Twin Cities Northwest Metro: Things To Do This Summer
Twin Cities Northwest Metro Things to Do This Summer – Covering the Twin Cities, Minnesota, communities of Andover, Blaine, Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Coon Rapids, Fridley, Maple Grove, New Brighton, Otsego & Plymouth.
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.
Get started planning your best summer!
Everything under the sun you need to know about family fun this summer in the Twin Cities. Beat boredom and fill your long school break days exploring the best the Twin Cities has to offer in the way of parks, swim spots, community entertainment and local festivals with our Ultimate Summer Events Guide.
Enter our Summer to Remember Family Adventure!
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TWIN CITIES NORTHWEST METRO SUMMER EVENTS 2020
Please note that many of these venues will be closed for the 2020 season or are postponing their openings. Please makes sure to call ahead and check the schedule.
Not the Twin Cities community you’re searching for? We’re also covering the following:
Twin Cities Northeast Metro: Things To Do This Summer
Twin Cities Southwest Metro: Things To Do This Summer
Twin Cities Southeast Metro: Things To Do This Summer
ANDOVER
Andover summer festivals
Andover Family Fun Fest: Look for the Zoomobile, Kidzart, magic & juggling shows, and donkey-pulled wagon rides. July 10-11, 2020. CANCELLED FOR 2020
Andover swimming & beaches
Bunker Hills Regional Park: Much of the sprawling Bunker Hills Park lies in Andover; the Bunker Beach Water Park is located within the park though its address is technically Coon Rapids. The waterpark is Minnesota’s largest outdoor venue. CLOSED FOR 2020 SEASON.
BLAINE
Blaine parks – summer events
Performance in the Park: Live summer entertainment in Town Square Park. Tuesdays (kids night) & Thursdays, 6pm starting June 16, 2020.
Blaine festivals
Blaine festival: The includes family beach party, carnival, petting zoo, dance party. Aquatore Park. June 26-28, 2020. CANCELLED FOR 2020
Blaine Family Fun Night: FREE kids carnival games, safety vehicles on display, and inflatables. Aquatore Park. July 14, 2020.
Blaine swimming & beaches
Lakeside Commons Park: Public beach, splash pad, playground, and water rentals. $5/non-res, residents FREE. – The Beach opens June 12, 2020. “At this time, only the beach will be open. The splash pad, boathouse, restrooms, volleyball court, and changing facilities will remain closed”
Lakeside Commons Park (image courtesy Twin Cities Northwest Metro City of Blaine)
BROOKLYN CENTER
Brooklyn Center summer festivals
Earle Brown Days Festival: Celebrates with a parade; Centennial Park offers entertainment, food trucks, youth activities, community market, fireworks and more. June 25-27, 2020. PARADE CANCELLED FOR 2020.
BROOKLYN PARK
Brooklyn Park parks – summer events
Rec on the Go: A free program at rotating parks for kids ages 5–18 (or younger with parents), offerings to include art, science, water days, sports, group games and slime. See our calendar for specific parks and dates. Free summer meals & snacks served to children under 18, $3/adults. Learn more about Rec on the Go in Brooklyn Park.
Brooklyn Park community entertainment
Music on the Lawn: Concerts at the Community Activity Center. Tuesdays, June 16-August 18, 2020. 7pm.
Brooklyn Park summer festivals
Brooklyn Park Community Parade: Kickoff to summer parade. June 12, 6:30pm.
Tater Daze Festival: Community Parade, live music and fireworks. June 15, 12-8pm.
Family Summer Splash: At Zanewood Recreation Center with free family activities, games, prizes and music. July 10, 5:30-7:30pm.
National Night Out: Brooklyn Park Night Out community party, Central Park. July 31. National Night Out fireworks display at Noble Sports Park. Aug 4, dusk.
Brooklyn Park historic sites
Eidem Homestead: Travel back and experience the historic farm through farm tours, hayrides, old-time demos. and special events during the summer.
- Daily Life on the Farm, June 17-Aug 22. $5/pp.
- Stories From the Porch & Evening Story Hour, June 23-Aug 25.
- Thursdays at the Farm live music, July 9-Aug 13.
- Ice cream social & bluegrass concert, July 9.
- Brooklyn Park History Day – includes free Movie on the Barn, Aug 14.
Read all about our trip with the kids to the historic Eidem Homestead.
COON RAPIDS
Coon Rapids parks – summer events
- Summer Concert Series at the park pavilion. Ongoing Thursdays starting June 4, 2020 7pm.
Coon Rapids summer festivals
Coon Rapids 4th of July: Boulevard Plaza. July 2-4, 2020.
Coon Rapids swimming & beaches
Bunker Beach Water Park: Can brag of its title as Minnesota’s largest outdoor water park. The fun features include a wave pool, lazy loop river, twisted towers and an adventure pool. Admission is $9-$15/pp taking into account a twilight special rate. CLOSED FOR THE 2020 SEASON.
FRIDLEY
Fridley nature playground
Springbrook Nature Center: The centerpiece of the new nature playground is a sandy play space kids can pump their own water into. Dress for a mess. Plan to spend time in the nature center exploring the exhibits.
Fridley community entertainment
Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts: Drop in at Family Art Sunday for free art projects, a scavenger hunt, snack, and occasional special entertainment. June 13 & Aug 8, 2020, 1-3pm.
Fridley summer festivals
Fridley ’49er Days: The annual summer event celebrates with a festival and parade. June 18-20, 2020. CANCELLED FOR 2020
MAPLE GROVE
Maple Grove parks – summer events
Want to get out and play in Maple Grove parks this summer? Try starting with our list of the best: Maple Grove Family Fun: 10 Close-To-Home Parks to Explore This Summer.
Elm Creek Park Reserve: Elm Creek has it all. The largest in the Three Rivers Parks system, it contains a nature center, miles of hiking and smooth biking trails, a sand-bottomed swimming pond (Opens June 26, 2020), a huge playground, disc golf, archery and a variety of wildlife.
- Eastman Nature Center – Hands-on exhibits for kids, a puppet theater and costumes. – Opens June 19, 2020.
- Elm Creek Play Area – One of two largest playgrounds in the state! – Opens June 19, 2020.
Elm Creek Play Area
Maple Grove community entertainment
- Sounds of Summer concerts include Kids Have Character. Ongoing Thursdays.
- Movies at Sunset in July & August 2020.
TOWN GREEN ENTERTAINMENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR JUNE & JULY, 2020.
Central Park, Maple Grove
Maple Grove festivals
Arbor Lakes Chalkfest‘s Family Zone is set aside for families to create together, plus games, music, food and sidewalk chalk art. June 13-14, 2020.
Maple Grove swimming & beaches
Elm Creek Swim Pond: Located within the sprawling Elm Creek Park Reserve, the pond is chlorinated, guarded and has a sandy bottom and beach. No charge to enter the park, but $5/pp to swim. – Opens June 26, 2020.
Grove Cove Aquatic Center: The outdoor pool is open during the summer months. Water park features include a lazy river, tumble buckets, log walk, tot slide and water sprays outside and an indoor pool as well.
NEW BRIGHTON
New Brighton parks – summer events
- Home to the New Brighton History Center Museum – visit the restored train depot and let your kids climb aboard the caboose. June thru September the museum exhibits are open weekends from 1-4pm and are free.
New Brighton History Museum
Townsend Park: Night at the Movies June – September dates, at dusk.
New Brighton festivals
Rhubarb Fest: A whole spread of rhubarb treats available for purchase at the historic New Brighton History Center. June 7, 2020. CANCELLED FOR 2020
New Brighton Stockyard Days: Aug 7-10, 2020 CANCELLED FOR 2020
New Brighton swimming & beaches
Long Lake Regional Park: The large beach makes our list of the Top 20 Beaches in the Twin Cities.
Long Lake Regional Park, New Brighton
OTSEGO
Otsego parks – summer events
Prairie Park: Splash & Play Tuesdays hosts free kids entertainment at the park shelter near the splash pad. Find more Twin Cities splash pads to cool off in this summer. Starts June 9, 2020, 10 am.
PLYMOUTH
Plymouth community entertainment
- Entertainment in the Park at Hilde Performance Center features music and other live entertainment starting June 20, with more to follow in July & August.
- Music in Plymouth – Musical performances and fireworks display. July 14, 2020. 5:30-10:30pm.
Plymouth summer festivals
Happy Birthday America Parade: Join in the bike parade! June 24, 2020, 10 am–12 pm.
Kids Fest: Activities include inflatables, games, face painting and other entertainment. Hilde Performance Center. Aug 6, 2020, 6-9pm.
Plymouth swimming & beaches
French Regional Park: Along the north shore of Medicine Lake, the park offers an award-winning play area, a swimming beach, fishing and lighted trails. Entrance to the park and beach are free.
The newly upgraded playground. Image courtesy of Three Rivers Park District.
Sticking close to home this summer? We’ve modified our usual summer bucket list to reflect what’s going on in our community. Many of these activities you can go about right in your backyard – or spend time getting and exploring your parks (safely, of course.) Summer fun does NOT have to be cancelled!
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.