Things To Do This Weekend in the Twin Cities Northwest Metro

Things to do in the Twin Cities Northwest Metro this weekend – with kids & family!

This Weekend Family Guide includes events and activities near the Twin Cities, Minnesota, communities of Albertville, Andover, Anoka, Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Champlin, Coon Rapids, Crystal, Elk River, Golden Valley, Maple Grove, New Hope, Otsego, Plymouth, Robbinsdale, Rogers & St Michael.

This guide covers the weekend of May 16-17, 2026. Not finding the city you’re searching for? We also cover fun family events in the areas of:

Twin Cities Northwest Metro events for families

Wednesday, May 13, 2026

⚈ 9:00 am - 11:00 am: Rogers Wednesday Fieldhouse Tot Times - HealthPartners Fieldhouse, Rogers
⚈ 10:00 am - 10:30 am: Champlin Family Storytime (FREE) - Champlin Library, Champlin
⚈ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm: Jumperoo Tot Time - Tuesdays & Wednesdays - Twin Cities Urban Air Locations, Metro Area
⚈ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm: Coon Rapids Rescue Readers - Coon Rapids Animal Humane Society, Coon Rapids

Thursday, May 14, 2026

⚈ 10:00 am - 11:30 am: Prairie Center Open Play - Prairie Center, Otsego
⚈ 10:30 am - 11:00 am: Golden Valley Family Storytime (FREE) - Golden Valley Library, Golden Valley
⚈ 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Maple Grove Farmers Market - Maple Grove Community Center, Maple Grove
⚈ 4:30 pm - 8:00 pm: Pizza Night - Alpha & Omega Farm, Princeton

Friday, May 15, 2026

⚈ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm: Maple Grove Friday Parent/Tot Time - Maple Grove Community Center, Maple Grove

Saturday, May 16, 2026

⚈ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm: Plymouth Bark in the Park (FREE) - Hilde Performance Center, Plymouth
⚈ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm: Coon Rapids Public Works Open House (FREE) - Coon Rapids Public Works, Coon Rapids
⚈ 10:00 am - 1:00 pm: Lowe's Kids Workshop: Garden Basket (FREE) - Lowe’s – Twin Cities Locations, Twin Cities
⚈ 10:00 am - 11:00 am: Saturday Story Hour (FREE) - Avant Garden Bookstore, Anoka
⚈ 11:00 am - 2:00 pm: Brooklyn Park Bike Month Celebration - River Park, Brooklyn Park
⚈ 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm: Spring On the Farm (FREE) - Historic Eidem Farm, Brooklyn Park
⚈ 2:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Tails & Ales - Maple Grove Central Park, Maple Grove

Sunday, May 17, 2026

⚈ 8:00 am - 10:00 am: Third-Sunday Sensory Friendly Play - Urban Air Plymouth, Plymouth
⚈ 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm: Cheap Skate Sunday Funday - Cheap Skate, Coon Rapids
⚈ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm: Eastman Drop-In Discoveries (FREE) - Eastman Nature Center, Maple Grove
⚈ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm: Mississippi Gateway Drop-In Discoveries (FREE) - Mississippi Gateway Regional Park, Brooklyn Park
⚈ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm: French Park Free Family Fun Day - French Regional Park, Plymouth

Welcome to May in the Twin Cities!

For more inspiration on spending family time together this weekend, check our top planning tools:

Spring festivals this weekend in the Twin Cities Northwest Metro

BROOKLYN PARK Eidem Farm’s Spring on the Farm

Historic Eidem Farm, 4345 101st Ave N, Brooklyn Park, MN 55443
Take a tour of the site while seeing period demonstrations, greet farm babies, help in the garden and more. May 16, 2026, 12-3pm. FREE. Learn about all the family fun you can have at historic EIDEM FARM.

QUICKLIST OF MORE SPRING FESTIVALS THIS WEEKEND IN THE TWIN CITIES METRO

AFTON Belwin Bison Festival
EAGAN Holz Farm Spring Festival
HOPKINS Mainstreet Day
MAPLEWOOD Minnesota Waldorf School May Faire
MINNETRISTA Trista Day
WEST ST PAUL Dodge Nature Center’s Rock the Barn

Fun outdoor activities in the Twin Cities Northwest 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 Northwest Metro parks. All kinds of spring stuff in store here:

BROOKLYN PARK Drop In Discoveries Mississippi Gateway Regional Park

10360 W River Rd, Brooklyn Park, MN 55444
Join naturalists for free, drop-in and kid-friendly programming. This weekend, take a spring scavenger hunt and plan ahead to spend time in the incredible nature-themed payground. Drop in, no registration required. May 17, 2026, 1-3pm. FREE.

MAPLE GROVE Drop In Discoveries at Eastman Nature Center

13351 Elm Creek Road, Osseo, MN, 55369
The theme this weekend is Creatures Under the Microsope! Plus, explore the indoor exhibits and play in the outdoor nature play area if the weather is fine. May 17, 2026, 1-3pm. FREE.

Nature Play Area at Eastman Nature Center

WHERE CAN I FIND MORE NATURE PLAYGROUNDS IN THE NORTH METRO?

Delight in watching your kids play the old-fashioned way: digging, climbing, building and using natural materials. Most of the nature play spaces in the Minneapolis-St Paul North Metro are in the eastern half. Scout out our complete list in our roundup of TWIN CITIES NATURE PLAYGROUNDS.

DISCOVERY HOLLOW NATURE PLAY AREA, White Bear Lake
LAKE OWASSO COUNTY PARK NATURE PLAY AREA, Shoreview
MAPLE HOLLOW NATURE PLAY AREA, Lino Lakes
SPRINGBROOK NATURE CENTER, Fridley

MAPLE GROVE Tails & Ales in Central Park

12000 Central Park Way, Maple Grove, MN 55369
This is a dog-centric event but you don’t have to own one to enjoy. Besides the fundraising walk there will be vendors, art activities, lawn games, a photo booth with props, a police K9 demo and live music. Plus, your kids will absolutely love the giant playground at Central Park. May 16, 2026, 2-7pm. FREE.

Girl playing on playground at Central Park in Maple Grove, Minnesota — Maple Grove Central Park

More things to do this weekend in the Twin Cities - Northwest Metro

Got kids that love big rigs?

We keep a calendar just so we can keep track of all the events in the Twin Cities where you and yours can get up close to big trucks and city service vehicles. Even, in some cases, get a behind the scenes peek at city facilities such as fire and police stations. Here’s one this weekend in the Twin Cities Northwest Metro – find more hosted by other communities (all Saturday, May 16):

COON RAPIDS Public Works Open House

1831 111th Ave. NW, Coon Rapids MN
Take a tour of the Public Works facility and check out snowplows, tractors and other big rigs. Kids can learn about the city’s Recycling Center and other community services. May 16, 2026, 10am-12pm.

ARDEN HILLS Touch-a-Truck
FARMINGTON Police Open House
MINNEAPOLIS Open Doors: Tour the Minneapolis Fire Station 1 to see big engines!

ANOKA Avant Garden Bookstore: Children’s Storytime

215 E Main St, Anoka, MN 55303
Kids will enjoy a storytime just for them, their grown-ups might appreciate that that the bookstore is also a coffee shop. Ongoing Saturdays. May 16, 2026, 10am. FREE.

ELK RIVER & RAMSEY Garage Sale Trail

There are dozens of registered homes hosting garage sales on the Elk River-Ramsey Garage Sale Trail this weekend. You’re sure to find summer essentials for your little ones. Plan ahead with this map plus descriptions of what each sale has to offer. May 16, 2026, 8am-5pm.

Free things to do this weekend in the Twin Cities - Northwest Metro

MAPLE GROVE May Lowe’s Kids Workshop: Garden Basket

11201 Fountains Dr, Maple Grove, MN 55369
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 Maple Grove, build a spring garden basket. Learn more about Lowe’s Kids Workshops. May 16, 2026, 10am-1pm. FREE.