Things to do in the Twin Cities Northeast Metro this weekend – with kids & family!
This Weekend Family Guide includes events and activities near the Twin Cities, Minnesota, communities of Blaine, Centerville, Forest Lake, Fridley, Hugo, Lino Lakes, Maplewood, Mounds View, New Brighton, Roseville, Oakdale, Scandia, Shoreview, Spring Lake Park, St Anthony, Stillwater, Vadnais Heights & White Bear Lake.
This guide covers the weekend of August 15-16, 2026. Not finding the city you’re searching for? We also cover fun family events in the areas of:
Twin Cities Northeast Metro events for families
Monday, August 17, 2026
⚈ 10:00 am - 11:00 am: Oakdale Library Storytime (FREE) - Oakdale Library, Oakdale⚈ 10:30 am - 11:00 am: Shoreview Family Storytime (FREE) - Shoreview Library, Shoreview
⚈ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm: Fridley Community Concert (FREE) - Moore Lake Park, Fridley
Tuesday, August 18, 2026
⚈ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm: Rookery Tot Time - The Rookery Activity Center, Lino Lakes⚈ 9:30 am - 10:30 am: Battle Creek Waterpark Tot Tuesday - Battle Creek Regional Park, Maplewood
⚈ 10:00 am - 10:30 am: Hardwood Creek Library Storytime (FREE) - Hardwood Creek Library, Forest Lake
⚈ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm: Hardwood Teen Art Cart (FREE) - Hardwood Creek Library, Forest Lake
⚈ 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Fridley Touch-A-Truck (FREE) - Fridley Civic Campus, Fridley
Wednesday, August 19, 2026
⚈ 9:00 am - 11:00 am: Arden Hills Park Pals Playdates (FREE) - Arden Hills parks (see link), Arden Hills⚈ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Roseville Touch-a-Truck (FREE) - Central Park – Dale St. Athletic Fields, Roseville
⚈ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm: Maplewood Celebrate Summer - Edgerton Park, Maplewood
⚈ 6:00 pm - 6:30 pm: Shoreview Family Storytime (FREE) - Shoreview Library, Shoreview
⚈ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm: Columbia Heights Music In the Park (FREE) - Huset Park, Columbia Heights
⚈ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm: Silverwood OnStage (FREE) - Silverwood Park, St. Anthony
Thursday, August 20, 2026
⚈ 10:00 am - 6:00 pm: Applecrest Orchard: Apples & Kids Crafts - Applecrest Orchards, HugoSummer is winding down in the Twin Cities
But there’s still time to check our AUGUST FAMILY GUIDE, our 2026 ULTIMATE TWIN CITIES SUMMER FUN GUIDE or our FAMILY FUN CALENDAR for more fun ideas on what to do this weekend in the Twin Cities with your kids!
Twin Cities festivals this weekend for the family – Northeast Metro
There’s an explosion of festivals across communities in the Twin Cities Northeast Metro this weekend! Plan ahead for the last of the Minnesota summer festivals, including the great MINNESOTA STATE FAIR, in our TWIN CITIES AUGUST FESTIVAL GUIDE.
LINO LAKES Blue Heron Days
Family-friendly weekend activities at the festival include free open swimming at the Rookery from noon-7pm and the Blue Heron Days Parade. Sunday brings the annual WALDOCH FARM corn feed on Sunday (more below). August 15-16, 2026.
NORTH HUDSON Pepper Fest
Jump across the border for a Wisconsin festival in North Hudson. Pepper Fest celebrates the city’s Italian roots with a carnival, games, and a Grand Parade. $4-$5/button for events. August 15-16, 2026.
VADNAIS HEIGHTS Days
Community Park, 641 E County Road F, Vadnais Heights, MN 55127
Saturday is Kids Day from 11am-1pm in the park with activities, art and free inflatables. Fireworks & parade are both on Saturday. August 15, 2026.
Cool off this weekend in the Twin Cities Northeast Metro
There are still plenty of splash spots open for a few more weeks (especially beaches – typically through Labor Day) so go ahead and browse the finds in our complete TWIN CITIES ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THE BEST BEACHES, POOLS, WATERPARKS & SPLASH PADS or continue for more ideas:
Featured Twin Cities Northeast Metro beach
NEW BRIGHTON Long Lake Regional Park
1500 Old Highway 8. New Brighton, MN 55112
Gianna’s family loves this beach for its huge, grassy picnic area because, as she puts it, “that means there’s less sand on your towels and blankets!” (And probably less ends up in your food, too.) To round out a day at the park there are playgrounds, a bike trail, splash pad and the NEW BRIGHTON HISTORY CENTER, housed in a charming restored train depot open weekends, June-September, 1-4pm.
Fun activities in the Twin Cities Northeast Metro parks this weekend
The following is just a sampling of all we’re keeping track of 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 Northeast Metro parks. Here’s where you can find some fun in the parks this weekend.
MAPLEWOOD Borrow a Bike at Keller Regional Park
2166 Maplewood Dr, Maplewood, MN, 55109
Ramsey County Parks & Recreation will have bikes available to borrow in a variety of styles and sizes. Try one at KELLER REGIONAL PARK in Maplewood. You can pedal your way along the shore of Keller Lake or take the connecting trail over to PHALEN REGIONAL PARK and visit the beach, splash pad or lovely China Friendship Garden. August 15, 2026, 1-4pm. FREE.
ROSEVILLE Live at the Rog Performance Series
2540 Lexington Ave. North, Roseville MN 55113
FINAL SUNDAY! Roseville’s CENTRAL PARK hosts live music at the amphitheater for the final Sunday night of the summer. Even if your kids can’t sit through the tunes there’s so much to explore at the park: walking paths and biking trails, a lake and playgrounds. Come hungry; food trucks are onsite each weekend. August 16, 2026, 6-7:30pm. FREE.
More ideas for things to do this weekend in the Twin Cities with kids – Northeast Metro
Visit a Twin Cities apple orchard this weekend in the Northeast Metro!
HUGO Applecrest Orchard Opening Weekend
7306 24th Ave N, Hugo, MN 55038
The orchard is open and has brand new activities for families to enjoy: u-pick apples, a kids Adventure Passport, gem mining, duck races, weekly crafts and treats for sale. August 15, 2026, 10am-6pm.
PLAN AHEAD FOR CRISP FALL WEEKEND WITH OUR TWIN CITIES APPLE ORCHARD GUIDE.
LINO LAKES Waldoch Farm Garden Tour & Corn Feed
8174 Lake Dr, Lino Lakes, MN 55014
One of the special ticket options available this spring, this one includes tours of the owners’ gardens and a free ear of corn on the cob in addition to general admission to the sunflower fields and the Joyer Adventure Farm. There are all kinds of fun activities to spend your kids’ energy and farm animals to meet. August 16, 2026, 11am-4pm. $17/ticket in advance.
FALCON HEIGHTS Gibbs Farm Saturday Public Hours
2097 W Larpenteur Ave, Falcon Heights, MN 55113
Historic Gibbs Farm is relaxed and quiet yet inviting and interesting. You can choose to take a guided tour of the farmhouse and one-room schoolhouse or explore at your own own pace. There are animals to meet, a prairie to wander through, and exhibits on pioneer and native life scattered throughout. August 15, 2026, 10am-4pm. $5-10/pp.
SCANDIA Gammelgarden Museum Spelmansstämma
Gammelgarden Museum, 20880 Olinda Trail N, Scandia, MN 55073
If you’ve never heard of the Gammelgarden, let me introduce you: the name means “old farm” in Swedish and celebrates this culture through tours, programming and festivities. Their annual summer festival includes folk music, games, historic building tours and an art fair. August 15, 2026. FREE.
STILLWATER Storytime Trolley
217 Main St N, Stillwater, MN 55082
This has got to be one of our favorite summer storytimes to promote. The big red trolley scoops up families at Valley Bookseller in the charming St Croix River town of Stillwater and shuttles them around while stories are read onboard. Your child’s ticket includes a treat from Candyland sweet shop. The event is very popular and will definitely sell out – so book your slot quick! August 15, 2026 and Saturdays through October. $11/pp.
MORE FAMILY FUN IN STILLWATER: To prepare for your summer fun in town, read up on our BEST THINGS TO DO WITH KIDS IN STILLWATER.
More free & low cost things to do this weekend in the Twin Cities Northeast Metro – with kids!
NORTHEAST METRO August Lowe’s Kids Workshop
11651 Ulysses St NE, Blaine, MN 55434
5888 Nova Scotia Avenue N, Oak Park Heights, MN 55082
Free Lowe’s kids workshops are geared towards your “mini-DIYer” about age 4-11. Caregivers will need to remain onsite to supervise. This month at Lowe’s in the Twin Cities Northeast Metro, kids can participate in a Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie Workshop. Learn more about Lowe’s Kids Workshops. August 15, 2026, 10am. FREE.
NORTHEAST METRO Fleet Farm Touch-a-Truck
8400 Lakeland Ave N Brooklyn Park, MN 55445
Each local Fleet Farm store will have different service vehicles on display such as police cars, fire trucks, school buses, garbage trucks, and more! August 15, 2026, 9am-12pm. FREE.
Plan ahead! Family events this week in the Twin Cities: August 17-21, 2026
