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, Coon Rapids, Crystal, Elk River, Golden Valley, Maple Grove, Otsego, Plymouth, Robbinsdale, Rogers & St Michael.
This guide covers the weekend of December 23-24, 2023 — including Christmas Eve. Not finding the city you’re searching for? We also cover fun family events in the areas of:
Merry Christmas to you, if you celebrate! For last-minute seasonal cheer and holiday inspiration this weekend jump over to our 2023 ULTIMATE TWIN CITIES CHRISTMAS & HOLIDAY GUIDE, our FAMILY FUN CALENDAR or our DECEMBER FAMILY GUIDE.
Holiday events this weekend in the Twin Cities Northwest Metro
Find Santa this weekend in the Twin Cities Northwest Metro
It’s just about time for Santa to fly away – but he’s fitting in a few final public appearances this weekend. Check out his Twin Cities Northwest Metro whereabouts here and remember to consult our official Twin Cities Santa-finder page for more pop-ups around the metro area.Â
BROOKLYN PARK: Breakfast with Santa at Hy-Vee
9409 Zane Ave N, Brooklyn Park, MN 55443
Kids eat FREE with Santa with purchase of an adult breakfast. December 23, 2023, 9-11am.
COON RAPIDS:Â Photos with Santa at Lowe’s
2700 Main St NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55448
Book your spot to take pictures with Santa between 11am-2pm. December 23, 2023. FREE.
COON RAPIDS: Santa’s Wonderland at Riverdale Village
12709 Riverdale Blvd NW, Coon Rapids, Minnesota 55448
FINAL WEEKEND! Bring your own camera to capture a moment with Santa. Admission is is $24.95 (or save $2 the first two Tuesdays and Wednesdays of the holiday season) per nuclear family or up to 3 friends. Now-December 23, 2023.
SPRING LAKE PARK: Santa Visits Blue Sun Soda Shop
1625 Highway 10 Service Rd NE, Spring Lake Park MN
Santa visits the ultimate gourmet soda-and-candy shop today only for pictures and Christmas lists. December 23, 2023, 10am-2pm. FREE. For further planning, check our Twin Cities Santa-finder page.
Shine on: Twin Cities Northwest Metro holiday lights displays
Maple Grove Rotary Holiday Light Display
Central Park, 12000 Central Park Way, Maple Grove, MN 55369
Maple Grove Rotary showcases their holiday light display featuring over 2 dozen trees around the skating rink area during the month of December. Bring your own ice skates to skate FREE on the loop or rent a pair from the pavilion for $7.50. The ice skating loop is open all weekend, Saturday 10am-9pm and Christmas Eve 10am-noon. December 23 & 34, 2023.
Plymouth Holiday Lights at the Hilde
3500 Plymouth Blvd. Plymouth, Minnesota 55447
The grounds of Hilde Performance Center are lit with holiday lights starting December 2 for the public to view at their own leisure.Â
Design your own holiday lights driving tour in the Twin Cities Northwest Metro! We’ve put together an illuminating list of the area’s most awesome light shows. Here’s just a glimpse of what we think is worth jumping in the car:
- ANDOVER: Cairl Family Christmas Lights, 2342 145th Avenue NW. Starts at 5:30pm.
- COON RAPIDS: Hope Lights – A Christmas Display, 12401 Partridge St NW. Starts at 5pm.
- PLYMOUTH: Plymouth Lights – Christmas at the Fischer’s Place. 16700 33rd Ave N. Starts at 5:30pm.
- ROGERS: Lights on Jackie Lane. 19700 Jackie Lane. The show contains over 15 songs with a great mix of holiday classics and upbeat tracks.
Hop over to Light It Up: Twin Cities & Greater Minnesota Christmas & Holiday Light Displays for our map!
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 the parks of the Twin Cities Northwest Metro.
Some fun family ideas for this weekend: Prepare for winter breakÂ
Spending time outside and attempting to embrace the cold is a large part of our winter break: ice skating and snow tubing spots are now open and buzzing with activity. At this point it’s anyone’s guess as to whether we’ll have a white Christmas, but in case check over our updated list of the best sledding hills in the Twin Cities. Or try one of these lovely, refrigerated outdoor ice skating rinks in the north metro if the community sites aren’t yet open:
- MAPLE GROVE CENTRAL PARK ICE SKATING LOOP – Free ice skating, rentals available for $7. Open Dec 23, 10am-9pm & Christmas Eve 10am-noon. 12000 Central Park Way, Maple Grove, MN 55369.
- ROSEVILLE OVAL – Bonus: skate outdoors with a festive backdrop of 120 trees lit with over over 200,000 holiday lights from Rainbow Holiday Design. Open December 23 for public skating 12-2, 3-5 & 6-8pm and Christmas Eve 11am-1pm. 2661 Civic Center Dr, Roseville, MN 55113. $9/pp, rentals $5.
Snow tubing in the Twin Cities Northwest Metro
There are days we simply can’t believe we began this adventure called Family Fun Twin Cities more than ten years ago. The kiddos that were once thrilled by the bunny sledding hills are now careening down snow tubing runs. Sound familiar? Then you might benefit from our roundup of the best spots to snow tube in the Twin Cities – a few of which are located northwest of Minneapolis & St Paul.
Elm Creek Park ReserveÂ
12400 James Deane Pkwy, Maple Grove, MN 55369
Have fun snow tubing in 2-hr increments between 10am-9pm. There’s a chalet onsite if you need to warm up! $17/pp.
Wirth Park Winter Recreation AreaÂ
1301 Theodore Wirth Pkwy, Golden Valley, MN 55422
Tow ropes available Fri-Sun. Snow tube in 2-hr sessions. $17/pp or $8.50/non tow rope hours.
FREE WINTER FUN: You can sled on the tenth fairway of the Theodore Wirth Park golf course next to the Chalet. Bring your own or stop by The Adventure Shop to borrow one for free.
A walk through the snow
Storywalk at Mississippi Gateway Regional Park
10360 W River Rd, Brooklyn Park, MN 55444
This weekend, take a (possibly) snowy story walk in the park while following pages of the children’s book. Help create a paper chain of happiness at the visitor center. December 23, 2023, drop in between 10am-12pm. FREE.
More ideas for things to do this weekend in the Twin Cities with kids – Northwest Metro
With many families (especially those likely to frequent this website) either starting or navigating through a lengthy school break, we suspected a list of THINGS TO DO OVER WINTER BREAK IN THE TWIN CITIES might be a helpful tool to whip out as needed. For extra armor, we’ve also shined up our annual WINTER FUN SURVIVAL GUIDE.
