Things to do this week in the Twin Cities Northwest Metro with kids!
This guide covers Twin Cities Northwest Metro family activities for the week of July 13-17, 2026. If you are in search of things to do with your family this weekend, jump over to our TWIN CITIES NORTHWEST METRO WEEKEND FAMILY GUIDE. We’ve got you covered no matter your corner of the Minneapolis-St Paul Metro Area!
How to plan your family fun this week
More events this week around the Twin Cities Metro Area
Upcoming Twin Cities Northwest Metro Family Events
Saturday, July 18, 2026
⚈ 8:00 am - 10:00 pm: Maple Grove Days - Maple Grove Central Park, Maple Grove⚈ 8:00 am - 11:45 pm: Sherburne County Fair - Sherburne County Fairgrounds, Elk River
⚈ 9:00 am - 10:30 am: Crystal Cove Lil’ Splashers - Crystal Community Center & Crystal Cove Aquatic Center, Crystal
⚈ 10:00 am - 2:00 pm: Brooklyn Center Bike Bash (FREE) - Centennial Park, Brooklyn Center
⚈ 10:00 am - 2:00 pm: Eastman Dragonfly Festival (FREE) - Eastman Nature Center, Maple Grove
⚈ 10:00 am - 2:00 pm: Eidem Farm Saturday Open Gate Hours (FREE) - Historic Eidem Farm, Brooklyn Park
⚈ 10:00 am - 1:00 pm: Lowe's Kids Workshop: Mini Toy Box (FREE) - Lowe’s – Twin Cities Locations, Twin Cities
⚈ 10:00 am - 11:00 am: Saturday Story Hour (FREE) - Avant Garden Bookstore, Anoka
⚈ 10:00 am - 11:30 am: St Michael Cinema Kids Summer Movie Series - St Michael Cinema, St Michael
⚈ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm: Stories From the Porch (FREE) - Historic Eidem Farm, Brooklyn Park
⚈ 1:00 pm - 6:30 pm: Golden Valley Rescue Readers - Golden Valley Animal Humane Society, Golden Valley
⚈ 4:30 pm - 8:00 pm: Pizza Night - Alpha & Omega Farm, Princeton
⚈ 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm: Maple Grove Skate the Loop (FREE) - Maple Grove Central Park, Maple Grove
⚈ 8:30 pm - 10:00 pm: Eastman: Universe in the Park (FREE) - Eastman Nature Center, Maple Grove
Sunday, July 19, 2026
⚈ 8:00 am - 3:00 pm: Maple Grove Days - Osseo-Maple Grove American Legion, Osseo⚈ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm: Sherburne County Fair - Sherburne County Fairgrounds, Elk River
⚈ 9:00 am - 11:00 am: Third-Sunday Sensory Friendly Play - Urban Air Plymouth, Plymouth
⚈ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm: Eastman Drop-In Discoveries (FREE) - Eastman Nature Center, Maple Grove
⚈ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm: French Park Drop-In Discoveries: Art & Play (FREE) - French Regional Park, Plymouth
⚈ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm: Mississippi Gateway Drop-In Discoveries (FREE) - Mississippi Gateway Regional Park, Brooklyn Park
Fun things to do in the Twin Cities Northwest Metro on Monday, July 13, 2026
BROOKLYN CENTER Rec On the Go
Rec On The Go van brings recreation activities and equipment to local parks for kids and teens to play games and sports and create arts and crafts! Plus free meals are served for kids 18 and under. Monday’s schedule:
- Evergreen Park – 10:30am-12pm
- Grandview Park – 12:30am-2pm
- Lions Park – 3-4:30pm
- Northport Park – 5-6:30pm
ELK RIVER Park-a-Palooza
15899 Gary Street, Elk River, MN 55330
Kids ages 3-13 can be entertained with free drop-in activities like organized games, chalk art and crafts in Orono Park. Don’t forget swimwear for the beach and splash pad! July 13, 2026, 2-3:30pm. FREE.
Cool off in the Twin Cities Northwest Metro
All the best in water play the Twin Cities Northwest Metro has to offer: find beaches, waterparks and splash pads near you included in our TWIN CITIES NORTHWEST METRO SPLASH & SWIM GUIDE.
MAPLE GROVE Elm Creek Play Area – Minnesota’s Biggest Playground?
Gianna’s family affectionately calls it the Rainbow Park for its bright color scheme and equally enticing play equipment. There are plenty of tunnels, slides, and things to climb. The area covered is large, but fenced in with a single opening to ease the worries of losing little ones among the climbing apparatus and sandy dino dig. If you’re up for it, next door to the playground is the sand-bottomed, chlorinated Elm Creek Swimming Pond. At just $6/pp admission to swim, that’s a full day of bargain family fun.
MORE OF THE BEST: Find more of our suggestions for the TOP PLAYGROUNDS IN THE TWIN CITIES TO EXPLORE THIS SUMMER!
BROOKLYN PARK Library Family Storytime
8500 W Broadway Ave, Brooklyn Park, MN 55445
Get ready to sing, read, write and play together through books, stories, rhymes, music and movement. July 13, 2026. Two sessions: 9:30-10am & 10:30-11am.
ST MICHAELÂ Cinema Kids Summer Movies
4300 O’Day Ave NE, St Michael, MN 55376
Movies on the big screen all summer long for just a buck! This week screens Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. July 13, 2026, 11:30am.
Fun things to do in the Twin Cities Northwest Metro on Tuesday, July 14, 2026
MAPLE GROVE Camp Arbor
12459 Elm Creek Boulevard N, Maple Grove, MN 55369
FINAL WEEK! The Shoppes at Arbor Lakes offers a series of kid‑friendly events during the summer to engage in hands‑on crafts and other play activities. Best for youth ages 4-12. See link for this week’s project. July 14, 2026, 10:30-11:30am. FREE.
Cool off in the Twin Cities Northwest Metro
COON RAPIDS Bunker Beach Explore Your Parks Day
701 County Parkway A, Coon Rapids, MN 55433
Score $4 off admission to the Twin Cities’ largest outdoor waterpark and get free entry into Bunker Hills Regional Park (no park permit required today). July 14, 2026, 11am-7pm.
GOLDEN VALLEYÂ Public Safety In the Park
Medley Park, 2331 Ensign Ave N, Golden Valley, MN 55427
Golden Valley police & firefighters meet kids from the area, dish safety tips and occasionally hand out ice cream treats. If it’s hot, a fire truck may provide a pop-up splash pad. July 14, 2026, 2:30-3:30pm. FREE.
MAPLE GROVE Boundary Creek Pop Up Splash Pad
10455 Nathan Lane N, Maple Grove, MN 55331
Fire trucks will spray water, plus there will be water games and treats. Meet local firefighters and police officers, ask questions, learn about safety and tour a police car. July 14, 2026, 4-6pm. FREE.
GOT KIDS INTO FIRETRUCKS? WHERE ELSE MIGHT YOU FIND THEM THIS SUMMER IN THE METRO!
BROOKLYN PARK Eidem Farm Open Gate Hours
4345 101st Ave N, Brooklyn Park, MN 55443
Barn door’s open and you’re free to drop in! There might be farm chores you can help out with, garden crops to tend, trails to wander and animals to meet. July 14, 2026, 10am-2pm. FREE.
SPECIAL ON TUESDAY: Stories From the Porch are read to kids at 11am.Â
PLYMOUTHÂ History Center Storytime
3605 Fernbrook Lane N, Plymouth, MN 55447
Each session features a story with a related hands-on activity, best for kids starting at pre-K age. This week’s theme is Local Wildlife. July 14, 2026, 10-10:30am. FREE.
OSSEO Music & Movies in the Park
Boerboom Park, 416 Central Ave, Osseo, MN 55369
A concert in the park starts at 7pm followed by a family movie at dusk. SCREENING TONIGHT: Zootopia 2. July 14, 2026. FREE.
Fun things to do in the Twin Cities Northwest Metro on Wednesday, July 15, 2026
CHAMPLIN Kids Entertainment at Mississippi Crossings
307 E River Pkwy, Champlin, MN 55316
Pack a picnic lunch and enjoy a free lunchtime show on the river! Spellbinding Sky Dancers are today’s special guest. July 15, 2026, 10:30am. FREE.
GOLDEN VALLEY Puppet Wagon
Golden Valley’s Puppet Wagon travels around the city Wednesdays & Thursdays to present free shows in the park. Here’s today’s schedule:
- Stockman Park | 9:30am
- Â Scheid Park | 10:15am
- Natchez Park | 11:15am
ST MICHAEL Family Night In the Park
11800 Town Center Dr NE, St Michael, MN, 55376
Food trucks begin serving at 4pm, Farmers Market open for shopping needs from 4-7pm and free concerts from 7-9pm. Pack ahead for the park splash pad and make a night of it! July 15, 2026.
Cool off at a Twin Cities Northwest Metro splash pad
CHAMPLIN Andrews Park
7200 117th Ave N, Champlin, MN 55316.
In case it’s a cooker this week, what better way for littles to cool off than a classic splash pad with sprinklers, sprayers and buckets of water to dodge (nor not!)? If Champlin is 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.Â
ROGERS Family Storytime
21300 John Milless Dr, Rogers, MN 55374
Kids of all ages along with their caregivers, can sing, read and play together at Rogers Library’s Family Storytime. Register ahead – see link. July 15, 2026, 10am. FREE.
Fun things to do in the Twin Cities Northwest Metro on Thursday, July 16, 2026
ELK RIVER Entertainment In the Park
20135 Elk Lake Rd, Elk River, MN 55330
Kid-friendly entertainment at Woodland Trails Regional Park – Wendy’s Wiggle Jiggle Jam performs today at 10:30am. July 16, 2026. FREE.
MAPLE GROVE Sounds of Summer Kids Entertainment
7991 Main St N, Maple Grove, MN 55369
Kid favorites performed in Maple Grove’s Town Green Park. The Big Fun Show appears today during Maple Grove Days. July 16, 2026, 10:30am. FREE.
Northwest Metro tot swims on Thursday
COON RAPIDS Bunker Beach Tot Time
701 County Parkway A, Coon Rapids, MN 55433
Pre-k kids can explore the lagoon area before the park opens to the public for the day. Program runs Tuesdays & Thursdays from 8:45-10:45am. Cost is $7/swimmer, adults free.
SPLISH SPLASH! Find more Tot Swims across the Twin Cities Metro.
ELK RIVER Sherburne County Fair
18335 Joplin St NW, Elk River, MN 55330
OPENING NIGHT! The county fair could be a good alternative to those whose kids might not be prepared for the massive crowds of the Minnesota State Fair. Or it could be a warm up to the main event. Whatever you call it, the county fair will have a carnival, farm animals to meet, entertainment such as a lumberjack show and a parade. July 16, 2026. $5/pp admission ages 6 & up.
MAPLE GROVE Days Parade
89th Avenue No. from Zachary to Elm Creek.
The hometown parade begins around 6pm and has all you’d expect: local clubs and organizations, clowns and marching bands. July 16, 2026.
Fun things to do in the Twin Cities Northwest Metro on Friday, July 17, 2026
MAPLE GROVE Friday Movies at Dusk: Zootopia 2
Town Green Park, 7991 Main Street N, Maple Grove, MN
Friday Movies at Dusk are part of Maple Grove’s Sounds of Summer 2026. Tonight screens Zootopia 2. July 17, 2026, dusk. FREE.
PLYMOUTH Hilde Nights
3500 Plymouth Boulevard, Plymouth, MN 55447
Kat Perkins plays a Mega Country Tribute tonight – free show in the park! Food trucks will be onsite; bring chairs or a blanket to picnic. July 17, 2026, 6-10pm.