What’s Open Easter Sunday in the Twin Cities? While most places are open on Saturday, a lot of places close on Sunday this weekend. However, if you don’t have to be stuck at home, there are several family-friendly things to do. Whether you are entertaining and want to show your guests around town, or it’s just your family on Sunday, we have some ideas for you.
The following is a list of things we’ve found that are open on Easter Sunday in the Minneapolis-St Paul metro area.
FREE & OPEN EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 9, 2023
For some FREE family fun, check out any of these ideas:
- COMO PARK ZOO & CONSERVATORY is free and open 365 days a year. Reservations are required at this time. It is open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. I have gone on Easter, and it can be very busy. The shuttles are not running yet, so you will want to come early or expect to spend some time finding parking and walking from the lot to the zoo.
- MINNEAPOLIS INSTITUTE OF ART is open Easter Sunday and FREE, though you will need to reserve tickets if you’re interested in the exhibition, “Eternal Offerings: Chinese Ritual Bronzes.” (This exhibit may be of more interest to adults and older kids, but there are several family-friendly elements to the MIA.)
- EASTMAN NATURE CENTER is hosting a free Eco-Art Party on Easter Sunday from 1-3pm. The nature center is just one element of fun within the sprawling ELM CREEK PARK RESERVE (Maple Grove area) – you can also find smooth bike trails, a boardwalk, nature play area and a historic site..
- MISSISSIPPI GATEWAY REGIONAL PARK‘s ambassador reptiles and amphibians will be ready to greet visitors to the Visitor Center between 1pm and 3pm. Mississippi Gateway Regional Park is in Brooklyn Park and has a small nature play area and access to the Coon Rapids Dam for viewing of the Mississippi River.
- RICHARDSON NATURE CENTER Free Family Fun Day will explore Bird Nests & Eggs on Easter from 1-3pm. The nature center is is located in HYLAND LAKE PARK RESERVE in Bloomington, which also has a disc golf course and hiking trails.
- LOWRY NATURE CENTER will provide Springtime Scavenger Hunt sheets to visitors who drop in to chat with a naturalist and meet the animal ambassadors between 1pm and 3pm. Your family can trek through CARVER PARK RESERVE in Victoria searching for signs of spring.
- GALLERIA “WORLD OF WONDER”. This is the last day to see the Bachman’s spring floral experience at the Galleria Edina. Sunday | 11am to 6pm.
Will Three Rivers Park System’s Play Areas be open on time for Easter?
It depends on the amount of snow on the ground. Three Rivers staff inspect the play structures for any safety concerns every year prior to re-opening in the Spring. This page lists open and closed playgrounds.
SPECIAL OUTINGS – OPEN EASTER SUNDAY
If you have family visiting or you just want to make the day special, you may want to choose one of these special outings on Easter Sunday.
- Minnesota Landscape Arboretum – $15/Ages 16+; kids 15 and under FREE. Ticket reservation required.
- Science Museum of Minnesota. $29.95/Ages 18+; $19.95/Ages 4-17. Reserve tickets in advance online, by phone, or in-person during museum hours.
- Walker Art Center. Adults $15; kids FREE. This is also a Sensory Friendly Sunday: From 8am-11am persons with sensory processing differences, autism or developmental disabilities and their families can visit FREE during this monthly event.
- The Minnesota Zoo. $19.95/Adults; $13.95/Kids.
- Sun Ray Lakes Bowling Alley. Open 3pm-11pm Easter Sunday. Online reservations are encouraged.