Things to do in the Twin Cities Southeast Metro this weekend – with kids & family!
This Weekend Family Guide includes events and activities near the Twin Cities, Minnesota, communities of Afton, Apple Valley, Burnsville, Cottage Grove, Eagan, Farmington, Hastings, Inver Grove Heights, Lakeville, Mendota Heights, Rosemount, West St Paul & Woodbury.
This guide covers the weekend of July 11-12, 2026. Not locating the city you’re looking for? We also cover tons of fun family events in the areas of:
Twin Cities Southeast Metro events for families
Wednesday, July 8, 2026
⚈ 8:30 am - 4:30 pm: Carpenter Story Stroll - Johnny's Pheasant (FREE) - Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center, HastingsFriday, July 10, 2026
⚈ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm: Apple Valley Puppet Wagon (FREE) - Apple Valley Parks (see link), Apple Valley⚈ 9:00 am - 10:00 pm: Lakeville Pan-O-Prog Festival - Pan-O-Prog Festival (Map), Lakeville
⚈ 9:00 am - 4:00 pm: Millz House Pay to Play - Millz House, Apple Valley
⚈ 9:00 am - 12:30 pm: Woodbury On-Site Recreation Experience (FREE) - Woodbury Parks (see link), Woodbury
⚈ 9:30 am - 10:30 am: Cascade Bay Little Mates - Cascade Bay Water Park, Eagan
⚈ 9:30 am - 11:30 am: IGM Friday Preschool Open Gym - IGM Gymnastics, Burnsville
⚈ 9:30 am - 11:45 am: Rosemount Puppet Wagon (FREE) - Rosemount Parks (see link), Rosemount
⚈ 9:30 am - 10:30 am: Splash Valley Tots-Only Swim Time - Splash Valley Water Park, Apple Valley
⚈ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm: Burnsville Pop Up Party In the Park (FREE) - Neill Park, Burnsville
⚈ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm: Eagan Art House Toddler Art Playgroup (FREE) - Patrick Eagan Park & Eagan Art House, Eagan
⚈ 10:00 am - 11:15 am: Eagan Spark! Puppets (FREE) - Eagan Parks, Eagan
⚈ 10:00 am - 5:00 pm: Sibley House Historic Site Tours - Sibley Historic Site, Mendota
⚈ 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm: Lakeville Pan-O-Prog Touch-a-Truck (FREE) - Pan-O-Prog Festival (Map), Lakeville
⚈ 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm: Eagan Lakefest (FREE) - Schwanz Lake, Eagan
⚈ 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm: Eagan Art House First Friday (FREE) - Patrick Eagan Park & Eagan Art House, Eagan
⚈ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Forever Wild Family Friday: Scavenger Hunt (FREE) - Whitetail Woods Regional Park, Farmington
⚈ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm: Big Air Burnsville Cosmic Glow Night - Big Air Burnsville, Burnsville
⚈ 7:30 pm - 11:00 pm: Minnesota Zoo's Wanderlight - Minnesota Zoo, Apple Valley
⚈ 8:00 pm - 10:30 pm: Hastings Movies in the Park (FREE) - Levee Park, Hastings
Saturday, July 11, 2026
⚈ 7:00 am - 10:00 pm: Lakeville Pan-O-Prog Festival - Pan-O-Prog Festival (Map), Lakeville⚈ 8:00 am - 10:00 am: Carpenter Wisconsin Guided Bird Hike - Hein Visitor Center – Carpenter Wisconsin Campus, Hudson
⚈ 9:00 am - 1:00 pm: Burnsville Farmers Market - Burnsville Center, Burnsville
⚈ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm: Fleet Farm Kids Crafts: Kids Fishing Day (FREE) - Twin Cities Fleet Farm locations, Twin Cities Metro Area
⚈ 9:30 am - 10:30 am: Cascade Bay Little Mates - Cascade Bay Water Park, Eagan
⚈ 9:30 am - 10:30 am: Splash Valley Tots-Only Swim Time - Splash Valley Water Park, Apple Valley
⚈ 10:00 am - 10:30 am: Eagan Barnes & Noble Storytime (FREE) - Barnes & Noble Promenade, Eagan
⚈ 10:00 am - 11:30 am: Knee-High Naturalists: Helpful Insects - Lebanon Hills Regional Park, Eagan
⚈ 10:00 am - 5:00 pm: Sibley House Historic Site Tours - Sibley Historic Site, Mendota
⚈ 7:30 pm - 11:00 pm: Minnesota Zoo's Wanderlight - Minnesota Zoo, Apple Valley
Sunday, July 12, 2026
⚈ 11:00 am - 5:00 pm: Lakeville Pan-O-Prog Festival - Pan-O-Prog Festival (Map), Lakeville⚈ 7:30 pm - 11:00 pm: Minnesota Zoo's Wanderlight - Minnesota Zoo, Apple Valley
Welcome to July in the Twin Cities!
As always, you can check our JULY 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 – Southeast Metro
LAKEVILLE Pan-o-Prog Summer Festival
This weekend, pop in to the Lions fly-in breakfast, try archery at Ritter Farm Park, watch both the kids parade and grand parade and celebrate at the Family Tailgate Party. See the link for the full schedule. July 11-12, 2026.
MORE FESTIVALS THIS WEEKEND IN THE TWIN CITIES
- ANDOVER Family Fun Fest
- ANOKA Riverfest & Craft Fair
- CHASKA Fire & Ice Festival
- LINDSTROM Karl Oskar Days
- MONTICELLO Riverfest
- ROBBINSDALE Whiz Bang Days
Get planning for more Twin Cities community festival fun through July!
Cool off this weekend in the Twin Cities Southeast Metro
How to cool off family-style this weekend? We have the complete catalog of the best swimming beaches and splash spots in the Twin Cities metro area. You can find them all in SPLASH HAPPY: 2026 GUIDE TO BEACHES, POOLS, WATERPARKS & SPLASH PADS IN THE TWIN CITIES. Here are some of our top picks in the Twin Cities Southeast Metro:
Twin Cities Southeast Metro Tot Time Swims
Littles get to rule the pool during special tot time swims at select Minneapolis-St Paul waterparks. Attendance is limited to kids around 6 & under with caregivers and often an admission discount applies!
APPLE VALLEY Splash Valley Tots-Only Swim Time
14421 Johnny Cake Ridge Road, Apple Valley, MN 55124
Kids 6 & under with an adult can enjoy the zero-depth entry area of the waterpark an hour before opening – at a discount! July 11, 2026, 9:30-10:30am. $5/child w/ one caregiver admitted free.
EAGAN Cascade Bay Little Mates
1360 Civic Center Dr, Eagan, MN 55122
Youngsters up to age 6 can swim and splash an hour before the pool opens to the general public – six days a week, including Saturday! Not all pool features will be operating. July 11, 2026, 7/child, one free adult per child admitted.
Featured Twin Cities Southeast Metro wading pool
SOUTH ST PAUL Lorraine Park
756 3rd Ave S, South St Paul, MN 55075
The interactive zero-depth entry pool is ideal for little waders, containing a water slide, sprayers and changing facilities. Daily 12:30-7pm for all ages. $2-3.50/pp.
Featured Twin Cities Southeast Metro splash pad
APPLE VALLEY Kelley Park
6855 Fortino St, Apple Valley, MN 55124A
KELLEY PARK in Apple Valley has family-friendly amenities that include a cute animal-themed splash pad, a playground and a gazebo-style picnic shelter. You’ll want to CLICK HERE for more pictures, details and a video tour of Kelley Park. FIND DOZENS MORE AWESOME TWIN CITIES SPLASH PADS TO CRUSH THE HEAT THIS SUMMER!
Fun outdoor activities in the Twin Cities Southeast Metro parks this weekend
We’re bringing you the scoop on dozens of spring outdoor activities this weekend in Twin Cities parks carefully curated on our FAMILY FUN CALENDAR. Our top picks for the Southeast Metro:
EAGAN Knee-High Naturalists
860 Cliff Road, Eagan, MN 55123
Explore the natural world with your preschooler through hands-on activities, outdoor walks, art-making, storytimes and more. This month’s theme is “Helpful Insects”. Register ahead. July 11, 2026, 10-11:30am. $10/child.
Try visiting a new park or nature center!
Check out the links on our big list of Twin Cities nature & interpretive centers. Did you know that several of these nature centers have natural playgrounds nestled within them? You can build with natural materials, climb, balance, even wade and garden at some of the more elaborate spaces. This weekend’s featured photo comes from the nature play area at PATRICK EAGAN PARK. It has natural elements for unstructured play and some surprises – like an exciting zip line! We include this park in our list of the BEST PARKS IN EAGAN, MINNESOTA TO TRY THIS SUMMER.
Find our list of the best Twin Cities Nature Playgrounds.
More things to do this weekend with kids in the Twin Cities – Southeast Metro
Try a round of mini golf: King Park, Lakeville
18350 Dodd Blvd, Lakeville, MN 55044
There’s a dearth of miniature golf courses in the Twin Cities Southeast Metro, we’ve noticed. However, if you have your own set of putters and a few golf balls in the garage you can practice for free at King Park. The 9-hole mini golf course is relatively new and in great condition. Plus, it’s located within a park with an inclusive playground so there’s bound to be fun for all.Â
FIND MORE MINI GOLF IN THE TWIN CITIES – OUTDOORS AND IN!
Pick your own strawberries near the Twin Cities
The strawberry season is short and sweet in Minnesota – but there’s still time to check our guide to TWIN CITIES AREA STRAWBERRY PATCHES to see what’s picking. There are a few farms within an easy drive of the Twin Cities Southeast Metro we recommend including heavy hitter AFTON APPLE ORCHARD. We’ve driven down several summers to pick in their strawberry fields and never come away disappointed. More local options:
- HASTINGS Wyatt’s Strawberries
- NORTHFIELD Lorence’s Berry Farm
Free things to do this weekend in the Twin Cities Southeast Metro
SOUTHEAST METRO Fleet Farm Free Kids Fishing Day
875 General Sieben Dr, Hastings MN
17070 Kenrick Avenue Lakeville, MN 55044
Kids and families can get fishing tips and casting lessons and learn how to ID fish. Plus, kids can take home a free tacklebox. July 11, 2026, 10am-2pm. FREE.
Plan ahead! Family events this week in the Twin Cities: July 13-17, 2026
