Things to do in Minneapolis & St Paul this weekend!
This July Twin Cities Family Weekend Guide covers the weekend of July 22-23, 2023. To find our most recent guide, click here. As always, you can check our JULY FAMILY GUIDE, 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
Festivals in the Twin Cities are full force during the month of July. For further weekend planning, check our July Family Festival Calendar.
HASTINGS: Rivertown Days
Arts & crafts fair at Jaycee Park, carnival on the river at Levee Park and Rivertown Days Parade.
MINNEAPOLIS: Minneapolis Aquatennial
First, the Torchlight Parade returns (Wednesday – not the weekend, but if you’re doing some early planning, take note). Friday, catch the Twin Cities River Rats waterski show. Then Saturday, live music & spectacular fireworks cap off the festival Saturday night. Get all the details in our GUIDE TO THE MINNEAPOLIS AQUATENNIAL. July 19th-22nd, 2023.
ROSEMOUNT: Leprechaun Days
2893 145th St W, Rosemount, MN 55068
Kids Parade & entertainment in Central Park. July 23, 2023.
SHOREVIEW: Slice of Shoreview Days
Parade, plus lots of FREE kids activities – chalk art, parade, fire department open house, petting zoo, slip ‘n slide & climbing wall. All weekend, July 22-23, 2023.
FUN OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES IN TWIN CITIES PARKS THIS WEEKEND
How to narrow down all this summertime family fun?
Featured here for the weekend is just a taste of all that’s going on across the Twin Cities. You can get the full schedule 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
Try visiting a new park or nature center!
Check out the links on our big list of Twin Cities nature & interpretive centers for details on which buildings are open; all of these locations have outdoor trails to hike. 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 SPRINGBROOK NATURE CENTER. Dress for sandy fun!
Find our list of the best Twin Cities Nature Playgrounds.
Try a digital scavenger hunt!
The Adam Turman Artventure
Parks throughout Golden Valley & St. Louis Park
Explore The Cities Of Golden Valley And St Louis Park with The Adam Turman Artventure, which combines local landmarks with the art of local artist Adam Turman.
Search city parks, shopping and historical districts for 10 characters created by the artist to capture the essence of the places where they are found. When you find a character, you can scan the QR code to learn more about the art and the area and to get ideas for fun in that area.
GET OUR BIG LIST OF TWIN CITIES-BASED SCAVENGER HUNTS & TREASURE HUNTS FOR ALL AGES!
FEATURED TWIN CITIES PARK EVENTS THIS WEEKEND
First Tee’s North Commons Park Open
North Commons Park, 1801 N James Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55411
Part of the City of Lakes Summer Games, kids ages 6 to 16 are invited to learn how to play golf on a 9-hole course. They’ll take home a free club and ball, plus be entertained by a DJ and ice cream truck. Registration required. July 22, 2023, 9am-12pm. FREE.
COOL OFF THIS WEEKEND IN THE TWIN CITIES
We’ve hit optimal beach & pool season here in Minnesota. Knowing this kind of weather won’t stick around for long, explore new splash spots by jumping over to our complete TWIN CITIES ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THE BEST BEACHES, POOLS, WATERPARKS & SPLASH PADS or continue for more ideas:
Featured Minneapolis wading pool: Lake Hiawatha Park
Minneapolis wading pools are fun, free and some are splash and elaborate such as the pool at LAKE HIAWATHA PARK (pictured). Find our complete list at the link.
Featured Twin Cities beach: Lake Elmo Park Reserve
We include our family favorites in our list of 20+ BEACHES, PARKS & PLAYGROUNDS TO TRY THIS SUMMER. Each week we’re excited to share a new beach one of our FFTC families has discovered – this weekend we’re highlighting the LAKE ELMO PARK RESERVE SWIM POND. If you’re leery of your lake water, this man-made swimming pond has filtered, chlorinated water that maxes out at 6 ft. and is rimmed with a lovely sand beach. Go early to grab a spot under one of the large, colorful umbrellas. Cost is $7/vehicle permit. 1515 Keats Ave N, Lake Elmo, MN 55042.
Featured outdoor swimming pool: Edina Aquatic Center
Swimming pools are always a hit for their slides and fun features. Have you tried the EDINA AQUATIC CENTER? The waterpark features a wave simulator, cable zipline ride, pirate-themed kiddie pool, and an outdoor playground. $9-$11.50/pp, discount after 5pm. 4300 W 66th St, Edina, MN 55435.
Featured Twin Cities splash pad: Nicollet Commons Park
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 NICOLLET COMMONS PARK in Burnsville. It’s really too lovely to be called a “splash pad” but splashing is exactly what your kids will want to do in this beautiful water feature. 12550 Nicollet Ave, Burnsville, MN 55337.
- Get our huge list of the best 35 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.
- 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.
- RICHFIELD OUTDOOR POOL: Kids ages 7 & under get the zero-depth-entr
y wading pool and water play equipment to themselves. 10-11am, $9/kids, $11/adults. 630 East 66th Street, Richfield, MN 55423.
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.
MORE IDEAS FOR THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND IN THE TWIN CITIES WITH KIDS
Play a round of mini golf
Choose from 14 fun outdoor courses in our guide to the best MINI GOLF IN THE TWIN CITIES.
Pick your own fresh berries
Raspberries and blueberries are ripe this month and what could be sweeter than picking your own alongside your kids? We shout out THE BERRY PATCH this month, or find more on our list of the BEST PLACES TO PICK YOUR OWN BERRIES IN THE TWIN CITIES.
Take a family bike ride
We have some family-friendly ideas for bike trails in our guides to the BEST BIKE TRAILS IN MINNEAPOLIS & BEST BIKE TRAILS IN ST PAUL.
Take a family day or road trip!
Summer weekends are prime for jumping in the car and exploring outside the city. We have fun itineraries sketched out for destinations within an easy drive from Minneapolis & St Paul:
- BEST THINGS TO DO IN DULUTH WITH KIDS – SUMMER TRIP
- TOP THINGS TO DO IN TAYLORS FALLS, MINNESOTA, WITH KIDS
- 8 MINNESOTA STATE PARKS AN HOUR FROM THE TWIN CITIES METRO
- 10 THINGS TO DO IN MANKATO, MINNESOTA, WITH KIDS
- 10 THINGS TO DO IN NEW ULM, MINNESOTA, WITH KIDS
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