Twin Cities Guide to Family Activities This Week: March 20-24, 2023

THINGS TO DO THIS WEEK IN  MINNEAPOLIS & ST PAUL WITH YOUR KIDS!

This guide covers Twin Cities family activities for the week of March 20-24, 2023. If you are in search of things to do with your family this weekend, jump over to our Weekend Family Guide.

As always, you can check our MARCH FAMILY GUIDE or our FAMILY FUN CALENDAR for more fun ideas on what to do this week in the Twin Cities with your kids. Plan ahead for nicer weather with our ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SPRING FUN IN THE TWIN CITIES!

Weekend Family Guide - Family Fun Twin Cities Banner.

PLANNING FOR SPRING BREAK IN THE TWIN CITIES THIS WEEK?

Why spring break?  Because a Minnesota winter wrapping up is worth celebrating. Craft a fun staycation “Spring Break Trip” for your own family whether you have big kids or little kids. Be tourists right in the Twin Cities! Think mini golf, trampolines, scavenger hunts, rock climbing, museums and more. Get some inspiration from our 2023 GUIDE TO SPRING BREAK IN THE TWIN CITIES.

Spring Break in the Twin CIties

FUN THINGS TO DO IN THE TWIN CITIES ON MONDAY, MARCH 20, 2023 

Tot Time Open Gyms in the Twin Cities Minnesota this week

TOT TIME OPEN GYMS ON MONDAY:

Let them bounce off someone else’s walls! Our list covers open gyms for tots across the Twin Cities where they can work their wiggles off during colder weather either FREE or at a low cost to you.

SEE OUR FULL LIST OF TWIN CITIES TOT TIME OPEN GYMS THIS WINTER!

MONDAY FEATURED TOT TIME! TOT TIMES AT ST PAUL RECREATION CENTERS

It’s fun, unstructured, nearly always free and a total sanity-saver during our cold months. I used it routinely when my firstborn was a toddler. He thrived on the small bikes, balls, tumbling mats and other provided equipment for free physical play. The following St Paul recreation centers have tot times on Monday mornings this winter:

Indoor Toddler Activities

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TWIN CITIES STORYTIMES ON MONDAY:

MONDAY FEATURED STORYTIME! Free Story & Art Time at Eden Prairie Art Center

7650 Equitable Drive, Eden Prairie, MN
Drop in for storytime & an art project. Dress to get creative. No registration required. March 20, 2023, 10-11:30am.

MORE FAMILY FUN IDEAS FOR MONDAY: STEM ACTIVITIES!

Experience Gallery now open at The Works Museum

9740 Grand Ave. S, Bloomington, MN 55420
After a period of renovation, the super kid-friendly and hands-on engineering museum has opened their refreshed Experience Gallery. Play with simple machines, sensors, circuits, and optical illusions. Be mesmerized by the expanded K’nex ball machine. Special spring break hours on March 21, 10am-5pm. $13/pp admission.

MORE FUN STEM-FOCUSED MUSEUMS FOR KIDS:
  • BAKKEN MUSEUM: All about electricity – it’s hair-raising science fun to explore. 3537 Zenith Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55416.
  • BELL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY: Far-out space exhibits and intriguing animal dioramas make it really special. Larpenteur Avenue West, Saint Paul, MN 55113.
  • SCIENCE MUSEUM OF MINNESOTA: World-class science exhibits and an IMAX theater. 120 W. Kellogg Boulevard, St. Paul, MN 55102.

Free Ice Cream Days & Cheap Cones in the Twin Cities

Dairy Queen Free Cone Day

A classic! Enjoy a free small vanilla cone at participating non-mall Dairy Queen locations. All day, limit one per person. And, in anticipation of warmer days ahead, we’ve updated our big list of 2023 FREE CONE DAYS & FREE ICE CREAM SOCIALS IN THE TWIN CITIES.

FUN THINGS TO DO IN THE TWIN CITIES ON TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 2023

Tot Time Open Gyms in the Twin Cities Minnesota this week

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:

TUESDAY FEATURED TOT TIME! BLAST AND PLAY

Eagan Community Center, 1501 Central Pkwy, Eagan, MN 55121
Blast & Play Tot Time includes admission to the space-themed Blast Indoor Playground and the community center gym for open play with equipment provided. March 21, 2023, 9am-12pm. $5/child.

FIND OUR GIANT LIST OF SUPER FUN INDOOR PLAYGROUNDS IN THE TWIN CITIES WHEN IT’S NOT QUITE PARK WEATHER!

The Blast Indoor Playground at Eagan Central Park, Eagan Minnesota

TWIN CITIES STORYTIMES ON TUESDAY:

TUESDAY FEATURED STORYTIME: Family Storytime at Woodridge Park

9000 90th St S, Cottage Grove, MN 55016
Singing, literacy and playing are all part of this indoor storytime at the park followed by a related activity for kids up to age 6. March 21, 2023, 10:30-11am. FREE.

"Maple Syrup Time" Background shows golden color of maple syrup in the shape of a maple leaf.

TWIN CITIES MAPLE SYRUP EVENTS

Sap to Syrup at Dodge Nature Center

365 Marie Avenue West St. Paul, MN 55118
This is an evening maple syrup program for kids ages 3-8 with their caregivers. March 21, 2023, 6:30-7:30pm. $5/pp.

We have oodles of family programs this weekend to share with you in our guide to MAPLE SYRUP IN THE TWIN CITIES. Catch them before they’re all tapped out for another spring!

Volunteer showing girls how to tapa maple tree at a Warner Nature Center maple-syruping event, Minnesota

MORE FAMILY FUN IDEAS FOR TUESDAY: EDUTAINMENT FOR KIDS!

Toddler Tuesday at the Raptor Center 

1920 Fitch Ave, St Paul, MN 55108
Meet a resident raptor, listen to stories and make a craft during this kid-friendly open house style event.  The Raptor Center, located on the St Paul campus of the U of M treats about 800 injured birds a year with the goal of releasing them back to the wild. For ages 5 & under. Learn more about visiting the Raptor Center with kids. March 21, 2023, 10am-12pm. $10/adults, up to two kids FREE, additional child $7.50

Raptor Center, Saint Paul

Visit Como Planetarium – Public Tuesday Nights

780 W Wheelock Pkwy #1315, St Paul, MN 55117
Two educational & entertaining shows to choose from, both centered on the spring night sky. Pre-K kids with their family:
register for the 5:30pm show plus hands-on activities. General audiences: register for the 7pm show. March 21, 2023. $5/pp.

FUN THINGS TO DO IN THE TWIN CITIES ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2023

Tot Time Open Gyms in the Twin Cities Minnesota this week

TOT TIME OPEN GYMS ON WEDNESDAY:

WEDNESDAY FEATURED OPEN GYM! PLYMOUTH FIELDHOUSE OPEN PLAY

When the temps dip, field house opens up for kids who need to run and scoot around indoors. Balls and objects for free play are provided.The fieldhouse is heated to 55 degrees so dress accordingly. March 22, 2023, 10:30am to 1:30pm, ages 12 & under, $5-$6/pp. 14800 34th Ave., Plymouth, MN 55447-1482.

TWIN CITIES STORYTIMES ON WEDNESDAY

WEDNESDAY FEATURED STORYTIME: STORYTIME AT RED BALLOON

891 Grand Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105
Storyteller Angela hosts a storytime at the charming bookshop perfect for 3s & under (but all welcome). March 22, 2023, 10:30am. FREE.

Summer Reading Programs at Local Bookstores

Preschool & up open gymnastics

2015 Silver Bell Rd #180, Eagan, MN 55122
A trip to Gleason’s for open gym is an instant mood-lifter. The kids will love the opportunity to bounce on trampolines, scoot through obstacle courses, and play on the gym equipment. Register in advance for a discount. And hey, teens and tweens! There are open gyms for you, too. March 22 & 24, 2023, 9:30 – 11:30am. $10 per child or $15 per family (online)-$15 per child or $20 (at the door).

FUN THINGS TO DO IN THE TWIN CITIES ON THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2023

Tot Time Open Gyms in the Twin Cities Minnesota this week

TOT TIME OPEN GYM ON THURSDAYS:

THURSDAY FEATURED OPEN GYM! ANDOVER COMMUNITY CENTER OPEN GYM & STORYTIME 

Andover Community Center, 15200 Hanson Blvd NW, Andover, MN 55304
We picked this special Tot Time this week because there’s also a special storytime included. March 23, 2023. 9:30-11:30am, $5/child ages 5 & under.

TWIN CITIES STORYTIMES ON THURSDAY:

MORE FAMILY FUN IDEAS FOR THURSDAY:

Free kids entertainment at Edinborough Park

7700 York Ave. S., Edina, MN 55435
Todd ‘n Tina Music performs a free set for kids at the indoor park’s balmy amphitheater. This could be a nice break from a zany run around the giant ADVENTURE PEAK INDOOR PLAYGROUND, also housed within Edinborough Park and reasonably priced at $9/child for hours of energy-busting fun. March 23, 2023, 11-11:45am.

Edinborough Park - Adventure Peak Indoor Playground

Try rollerskating – Family Night Thursdays at Cheapskate 

3075 Coon Rapids Blvd NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55433
Skate to throwback prices and tunes. Just $6.99 to skate plus skate rental fee (or bring your own). Ongoing Thursdays, 5-8pm. For more rink locations, try our 
6 Twin Cities Roller Rink Family Deals.

FUN THINGS TO DO IN THE TWIN CITIES ON FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2023

Tot Time Open Gyms in the Twin Cities Minnesota this week

TOT TIME OPEN GYMS ON FRIDAY:

FRIDAY FEATURED OPEN GYM! Hopkins Pavilion Turf Tots

Indoor turf where there’s more room to run! Kids 5 & under can play with bounce houses, climbing wall, sport balls, crawl tunnels, blocks, trikes and more for kids ages 1-5. Through May 5, 2023; Mon-Fri, 8am-1pm. $5 per session per child.

Twin Cities Tot Times and other activities to do with my preschool child.

TWIN CITIES STORYTIMES ON FRIDAY:

 

Eco-Art at Silverwood Park

2500 County Rd E, St Anthony, MN 55421
Kids ages 7-12 can learn how fossils form and use clay and plaster to create plaster cast artwork. If the program is full, you may also want to explore the park outdoors and find unique art sculptures. Registration is required. March 24, 2023, 9:30am. $8/pp.

Messy Monsters Toddler Art Program

Mess Hall, 906 Mainstreet, Hopkins, MN 55343
Let the studio take care of the mess so you parents don’t have to! Special for ages 2-6, tots can mess around with art in an educational environment and take home all of their creations. Ongoing Fridays including March 24, 2023, 10:30-11:15am. $28/child-adult pair.

FUN THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND IN THE TWIN CITIES – MARCH 25-26, 2023

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.

children in a family bike ride

Family Fun All Week in the twin cities

Ideas to pull out of your “back pocket” nearly any day of the week!

Top Twin Cities Kid-friendly museums:

Browse our big list of Twin Cities museums to visit with kids!
Giant Minnesota Post Card displayed at the Minnesota History Center in Saint Paul.
Minnesota Postcard

Best indoor playgrounds & play areas in the Twin Cities

We cover the top places for the indoor fun your kids are craving: climbing, sliding, jumping, crawling and just plain blowing off some steam.

Indoor Playgrounds in the Twin Cities, Minnesota - Child Playing in a Ball Pit

Best Tot Time Open Gyms in the Twin Cities

Turf Tots at Hopkins Pavilion

11000 Excelsior Blvd, Hopkins, MN 55343
Drop-in and play with fun, gross motor equipment like bounce houses, a climbing wall, sport balls, crawl tunnels, blocks, trikes and more. No registration necessary. The program is for children 5 and under. Mon-Fri, 9am to 2pm thru May 6, 2022. $5 per session per child.

Tot Time at Savage Sports Center

Heads up those with squirrelly kids in the Twin Cities southwest metro! At open Tot Time, preschoolers 5 & under can play on inflatables, with balls and bats and more. All gym equipment provided. Ongoing Tues & Thurs (March 22 & 24) 2022. $3/child.

Twin Cities Nature Centers and Nature Play

Early spring is an exciting time to visit a Twin Cities area nature center, fresh with the promise of a new season and programming. But, as we know, March weather can be as temperamental as a toddler. Good thing these interpretive venues can be nearly as fun indoors as out.

 

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