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 January 27-28, 2024. Not locating the city you’re looking for? We also cover tons of fun family events in the areas of:
I think we can all get behind a lineup of frugal entertainment in the wake of the holidays. Accordingly, most of our ideas for this weekend’s list of things to do in the Twin Cities are FREE or low-cost to attend. Double up on your wintry inspiration over on our JANUARY FAMILY EVENTS GUIDE, our ULTIMATE WINTER FUN GUIDE or our FAMILY FUN CALENDAR. We try hard to fill it with options to fit your family’s needs while having a good time doing it.
Winter festivals this weekend in the Twin Cities Southeast Metro
Rounded up in our Twin Cities Winter Festival Family Calendar are the best picks of the Twin Cities’ seasonal celebrations this weekend and beyond. In the Southeast Metro keep an eye on this Saturday festival:
Lunar New Year FestivalÂ
1178 Burnsville Center, Burnsville, Minnesota 55306
A family-friendly way to usher in the Lunar New Year – two days of food vendors, cultural performances and face painting for kids. January 27-28, 2024, 11am-8pm. FREE admission. FIND MORE WAYS TO CELEBRATE LUNAR NEW YEAR IN THE TWIN CITIES WITH KIDS!
More Twin Cities-area community winter festivals this weekend:
- GOLDEN VALLEY: Winter Fest – January 27, 2024, 12-2pm.
- MAPLE GROVE: Ice Castles – Real palaces made of ice you can walk through and explore. Read our review of Ice Castles here.
- MINNEAPOLIS: Art Shanty Projects – artsy, interactive icehouses to play in. January 27 & 28, 2024, FREE.
- MINNEAPOLIS: Lake Harriet Kite Festival – January 27, 12-4pm.Â
- SCANDIA: Vinterfest – Kicksledding and sled dogs, kids activities, outdoor showing of Frozen. January 27, 2024.
- ST PAUL: Winter Carnival – Vulcan Snowpark at the Fair, snow & ice sculptures and a grand parade. January 27, 2024.
For further planning, don’t forget that our  Twin Cities Winter Festival Family Calendar keeps track of the best Twin Cities’ seasonal celebrations from top to bottom of the Metro area.
Fun outdoor activities in the Twin Cities Southeast Metro parks this weekend
We’re bringing you the scoop on dozens of outdoor activities this weekend in Twin Cities parks carefully curated on our FAMILY FUN CALENDAR. Here’s a sampling of our top picks in your area of the metro:
Some fun family ideas for this weekend:
Dodge Nature Center Winter Expedition
365 Marie Avenue W, West St. Paul, MN 55118
Take to the trail with a kicksled, build a fire and cook something tasty outdoors. In other words, find a way to enjoy the winter weather! Register in advance. January 27, 2024, 1-3pm. $10/pp.
Eagan Free Family Ice Fishing Event
Blackhawk Park, 1629 Murphy Parkway, Eagan, MN 55122
Equipment and bait provided – just haul yourself out and give ice fishing a try! January 27, 2024, 1-3pm. FREE.
Smores and More in Farmington
Distad Park and Greenway, 18200 Dunbury Ave, Farmington MN
Free, fun and oh so classic: bring your skates for games on the ice, music, s’mores and hot cocoa. January 28, 2024, 2-4pm. FREE.
Twin Cities Southeast Metro winter activity update
The snow and cold are here to stay — at least for the next couple months (or so…). What better way to enjoy than piling on all the layers and striding out to show the family good, old-fashioned Minnesota winter fun?
Exploring the Twin Cities’ best sledding hills & ice rinks
From bunny slides to steep thrills, we list sledding spots across the Minneapolis-St Paul metro by community in our sledding hill guide. Most of the Southeast metro sledding hills on our huge roundup are located within city public parks. Most of the free ice skating rinks in the South Metro are flooded and ready to go, too. Get out and glide while you can!
- Winter SKOLstice ice rink at Viking Lakes – You can ice skate for free on the SKOLstice Market Rink (5-10pm Sat & until 9pm on Sun, BYO skates or rent a pair for $5). Ice is scheduled to be open January 27 & 28, 2024. Please check the website to confirm as status may change with the weather. 2685 Vikings Cir, Eagan, MN 55121.
- M Health Fairview Sports Center, Woodbury: Free ice skating on a refrigerated rink, skate rental $6.
Snow tubing in the Southeast Metro
TRAPP FARM PARK, Eagan: Trapp Farm’s winter recreation offers more than 70 winter tubing tubes for rent. (Please don’t bring your own; they’re not permitted.) This site does not offer tow ropes, so tubers will need to be able to climb the hill on their own. $5/pass. 841 Wilderness Run Rd, Eagan, MN 55123
BUCK HILL, Burnsville: The tubing lanes are currently open and were discounted to $18/2 hrs when we last checked. There is an onsite restaurant for your warm-up and snack-craving needs. 15400 Buck Hill Rd, Burnsville, MN 55306.
More ideas for things to do this weekend in the Twin Cities with kids – Southeast Metro
Need indoor activity ideas? Try a new indoor play space
3265 Northwood Circle, #100, Eagan, MN 55121
Minnesota parents unite and agree – it’s essential to know where to escape the elements and still keep their kiddos burning off energy. During the months of November through March we feature the best indoor playgrounds in the Minneapolis-St Paul area on our site, hoping to help you discover something new. This weekend we highlight Good Times Park in Eagan. It has a unique outdoor feel with its jungle gyms, unwalled pillow jumper, basketball court and plenty of open turf for family games. You’ll forget there’s snow on the ground outside for a few hours, we promise. Purchase Play Today passes online in advance. A one-day pass is $10.95+tax per child under 18. Bonus for Mom & Dad: Good Times Park added a gourmet coffee station last year!
Marcus Theatres Kids Dream Family Film Series
15280 Carrousel Way, Rosemount, MN 55068
Marcus Kids Dream series entitles ticket holder to two free passes to the movie of the weekend. You do need to get an e-voucher prior to the show! Grab popcorn and drink specials for just $3.50 each plus tax. This weekend screens Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. January 26-28, 2024.Â