THINGS TO DO THIS WEEK IN MINNEAPOLIS & ST PAUL WITH YOUR KIDS!
This guide covers Twin Cities family activities for the week of December 26-30, 2022. If you are in search of things to do with your family this weekend, jump over to our WEEKEND FAMILY GUIDE.
We’re closing out 2022 this week and getting ready to usher in a new year. For more early winter and seasonal inspiration you can check our ULTIMATE 2022 TWIN CITIES HOLIDAY GUIDE, DECEMBER FAMILY GUIDE 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!)
FUN THINGS TO DO IN THE TWIN CITIES ON MONDAY, December 26, 2022
With many venues closed immediately following Christmas, today might be a good one to explore some outdoor winter activities. Round up the cold weather gear and head out:
- RECOMMENDED TWIN CITIES SLEDDING HILLS – from bunny slides to steep thrills, we list sledding spots across the Minneapolis-St Paul metro by community.
- FREE COMMUNITY ICE SKATING RINKS – including multiple refrigerated outdoor rinks.
- BEST TUBING HILLS – particularly for your tweens and teens.
Winter Break Skate at Dick’s House of Sport
DICK’S House of Sport offers a full week of programing over winter break at 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. each day. Book your slot online. And keep in mind that Dick’s offers indoor activities too – a climbing wall, putting green and batting cages (my teenager was in sports heaven).
- Decem
ber 26 – Skate with a Princess (FREE! Skate rental $5 or BYO) - Decembe
r 27 – Stick and Puck ($5) - December 28 – Broomball (FREE)
- Decemb
er 29 – Boot Hockey - December 30 – Superhero Skate (FREE!)
- Learn More Dick’s House of Sport Outdoor Ice Skating Rink.
Twin Cities Holiday Events:
HOLIDAY NIGHT TRAINS AT TWIN CITY MODEL RAILROAD MUSEUM
A special holiday tradition at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum, the Night Trains season magically transforms the museum layouts. Buildings and street lights glow, and throughout the museum the layouts are adorned with Christmas lights. December 26, 2022, 3-7pm. $15/pp.
Kwanzaa Celebration at Midtown Global Market
920 E. Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN 55407
Celebrate Kwanzaa with freedom and gospel songs, food and more. The free event takes place in Center Court. December 26 & 27, 2022, 1-4pm.
FUN THINGS TO DO IN THE TWIN CITIES ON TUESDAY, December 27, 2022
TOT TIME OPEN GYMS ON TUESDAY:
Tot Time open gyms across the Twin Cities are absolutely a saving grace for parents of squirrelly kids when it’s too cold or sloppy to be outdoors:
- APPLE VALLEY – MILLZ HOUSE (Open play 9am-4pm, $6/pp)
- EAGAN COMMUNITY CENTER (Blast & Play, includes admission to The Blast Indoor Playground (9am-12pm, $5/child)
- LINO LAKES ROOKERY (Tot Time, 9am-12pm, ages 1-10, $4)
- MINNEAPOLIS PARKS & REC (Type “family indoor playground” into the search box to see schedule for locations, FREE)
- SAVAGE SPORTS CENTER (Tot Time, 9-11:30am, $3/child)
- ST LOUIS PARK (Little Tot Playtime, 9:30-11:30am, ages 1-5, $3/child) ON BREAK THIS WEEK
- ST PAUL RECREATION CENTERS (See schedule for locations, FREE)
TUESDAY FEATURED TOT TIME! SAVAGE SPORTS CENTER TOT TIME
13450 Dakota Ave S, Savage, MN 55378
An option for those in the southwest metro, Tot Time features activities for the 5 7 under set- inflatables, balls, other sporting equipment and space to run around when it’s chilly. December 27, 2022, 9-11:30am. $3/child.
TWIN CITIES STORYTIMES ON TUESDAY:
- CARVER COUNTY LIBRARY: On break this week.
- DAKOTA COUNTY LIBRARY: Take a gnome scavenger hunt at the library this week.
- HENNEPIN COUNTY LIBRARY: Minneapolis Northeast library branch.
- RAMSEY COUNTY LIBRARY STORYTIMES: On break this week.
- ST PAUL PUBLIC LIBRARY: Highland Park branch libraries.
- WASHINGTON COUNTY LIBRARY: Woodbury RH Stafford library branch.
Tuesday featured storytime! Storytime with Ditty Train Bop AT CHOO CHOO BOB’S TRAIN STORE
1665 West End Blvd, St Louis Park, MN 55416
The beloved train shop is BACK in a brand new location, complete with Engineer Paul’s train-tastic storytime. Our littles grew up with Choo Choo Bob’s original shop in St Paul so this is happy news. (Photo from the old store until we can get to the new one!) December 27, 2022, 10:30am. FREE!
More family fun ideas for Tuesday: National Visit a Zoo Day!
For those of us here in often-frigid Minnesota, this seems like a better day to observe on a balmy summer afternoon. However! Both of our local zoo options – COMO PARK ZOO & MINNESOTA ZOO – have spaces that call to mind a warmer climate. Como has a toasty warm conservatory and indoor rainforest exhibit; Minnesota Zoo has the wonderful Tropics Trail that will temporarily transport you away from all the ice and snow. (Budget tip: Como Zoo is FREE!)
FUN THINGS TO DO IN THE TWIN CITIES ON WEDNESDAY, December 28, 2022
TOT TIME OPEN GYMS ON WEDNESDAY:
- APPLE VALLEY COMMUNITY CENTER (9-10:30am, $15/membership pass or drop in option)
- MINNEAPOLIS PARKS & REC (See schedule for locations, FREE)
- NEW BRIGHTON COMMUNITY CENTER (Preschool Playtime, 12=3pm, $7/child includes admission to Eagles Nest Indoor Playground) ON BREAK THIS WEEK.
- SHAKOPEE COMMUNITY CENTER (Kids Playtime, 9:30-11am, $3/child)
- ST PAUL RECREATION CENTERS (See schedule for locations, FREE)
Wednesday featured open gym! MILLZ HOUSE OPEN PLAY
14645 Felton Court, Suite #104, Apple Valley, MN 55124
Work out the wiggles with indoor playsets, trampolines and basketball courts. Cost is $6/child; parents and babies under 18 months free. December 28, 2022. Open play 9am-12pm, $6/pp.
TWIN CITIES STORYTIMES ON WEDNESDAY
- CARVER COUNTY LIBRARY: On break this week.
- DAKOTA COUNTY LIBRARY: Take a gnome scavenger hunt at the library this week.
- HENNEPIN COUNTY LIBRARY: Linden Hills & Minneapolis North Regional library branches.
- RAMSEY COUNTY LIBRARY: Moundsview & North St Paul library branches.
- ST PAUL PUBLIC LIBRARY: Rondo library branch.
- WASHINGTON COUNTY LIBRARY: Cottage Grove Park Grove & Woodbury RH Stafford library branches.
Wednesday featured storytime! Kwanzaa Stories & Craft
Minneapolis Sumner Library, 611 Van White Memorial Blvd., Minneapolis, MN 55411
Black Storytellers Alliance leader Auntie Beverly leads Kwanzaa stories and hosts a craft. Registration required. December 28, 2022, 2:30-4pm. FREE.
More family fun ideas for Wednesday:
Eagan Winter Market & indoor playground
Eagan Community Center, 1501 Central Pkwy, Eagan, MN 55121
Visit an indoor winter market like the one at EAGAN COMMUNITY CENTER – from 4-7pm kids can do a special “produce hunt” activity while caregivers shop for local products. Make a day of it at THE BLAST INDOOR PLAYGROUND, also located in the community center. The perfect way to work out winter break wiggles and just $5/child. Speaking of kids with energy to burn, we have a dozen more indoor play places listed on our ultimate guide to TWIN CITIES INDOOR PLAYGROUNDS.
FUN THINGS TO DO IN THE TWIN CITIES ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2022
TOT TIME OPEN GYM ON THURSDAYS:
- ANDOVER COMMUNITY CENTER (9:30-11:30am, $5/child ages 5 & under)
- APPLE VALLEY – MILLZ HOUSE (Open play 9am-4pm, $6/pp)
- EAGAN COMMUNITY CENTER (Blast & Play, 9am-12pm, $5/child)
- MINNEAPOLIS PARKS & REC (See schedule for locations, FREE)
- SAVAGE SPORTS CENTER (Tot Time, 9-11:30am, $3/child)
- ST PAUL RECREATION CENTERS (See schedule for locations, FREE)
TWIN CITIES STORYTIMES ON THURSDAY:
- CARVER COUNTY LIBRARY: On break this week.
- DAKOTA COUNTY LIBRARY: Rosemount Robert Trail Library.
- HENNEPIN COUNTY LIBRARY: Oxboro library branch.
- RAMSEY COUNTY LIBRARY: New Brighton & Roseville branch libraries.
- WASHINGTON COUNTY LIBRARY: Cottage Grove Park Grove, Hardwood Creek & Woodbury RH Stafford library branches.
More family fun ideas for Thursday: free museum visits
Here’s a chance to visit a couple of family-friendly Twin Cities museums FREE today (who doesn’t love some FREE around the holidays?)
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 INSTITUTE offers FREE admission every Thursday after 3pm. There is a rotating family gallery kids will enjoy playing in and nooks and crannies to explore. PLUS! ASI’s holiday exhibit Secrets of the Seasons has the castle decked out through January 8, 2023. December 29, 2022.
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.
FREE THURSDAY NIGHT AT WALKER ART CENTER
725 Vineland Pl, Minneapolis, MN 55403
We recommend this chance to visit the Walker for free with older children or teens who enjoy art in a less hands-on experience. For a more kid-friendly (and still admission-free) opportunity, make sure to visit the first Saturday of each month for special programming. December 29, 2022, 5-9pm.
MORE GREAT TWIN CITIES MUSEUMS KIDS WILL ENJOY:
- BAKKEN MUSEUM, Minneapolis
- BELL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, St Paul
- MILL CITY MUSEUM, Minneapolis
- MINNNESOTA CHILDREN’S MUSEUM, St Paul
FUN THINGS TO DO IN THE TWIN CITIES ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2022
TOT TIME OPEN GYMS ON FRIDAY:
- APPLE VALLEY COMMUNITY CENTER (9-11am, $15/membership pass or drop in option)
- APPLE VALLEY – MILLZ HOUSE (Open play 9am-4pm, $6/pp)
- BURNSVILLE IGM GYMNASTICS (Preschool Open Gym, 9:30-11:30am, $10/child or $15/family.)
- EAGAN – ROCKIN JUMP JUNIOR JUMPERS (2-hr sessions starting at 9 & 10am. $12/child plus $3 re-useable jump socks.)
- PLYMOUTH FIELDHOUSE (Youth Open Play, 10:30am to 1:30pm, $5-$6/pp)
- ST PAUL RECREATION CENTERS (See schedule for locations, FREE)
TWIN CITIES STORYTIMES ON FRIDAY:
- CARVER COUNTY LIBRARY: Noon Year’s Eve celebration with Victoria & Chanhassen branch libraries. 11:30am.
- HENNEPIN COUNTY LIBRARY: Ridgedale branch library.
- RAMSEY COUNTY LIBRARY: On break.
- ST PAUL PUBLIC LIBRARY: Riverview & Hamline Midway branch libraries.
- WASHINGTON COUNTY LIBRARY: Cottage Grove Park Grove library branch.
More ideas for Friday night fun: last call for holiday lights!
That’s a wrap for 2022, folks. Most holiday venues blink off following New Years weekend so LIGHT IT UP, TWIN CITIES while you can!
- GLOW HOLIDAY FESTIVAL, St Paul (5-10pm)
- MINNESOTA LANDSCAPE ARBORETUM WINTER LIGHTS, Chanhassen (5-10pm)
- SAM’S CHRISTMAS VILLAGE & LIGHT TOUR, Somerset WI (5-9pm)
- SEVER’S HOLIDAY LIGHTS, Shakopee (5-10pm)
- VALLEYFAIR CHRISTMAS IN COLOR (5:30-9:30pm)
While the big, flashy shows can be exciting, sometimes a little less can be more. We’ve made some fond memories designing our own holiday lights route (in our respective necks of the metro), piling into the car and touring at our own pace. You can plan your family’s own light show route with our HOLIDAY LIGHTS FINDER. Just this week we discovered sweet Candy Cane Lane in Roseville (north central metro), complete with a little public walking path and sleds. Perfect for the littlest lights in your life!
TRAINS AFTER DARK
Overland Railway Historical Society, 2501 East 38th Street, Minneapolis
Those who love model trains will enjoy this special event – low light levels simulates night operation. December 30, 2022, 6-9pm. $10/person $25/family.
FUN THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND IN THE TWIN CITIES, DECEMBER 31, 2022-January 1, 2023
Happy New Year! 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.
FIND TONS MORE KID-FRIENDLY EVENTS ON OUR TWIN CITIES FAMILY FUN CALENDAR!