. 9:30-11am. $4/pp children and adults. 1840 Edgcumbe Rd, St Paul, MN 55116.
MORE IDEAS FOR THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND IN THE TWIN CITIES
Live theater, music & movies in the park this weekend? Just add a picnic meal and a blanket or camp chairs and you’re all set for a FREE day or night out with the family. Here’s the lineup:
Music in Motion with Children’s Theatre Company
Peavey Plaza, 1101 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55403
Music in Motion is a mix of storytelling, music and dance designed to move body and mind. Two sessions. Our tip: if you’re able, take the light rail into downtown Minneapolis. It’s a fun event in and of itself! July 8, 2023, 10-11am. FREE.
Explore More Kid-Friendly Fun in Downtown Minneapolis.
Dance Around Minnesota with DanceCo
Raspberry Island, 2 Wabasha Street, St. Paul, MN 55107
Paul Bunyan and his ox, Babe, will teach kids about Minnesota history and then invite them onstage to participate in the performance. All ages and abilities welcomed and totally free to attend. July 8, 2023, 10 & 11:30am. FREE.
Open Eye Figure Theater Driveway Performance
3038 Minnehaha Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55406
This season’s puppet show is Tucker’s Robot. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that puppet shows are just for kids – all ages will enjoy! July 9, 2023, 1pm. FREE. Extra 4pm show: Hosted at 2435 Matilda Cir, Roseville, MN 55113.
Classical Actors Ensembles: Much Ado About Nothing
The family-friendly Shakespeare performance is presented twice this weekend at Minneapolis parks. SATURDAY, JULY 8 at Lake of the Isles Park, 2500 Lake of the Isles Pkwy E, Minneapolis, MN (7-8pm) and SUNDAY, JULY 9 at Normandale Lake Bandshell, 5901 W 84th St, Bloomington, MN 55438 (4pm).
More fun ideas for this weekend
PLAY A ROUND OF MINI GOLF ACROSS THE TWIN CITIES
Choose from 14 fun outdoor courses in our guide to the best MINI GOLF IN THE TWIN CITIES. Featured for you this weekend is the amazing and whimsical BIG STONE MINI GOLF & SCULPTURE PARK in Minnetrista. Each hole is a work of art!
Always free to visit weekends: