Twin Cities Northeast Metro: Things To Do This Summer

Twin Cities Northeast Metro: Things To Do This Summer – Covering the Twin Cities, Minnesota, communities of Maplewood, Roseville, Shoreview, St Anthony, Vadnais Heights & White Bear Lake.

School’s out and your family is just itching to explore beyond the backyard. We have the scoop on your community entertainment – live music in the parks, family festivals, swimming and splash pads, the puppet wagon and lots more to keep you busy this summer.

TWIN CITIES NORTHEAST METRO SUMMER EVENTS 2023

MAPLEWOOD

Maplewood summer community events

Maplewood Touch-a-Truck

2100 White Bear Avenue, Maplewood MN
Get close to police cars, firetrucks, garbage trucks, snow plows and more favorites plus the event includes activity stations, free hot dogs and chips – all free. June 14, 2023, 6-7:30pm. 

Maplewood summer festivals

Maplewood Light it Up

Hazelwood Park, 1663 County Road C East, Maplewood, MN
Maplewood’s Fourth of July festival. July 4, 2023.

Maplewood swimming & beaches

Phalen Park Beach

1600 Phalen Dr, St Paul, MN 55106
The northern curve of Lake Phalen resides in Maplewood though the big, sandy beach is technically in St Paul. Pop over during the summer for a swim & dash through the adjacent splash pad. The lake is also a site for sailing lessons, swimming lessons, and canoe & kayak clinics. 

Phalen Beach in Saint Paul, Minnesota

Maplewood historic sites

BRUENTRUP HERITAGE FARM

2170 County Rd D E, Maplewood, MN 55109
Operated by the Maplewood Historical Society, the farm is open during summer open houses and for special events. The public is permitted to walk the grounds and trails at any time.

Bruentrup Heritage Farm, Maplewood

Maplewood nature playground

Maplewood Nature Center

2659 E 7th St, Maplewood, MN 55119
The public is welcome to come play in the Nature Play Yard: The boulders and giant logs are particularly pleasing to scale, there’s a natural amphitheater for an impromptu performance, and the butterfly garden gives it a nice pop of color. 

 

Maplewood summer library events

The MAPLEWOOD LIBRARY is a branch of the Ramsey County Library system. It has a large area devoted to early literacy skills through play. See the library events calendar for upcoming summer programs and the 2023 summer reading program page for more details.

Maplewood Library

ROSEVILLE

Roseville  parks – summer events

Want to get out and play in Roseville parks this summer? Try starting with our list of the best: Roseville Family Fun: 10 Best Parks in Roseville to Explore This Summer.

Roseville Central Park

2540 Lexington Ave. North, Roseville MN 55113
The 225 acre park is so large that it’s really more like 6 separate parks connected by walking paths and biking trails.  The green space encompasses Lake Bennett, two playgrounds, the nature center, an arboretum and several picnic shelters and ballfields.

Roll-In Movies at the Oval

Roseville Oval, 2661 Civic Center Dr, Roseville, MN 55113
Roll In Movies – family-friendly Friday night movies on the outside OVAL score board. Showtime 7:30pm.

  • June 9, 2023 – Encanto
  • July 14, 2023 – Minions: Rise of Gru

Roseville community parks

  • ROSEVILLE PUPPET WAGON – Make way for the puppets, coming to 9 Roseville parks this summer. Tues-Thurs, June 21-August 17, 2023. 9:30-11:30am.
  • DISCOVER YOUR PARKS – Family activities at eight Roseville parks, refreshments and a bounce castle. Ongoing Wednesdays starting June 21, 2023.
  • FRIDAYS WITH FIREFIGHTERS Roseville Fire Department, 2701 Lexington Ave N, Roseville. June 23, July 21 & August 18, 2023. 10am-12pm.

Roseville nature play

Harriet Alexander Nature Center

2520 Dale St N, Roseville, MN 55113
Indoors, an impressively realistic floor-to-ceiling “tree” dominates the entrance to the nature center’s exhibits. There’s a library nook with children’s nature books, a back room crammed with tanks of turtles to observe, and a seasonal bee exhibit. Outside, explore the trails and boardwalks through 52 acres of prairie, marsh, and forest habitats.

Harriet Alexander Nature Center, Roseville

Roseville summer festivals

Rosefest

Festival activities include a free family skate at Roseville Skate Center, community theatre performances, a Great American Campout at Harriet Alexander Nature Center, Touch a Truck and children’s concert & parade. June 22-28 & July 4, 2023. 

Roseville swimming & beaches

Lake Johanna Beach

3500 Lake Johanna Blvd, Arden Hills, MN 55112
Just a few blocks away from Roseville in Arden Hills, the large sandy beach within Tony Schmidt Regional Park beckons to swimmers. We rate this beach one of the top for families in the Twin Cities.

Lake Johanna Beach, Arden Hills

Lake Josephine County Park

3027 Lexington Ave N, Roseville, MN 55113
The sandy area of this beach is on the small side, but there are shady spaces where families could camp out close to the sand. There are also strategic spots where a parent could watch both the beach and the playground.

Lake McCarrons County Park

1795 Rice St, Roseville, MN 55113
Park amenities include a playground and guarded beach. There is also space for picnics and fishing.

Roseville bike trails

Start: CENTRAL PARK Lexington Ave parking lot and bike your way around Bennet Lake to the Victoria West portion of the park. Pause for the big playground! Continue your route west to Dale Street through the Muriel Sahlin Arboretum.
Finish: HARRIET ALEXANDER NATURE CENTER. Bikes aren’t allowed on the boardwalks so you’ll need to park yours to explore on foot.
Distance: This is an easy trip of less than two miles.

Start: RESEVOIR WOODS trailhead parking lot. Bike the Trout Creek Trail west through the park until you reach McCarrons Blvd.
Finish: From McCarrons Blvd, you can choose to bike further west around the lake to LAKE MCCARRONS COUNTY PARK and hit the small beach, or bike north to Villa Park. There is a surprising amount of wildlife in these urban parks – see how much you can spot along the way!
Distance: This is another biking option under two miles, but the terrain is often rolling.

Roseville summer library events

The ROSEVILLE LIBRARY is the largest branch of the Ramsey County Library system. We recommend this library as one of the best for its creative spaces and extensive youth programming. Ramsey County recently announced that they will be enhancing the Children’s Reading Garden with interactive STEAM elements. Families can currently relax and read on the benches provided, picnic at the tables, or play in the prairie area. See the library events calendar for upcoming summer programs.

SHOREVIEW

Shoreview Parks – summer events

Want to get out and play in Shoreview parks this summer? Try starting with our list of the best: SHOREVIEW FAMILY FUN: THE BEST PARKS IN SHOREVIEW, MINNESOTA.

Shoreview Commons Park

Shoreview summer festivals

Slice of Shoreview Days

Held at ISLAND LAKE COUNTY PARK, the festival includes a parade and free kids activities – chalk art, slip’n slide & climbing wall. July 21-23, 2023. 

Shoreview swimming & beaches

Vadnais-Snail Lakes Regional Park

4191 Snail Lake Blvd., Shoreview, MN 55126
The beach is tucked away in a pocket of the north Metro, less populated, grassy, shaded and shallow with a sand-and-water play structure right at the shoreline. We only wish the unique playground equipment was closer to the water.

Snail Lake Beach - 20 Twin Cities Beaches, Parks & Playgrounds to Try This Summer
Snail Lake Regional Park beach, Shoreview

 

Shoreview summer library events

4560 Victoria St N, Shoreview, MN 55126
The
SHOREVIEW LIBRARY is a branch of the Ramsey County Library system. The new location opened in 2017 with a large children’s area that includes a small, interactive treehouse play structure installed by the Minnesota Children’s Museum. See the library events calendar for upcoming summer programs.

Shoreview Library - Ramsey County

ST ANTHONY VILLAGE

St Anthony Village parks – summer events

Silverwood Park

2500 County Rd E, St Anthony, MN 55421
Silverwood offers a combo of natural space and art for exploring at leisure. If you prefer guided exploration, there are regular free artist and naturalist led hikes.

  • SILVERWOOD ONSTAGE Wednesdays starting June 28-August 30, 2023, 6:30-8pm.
  • PUPPET ADVENTURES & LET’S GET STARTED – joins Ned as he stops Trasher the Trash Can from trashing nature. Try art making with a take-home activity. June 11, 2023, 1-3pm FREE.
  • Explore the outdoor sculpture trails.
Silverwood Park, St Anthony

Salo Park Concert Series

3301 Silver Lake Rd NE, St Anthony, MN 55418
Thursday evenings 7-8pm. June 22-August 10, 2023.
 2023 Lineup Here.

Bonus Fun: Check out the park’s recently-resurfaced trail around the pond and/or grab a cold treat at Cold Stone Creamery, Cub or Culvers.

St Anthony Village splash pads

Emerald Park, St Anthony

VADNAIS HEIGHTS

Vadnais Heights parks – summer events

Vadnais Heights Music in the Parks

The lineup features 4 shows in 2023 at parks in Vadnais Heights: June 28 at Bridgewood Park, July 12 at Bear Park, July 19 at Westfield Park & July 26 at Lily Pond Park. 6-8pm.

Vadnais Heights summer festivals

Vadnais Heights Heritage Days

Offers a medallion hunt, kids parade, children’s activities, live bands and fireworks. August 14-20, 2023.

WHITE BEAR LAKE

White Bear Lake nature play

Tamarack Nature Center

5287 Otter Lake Rd, White Bear Township, MN 55110
What really shines at Tamarack is its glorious outdoor DISCOVERY HOLLOW & GARDEN, the ultimate nature playground for kids. Bring a change of clothes and prepare to spend hours if you’re able. 

Discovery Hollow Nature Play Area, White Bear Lake, Minnesota
Discovery Hollow Nature Play Area, White Bear Lake

White Bear Lake community entertainment

White Bear Lake Marketfest

Food trucks and art vendors in downtown, plus live music on 2 stages. Thursdays, June 15-July 27, 2023, 6-9pm.

White Bear Lake summer festivals

White Bear Lake Manitou Days

Annual festival events include the Grande Parade, a medallion hunt, beach dance, July 4th fireworks, and a kids fishing contest. June 15-July 3, 2023.

White Bear Lake swimming & beaches

White Bear Lake County Park

5050 Lake Ave, White Bear Lake, MN 55110
The park has a good sized playground and several picnic tables throughout the park as well as a guarded beach during the summer months.

White Bear Lake summer library events

The WHITE BEAR LAKE LIBRARY is a branch of the Ramsey County Library system. See the library events calendar for upcoming summer programs.

150+ THINGS TO DO THIS SUMMER IN THE TWIN CITIES WITH KIDS!

 

Drop us a comment if you are aware of something else in the Twin Cities Northwest Metro that we missed.  We will share it with the community.

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