Things to do in Minneapolis & St Paul this weekend!
This Twin Cities Family Weekend Guide covers the weekend of September 2-4, 2023 – Labor Day Weekend. Find our most recent guide here.
This weekend is the second (and final) of the 2023 MINNESOTA STATE FAIR. If you’re pondering a visit with your family we have some ideas for having a great time with the family. If you’re waiting until next year, we hope you’ll check back with us when it rolls around again. And if you’ve never been a fan of the Fair, we have plenty of other ideas for this weekend. You can always consult our SEPTEMBER FAMILY GUIDE, our ULTIMATE GUIDE TO FALL FUN IN THE TWIN CITIES or our fully-stocked FAMILY FUN CALENDAR for more last-chance summer fun ideas on what to do this weekend in the Twin Cities with your kids!
Looking for ideas on what to do with your kids in the Twin Cities this week? Definitely jump over to our TWIN CITIES GUIDE TO FAMILY ACTIVITIES THIS WEEK.
GOING TO THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR?
We’ve got a MINNESOTA STATE FAIR FAMILY GUIDE for you bursting with tips and our picks for the best FREE family entertainment on the Fairgrounds. Skip to our quicklinks:
- Minnesota State Fair 2023: 20 Ideas for Free Family Fun
- Best Bets for Live Family Entertainment at the 2023 Minnesota State Fair
- 50 Things To Do For Families at the Minnesota State Fair
MORE TWIN CITIES FESTIVALS THIS WEEKEND FOR THE FAMILY
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 the parks.
SOME FUN FAMILY IDEAS FOR THIS WEEKEND
Try a story trail in the park
Lebanon Hills Regional Park, 860 Cliff Rd, Eagan, MN 55123
Here’s what I find so cool about the Story Trail program, which unites the classic indoor-outdoor summer activities of reading a book and park-going: it turns us on to new (to us) authors and takes us to parks not normally on our radar. This weekend, try the trail at Lake McDonough. Our family also enjoys hiking the 2 mile or so trail around Jensen Lake and splashing at Schulze Lake Beach. September 2-4, 2023, 8am-8pm. FREE.
FEATURED TWIN CITIES PARK EVENTS THIS WEEKEND
Saturday Morning on Gale Woods Farm
GALE WOODS FARM invites you and your kids to visit the animals and explore the barn, gardens, greenhouses and pastures. Drop in from 9:30am-12pm, tickets available at the door. September 2, 2023, $6/pp.
Free Family Fun Days with Three Rivers Parks
Drop in for free nature programs at the following Twin Cities parks this weekend: EASTMAN NATURE CENTER (Maple Grove), RICHARDSON NATURE CENTER (Bloomington) and MISSISSIPPI GATEWAY REGIONAL PARK (Brooklyn Park). New themes each week. September 3, 2023, 1-3pm.
Pond Dakota Mission Park Living History Open House
401 E 104th St, Bloomington, MN 55420
Hands-on living history programs fun and free of charge located in POND DAKOTA MISSION PARK in Bloomington. This weekend, learn to write with a quill pen and take tours of the historic home. September 2, 2023, 1-4pm. FREE admission.
Monarch Tapestry Project with Art Start
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, 3815 American Blvd E, Bloomington
All-ages event with activities such as monarch tagging and art-making with ArtStart. Plus, the visitor center has interesting nature exhibits and the surrounding outdoor trails are lovely to hike (if a bit challenging). September 2, 2023, 2-4pm. FREE.
VISIT A TWIN CITIES APPLE ORCHARD THIS WEEKEND
It’s all about apples here in the Twin Cities during the month of September. Local orchards are open for business, many with special apple festivals and events going on to tickle the taste buds. Find our complete guide to FAMILY FRIENDLY TWIN CITIES APPLE ORCHARDS or see our weekend picks below:
Twin Cities apple orchards opening Labor Day weekend
Fall Harvest Orchard
345 County Rd 30 SE, Montrose, MN 55363
Fall Harvest Orchard has those alluring corn pits and stacks of tractor tires to play in, a field for tetherball and disc golf and, for a small fee, wagon rides, train rides and a corn maze. Of course, you can pick you own apples as well. Always call ahead to check the picking schedule. Open Labor Day weekend, 10am-6pm.
Apple Jack Orchards
Saturday is Fun Farm opening day! Weekend admission offers two options ($10 or $20 wristbands) each with a number of classic fall activities included – think jumping pillows, a cow train an apple cannon and much more. Pick-your-own apples for a sweet, early fall treat. 10am-5pm.
MORE IDEAS FOR THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND IN THE TWIN CITIES WITH KIDS
Free museum visits for families
Take advantage of FREE admission this weekend at some super kid-friendly museums in the Twin Cities (yes, this means your kids can touch things!):
First Free Saturday at Walker Art Center
725 Vineland Pl, Minneapolis, MN 55403
Free gallery admission for the whole family every first Saturday of the month. This month’s theme is So Long, Summer. Don’t forget to explore the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. September 2, 2023, 10am-3pm.
First Free Sunday at Minnesota Children’s Museum
Free days are BACK at the museum and we’re super excited about it! Explore the exhibits, including your last chance to visit Emotions at Play (based on Pixar’s film Inside Out) admission-free the first Sunday of each month thanks to Securian Financial. September 3, 2023.
Family Fun at Schubert Club Music Museum
Landmark Center, 75 5th St E, St Paul, MN 55102
Experiment with dozens of instruments from around the world. Get your hands on keyboards, drums and other interactive exhibits. We visited the newly remodeled space last summer and really enjoyed it. Free activities, snacks and prizes in the gallery every Saturday. September 2, 2023, 10am-2pm. Admission is always FREE!
Bruentrup Heritage Farm
2170 County Rd D E, Maplewood, MN 55109
The historic farm is open the first Sunday of the month through October. You can typically tour the farmhouse and hands-on exhibits and see an antique firetruck. September 3, 2023. FREE.
More ideas for Labor Day Weekend in the Twin Cities with kids
It’s last call for summer this weekend! Perhaps a few ideas on this list will inspire you to close it out in style?
Always free to visit weekends:
