Things to do in the Twin Cities Southwest Metro this weekend – with kids & family!
This Weekend Family Guide includes events and activities near the Twin Cities, Minnesota, communities of Bloomington, Chanhassen, Chaska, Eden Prairie, Edina, Hopkins, Minnetonka, Prior Lake, Richfield, Shakopee, St Louis Park, Victoria, Waconia & Wayzata.
This guide covers the weekend of April 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 Southwest Metro events for families
Thursday, April 9, 2026
⚈ SEE TIMES: Disney's The Little Mermaid at ISM - International School of Minnesota, Eden PrairieFriday, April 10, 2026
⚈ 8:00 am - 11:30 am: Chanhassen Friday Tot Time Open Gym - Chanhassen Recreation Center, Chanhassen⚈ 8:00 am - 1:00 pm: Friday Turf Tots - Hopkins Pavilion, Hopkins
⚈ 9:00 am - 11:45 am: Eden Prairie Open Tot Swim - Eden Prairie Community Center, Eden Prairie
⚈ 9:00 am - 10:30 am: Shakopee CC Playtime - Pool - Shakopee Community Center, Shakopee
⚈ 9:30 am - 11:30 am: Friday Little Tot Playtime - St Louis Park Rec Center & ROC, St Louis Park
⚈ 10:00 am - 10:30 am: Barnes & Noble Storytime (FREE) - Barnes & Noble Galleria, Edina
⚈ 10:00 am - 11:00 am: Westwood Friday Puppet Storytime: April Showers - Westwood Hills Nature Center, St Louis Park
⚈ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm: Braemar Field Family Night - Braemar Field, Edina
⚈ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Edinborough Park Friday Night Movie: Moana 2 (FREE) - Edinborough Park, Edina
⚈ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm: Royal Canadian International Circus - Mall of America, Bloomington
Saturday, April 11, 2026
⚈ 9:30 am - 12:00 pm: Saturday Morning on the Farm - Gale Woods Farm, Minnetrista⚈ 9:30 am - 11:00 am: Shakopee CC Playtime - Pool - Shakopee Community Center, Shakopee
⚈ 10:00 am - 11:00 am: Badger Hill Saturday Morning Story Telling (FREE) - Badger Hill Brewing, Shakopee
⚈ 10:00 am - 11:45 am: Eden Prairie Open Tot Swim - Eden Prairie Community Center, Eden Prairie
⚈ 10:00 am - 11:30 am: Lowry Free Fun: Reptile & Amphibian Feeding - Lowry Nature Center, Victoria
⚈ 10:00 am - 1:00 pm: Nature Rocks! Outdoor Center Open House (FREE) - Eden Prairie Outdoor Center, Eden Prairie
⚈ 10:00 am - 11:30 am: Pre-K Creative Play: Sea Critters - Eden Prairie Art Center, Eden Prairie
⚈ 10:00 am - 4:00 pm: The Works Build It Expo - The Works Museum, Bloomington
⚈ 10:30 am - 11:30 am: Little Whisk Takers: IKEA Kids Cooking Club (FREE) - IKEA Twin Cities, Bloomington
⚈ 11:00 am - 3:00 pm: SLP Lakeshore Learning: Ocean Discovery (FREE) - Lakeshore Learning St. Louis Park, St Louis Park
⚈ 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm: Hennepin County Fix-It Clinic (FREE) - St Louis Park Rec Center & ROC, St Louis Park
⚈ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm: Pond House Living History Open House (FREE) - Pond-Dakota Mission Park, Bloomington
⚈ 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm: Spring Fling Archery - Cleary Lake Regional Park, Prior Lake
Sunday, April 12, 2026
⚈ 9:30 am - 11:00 am: Shakopee CC Playtime - Pool - Shakopee Community Center, Shakopee⚈ 10:00 am - 11:00 am: Westwood Critters Close Up - Westwood Hills Nature Center, St Louis Park
⚈ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm: OMNI Coffee & Cocoa Storytime Series - OMNI Victoria – Brewery & Taproom, Victoria
⚈ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm: Richardson FREE Family Fun Day - Richardson Nature Center, Bloomington
⚈ 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm: Bloomington Naturalist Program: Amazing Bird Tree (FREE) - Pond-Dakota Mission Park, Bloomington
⚈ 5:30 pm - 6:45 pm: BIG Open Skate Sunday - Bloomington Ice Garden, Bloomington
⚈ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Edinborough Sunday Night Family Entertainment (FREE) - Edinborough Park, Edina
Welcome to April in the Twin Cities!
For more ideas on spending spring family time together this weekend, hippity hop over to these handy planning tools:
Fun outdoor activities in the Twin Cities Southwest Metro parks this weekendÂ
We’ve got the details on dozens of outdoor activities presented by local, county and regional park systems across the greater Twin Cities. The following are a few of our best suggestions for activities near your neighborhood this weekend. You can get more ideas on our FAMILY FUN CALENDAR or peruse the links below to seek out local outdoor things to do with kids this weekend in the parks. Some fun family ideas for you here:
Visit a working farm in the Southwest Metro!
We always get excited when it’s time to promote the early spring farm babies events because it feels like a promise that winter has come to an end in Minnesota. (Of course, we deal with our fair share of April blizzards, but baby animals don’t listen to the weather forecast.) FIND MORE MINNESOTA FARM BABIES EVENTS and plan ahead!
MINNETRISTA Saturday Morning on the Farm
Gale Woods Farm, 7210 County Rd 110 W, Minnetrista, MN 55364
This wonderful working farm is a great place for kids to get close and in barns (that’s my delighted daughter pictured). Read about a spring visit to the farm here. Spots will fill quickly. If you can’t make it to one of the farm tours, stop over for a self-guided walk around the grounds; Gale Woods is a public park and welcomes visitors. April 11, 2026, drop in between 9:30am-12pm. $6/pp.
More Twin Cities Southwest Metro park events
BLOOMINGTON Free Family Fun Day at Richardson
Richardson Nature Center, 8737 E Bush Lake Road, Bloomington MN
This weekend, pop into the very hands-on nature center to learn from the naturalist about spring ephemerals. April 12, 2026, 1-3pm. FREE.
EDEN PRAIRIE Nature Rocks! Outdoor Center Open House
Eden Prairie Outdoor Center, 13765 Staring Lake Parkway, Eden Prairie, MN
Drop in to meet the resident animals, learn about programs and events. April 11, 2026, 10am-12pm. FREE.
PRIOR LAKE Spring Fling Archery
Cleary Lake Regional Park, 18106 Texas Avenue, Prior Lake, MN 55372
All levels can practice archery with help from instructors, colorful targets and spring-inspired challenges. Register ahead. April 11, 2026, 1:30-3:30pm. $12/pp.
ST LOUIS PARKÂ Critters Close Up at Westwood Hills Nature Center
8300 W Franklin Ave, St Louis Park, MN 55426
Meet up close and personally with some of the nature center’s amphibians and reptiles. Register online. April 12, 2026, 10-11am. $4-$6/pp.
More things to do this weekend in the Twin Cities with kids – Southwest Metro
BLOOMINGTON The Works Build It Expo
9740 Grand Ave S, Bloomington, MN 55402
Families can explore STEM careers in construction. Sometimes these events sell out quickly, so we recommend buying tickets in advance. Tickets $15-$17/pp.
Storytime at Twin Cities family-friendly taprooms
SHAKOPEE Saturday Morning Story TellingÂ
2805 Winners Cir Dr, Shakopee, MN, 55379
Badger Hill Brewing in Shakopee hosts a special story telling event for kids the second Saturday of the month. Presented in partnership with Minnesota Story Arts. April 11, 2026, 10-11am. FREE.
VICTORIA OMNI Coffee & Cocoa Storytime
1495 Stieger Lake Ln, Victoria, MN 55386
Ticket includes admission to the reading, a cup of cocoa for kids and all the supplies to make the week’s craft: this week you’ll create with Princess Tiana. April 12, 2026, 11am. $15/child.
FIND MORE FAMILY-FRIENDLY TWIN CITIES TAPROOMS!
Free things to do this weekend in the Twin Cities - Southwest Metro
EDEN PRAIRIE Pre-K Creative Play: Sea Critters
7650 Equitable Dr, Eden Prairie, MN 55344
Preschoolers ages 3-6 can experiment with ways to be creative at this parent-child art class. Space is limited so pre-registration is encouraged. April 11, 2026, 10-11:30am. $12/pair.
ST LOUIS PARK Ocean Discovery at Lakeshore Learning
5699 W 16th St, St Louis Park, MN 55416
Hands-on fun this weekend includes the chance to craft a dotted fish windsock and explore store products. No registration, just walk in and explore the store. April 11, 2026, 11am-3pm. FREE.
BLOOMINGTON Living History Open House at Pond Dakota Mission Park
401 E 104th St, Bloomington, MN 55420
Each Saturday explore living history – often the programs are held outside so dress for the weather. Enjoy hands-on activities and walk on the trails. This weekend learn how to make a tumbling toy acrobat. April 11, 2026. Drop in from 1-4pm, FREE or suggested donation of $2/pp.
BLOOMINGTONÂ IKEA Little Whisk Takers Cooking Club
8000 Ikea Way, Bloomington, MN 55425
Kids ages 4–7 get hands-on in the kitchen, whipping up their own tasty and healthy treats. Reserve your space quickly as space is limited for this FREE class. This month’s snack: rainbow veggie wraps. April 11, 2026, 10:30-11:15am.