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 18-19, 2026. Not locating the city you’re looking for? We also cover tons of fun family events in the areas of:
Plenty of summer left 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
BURNSVILLE International Festival of Burnsville
Nicollet Commons Park, 12550 Nicollet Ave, Burnsville, MN 55337
A special International Festival of Burnsville edition of Party on the Plaza, includes live music, food trucks, games, market vendors. Do NOT forget swimsuits for the kids because you’ll hardly be able to hold them back once they see the beautiful water feature in the park. July 18, 2026.
HASTINGS Rivertown Days
What’s to do at the festival this weekend? So much! An arts & crafts fair in the park, a carnival on the river, tours of the lock and dam, a bubble park, duck races and the Rivertown Days Parade. Park and grab a free shuttle downtown from Fleet Farm. July 18-19, 2026.
MORE FESTIVALS THIS WEEKEND IN THE TWIN CITIES
- CENTERVILLLE Fete des Lac
- EXCELSIOR Crazy Days
- HOPKINS Raspberry Festival
- MINNEAPOLIS Minnehaha Falls Art Fair
- MOUND Spirit of the Lakes Festival
- RAMSEY Two Rivers Art Fair
- STILLWATER Lumberjack Days
- TAYLORS FALLS Wannigan Days
Get planning for more Twin Cities Southeast Metro summer festivals 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:
Featured Twin Cities Southeast Metro beach
WOODBURY Carver Lake Park
3175 Century Ave S, Woodbury, MN 55125
Clean, sandy & threaded with hilly little bike trails and a bike park, CARVER LAKE PARK has all the ingredients for a perfect summer day at the beach. The beach is unguarded and swim-at-your-own-risk.
Featured Twin Cities Southeast Metro splash pad
BURNSVILLE Nicollet Commons Park
12550 Nicollet Ave, Burnsville, MN 55337
Don’t forget that splash pads are a perfect place to cool off without the full investment of a day at the pool. This week we highlight the splash pad at NICOLLET COMMONS PARK in Burnsville. It’s really too lovely to be called a “splash pad” but splashing is exactly what your kids will want to do in this beautiful water feature.
Get our huge list of the best 40 Splash Pads & Wading Pools in the Twin Cities.
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:
Try visiting a new Twin Cities Southeast Metro park or nature center!
FARMINGTON Whitetail Woods Regional Park
17100 Station Trl, Farmington, MN 55024.
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 Fawn Crossing Nature Play Area at WHITETAIL WOODS REGIONAL PARK in Farmington. My kids would have wanted to stay for hours, perfectly happy digging in what amounted to a giant sandbox with a stream running through (dishes to play with included) and exploring the areas stocked with fort-building materials, logs and boulders.
Find our list of the best Twin Cities Nature Playgrounds.
More free things to do this weekend in the Twin Cities Southeast Metro
EAGAN Caponi Third Saturday: Painting with Nature
1220 Diffley Road, Eagan, MN 55123
Drop in to Caponi Art Park on third Saturdays for free hands-on creative activities with visiting artists. July 18, 2026, 10am-1pm.
WEST ST PAUL Lowe’s Kids Workshop
1795 Robert St, West St Paul, MN 55118
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 West St Paul, build a mini toy box. Learn more about Lowe’s Kids Workshops. July 18, 2026, 10am. FREE.