Twin Cities Guide to Family Activities This Weekend: June 18-19, 2022

weekend family guide

Things to do in Minneapolis & St Paul this weekend!

This June Twin Cities Family Weekend Guide covers the weekend of June 18-19, 2022. To find our most recent guide, click here.

This weekend it’s Dad’s turn for a big thank you! If he’s anything like certain Dads we know, you’ll make his day with a handmade card and an outing with his favorite people. Need some inspiration? We’ve got our complete roundup HERE (including some DIY gifts for Dad) or jump below. As always, you can check our June Family Guide, our 2022 ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SUMMER IN THE TWIN CITIES or our FAMILY FUN CALENDAR.

kid surrounded by chalk

10 ideas for Father's Day Weekend - Celebrating Dad

Stone Arch Bridge Festival

The whole area around the Stone Arch Bridge is buzzing with fun things to do. Explore MILL RUINS PARK, shop at the MILL CITY FARMERS MARKET (Saturday until 1pm), even tour the ST ANTHONY LOCK AND DAM. More ideas for fun with Dad? Arm yourself with our list of 10 Things for Kids: Stone Arch Bridge in MinneapolisFestival runs June 18-19, 2022 west bank of the river.

FREE admission For Dad (and Mom!) to Sandventure Aquatic Park

Parents Day means free admission with paid child(ren). The watepark is a hybrid between a pool and a beach – chlorinated, but surrounded by sand for the ultimate beach-going experience. Located in SHAKOPEE LIONS PARK. June 19, 2022.

Twisty Yellow Slide at Sandventure Aquatic Park, Shakopee Minnesota
Big kids will love the slide at SandVenture

More beach-going, splashy fun ideas can be found in our huge list of the best TWIN CITIES BEACHES, POOLS, WATERPARKS & SPLASH PADS.

Take Dad to a waterski show

Dad will flip for Ski Otter’s Water Ski Show located on Little Goose Lake – the intersection of Hwy. 61 and County Road F in White Bear Lake.  Make a day of it by exploring the charming downtown area. June 19, 2022.

Play a round in Centennial Lakes Park

Does Dad like to golf? Try out the “golf in miniature” fairways at beautiful CENTENNIAL LAKES PARK in Edina, then enjoy a Q. Cumbers Father’s Day Brunch at the buffet restaurant next to the park.

Find more fun mini-golf spots in the Twin Cities.

Putting Course at Centennial Lakes Park in Edina Minnesota
Centennial Lakes Putting Course

Take in free live music with Dad

There are free shows both Sat & Sun night at the LAKE HARRIET BANDSHELL as part of the traditional Minneapolis Music in the Parks series. Grab a picnic from Bread & Pickle at the pavilion and let the kids run around the playground during the show.

best minneapolis bike trails
Lake Harriet Park

Frontier Fun with Dad

Drop in with dad (and mom!) on Father’s Day to the historic Pond House in POND DAKOTA MISSION PARK in Bloomington. Saturday features a pollinator program and Father’s Day presents the annual John Philip Sousa Memorial Band Concert. June 18-19, 2022, 1-4pm, FREE.

Dads & Discs

One of my kids’ favorite things to do with their dad is to play disc golf (also known as frisbee golf). Their go-to course is the moderate (and free!) HIGHLAND DISC GOLF COURSE located in Highland Park, St Paul, but we’ve got more ideas on our Twin Cities Disc Golf page.

Father’s Day Geocaching

The naturalist at INTERSTATE STATE PARK will provide the GPS units and instructions before you head out to find hidden clues fathers of the animal world. Participation is limited for this activity, but if you don’t get a slot keep in mind that the park – and the lovely river town of Taylors Falls – are super fun to explore. In fact, it’s just about our favorite day trip destination from the Twin Cities. Check it out with Dad: TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN TAYLORS FALLS WITH KIDS.

Nurture with Nature – Free Family Fun Day

Activities may include animal interactions, outdoor displays, nature challenges and checking out free exploration materials. Held at RICHARDSON NATURE CENTER (Bloomington), MISSISSIPPI GATEWAY REGIONAL PARK (Brooklyn Park) & EASTMAN NATURE CENTER (Maple Grove). June 19, 1-3pm, FREE.

Take a family bike ride

We love to spin our wheels with Dad on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Need some ideas for a great new trail?

Find more of the best Twin Cities Ice Cream Shops to celebrate Dad with a sweet treat!

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY TO ALL THOSE RAD DADS OUT THERE FROM FAMILY FUN TWIN CITIES!

Twin Cities festivals this weekend for the family

Brooklyn Center: Juneteenth Festival

Centennial Park, 6301 Shingle Creek Parkway, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430
Celebration with live entertainment, food, vendors and activities for all ages. June 18, 2022.

Where else can your family celebrate? Try our roundup of TWIN CITIES JUNETEENTH CELEBRATIONS.

Cottage Grove: Strawberry Fest

Kingston Park, 9195 75th St S, Cottage Grove, MN 55016
So much to do at this summer festival: a car show, carnival, fireworks, petting farm, strawberry-pie eating contest and more fun. June 16-19, 2022.

Fridley: ’49er Days

Commons Park, 555 61st Avenue Northeast, Fridley, MN 55432
June 16-18, 2022

Minneapolis: Midsommar Celebration

American Swedish Institute, 2600 Park Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55407
Crafts, courtyard fun, dancing around Midsommar pole, concerts. June 18, 2022. $15 adult, $10 ages 62+, $6 ages 6-18 and students with ID.

St. Louis Park: Parktacular

Wolfe Park, 3700 Monterey Dr St. Louis Park, MN 55416
Grand Day Parade, concert, art hunt and expo. June 16-19, 2022.

Wolfe Park Playground
Image courtesy of City of St. Louis Park

White Bear Lake: Manitou Days

White Bear Lake, MN 55110
Activities this weekend at the festival include a beach dance, two parades, medallion hunt, sandcastle building contest, theater in the park, an airport open house and more. June 16-19, 2022.

June Festivals in the Twin Cities

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

Live theater in the park this weekend? Just add a picnic dinner and a blanket or camp chairs and you’re all set for a FREE night out with the family. Here’s the lineup:

Classical Actors Ensembles: Love’s Labor’s Lost

The family-friendly Shakespeare performance is presented twice this weekend at Minneapolis parks from 7-8pm. SATURDAY, JUNE 18 at Lake of the Isles Park, 2500 Lake of the Isles Pkwy E, Minneapolis, MN 55405 and SUNDAY, JUNE 19 at Matthews Park, 2318 29th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55406.

Eden Prairie Players Presents: Cinderella

Staring Lake Amphitheater, 14800 Pioneer Trail, Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55347
A fully staged live outdoor musical for the whole family. Children are invited to dress as their favorite fairytale characters. If they need to run off the wiggles, there’s a great playground next to the amphitheater.
June 18, 7pm & June 19, 6pm. FREE!

FEATURED TWIN CITIES  PARK EVENTS THIS WEEKEND

Meet the Farm Animals Walking Tour

The Landing, 2187 County Rd 101, Shakopee, MN 55379
Meet farm animals throughout the re-created historic village set along the Minnesota River. Reservations recommended. June 18, 1-2pm. $5/pp. There are also Village Sampler Tours at 10am & 3pm for the same price.
Find more family fun in Shakopee parks: 10 BEST PARKS IN SHAKOPEE, MINNESOTA.

Eco-tacular at Wolfe Park

3700 Monterey Drive, Saint Louis Park, MN
Part of the city’s Parktacular festival, this environmental-education event is particularly family-friendly and includes activities with WESTWOOD HILLS NATURE CENTER.

Cool off this weekend in the twin cities

As the line between late spring and early summer starts to melt away in the rising temps, 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 to see what’s already open OR skip to a few quick ideas here:

  • MINNEAPOLIS WADING POOLS NOT attached to a public school are now open. Many of them are no-frills with a standard depth of about 18″ but several have been updated with fun spray features and zero-depth entry. All are located adjacent to a playground, rest rooms and space to spread out with a picnic. And all are FREE! Find our complete list at the link.

  • BEST BEACHES IN THE TWIN CITIES: We include 20 on our list of the top beach picks in the Minneapolis-St Paul area including urban beaches and at least three in each corner of the metro area.

More things to do this weekend in the twin cities with kids

VISIT A SPRING FARMERS MARKET

PICTURE BOOKS ON PARADE AT MIDTOWN FARMERS MARKET

Picture Books on Parade presents a self-guided Story Stroll as you enter the Midtown Farmers Market. Each week will feature a new picture book by a local artist. June 18, 2022, 8am-12pm.

FIND MORE FRESH FUN AT FARMERS MARKETS ACROSS THE TWIN CITIES THIS SPRING!

Girl cooking with vegetables from the farmers market:

STORYTIME IN THE GALLERY

Museum of Russian Art, 5500 Stevens Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55419
Currently, the museum is offering a FREE Storytime in the Gallery the third Saturday of the month with no charge for adults to accompany their kids. Take home a copy of the story and explore the galleries with a scavenger hunt. June 18, 2022, 9:30-11am.

ALBERTVILLE TOUCH-A-TRUCK

Albertville Premium Outlets, 6415 Labeaux Ave NE Albertville, MN 55301
See school buses, a squad car and its K9 companion, a truck and trailer, a pay loader, a fire truck and an RV at this annual event. June 18, 2022, 10am-12pm.

Ramsey County Library Summer Reading Kickoff Events

New Brighton & NORTH ST PAUL

400 10th St NW, New Brighton, MN 55112
Get a load of the Mixed Nuts Comedy Show – age-appropriate humor, and  audience participation. June 18, 2022, 11am-12:30pm. Mixed Nuts will also perform at the NORTH ST PAUL LIBRARY from 1-3pm.

Shoreview

4560 Victoria St N, Shoreview, MN 55126
KidCreate Studio presents a dragon craft. June 18, 2022, 1-3pm.

always free or low cost things to do this weekend in the Twin Cities

Always free to visit weekends:

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