Twin Cities Southeast Metro: Things To Do This Summer – Covering the Twin Cities, Minnesota, communities of Apple Valley, Burnsville, Cottage Grove, Eagan, Inver Grove Heights, Rosemount & Woodbury.
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.
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.
TWIN CITIES southeast METRO SUMMER EVENTS 2021
Not the Twin Cities community you’re searching for? We’re also covering the following:
Twin Cities Northwest Metro: Things To Do This Summer
Twin Cities Northeast Metro: Things To Do This Summer
Twin Cities Southwest Metro: Things To Do This Summer
APPLE VALLEY
Apple Valley parks – summer events
Music in Kelley Park
Music, food available for purchase, prizes and a splash pad for the kids to cool off in. Starts June 18, 2021. Ongoing Fridays, 6-9pm.
Apple Valley community parks:
- Apple Valley Puppet Wagon – Mon-Fri followed by a traveling puppet wagon show craft. See PDF for schedule. June 14- August 6, 2021.
- Summer Parks Playground Program – just $5/week for supervised programming 4 days per week.
Apple Valley summer festivals
Apple Valley Freedom Days
Carnival, Music in the Park, Family Fun Night. 2021 dates TBA.
Apple Valley swimming pools
APPLE VALLEY FAMILY AQUATIC CENTER
The outdoor swimming facility includes multiple waterslides, a diving well and a lazy river for soaking up the sun. A new “spray ground” has opened! $11/until 5pm and just $6/after. Open June 12 – August 29, 2021.
Redwood Outdoor Pool
Open June 12-August 29, 2021, 12:30-4pm. Just $5/pp.
Apple Valley splash pads
- KELLEY PARK splash pad
Apple Valley summer library events
The GALAXIE LIBRARY is a branch of the Dakota County Library system. We recommend this library for its creative Play and Learn Space. See the library events calendar for upcoming summer programs.
Summer reading program: Read, write, draw and play during Summer Discovery, starting June 14, 2021.
Burnsville
Burnsville parks – summer events
Want to get out and play in Burnsville parks this summer? Try starting with our list of the best: Burnsville Family Fun – 9 Close-To-Home Parks To Explore This Summer.
Burnsville community parks
NICOLLET COMMONS PARK
The public space is part of the area Burnsville calls the “Heart of the City“. Families will love the park’s amphitheater where the city hosts summer concerts, movies and story times. There is also room to picnic and a beautiful water feature.
- Thursday Rockin’ Lunch Hour concerts – bring a picnic lunch and swimsuits to enjoy the landscaped splash pad! June 17-Aug 19, 2021.
- Friday Night Flicks on the Bricks, 7:30pm seating, show at dusk.
Burnsville nature playgrounds
TERRACE OAKS NATURE PLAY AREA
Burnsville’s first official nature play area offers features that include painted animal tracks to follow, tree cookies and sticks for building, logs and rocks for climbing and jumping and log trails.
Burnsville summer festivals
PARTY ON THE PLAZA
A day-long community event with live music, craft vendors, kids’ activities and more. Nicollet Commons Park. June 10, July 22 & August 2021.
INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF BURNSVILLE
Features free balloon twisting, family crafts and origami plus cultural entertainment. July 22, 2021.
Burnsville swimming & beaches
CRYSTAL BEACH PARK
The park is located on an isthmus between Crystal & Keller Lakes in Burnsville. Its highlight is a swimming beach open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. The park has a concession stand where visitors can rent canoes or paddle boards. Other family-friendly amenities include a large playground, space to picnic, and a hard-surface trail.
Find more of the best Twin Cities beaches and playgrounds.
Burnsville splash pads
- BURNSVILLE LIONS PLAYGROUND splash pad (located in Cliff Fen Park)
- NICOLLET COMMONS PARK operates a gorgeous, landscaped water feature (weather dependent). Pick a Thursday for Thursday Rockin’ Lunch Hours in Nicollet Commons Park beginning in June.
Burnsville summer library events
The BURNHAVEN LIBRARY is a branch of the Dakota County Library system. See the library events calendar for upcoming summer programs.
Summer reading program: Read, write, draw and play to keep up your skills during Summer Discovery.
cottage grove
Cottage Grove parks – summer events
- Pop-Up Splash Pads include water games w/ the fire dept & treats. June 23, July 14 & Aug 25, 2021.
- Fab Fridays are FREE – Special events June 11-Aug 20, 2021
Cottage Grove summer festivals
Strawberry Fest
Cottage Grove celebrates in Kingston Park with a free kids tractor pedal pull, free petting farm, self-guided StoryWalk through the festival, and Water Wars water balloon station. CANCELLED FOR 2021, look for it in 2022.
Cottage Grove splash pads
- HIGHLANDS PARK Splash Pad
Cottage Grove bike trails
Cottage Grove Bike Park
Currently recruiting all mountain biking enthusiasts – including young ones, the bike park is 2.4-acres of fun: a pump track, dirt jumps, skills area and a four-cross track. Admission is free.
Cottage Grove summer library events
The PARK GROVE LIBRARY is a branch of the Washington County Library system. We recommend this library for its preschool-friendly Play and Learn Space. They also offer preschool story times and preschool drop-in play times. See the library events calendar for upcoming summer programs.
Summer reading program: Summer Adventures at Your Libary.
eagan
Eagan parks – summer events
Want to get out and play in Eagan parks this summer? Try starting with our list of the best: Eagan Family Fun: 10 Best Parks in Eagan to Explore This Summer.
Eagan Market Fest
The Eagan Central Park grounds buzz with weekly concerts and themed nights including one devoted solely to families. Get some fresh produce and let the kids enjoy the new splash pad. Ongoing Wednesdays, 4-8pm starting June 9, 2021.
Lebanon Hills Regional Park
Lebanon Hills Regional Park is the largest park in the Dakota County park system. Bring your family for miles of trails, lakes, swimming, camping and free nature programs.
- Forever Wild Family Friday – Free family program the first Friday of each month in 2021.
Eagan community parks
- Spark! Mobile Puppet Wagon – Bring a blanket for the shows, then stay for art projects and activities. Mon-Fri starting June 18, 2021.
Eagan summer festivals
Eagan LakeFest
Activity booths centered around fishing and live reptiles, nature coloring pages, kids plays about protecting lakes, and a visit from the Fire Department’s rescue boats. Fishing equipment provided. TRAPP FARM PARK. 2021 TBA.
July 4th Funfest
Parade, carnival, music and fireworks. Eagan Community Center festival grounds. July 3-4, 2021.
Eagan swimming & beaches
Schulze Lake Beach
The beach is just one of the gems in LEBANON HILLS REGIONAL PARK. We’ve included in on our list of the top picks for beaches in the Twin Cities.
Cascade Bay Water Park
The outdoor destination water park in Eagan includes zero depth entry and a splashy play area for little ones, large leisure pool, the lazy river tube ride, Sandpiper Beach, seven waterslides and a miniature golf course. Little Mates Preschool Swim offers exclusive water time to children 0-6 years old between 9:45 and 10:45 a.m., every day except Wednesdays, $4/child.
Eagan splash pads
- EAGAN CENTRAL LPARK Splash Pad – located next to a fun outdoor challenge course!
Eagan historic sites
Holz Farm Park
At historic Holz Farm, visitors can experience what life was like on the farm between the Great Depression of the 1930s through the 1940s World War II era. A number of special events are held at the park throughout the year. Expect down-on-the farm fun with a little bit of history mixed in.
- Old Fashioned Picnic – Bring a picnic out to the farm and learn how ice cream was made in the 1940’s. June 22, 2021, 5-8pm. FREE.
- Visiting at the Farm: Cookies & Quilts – Special cookies in the farmhouse and beautiful quilts on display. July 11, 2021, 2-4pm, FREE.
Eagan summer library events
The WESCOTT LIBRARY is a branch of the Dakota County Library system. The library is large, bright with murals and packed with interactive materials for kids. See the library events calendar for upcoming summer programs.
Summer reading program: Read, write, draw and play to keep up your skills during Summer Discovery.
inver grove heights
Inver Grove Heights parks – summer events
Need inspiration to get out and play in Inver Grove Heights parks this summer? Begin with our list of the 10 Best Parks in Inver Grove Heights & South St Paul.
South Valley Park
Terrific Tuesdays run select Tuesdays June 15-July 27, 2021. Come to the park for kids entertainment – storytellers, live music & Zoomobile.
Inver Grove Heights community entertainment
- Food Truck Days: The trucks roll up to Veterans Memorial Community Center for food and family fun. July 22 & Aug 26, 2021.
Inver Grove Heights bike trails
Harmon Park Reserve
It’s the best in the Heights – the family will love the 4.3 mile mountain biking course that winds through Harmon Park.
Mississippi River Greenway
The paved bike trail makes its way south into Inver Grove Heights from South St Paul. Jump on at the Kaposia Landing trailhead and coast along the Mississippi to the historic Rock Island Swing Bridge in SWING BRIDGE PARK, Inver Grove Heights. A one-way trip is 7 miles.
Inver Grove Heights summer library events
The INVER GLEN LIBRARY is a branch of the Dakota County Library system. See the library events calendar for upcoming summer programs.
Summer reading program: 2021’s program is Summer Discovery.
rosemount
Rosemount parks – summer events
Rosemount Central Park
- Music in the Parks Series – Kids entertainment Thursdays, June 17 – July 15, 2021, 10am.
- Movies in the Park – June 12, July 17 & Aug 14, 2021. Dusk.
Rosemount community parks
- Kids Corner Park Program: Free supervised programming for kids ages 6-12 in Rosemount parks. No pre-registration necessary. Mon-Thurs, June 16-July 15, 2021. See the PDF for more information.
- Puppets in the Park: Fridays, June 25 – Aug 6, 2021. Please see the PDF for locations and times.
Rosemount summer festivals
Leprechaun Days
Celebrate with Midsummer Faire in Central Park, the Grand Day Parade and Family Fun Night. July 16-25, 2021.
Rosemount splash pad
- ROSEMOUNT CENTRAL PARK
Splash Pad
Rosemount summer library events
The ROBERT TRAIL LIBRARY is a branch of the Dakota County Library system. See the library events calendar for upcoming summer programs.
Summer reading program: 2021’s program is Summer Discovery.
woodbury
Woodbury parks – summer events
Woodbury parks have much to explore – get started with our list of 19 of the best Woodbury has to offer this summer.
Woodbury community parks
- Woodbury Puppet Wagon – Ongoing Mon-Thurs, June 7-Aug 12, 2021.
- Story Time in the Park – Ojibway Park, select Fridays in 2021.
- Starlight Cinema Outdoor Movie Series: The free movie series is hosted at Ojibway Park. Select Thursdays, June 10 – Aug 5, 2021. Activities start at 7pm.
Woodbury summer festivals
Woodbury Days
Buttons required for many events ($5/pp or $15/4-pack – children’s coin hunts, workshops and art activities), petting zoo, magic shows and Grande Parade. Learn more at the page. Ojibway Park. Aug 20-22, 2021.
4th of July Hometown Celebration
Fireworks at HealthEast Sports Center, 10pm. CANCELLED FOR 2021.
Woodbury swimming & beaches
Carver Lake Park
Offers a family-friendly swimming beach along with a volleyball court, a picnic area, an accessible playground, and a 5 1/2 mile bike trail. This park has hosted a family campout in years past.
Woodbury splash pads
HealthEast Sports Center Splash Pad
A splash pad and MADISON’S PLACE PLAYGROUND combine to create one of the most popular playgrounds in the metro. Madison’s Place is an all-inclusive playground with sun-shaded play decks, swings, sensory play equipment and ramps for wheelchair access.
Woodbury summer library events
The RH STAFFORD LIBRARY is a branch of the Washington County Library system and is located in lovely indoor Central Park. (Tip: if you need some AC this summer, combine a trip to the library with a run around LOOKOUT RIDGE INDOOR PLAYGROUND, also calling Central Park home.) The library’s summer events can be found online here.
Summer reading program: Summer Adventures at Your Libary.
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.