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Named for the 17th century Franciscan priest, Father Hennepin Bluff Park  is part of the larger Central Mississippi Riverfront Regional Park in Minneapolis. Families will have fun exploring the park and nearby attractions. In the summer, the Minneapolis Park Board (“MPRB”) traditionally offers weekly music and movies and the site hosts family-friendly festivals, like Stone Arch Bridge Festival and the Owámni Falling Water Festival.  Although this park does not have any playground equipment, resourceful children have found sand to play in and there are plenty of trails near the river to explore as a family.

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5 Ideas for Family Fun at Father Hennepin Bluff Park

1. Go on a Fairy Abode Hunt on the paths along the Mississippi. We enjoy walking the trails and seeking out places we think must house fairies or other magical creatures.
2. Pack a picnic. The park offers beautiful views of St. Anthony Falls, the Minneapolis skyline and the Mississippi River. There are plenty of tables and grills in the Pillsbury Park Picnic Area.
3. View the The Hennepin Island Hydroelectric Power Plant at Saint Anthony Falls. You can get a good view of it from some of the paths along the Mississippi. Read more about it at the historical marker fund along Main Street.
4. Attend a Movie or Concert. The park was renovated in 2023, including a new stage. Free weekly concerts and movie screenings resumed in July after a short hiatus. Movies at this park tend to be more adult-oriented, but since they start at dusk, parents can bring their little ones in PJs with sleeping bags for a date night with kids in tow.
5. Cross the Stone Arch Bridge to visit Mill Ruins Park &Water Works on the other side of the river.

Music & Movies Line Up at Father Hennepin Bluff Park

Most summers, concerts start at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday nights unless otherwise noted. Movies start around dusk following the music, but it is a good idea to arrive early for a good spot. This park is a good picnic location. Most of these movies offered at this location are not great for family films, however, its been our experience that the kids can’t stay awake for dusk movies, so we bring blankets and sleeping bags and the kids “camp out” while we enjoy a grown up date night.

Please check the Minneapolis Music & Movies in the Park website for the lineup and most recent information.

Recent Updates to Father Hennepin Bluff Park

In 2023, the park underwent a major renovation that included a new performance stage with an attached seasonal restroom facility, completely updated paths that include wayfinding signage and trail markings, resurfaced entry plazas as well as needed landscaping, garden beds, fresh lawns, stormwater management updates and additional lights.

Useful Links:

• Stone Arch Bridge Festival
• Owámni Falling Water Festival
• Learn about the Father Louis Hennepin Suspension Bridge on MNopedia
• Minneapolis Music & Movies in the Park website