Things to do this week in Minneapolis & St Paul with your kids!
This guide covers Twin Cities family activities for the week of August 29-September 2, 2022. If you are in search of things to do with your family this weekend, jump over to our WEEKEND FAMILY GUIDE. We’ll feature fun ideas to get you through the long Labor Day weekend (making the most of the last squeeze of summer in the process).
For more autumn inspiration you can check our SEPTEMBER FAMILY GUIDE, the ULTIMATE GUIDE TO FALL FUN IN THE TWIN CITIES or our FAMILY FUN CALENDAR for more fun ideas on what to do this week in the Twin Cities with your kids – satisfaction guaranteed (or close to it!)
Heading out TO THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR?
The 2022 Minnesota State Fair runs through September 5 (Labor Day) and we’ve got a family guide for you bursting with tips and our picks for the best FREE family entertainment on the Fairgrounds. Skip to our quicklinks:
- Minnesota State Fair 2022: 20 Ideas for Free Family Fun
- Best Bets for Live Family Entertainment at the 2022 Minnesota State Fair
- 50 Things To Do For Families at the Minnesota State Fair
Fun Things to do in the Twin cities on Monday, August 29, 2022
Pre-K Day at Base Camp
6202 Bloomington Road Fort Snelling, MN 55111
Kids ages 2-5 and an adult are invited to this fun program with activities that include: free play, circle time, games, story, and a craft. Aug 29, 2022, 9am-12pm. $10/child.
Learn more about BASE CAMP – a place to try out exciting physical activities like rock climbing, high ropes and archery. Base Camp also makes for a super cool kids birthday party!
MUSIC MONDAY AT COMO ZOO
Como Park Zoo & Conservatory, 1225 Estabrook Dr, St Paul, MN 55103
Members of the very family-friendly Jack Brass Band parade through the zoo grounds and families are invited to join in. Just one reason among a dozen to spend a day at the zoo – just remember to make an advance reservation. August 29, 2022, 10am-1pm. FREE.
If you’re heading out for a day at COMO PARK ZOO & CONSERVATORY, make sure to take along (or bookmark) our COMO SUMMER CHECKLIST – yes, summer is fading fast, but there are still plenty of relevant activities on it for inspiration.
Fun Things to do in the Twin cities on Tuesday, August 30, 2022
FUN IN TWIN CITIES PARKS ON TUESDAY
CAFESJIAN’S CAROUSEL – FREE RIDES!
1245 Midway Pkwy, St Paul, MN 55103
It has become a spring tradition of ours to visit Cafesjian’s Carousel in Como Regional Park, the beautiful antique merry-go-round. The daily price to ride is $3/pp but a handful of days during the summer are FREE – including August 30. See our page on Cafesjian’s Carousel for more information.
Music & Nature Play at Whitetail Woods Regional Park
17100 Station Trail, Farmington, MN 55024
Close out the summer with an outdoor concert in the park – bring a blanket or chairs and a picnic dinner to create a home base, then let the kids play in the nearby FAWN CROSSING NATURE PLAY AREA. They will adore the chance to dig in the sand, build forts and splash around. August 30, 2022, 5-7pm. Food trucks onsite. FREE.
Fun Things to do in the Twin cities on Wednesday, August 31, 2022
Visit a Twin Cities Apple Orchard
Summer isn’t technically over and fall hasn’t officially began, but we’re gearing up for the season switch here at FFTC by shining up our 2022 TWIN CITIES APPLE ORCHARD GUIDE. We’ll be featuring a new orchard each week that may tempt with family activities, farm animals, and, of course, freshly-picked apples. Today we’re singing the praises of FISCHER’S CROIX FARM ORCHARD near Hastings. We’ve taken many trips out to pick-our-own apples and pumpkins and to take tractor pulled wagon rides to the corn maze ($3/ticket, weekends only). Straw Mountain and the Apple Express are popular with kids and all ages will enjoy a visit to the barnyard. Free admission. 12971 St Croix Trail S, Hastings, MN 55033. Sorry, we’ve been informed they are closed this year.
Fun Things to do in the Twin cities on Thursday, September 1, 2022
Free Summer Movies!
The days where we can stay out later may be numbered, but there’s still time to pack a blanket and snacks and settle in for a movie in the park. What’s screening this Thursday?
- ANDREWS PARK, CHAMPLIN: Sing 2, 7:50pm. Blaster Battles Nerf event from 5pm to 7pm prior to movie. All ages welcome. Pre-register to participate for FREE before the end of August.
- MINNETONKA CIVIC CENTER: Encanto, 8pm.
More things to do on thursday:
FINAL SHOW! Twin Cities River Rats Water Ski Show
West River Road, Minneapolis
Amazing free waterski tricks to amuse you Thursday evenings on the Mississippi River. Make sure to bring your own seating (get there early for the best viewing) and consider bringing a picnic dinner as well. September 1, 2022, 6:30pm.
Free Thursday Night at American Swedish Institute
2600 Park Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55407
Have your kids ever thought it would be awesome to explore a castle? Here’s their chance (and yours) while the very family-friendly AMERICAN SWEDISH INSTITUE offers FREE admission every Thursday after 3pm. There is a rotating family gallery kids will enjoy playing in and nooks and crannies to explore.
PAIR A VISIT WITH DINNER: Our kids have enjoyed the Swedish meatballs at FIKA Cafe in the museum. Plus happy hour pricing from 3 until 8 p.m. on Thursdays.
Fun things to do in the Twin cities on Friday, September 2, 2022
Try a new outdoor mini golf course
We loved it as kids and we love passing it onto our own kids in classic summer style. There are more than a dozen mini golf courses to choose from on our LIST OF THE BEST IN THE TWIN CITIES. If you have a favorite round of holes we’ve missed, please reach out! This week we feature WHEEL FUN MINI GOLF in Richfield. The 18-hole course is beautiful, surrounded by lush landscape and waterfalls. While the name has changed from Malt-T-Melt, the attached restaurant still serves pizza and ice cream and malts. Admission is $8-$10/round. Open through Labor Day Weekend! Veterans Memorial Park, 6335 Portland Ave South, Richfield, MN 55423.
TRY A STORY TRAIL IN THE PARK
Lebanon Hills Regional Park, 860 Cliff Rd, Eagan, MN 55123
Here’s what I find so cool about the Story Trail program, which unites the classic indoor-outdoor summer activities of reading a book and park-going: it turns us on to new (to us) authors and takes us to parks not normally on our radar. This weekend, try the trail at Lake McDonough and read “Ten Pigs” by Derek Anderson. Our family also enjoys hiking the 2 mile or so trail around Jensen Lake and splashing at Schulze Lake Beach. Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, 5 a.m.–10 p.m.
FUN THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND IN THE TWIN CITIES, September 3-5, 2022 – Labor Day WEekend
Too many fun things to list here, I’ll tell you that. So we publish a separate guide each weekend with up-to-the-last-minute ideas for spending family time together.
FAMILY FUN ALL WEEK IN THE TWIN CITIES
Ideas to pull out of your “back pocket” nearly any day of the week!