The Family Fun team parents 12 children collectively. Believe us when we tell you we understand the need for ways to save while still getting out to experience the Twin Cities and all the fun recreational activities, educational opportunities and cultural events the area has to offer. The good news is we live here, we parent here, and we’ve personally experienced the local free family fun. We have collected the best the Minneapolis/Saint Paul metro has to offer. Scroll the calendar below for hundreds of wonderful opportunities for things to do for FREE and cheap with kids!
Table of Contents:
Page 1: Today’s Calendar of Free Family Fun
Page 2: Quick Tips: 16 Budget-Friendly Things To Do With Kids in the Twin Cities Anytime
Page 3: Enjoy the Minnesota Seasons: Things to Do with Kids for Free & Cheap Through the Year
Page 4: DIY Fun: Inexpensive Things to Do with Kids at Home
Upcoming Free Events in the Twin Cities
*NOTE: Ongoing events show their earliest date. If an event shows on this calendar, it is ongoing and still active.
Friday, July 24, 2026
⚈ 8:30 am - 12:00 pm: Carpenter Bird Banding (FREE) - Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center, Hastings⚈ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm: Apple Valley Puppet Wagon (FREE) - Apple Valley Parks (see link), Apple Valley
⚈ 9:00 am - 12:30 pm: Woodbury On-Site Recreation Experience (FREE) - Woodbury Parks (see link), Woodbury
⚈ 9:30 am - 11:45 am: Rosemount Puppet Wagon (FREE) - Rosemount Parks (see link), Rosemount
⚈ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm: Augsburg Park & Play: Storytime w/ Richfield Fire (FREE) - Augsburg Adventure Park, Richfield
⚈ 10:00 am - 10:30 am: Barnes & Noble Storytime (FREE) - Barnes & Noble Galleria, Edina
⚈ 10:00 am - 11:00 am: Carpenter Preschool Storytime: Spiders (FREE) - Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center, Hastings
⚈ 10:00 am - 11:15 am: Eagan Spark! Puppets (FREE) - Eagan Parks, Eagan
⚈ 10:00 am - 1:00 pm: Friday Art-Making In the Garden (FREE) - Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, Minneapolis
⚈ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm: Friday Kids Open Play at Ninth Street Soccer (FREE) - Ninth Street Soccer, Minneapolis
⚈ 10:30 am - 11:00 am: Columbia Heights Puppet Wagon (FREE) - Ramsdell Park, Columbia Heights
⚈ 10:30 am - 11:15 am: Roseville Fri-Yay! (FREE) - Roseville Library, Roseville
⚈ 10:30 am - 12:30 pm: Twin Cities PBS at Your Library (FREE) - Merriam Park Library, Saint Paul
⚈ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm: Burnsville Pop Up Party In the Park (FREE) - Wood Park, Burnsville
⚈ 11:00 am - 11:30 am: Northeast Library Family Storytime (FREE) - Northeast Library, Minneapolis
⚈ 12:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Electrek American Solar Challenge Display Day - Northrop Memorial Auditoriums, Minneapolis
⚈ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm: Farmington Library STEM Challenge (FREE) - Farmington Library, Farmington
⚈ 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm: George Latimer Library Fun Lab (FREE) - George Latimer Central Library, Saint Paul
⚈ 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm: Ice Skating at Highland Arena (FREE) - Charles M. Schulz-Highland Arena, St Paul
⚈ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Shakopee Pop-Up Splash Pad (FREE) - Shakopee Community Center, Shakopee
⚈ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm: MIA Art in the Park (FREE) - Longfellow Park, Minneapolis
⚈ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm: Brooklyn Center Entertainment In the Park (FREE) - Centennial Park, Brooklyn Center
⚈ 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm: Burnsville Flicks On the Bricks: Hoppers (FREE) - Nicollet Commons Park, Burnsville
⚈ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm: Eden Prairie Starring at Staring (FREE) - Staring Lake Park, Eden Prairie
⚈ 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm: Inver Grove Heights Movie In the Park (FREE) - Oakwood Park, Inver Grove Heights
⚈ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm: Minneapolis Music In Minnehaha Park (FREE) - Minnehaha Regional Park, Minneapolis
⚈ 7:30 pm - 11:00 pm: Minneapolis Music In Lake Harriet Park - Friday Concerts (FREE) - Lake Harriet Park, Minneapolis
⚈ 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm: St Paul Movies In the Park: High School Musical (FREE) - Como Midway Pavilion, St Paul
⚈ 8:30 pm - 10:00 pm: Afton Park: Universe in the Park (FREE) - Afton State Park, Hastings
⚈ 8:30 pm - 10:30 pm: Friday Movies at Dusk: Mighty Ducks (FREE) - Town Green Park, Maple Grove
⚈ 8:30 pm - 10:15 pm: Oakdale Movies In the Park: Zootopia 2 (FREE) - Walton Park, Oakdale
⚈ 8:45 pm - 10:15 pm: Brooklyn Center Movie In the Park (FREE) - Centennial Park, Brooklyn Center
⚈ 8:45 pm - 10:05 pm: Minneapolis Movies In the Parks (FREE) - Windom Northeast Park, Minneapolis
⚈ 9:30 pm - 11:00 pm: Bell Museum Star Party (FREE) - Bell Museum of Natural History, Saint Paul
Saturday, July 25, 2026
⚈ 7:00 am - 12:00 pm: Richfield Farmers Market - Richfield Veterans Park, Richfield⚈ 8:00 am - 9:00 am: Fitness at the Beach (FREE) - East Bush Lake Park & Beach, Bloomington
⚈ 8:00 am - 1:00 pm: Mill City Farmers Market - Mill City Farmers Market, Minneapolis
⚈ 8:00 am - 8:00 pm: Trail of Small Wonders Open (FREE) - Westwood Hills Nature Center, St Louis Park
⚈ 9:00 am - 10:00 am: Baby Time at the CAT (FREE) - Cafesjian Art Trust, Shoreview
⚈ 9:00 am - 1:00 pm: Bloomington Farmers Market - Bloomington Civic Plaza, Bloomington
⚈ 9:00 am - 1:00 pm: Burnsville Farmers Market - Burnsville Center, Burnsville
⚈ 9:00 am - 1:00 pm: Cars and Caves (FREE) - Chanhassen AutoPlex, Chanhassen
⚈ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm: Electrek American Solar Challenge Starting Line - Lind Hall, Minneapolis
⚈ 9:00 am - 2:00 pm: Midtown Farmers Market - Midtown Farmers Market – Market Plaza, Minneapolis
⚈ 10:00 am - 10:30 am: Eagan Barnes & Noble Storytime (FREE) - Barnes & Noble Promenade, Eagan
⚈ 10:00 am - 2:00 pm: Eidem Farm Saturday Open Gate Hours (FREE) - Historic Eidem Farm, Brooklyn Park
⚈ 10:00 am - 1:00 pm: Lowe's Kids Workshop: MrBeast Swarm Jet (FREE) - Lowe’s – Twin Cities Locations, Twin Cities
⚈ 10:00 am - 11:00 am: Lowry Free Fun: Canines at Carver Park - Lowry Nature Center, Victoria
⚈ 10:00 am - 1:00 pm: MIA Discovery Day (FREE) - Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis
⚈ 10:00 am - 12:30 pm: Mini Mia Saturday (FREE) - Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis
Just a reminder. Deals can come and go and we don’t always get a heads up from the venue when info changes. We recommend that you double-check before heading out to verify the deal is still offered.
MORE FREE & BUDGET IDEAS FOR FAMILY FUN
Page 2: Quick Tips: 16 Budget-Friendly Things To Do With Kids in the Twin Cities Anytime
Page 3: Enjoy the Minnesota Seasons: Things to Do with Kids for Free & Cheap Through the Year
Page 4: DIY Fun: Inexpensive Things to Do with Kids at Home
Subscribe for Updates: Join our Newsletter Community
Share Your Tips: Leave us a comment and share your favorite FREE spots to visit with your family or an upcoming FREE event that other parents may find useful.