Things to do in Minneapolis & St Paul this weekend!
This June Twin Cities Family Weekend Guide covers the weekend of June 24-25, 2023. Find our most recent guide here. As always, you can check our JUNE FAMILY GUIDE, the ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SUMMER FUN IN THE TWIN CITIES or our FAMILY FUN CALENDAR for more fun ideas on what to do this weekend in the Twin Cities with your kids!
SUMMER FUN AT VALLEYFAIR!
STARTS THIS WEEKEND! Come to Valleyfair and experience how the world kicks up its heels at our larger-than-life, international celebration. Enjoy pulse pounding, high-energy live music, delicious food, lively games, and unique crafts. Take in the extravagant sights and sounds of our nighttime Spectacle of Color Parade, a glittering sensory spectacular of lavish floats, interactive street performers, and pulsing rhythms. As the parade concludes, thunderous music builds to a crescendo as we kick off a high-energy block party filled with animated entertainers, spirited dancing, and so much more. Grand Carnivale runs select dates June 24 – July 9.
Save on tickets at Valleyfair.com.
TWIN CITIES FESTIVALS THIS WEEKEND FOR THE FAMILY
AFTON: STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL
3418 St. Croix Trail South, Afton, MN 55001
Food, live music and fun activities for the entire family in Afton Town Square Park. For more strawberry fun, see below. All weekend, June 24-25, 2023.
Blaine: BLAINE FESTIVAL
Aquatore Park, 9191 Lincoln St NE, Blaine, MN 55434
Family beach party, carnival, petting zoo, dance party and parade. All weekend, June 24-25, 2023.
COLUMBIA HEIGHTS: JAMBOREE
Huset Park, 3965 Jefferson St NE, Columbia Heights, MN 55421
Jamboree, carnival and a parade. Fireworks on Saturday evening. Don’t forget swimsuits for the park’s splash pad! All weekend, June 24-25, 2023.
EAGAN: EAGAN ART FESTIVAL
1501 Central Parkway, Eagan Festival Grounds
Art for sale in all mediums, live entertainment and food for purchase. Another park, another great splash pad for the kids. All weekend, June 24-25, 2023.
FARMINGTON: DEW DAYS
Downtown Farmington, MN 55024
Tons of free family activities to celebrate summer at this festival. All weekend, June 24-25, 2023.
MINNETONKA: SUMMER FEST
Minnetonka Civic Center Campus, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd.
Inflatables, live music, food trucks and fireworks. All activities are free except food! 4pm-10:30pm. June 24, 2023.
OAKDALE: SUMMERFEST
Walton Park, 1584 Hadley Ave N, Oakdale MN
Live music, kids events, food trucks, parade & fireworks to cap off the summer festival. June 24, 2023.
RAMSEY: ELMCREST ART FAIR
Elmcrest Park, 16303 Quicksilver Street NW, Ramsey, MN 55303
Free family art sample classes plus live music, artist demos and a beautiful park and playground. June 24, 2023, 10am-4pm. FREE.
ROSEVILLE: ROSEFEST
Community theater in the park, a bonfire at Harriet Alexander Nature Center, Touch-a-Truck for kids and live music. All weekend, June 24-25, 2023.
SOUTH ST PAUL: KAPOSIA DAYS
Parade, Kaposia Kids Stuff, kids fishing clinic, kite fly, pancake breakfast and fireworks. All weekend, June 24-25, 2023.
ST PAUL: TWIN CITIES JAZZ FESTIVAL
Mears Park, 221 5th St E, St Paul, MN 55101
Free live jazz shows, perfect for a summer evening. There are two outdoor stages at Mears Park and one outdoor stage next to the Farmers Market. June 24, 2023.
Plan ahead for fun-filled family festivals in the Twin Cities with our complete June festival HERE.
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
Saturday Mornings on Gale Woods Farm
7210 County Rd 110 W, Minnetrista, MN 55364
You’re invited to visit the animals and explore the barn, gardens, greenhouses and pastures. Reservations recommended. June 24, 2023, 9:30am-12pm, $6/pp. Learn more about a visit to GALE WOODS FARM with kids.
Live theater, music & movies 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:
Minneapolis Music & Movies in the Park
- MOVIE IN THE PARK: Jurassic World Dominion at Lyndale Farmstead Park. June 24, 2023, pm. 3900 Bryant Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55409.
- MUSIC IN THE PARK: Performed at the Lake Harriet Park Bandshell. June 25, 2023, 2 & 5:30pm. 4135 W Lake Harriet Parkway, Minneapolis MN 55409.
Classical Actors Ensembles: Much Ado About Nothing
The family-friendly Shakespeare performance is presented twice this weekend at Minneapolis parks from 7-8pm. SATURDAY, JUNE 24 at Lake of the Isles Park, 2500 Lake of the Isles Pkwy E, Minneapolis, MN 55405 and SUNDAY, JUNE 25 at Cedar Lake East Beach, 2000 S Upton Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55405.
Eden Prairie Players Presents: The Addams Family – A Musical Comedy
Staring Lake Amphitheater, 14800 Pioneer Trail, Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55347
A fully staged live outdoor musical for the whole family. If kids need to run off the wiggles, there’s a great playground next to the amphitheater. June 24 & 25, 2023, 7pm. FREE!
Arts Garden Community Theater Presents: Bye Bye Birdie
Central Park Amphitheater, 2540 Lexington Ave N, Roseville, MN 55113
Classic, funny and family-friendly, filled with music and dancing. June 24, 2023, 3 & 7pm. FREE.
Find our complete calendar of kid and family-friendly summer concerts & entertainment in Twin Cities parks!
FEATURED TWIN CITIES PARK EVENTS THIS WEEKEND
Living History Open House at Gideon Pond House
Pond Dakota Mission Park, 401 East 104th Street, Bloomington, MN
Tour the historic home on what would be the owner’s 213th birthday – complete with treats and old fashioned games. June 24, 2023, drop in from 1-4pm. FREE, donations appreciated.
Borrow a Bike at Keller Regional Park
2166 Maplewood Drive, Maplewood, MN 55109
The park will have bikes available to borrow in a variety of styles and sizes. June 24, 2023, 11am-5pm. FREE.
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. Find our list of the best Twin Cities Nature Playgrounds.
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 or continue for a few ideas:
Featured Minneapolis wading pool: North Mississippi Regional Park
Minneapolis wading pools are fun, free and some are splash and elaborate. Find our complete list at the link. This weekend we’re highlighting the wading pool at NORTH MISSISSIPPI REGIONAL PARK. The splashy wading pool is beautiful and there is a changing building onsite. The Nature Play Area and Adventure Trail opened in 2021. 5114 North Mississippi Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55430.
Featured Twin Cities beach: Long Lake Regional Park, New Brighton
We include our family favorites in our list of 25+ BEACHES, PARKS & PLAYGROUNDS TO TRY THIS SUMMER. Last weekend my kids hit up LONG LAKE REGIONAL PARK BEACH – a sandy winner. 1500 Old Highway 8 New Brighton, MN 55112.
Featured Twin Cities splash pad: Huset Park, 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 THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND IN THE TWIN CITIES WITH KIDS
Pick-your-own strawberries
Did you know that June is typically a spectacular month for strawberries in Minnesota? AFTON APPLE ORCHARD has a sweet strawberry patch that we visit every couple years to pick our own. There are farm animals to greet and plenty of photo opps, too. Find more of the BEST STRAWBERRY PATCHES IN MINNESOTA TO PICK YOUR OWN.
Fun cultural events
Midsommardagen at Gammelgarden Museum
Gammelgarden Museum, 20880 Olinda Trail N, Scandia, MN 55073
Traditional Swedish music and dances celebrate the long days of summer! Building Tours are FREE. Kids will delight in searching out the colorful Swedish Dala horses around the property. For a fee, you can tack on a Swedish smorgasboard for lunch. June 24, 2023, 10am-4pm.
ALWAYS FREE OR LOW COST THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND IN THE TWIN CITIES
Como Harbor at Como Park Zoo & Conservatory
The seals at Como Zoo got a beautifully updated habitat a couple years ago – come see them swim in their underwater viewing area! We visited last week and loved it. While you’re at the zoo, catch the Sparky the Sea Lion show!
Always free to visit weekends: