Fun things to do in Minneapolis & St Paul Monday, August 10, 2026

Where can I find the Puppet Wagon in the Twin Cities?

It’s already the FINAL WEEK of shows for several of the Twin Cities-area puppet wagons! If you’re willing to venture a little outside of the mid-Metro, here’s where you can still catch a free performance this summer:

• APPLE VALLEY Puppet Wagon – daily during the week
• COLUMBIA HEIGHTS Puppet Wagon – See link for dates
• ROSEVILLE Puppet Wagon – Tues-Thurs
• WOODBURY Puppet Wagon – Mon-Thurs

Open for daily summer hours: Minneapolis & St Paul swimming pools

MINNEAPOLIS Jim Lupient Waterpark

1520 Johnson St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413
Amenities include water slides and a tube slide, log water walk and a separate small fry area with spray fountains and zero-depth entry. Open daily through August 23, 1-7pm. $10/person.

MINNEAPOLIS Webber Park Swimming Pool 

4300 Webber Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55412
The pool water is naturally treated with plants instead of chemicals. Zero-depth entry for the littlest swimmers. Open daily through August 23, 1-7pm offering FREE admission.

Webber Park Pool, Minneapolis

ST PAUL Como Regional Park Pool

1151 Wynne Ave, St Paul, MN 55108
Features a zip line, climbing wall, lazy river and separate splash pool. Open through August 26, $6-$8/pp. Twilight discount available.

ST PAUL Highland Park Aquatic Center

1840 Edgcumbe Rd, St Paul, MN 55116
Children’s activity pool, diving well & slide. Open regular weekday hours through August 26. $6-$8/pp. Twilight discount – $5 after 5pm.

Around the Twin Cities Metro: Tot Time Open Swims

Minneapolis & St Paul do not have weekday tot swims, but there are several pools around the greater Twin Cities metro that offer these special times. Make sure to note for tot swims that each pool sets their own age limit to participate. These typically range from kids under 5-8 years of age so you’ll want to hit the link for details before heading out to swim. Also note that not each venue offers a discounted admission rate – but many do! FIND ALL THE DETAILS ON TWIN CITIES TOT SWIMS HERE!

• APPLE VALLEY Splash Valley Tots-Only Swim – 9:30-10:30am
• EAGAN Cascade Bay Little Mates – 9:30-10:30am
• EDINA Aquatic Center Lil Lagoon Tot Time – 10-11:30am
• RICHFIELD Outdoor Pool Tot Time – 10-11am
• SOUTH ST PAUL Lorraine Park Splash Pool Toddler Time – 11am-12:30pm
• ST LOUIS PARK Aquatic Park Parent & Tot Time – 9:30am-11am

Or keep it simple with a free wading pool…

The FREE wading pools that dot Minneapolis parks are the perfect place for toddlers and littles who have not yet learned to swim but love to make a good splash. Many of them are no-frills with a standard depth of about 18″ but a few have been updated with fun spray features and zero-depth entry. For all the details, jump over to our page that covers the 60 Minneapolis parks that offer free wading pools. Today’s feature:

MINNEAPOLIS Lake Hiawatha Park

2701 E 44th St, Minneapolis, MN 55406
This week we travel to a hybrid splash pad-wading pool in Minneapolis that is a great compromise for families that have a little one too young to swim but also an older kid who can go further than knee deep. Lake Hiawatha Park’s water play space could be more accurately called a wading pool, but there is a zero-depth entry end lined with water jets so we count that as a splash pad. The water is about two feet at its deepest and features spraying cattails. There is also a sand play area on the playground with a tot lot onsite. Daily 10am-9pm (10pm if temp is 85 degrees at 6pm).

But if that’s out of your neighborhood, you’re bound to find an alternative on our huge list of the 40 BEST SPLASH PADS & WADING POOLS IN THE TWIN CITIES.

Or make it a full beach day in Minneapolis

We can give you at least 26 reasons. They’re all neatly wrapped up in our GUIDE TO THE BEST BEACHES IN THE TWIN CITIES, thoughtfully organized by region of the Minneapolis-St Paul metro. Today we’re highlighting this Minneapolis gem:

MINNEAPOLIS Lake Nokomis Main Beach

5001 Lake Nokomis Parkway W, Minneapolis, MN 55417
Spread out on the large and very clean sandy beach and let the lake entertain your kids for hours. The water remains shallow a decent distance out, but eventually deepens enough for older ones to swim happily. Wheel Fun rents out an impressive selection of paddleboards, canoes, kayaks and junior paddleboats for families to get out on the lake, or surrey bikes to pedal on the bike path that skirts the park. When it’s time for a lunch break, the onsite Painted Turtle Restaurant has moved into the space formerly occupied by Sandcastle Restaurant, and will likely stock the same kid-friendly favorites and also some interesting fare for the adults.

Discover a Twin Cities nature playground

FRIDLEY Springbrook Nature Center

100 85th Ave NW, Fridley, MN 55432
We get such a deep satisfaction from watching our kids play in a more natural setting: digging, figuring out how to climb that tree, following paths, building forts. Have you heard of the nature-based play area at Springbrook Nature Center in Fridley? Kids will love the sandy play space where they can pump their own water. Dress accordingly and be sure to explore the indoor exhibits at the nature center.

Find more incredible twin Cities nature-based playgrounds.

MINNEAPOLIS Linden Hills Baby Storytime

2900 W. 43rd Street, Minneapolis, MN, 55410
Even if you no longer are toting babies, the Linden Hills Library is a lovely and calming place to spend the morning browsing and playing. Plus, you can pair a visit with a tour of the charming neighborhood with many kid-friendly venues beckoning like Wild Rumpus Books and Pinwheel Play to name a few. August 10, 2026, 10 & 11am. FREE.