38 Family-Friendly Twin Cities Spring & Summer Farmers Markets

Girl cooking with vegetables from the farmers market: "Kid-Friendly Farmers Markets to Visit in Spring & Summer"

April’s arrival means it’s time to start dreaming about farmers market season! How much more fun does it sound to bring your kids along to one of these family-friendly Twin Cities Farmers Markets as opposed to dragging them to the local supermarket? Bonus that most of these markets offer entertainment, kids activities and food trucks. Most are also located near other fun attractions, so you can make a day of your marketing. Find a nearby farmers market in Minneapolis, Saint Paul or the surrounding metro area.

If you want to get started early, check the links. Many of these markets are open year round with monthly indoor winter markets.

baby with hat in a bucket doing Giliane Mansfeldt Photo shoot

Mother's Day Photo Mini Sessions

It's mini session season!!
Mini sessions are in full swing at our studio park location in Saint Paul, MN on Saturday, May 6 and Saturday, May 13.
Enjoy a 20-minute session and get 10 digital images all for $250 (valued at $500). Don’t miss out on this amazing deal! If you’re ready to have some fun with your family and capture lasting memories, book now!

The Power of Produce Club for Kids ("POP")

Many of the markets listed below participate in the Power of Produce Club (POP). This program started in Oregon City in 2011 and quickly spread to Farmers Markets around the country. Kids who sign up for the program receive a starter pack (usually things like a passport book, shopping bag, buttons, etc.) They then receive a weekly voucher to buy produce at the market (Minneapolis is monthly). Most of the participating markets give a $2.00 voucher with each visit. Each market sets its own age guidelines for participation. Learn more about POP here and look for it at your favorite market.

Our Top 10 Twin Cities Farmers Markets for Families

Here are 10+ fresh picks we chose based on their appeal to the whole family. Besides locally-grown produce these markets carry artisan cheeses, honey, jellies & jams, pickles and spices. You’ll also find baked goods like pastries, cookies and pies and meat like farm raised pork, poultry and beef. You will even find handmade products like jewelry, body care products and artwork.

Each market is listed by their outdoor opening date:

Location: Downtown St. Paul, 290 East 5th Street, St Paul, MN 55101
Opening Day: 2024 TBA
Hours: Sat, 7am-1pm & Sun, 8am-1pm.
Family Fun: Fun kids activities throughout the year. Opening day features kids crafts and FREE yoga.
Make a Day: Shoppers can combine a trip with a Sunday Saints home game or walk down to the Mississippi and watch trains outside of Union Depot.
More Locations/Hours: Saint Paul Farmers Market manages more locations & hours across the Metro – including Apple Valley, Burnsville, Inver Grove Heights, Lakeville, Maplewood, Rosemount, Roseville, Savage, Vadnais Heights, Woodbury and more. Be spontaneous! Pick any day of the week, except Monday, and find a market location to visit.

A girl and boy posing in their Saint Paul Saints gear at a game at CHS Field in Saint Paul, MInnesota
Pair a Sunday market visit with a Sunday game

Main Location: 750 S 2nd St, Minneapolis, MN 55401
Opening Day: May 4, 2024
Hours: Saturdays, May-September, 8am-1pm.
Family Fun: On the second and fourth Saturdays of each months, Kids can participate in POP, sample the vegetable of the month and earn a $2 token. Storytime with the Guthrie will be on the second Saturday of the month this year. There will be live chef demos with seasonal recipes on weeks that POP is not offered.
Make a Day: This is our favorite farmers market to hit up in the Minneapolis-St Paul area because of the easy walk to so many family attractions. After you shop, you’re only steps from the super kid-friendly Mill City Museum. Or, if you’d rather stay outdoors, my kids enjoy crossing the Mississippi River at the Stone Arch Bridge and exploring Mill Ruins Park (located below street level). For the best view of St Anthony Falls, try stopping in at the St Anthony Falls Lock and Dam Visitor Center. Open during the summer months, tours and admission to the indoor exhibits are free. You’ll want to check the website for the most updated operating hours.

Two girls sampling strawberries at the Mill City Farmers Market in Downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota
Pair a Sunday market visit with a Sunday game

Location: Market Square Park, 2225 Lake Street E., Minneapolis, MN 55407 (where the light rail meets Lake Street)
Opening Day: 2024 TBA
Hours: Saturdays May-October, 8am-1pm; Tuesdays June-September 3pm-7pm and 3pm-6pm in October.
Family Fun: Live music, children’s educational activities and storytime, advice and demonstrations for cooking, gardening and composting. In 2022-23, Picture Books offered a new book on Parade every weekend.
Make a Day: Bike there. You can take the Midtown Greenway bike route – one of our favorite Minneapolis bike trails.

best minneapolis bike trails
Pair a Sunday market visit with a Sunday game

Location: Veterans Park, 64th Street & Portland Ave S, Richfield 55423
Opening Day: May 4, 2024. Runs through October 26, 2024.
Hours: Saturdays, 7am-noon through August; 8am-12pm Sept-mid-October.

Family Fun: Join POP, where kids ages 4-12 and teens 13-17 receive a voucher to pick out a fruit or veggie to try each week. There is usually plenty for families to enjoy at the market in addition to perusing the produce, including art programs, story times, live music and more.
Make a Day: The Richfield Farmers Market is held in the same park as the Wheel Fun Rentals 18-hole mini golf course and malt shop. Kids will have a ball, plus there’s a large playground at Veterans Park.

Location: Maple Grove Community Center, 12951 Weaver Lake Road, Maple Grove, MN 55369
Opening Day: 2024 TBA
Hours: Thursdays, 3-7pm through mid-October.
Family Fun: Rock the Market offers weekly live music by local musicians, POP starts in June for kids ages 4 to 12 (learn more here), and seasonal activities round out the fresh local offerings at various booths.
Make a Day: The Maple Grove Community Center, Maple Grove Library and Town Green Park all interconnect through easy walking paths. Maple Maze Indoor Playground is open until 8pm on Thursdays. Or visit all our favorite Maple Grove Parks.

Children playing music on the music playground at Town Green Park, Maple Grove, Minnesota
Explore Nearby Town Green Park

Location: 629 NE 2nd St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413
Opening Day: May 11, 2024
Hours: Saturdays, 9am-1pm through October 12th, 2024
Family Fun: A children’s tent is typically stocked weekly 9am-1pm with educational market activities such as seed planting, food-themed art projects, storytime and more. Live music also accompanies the bountiful food from local growers and handcrafted items. POP club for kids.
Make a Day: Visit Dickman Park (across the street from the market), drive a little further to Boom Island Park, or go on a family bowling date at Elsie’s.

Boom Island Lighthouse
Walk a few blocks to Boom Island Park

Location: 4901 Chowen Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55410 
Opening Day: May 18, 2024
Hours:  8:30am – 12:30pm
Family Fun: Local businesses traditionally take turns sponsoring children’s crafts each week — in past years kids painted, made sand art, and designed and pressed their own buttons. Past entertainment has included storytime and magic shows. Plus, what kid can resist samples?
Make a Day: Cross the street to play at Pershing Field Park or drive to nearby Lake Harriet for a day on the lake.

Two girls watching sailboats as they eat Rootbeer Floats from The Bread & Pickle at Lake Harriet Park in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Visit nearby Lake Harriet

Location: Eagan Central Park Festival Grounds, 1507 Central Pkwy, Eagan, MN 55121
Opening Day: 2024 TBA
Hours: Wednesdays, 4-8pm thru September.
Family Fun: Join the Kids POP Club for weekly activities with kids ages 4-12 and their adult. Enjoy weekly concerts; get the full lineup of entertainment here.
Make a Day: Central Park is home to a full day of fun – visit Core Valley Fitness Playground, run through the splash pad or visit The Blast Indoor Playground, located within the Eagan Community Center.

Natural Balance Beams - Core Valley Fitness Playground, Eagan Central Park, Minnesota
Natural Balance Beams at Core Valley Fitness Park in Eagan's Central Park

Location: Centennial Lakes Park, 7499 France Ave. S. Edina, MN 55435
Opening Day: June 6, 2024
Hours: Thursdays, 3-7pm thru October 3, 2024
Make a Day: There are 10 acres of kid-friendly space to explore within Centennial Lakes Park. Kids ages 8+ might enjoy the obstacles on the 18-hole putting course, younger kids may get a kick out of renting a paddleboat or seeking out the labyrinth. Arrive a little early to attend Children’s Concerts at 11am. Thursday evenings also play host to a radio-controlled miniature boat club and Movies in the Park begin at sunset.

Kids posing with "The Glamorous Days of Flight," public art at Centennial Lakes Park in Edina, Minnesota
Centennial Lakes Park

Location: Frogtown Farm Park, 946 Minnehaha Ave W., St Paul, MN 55104
Opening Day: 2024 TBA
Hours: Saturdays 9am-1pm
Family Fun: Volunteer on the farm on Saturday mornings. Outdoor kitchens host cooking demos and there are other activities that appeal to kids, including tokens to spend at vendors. A playground incorporating natural materials and lots of green space is onsite for wiggly ones.

Volunteer teaching about gardening at Frogtown Farm Park in Saint Paul, Minnesota
A variety of classes are hosted during the growing season.

28 More Twin Cities Farmers Markets

1. Big Red Barn Farmers Market

Bruentrup Heritage Farm, 2170 County Road D East, Maplewood MN 55109
Sundays, 9am-1pm June 2, 2024 through September. Family fun: Participates in POP, museum exhibits and free kids crafts and lawn games. Check Maplewood Historical Society’s calendar for coinciding special events.

2. Bloomington Farmers Market

Bloomington Civic Plaza, 1800 W Old Shakopee Rd, Bloomington, MN 55431
Saturdays, 8am-1pm; June 8 – October 12, 2024. Family fun: Kids ages 5-12 can participate in the POP Club. Need some indoor time? Visit the Bloomington Center for the Arts galleries for a short art break.

3. Bongards Market

St. John’s United Church, 12984 County Rd 51, Norwood Young America, MN 55368
Participates in POP. “On average, a family with 3 children in the program save approximately $100 on fruits and vegetables throughout the summer.” Wednesdays, 3-6pm, Early June to Late September.

4. Brooklyn Park Farmers Market

North Hennepin Community College, Parking Lot off of West Broadway, 7411 85th Ave N., Brooklyn Park, MN 55445
Wednesdays, 1-6pm, July 10-October 9, 2024. 

5. Buffalo Farmers’ Market

100 1st Ave NE, Buffalo, MN 55313
Saturdays, 8am-12pm, early May through October. Participates in POP.

6. Carver Farmers Market

Carver Station, 607 Hartwell Drive, Carver, MN 55318
Tuesdays, 3pm-6pm, Mid-July through September.

7. Champlin Farmers Market

Mississippi Crossing, Champlin, 307 East River Parkway, Champlin, MN 55316
Tuesdays, 2-6pm, July 9-October 8, 2024.

8. Chanhassen Farmers Market

7700 Market Blvd. City Center Park, Chanhassen MN
Saturdays, 9am-1pm, earlt June through October.

9. Crystal Farmers Market

Becker Park, 5530 Douglas Dr N, Crystal, MN 55429
Tuesdays, June 11-September 24, 2024 from 3-7pm. Participates in POP! Weekly performers, food trucks, community information and local authors. Hip Hop Dance Fitness in the park at 6:15pm, June through mid-August. Located at the newly renovated Becker Park, combine it with a playground visit.

10. Delano’s Farmers Market

8045 County Line Rd SE, Delano, MN 55328
Wednesdays, 2pm-6pm; early May through October.

11. Downtown Chaska Farmers’ Market

City Square Park, 300 N Chestnut Street, Chaska, MN 55318
Wednesdays, 3pm-6pm; Mid June through early September.

12. Elk River Farmers Market

Park Plaza Parking lot, 716 Main Street, Elk River, MN 55330
Thursdays, 3pm-7pm; June 13-October 10, 2024. PoP for kids ages 3-12 begins mid-July. 

13. Franconia Art & Farmers Market

Franconia Sculpture Park, 29836 St Croix Trail N, Shafer, MN 55074
First Sundays, May-October, 10am-2pm. Shop local produce and handmade crafts. Explore the park and maybe catch a concert.

14. Gale Woods Saturday Farm Market

Gale Woods Farm, 7210 County Road 110 West, Minnetrista, MN 55364
Saturdays 9am-12:30pm; mid-June thru October. Make a day of it by participating in a Gale Woods Farm Activity.

15. Golden Valley – Market in the Valley

7800 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley, MN 55427 
Note: This is about a mile away from the Brookview Community Center where winter markets are held. Sundays, 9am-1pm, Mid-June through Mid-October.

16. Hopkins Farmers Market

Downtown Park, 16 9th Avenue S., Hopkins, MN 55343
Saturdays, 7:30am-Noon, Mid-June through October. Combine this visit with a walking tour of Hopkins ArtStreet.

17. Lake Elmo Farmer’s Market

Lake Elmo Elementary School 11030 Stillwater Blvd N Lake Elmo, MN 55042
Saturdays, 9am-1pm, Mid-June through September (Labor Day weekend). Family Fun: Stop by the Youth Entrepreneurs Booth to support fundraisers, youth farmers, and kidpreneuers.

18. Lyndale Market

312 East Lyndale Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55405
Open Saturdays 6am-Noon, May through October. Family Fun: There is a picnic area with tables located near the women’s restrooms.

19. Minnetonka Farmers Market

Ridgedale Commons, 12590 Ridgedale Drive, Minnetonka, MN 55305
Tuesdays, 2-6pm, June 4 – October 1, 2024. Family Fun: Live music, community booths and free kids activities each week. Kids between the ages of 4 and 17 can sign up for POP to receive a $2 voucher each week.

20. Mound Farmers Market

5515 Shoreline Drive, Mound, MN 55364
Saturdays, 8am-12:30pm, Late May through October. Family Fun: Bring your bikes to ride the Dakota Rail Trail.

21. New Brighton Farmers Market

New Brighton Community Center, 400 10th Street NW New Brighton, MN 55112
Wednesdays, 3-7pm, early June through October. Family Fun: Pair this shopping trip with a visit to
 The Eagle’s Nest Indoor Playground.

22. Plymouth Farmers Market

15500 County Rd 6, Plymouth, MN 55447
Wednesdays, 2:30-6:30 pm, June 26 through October 2, 2024
. Family Fun: Musical performances, children’s activities and theme nights are held throughout the season.

23. Prior Lake Market

16228 Main Ave SE, Prior Lake MN 55372
Saturdays 1am-Noon, early May through October. Family Fun: Children’s events, yoga, food trucks, live music, organic coffee.

24. Robbinsdale Farmers Market

Lakeview Terrace Park, 3769 Crystal Lake Blvd, Robbinsdale, MN 55422
Saturdays, 9am to Noon. Begins mid-June.  Family Fun: This park has a playground and a large picnic area. Make it a play date and picnic.

25. Shoreview Farmers Market

4580 Victoria St N, Shoreview MN 55126
Tuesdays, 3pm-7pm, early June through mid-October. Family Fun: Visit the Shoreview Community Center‘s Indoor Playground or Waterpark or Play outdoors at Shoreview Commons Park.

26. Stevens Square Farmers Market

1900 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403
Wednesdays, 2pm-6pm, begins late June.

27. Stillwater Farmers Market

3rd & Pine Street, Stillwater Minnesota 55082
Saturdays, 7:30am-Noon. Runs June to October. Family Fun: Cross the street to visit the
 Historic Courthouse and go on a scavenger hunt, play dress up, create a comic strip and visit the children’s corner.

28. Victoria Farmers’ Market

ENKI Brewing, 1495 Stieger Lake Lane, Victoria, MN 55386
Thursdays, 3pm-6pm. early July through late September.


We would love to hear from you.  What are your favorite Twin Cities Farmers Markets? Leave us a comment and we’ll share with our community.

Minneapolis Park Markets

Black Market at the Commons on Wednesdays from 11am-3pm

This year, Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board is launching “Park Markets” in some favorite Minneapolis Parks each week from the first week of June through the last week of August.

Sundays 

Lake Harriet Park, 4135 W Lake Harriet Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55409
Combine this with a
Summer Concert at 2 or 5pm. Market runs 2:30-6:30 pm.

Wednesdays

The Commons, 425 Portland Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55488
This market will feature local black entrepreneurs from 11am to 3pm.

Market Square Park, 2225 Lake Street E., Minneapolis, MN 55407
This newest Minneapolis park has a small play structure and also hosts the Midtown Farmers Market. Wednesdays 3-7pm.

Fridays

Water Works, 425 W River Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55401
Featuring wares from Indigenous artists and vendors from 10am-2pm. Combine this with a walk through
Mill Ruins Park.

Minnehaha Park, 4801 South Minnehaha Park Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55417
This market overlooks Minnehaha Falls and runs from 4-8pm.

Share Your Favorites

Do you have a favorite we missed or a favorite thing to do at any farmers market? Leave us a comment and we'll share with the community.

4 thoughts on “38 Family-Friendly Twin Cities Spring & Summer Farmers Markets”

  1. The Brooklyn Park Farmers Market runs Wednesdays from 1-6 p.m., starting July 10 to October 09 in 2024 and will be located in the North Hennepin Community College parking lot again this year.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top