THINGS TO DO IN THE TWIN CITIES WITH KIDS OF ALL AGES
In April we’re all wriggling with anticipation to get out and about in the spring weather. Need a few ideas to start planning outings with your kids this month? We’ve compiled the best in things to do in the Twin Cities, sorted by age, for the month of April. Babies, toddlers, preschoolers, grade schoolers, tweens and teens – we’ve had them all! We understand how important it is to be able to find activities to do that can in get everyone in the family involved.
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THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR BABY IN THE TWIN CITIES –APRIL
Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) drop-in classes for babies
Enrolling in ECFE classes through my St Paul school district was the best new-parenting decision I ever made, no question. For over a decade, the program made up most of my “village”, arming me with support and research-backed education that has influenced my family long past the baby days. Each class typically includes music, play, reading activities and a discussion topic led by a licensed parent educator. ECFE classes are operated through independent Minnesota school districts so you may need to dig a little to find a class near you. Note that many courses are semester long but there are some drop-in options in the Twin Cities:
- MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS offers FREE weekly drop-in classes (and online meets) for parents of birth-5 year olds. Some are language-specific. Find a Minneapolis ECFE class. Now through June 15, 2023.
Take a yoga class with your baby
Blooma’s Bring Your Own Baby Yoga
5315 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55419
This gentle yoga class invites non-crawling babies to take part alongside their caregiver. You’ll want to check the link for their upcoming class schedule, and note that Blooma also offers barre classes that are babywearing-friendly. Adult drop-in classes $24.
Baby meet-ups at the library
I loved opportunities to share stories and songs (and parenting tales) with my infants during lapsits at the library. Especially during the waning days of winter when cabin fever sets in. Here are a few more libraries that offer free organized meets for babies:
- CARVER COUNTY LIBRARIES: April Baby Lapsit Storytimes. Chanhassen, Victoria & Waconia branches.
- DAKOTA COUNTY LIBRARIES: April Storytimes for Babies. Eagan (Wescott), Farmington, Inver Grove Heights (Inver Glen), Lakeville (Heritage), Hastings (Pleasant Hill) South St Paul & West St Paul (Wentworth) branches.
- HENNEPIN COUNTY LIBRARY: April Baby Storytime. Each branch offers a few storytimes per month specifically for infants & caregivers: Brookdale, Bloomington Penn Lake, Champlin, Eden Prairie, Golden Valley, Linden Hills, Maple Grove, Minneapolis East Lake & Northeast, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Ridgedale, Anthony, Southdale, St Anthony, St Louis Park, Walker & Washburn.
- ST PAUL MERRIAM PARK LIBRARY: April Baby/Toddler Playdates. Tuesdays, April 4-25, 2023. 10:30am.
- RAMSEY COUNTY LIBRARY: April Baby & Me Storytimes. Mounds View, Roseville, Shoreview & White Bear Lake branches.
- SCOTT COUNTY PRIOR LAKE LIBRARY: Books & Babies. Thursdays, April 6-27, 2023, 10:30am.
- ST PAUL GEORGE LATIMER CENTRAL LIBRARY: Baby & Toddler Storytime. Thursdays, April 6-27, 2023. 10:30am.
- WASHINGTON COUNTY: April Baby Storytime. Cottage Grove (Park Grove), Stillwater & Woodbury (RH Stafford) branches.
THINGS TO DO WITH TODDLERS & PRESCHOOLERS IN THE TWIN CITIES – APRIL
Welcome the fuzzy farm babies!
Our parent hearts are just as fuzzy watching our own babies cuddle new life on the farm. Yours will love meeting baby lambs, curious chicks, piglets, tiny goats and all the rest right here in the suburban Twin Cities. Here are some April farm baby events we promote; plan ahead for more adorable in May with our guide to WHERE TO FIND THE MINNESOTA FARM BABIES IN 2023.
Down on the Dodge Farm Tour
Dodge Nature Center Farm entrance – 1701 Charlton Street, West St. Paul, MN 55118
Did you know? DODGE NATURE CENTER is the setting of a working farm in the city. There is no charge to wander the trails and maybe get a glimpse of the animals if you’d like to visit on your own, or register for their spring farm tour for closer exploration. Tickets go fast! April 15, 2023. $5/pp.
Saturday Morning on the Farm at Gale Woods
Gale Woods Farm, 7210 County Rd 110 W, Minnetrista, MN 55364
This wonderful working farm is a great place for kids to get close and in barns (that’s my delighted daughter pictured). Read about a spring visit to the farm here. Ongoing Saturdays in April, 2023, drop in between 9:30am-12pm. $6/pp.
Minnesota Zoo’s Farm Babies
Wells Fargo Family Farm, Minnesota Zoo, 13000 Zoo Blvd, Apple Valley, MN 55124
The zoo expects goat kids, lambs, piglets, and calves to be born in April and May. Tickets are included with Zoo admission. $14-$20/pp plus parking.
Twin Cities Festival Spring Babies
8001 109th Ave N, Brooklyn Park, MN 55445
A wristband will include access to the fuzzy farm babies, the play area and a hayride. Fri-Sat, April 7-8th, then weekends thru April 30th, 2023, 9am-5pm. $13/online.
Ride the rails with your preschooler
Have you a little trainiac in the family? Minneapolis-St Paul has a rich history criss-crossed with tracks and rails. Today’s tots can experience a peek at the past with real rides on a caboose and a streetcar in April:
- TOTS & TRAINS AT JACKSON STREET ROUNDHOUSE: Explore real, stationary train cars and tinker with railroad exhibits during this special event geared towards preschoolers. If you choose to visit on a weekend, caboose rides are included with admission. All aboard! Tots & Trains runs April 5th & 19th, 2023. $8-$13/pp or $35/family. 193 Pennsylvania Ave, St. Paul, MN, 55130.
- COMO-HARRIET STREETCAR LINE: Welcomes passengers starting the weekend of April 29-30th, shuttling riders on a scenic route between Lake Harriet and Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis. $3/ride. 2330 W 42nd St, Minneapolis, MN 55410.
KIDS LOVE TRAINS! And plenty of adults do, too, present company included. There are more shrines dedicated to the rails in the Twin Cities than you might imagine. Read all about where to find the scale layouts, historic depots and pizza train rides in our roundup MINNEAPOLIS-ST PAUL, A TRAIN LOVERS DESTINATION.
More fun outings with your preschooler
Tot Times, Open Play, Gym & Swim Spots for Tots in the Twin Cities
We keep an updated list of activities and fun things to do with toddlers & preschooler to encourage active play and creativity while working on large and fine motor skills. In April
THINGS TO DO WITH SCHOOL-AGED KIDS IN THE TWIN CITIES – APRIL
Grab your Easter baskets…
Because it’s time to get ready for the big hunt! The majority of the community Easter egg hunts in the Twin Cities take place the first and second weekend of April. Most are rain or shine and take place outdoors (with a few unique exceptions). We list them all by city of the Minneapolis-St Paul Metro on our GIANT EGG HUNT LIST and we take care to note details such as age restrictions and registration info, if applicable. Happy hunting!
The circus is in town!
Back by popular demand, Royal Canadian Circus returns to Mall of America for acrobatics, daredevils, and other feats of skill in the ring under the Big Top. Use the link in the image below and the promo code FFTC at check out for a 2 for 1 ticket deal and have an exciting outing with your kids! Also be on the lookout for our Royal Canadian International Circus Ticket Giveaway coming soon. April 13-23, 2023.
THINGS TO DO WITH TWEENS & TEENS IN THE TWIN CITIES – APRIL
A lot of the tweens and teens I know are conscientious about their impact on the planet and interested in learning about ways to reduce their sneaker-prints. Several Twin Cities-area nature centers are hosting events on EARTH DAY (April 22, 2023) to inspire action and appreciation for our lovely local natural resources:
- Harriet Alexander Nature Center: Earth Day Celebration – traditionally includes live music, storytelling, earth-friendly activities, crafts and tours. 10am-2pm. FREE. 2520 Dale St N, Roseville, MN 55113
- Lowry Nature Center: Earth Day Adventure – Hunt for clues in the form of Earth Day riddles to learn ways to help the Earth. 1-4pm. FREE. 7025 Victoria Drive, Victoria, MN 55386
- Springbrook Nature Center: Environmental Fun Fair – Outdoor environmental exhibits, an interactive nature hike and other fun activities. Food trucks onsite. 11am-2pm. 100 85th Ave. N.W., Fridley, MN 55432, Minnesota 55432
Wargo Nature Center: Family Earth Day Celebration – Earthy art projects, explore the trails and visit the booths of the Eco-Fair. Plus a bounce house for the little ones and refreshments for all. Vehicle fee: $6. 7701 Main St, Lino Lakes, MN 55038
Got preschoolers? All of the above nature centers have hands-on exhibits for younger ones to play (while learning) with, and several have NATURE PLAY AREAS that encourage unstructured exploration (so maybe dress accordingly). Here’s a sneak peek at a couple to get you excited for BETTER WEATHER AHEAD!:
Flowers, film & more at the Minneapolis Institute of Art
Every spring, the renowned art museum fills its galleries with flower arrangements designed by works from MIA’s own collections. Kids (of any age, really) get a day dedicated to them at the Buds & Bloomers Family Event. This is the family-friendliest portion of the annual Art in Bloom event. Today only, kids can watch dance performances, do a flower art project and more. April 30, 2023, 10am. 2400 Third Avenue S, Minneapolis, MN 55404.
Teen film fanatics: MIA screens Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon at the museum presented in conjunction with Mia’s special exhibition “Eternal Offerings: Chinese Ritual Bronzes”. The film is rated PG-13. April 13, 6pm. FREE!
More flower power fun for all ages: The Galleria World of Wonder Floral Experience
This year’s World of Wonder Floral Experience is perfect for your fairy-garden loving child. Created by Bachman’s gardeners, guests of all ages can explore this “immersive experience where woodland sights and creative floor-to-ceiling installations engage their senses of discovery and wonder”. Through April 9, 2023 during open hours. Galleria Edina, 3510 Galleria, Edina, MN.
7 Things to Find At the Floral Experience:
- A toadstool forest with mushrooms up to 12 ft. tall.
- A sassy snail who’s dreaming of disco.
- An electric rainbow that will brighten your day.
- A bashful toad peeking out of his mystical marsh.
- One of a kind fairy lands, hidden throughout the show.
- A 10 ft. tall willow tree sculpture in a surprising neon hue.
A ‘WOW’ moment amongst the beautiful blooms.
TWIN CITIES SPRING BREAK IN APRIL?
It can be a family adventure being a tourist right in your own metro area! Craft a fun staycation for the kids with our 2023 SPRING BREAK IN THE TWIN CITIES collection of ideas.
GET YOUR KIDS REGISTERED FOR SUMMER CAMP IN THE TWIN CITIES!
Heading into April, you’ll want to make haste if you’d like a spot – many fill quickly! We publish a TWIN CITIES SUMMER CAMP GUIDE each year to help area parents explore the possibilities.
