Things to do in Minneapolis & St Paul this weekend with your kids!
This Twin Cities Family Weekend Guide covers the weekend of September 10-11, 2022. Find our most recent guide here.
For more inspiration you can always consult our SEPTEMBER FAMILY GUIDE, our ULTIMATE GUIDE TO FALL FUN IN THE TWIN CITIES or our fully-stocked FAMILY FUN CALENDAR for more fun ideas on what to do this weekend in the Twin Cities with your kids!
Looking for ideas on what to do with your kids in the Twin Cities this week? Definitely jump over to our TWIN CITIES GUIDE TO FAMILY ACTIVITIES THIS WEEK.
family festivals this weekend in the twin cities
The Twin Cities is simply bursting with fall festivals for the family this weekend, celebrating the changing of the seasons in communities across the Minneapolis-St Paul metro area. Here’s a look at where you can find them – and remember to plan ahead for the weekends ahead with our complete listing of TWIN CITIES FALL FESTIVALS FOR THE FAMILY.
BURNSVILLE: FESTIVAL FIRE MUSTER
Weekend highlights – a carnival with rides on Friday & Saturday, a fire truck water display and fireworks both nights and a parade on Saturday. September 9-10, 2022.
EAGAN: ART BLOCK Festival
Kid and family-friendly art activities, over 30 events in the 15 days starting the weekend of September 10-11, 2022. FREE.
EDINA: FALL INTO THE ARTS FESTIVAL
Centennial Lakes Park, 7499 France Ave S, Edina, MN 55435
A nice excuse to enjoy the outdoors while the weather is still nice while viewing works by local and regional artists. September 10-11, 2022.
INVER GROVE HEIGHTS DAYS
Community Family Fun Night, kids treasure hunt, grand parade and fireworks. FREE admission. $3 Button required for many events, including Family Fun Night and Kids Treasure Hunt.
Minneapolis: OPEN STREETS WEST BROADWAY
A portion of West Broadway in Minneapolis will be closed to traffic and open to people to explore their community. September 10, 2022, 11am-5pm.
Oak Grove: COUNTRYFEST
St Patrick’s Catholic Church, 19921 Nightingale Street NW, Oak Grove, MN 55011
Entertainment, kids games (Saturday 2-5pm) and food. Youth block party Friday evening. September 10-11, 2022. FREE.
Shakopee: MINNESOTA RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL
3525 145th St W, Shakopee, MN 55379
Explore the Fairy Wing Forest and Mermaid Cove, take in a maypole dance, craft a wand or pirate hat, learn to juggle and much more. Open weekends in September 2022, 9am-7pm. $13.50-$22.50.
Stillwater: GRAPE STOMP FESTIVAL
St Croix Vineyards, 6428 Manning Ave N, Stillwater, MN 55082
Grape stomping competitions for both children and adults, live music and tours. September 10-11, 2022, FREE admission.
ST. LOUIS PARK ART FAIR
SLP Rec Center, 3700 Monterey Blvd, St Louis Park MN 55416
Shop local art, enjoy food trucks, entertainment, demos, and community art projects. September 10, 2022, 10am-5pm. FREE admission.
St Paul: MAC-GROVE FEST
Edgcumbe Recreation Center, 320 Griggs St S, St Paul, MN 55105
Music and dance, food trucks, arts & crafts, and more. 11am-4pm. September 10, 2022, FREE.
St Paul: FIESTA LATINA
797 7th St E, St Paul MN 55106
This family-friendly community festival celebrating Latin culture through arts, health & wellness, fitness, food and entertainment conveniently falls the first weekend of Hispanic Heritage Month. September 10, 2022.
VICTORIA: VOLKSFEST
Ride the street trolley, shop the market, bounce in the inflatables at the Activity Zone & listen to live music. September 10, 2022.
Wayzata: JAMES J. HILL DAYS
Lake Minnetonka Carnival, logrolling, llamas at the Wayzata Depot, an airshow, parade, and fireworks. FREE admission. September 9-11, 2022.
fun outdoor activities in twin cities parks this weekend
Featured here for the weekend is just a taste of all that’s going on across the incredible Twin Cities park systems. You can get more ideas on our FAMILY FUN CALENDAR or browse the links below to search for local fun events & things to do with kids this weekend in the parks.
SOME FUN FAMILY IDEAS FOR THIS WEEKEND
Visit a waterfall near the Twin Cities
My kids love to go waterfall-hunting! Do yours? Check out this list we compiled over the summer of 8 TWIN CITIES WATERFALLS TO VISIT WITH KIDS. Makes for a perfect late-summer outing.
Featured Twin Cities Park Events this weekend
FREE FAMILY FUN DAY with Three Rivers parks
Each Sunday in September, MISSISSIPPI GATEWAY REGIONAL PARK hosts a FREE FAMILY FUN DAY with drop-in activities from 1-3pm. If you’re from the SW Metro: RICHARDSON NATURE CENTER in Bloomington also hosts this program. September 11, 2022, 1-3pm.
Want to explore more nature centers and inject some green play into your kids lives? Check out the links on our big list of Twin Cities nature & interpretive centers for all the details.
Minneapolis Monarch Festival at Lake Nokomis Park
4955 W Lake Nokomis Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55417
Art-making activities, guided nature walks, music & monarch exhibits all in lovely LAKE NOKOMIS PARK. September 10, 2022, 10am-4pm, FREE.
Pond Dakota Mission Park Living History Open houses
401 E 104th St, Bloomington, MN 55420
Hands-on living history programs fun and free of charge located in POND DAKOTA MISSION PARK in Bloomington. New themes each Saturday. Drop in Sept 10, 2022, from 1-4pm.
Guided Sculpture Tours at Caponi Art Park
1220 Diffley Rd, Eagan, MN 55123
Enjoy art but skittish about bringing kids to an indoor museum? CAPONI ART PARK in Eagan could be just your ticket. Bring a picnic and prepare to expend some energy exploring the 60 acres that make up this woodland sculpture garden. Art pops up in unexpected places, down meandering paths, and it begs for interpretation! For families or small groups, who want to explore the park a little further, CAP offers handheld park maps and self-guided tour guidebooks for checkout. September 10, 2022, tours at 1 & 2:30pm. FREE.
Visit a twin cities apple orchard this weekend
It’s all about apples here in the Twin Cities during the month of September. Local orchards are open for business, many with special apple festivals and events going on to tickle the taste buds. Find our complete guide to FAMILY FRIENDLY TWIN CITIES APPLE ORCHARDS or see our weekend picks below:
Last weekend, we went west of Minneapolis and St Paul to highlight FALL HARVEST ORCHARD in Montrose and DEARDORFF ORCHARDS in Waconia. This weekend we head east of the Twin Cities metro to give you the delicious details on more of our favorite apple orchards:
AAMODT’S APPLE FARM
6428 Manning Avenue N, Stillwater MN 55082
Apple picking is revving up at the orchard. Make sure you check their website before coming out to pick; they will list the variety for pick-your-own apples that day. All your favorite treats are stocked in the apple barn to take home.
AFTON APPLE ORCHARD
14421 South 90th Street, Hastings, MN 55033
There is lots to do here that is included with the admission fee such as the playground, huge tire mountain and petting farm. We’ve easily made a full day of it just with those diversions and riding the hay wagon into the orchard to pick apples. Admission is $7/pp ages 5+, $5/pp under 5, includes some orchard activities.
more ideas for things to do this weekend in the twin cities with kids
Free things to do on Grandparents Day (weekend)
They all say it really is the best time of their lives – treat those most special of people today to an inter-generational outing over the weekend. Admission is free to all of the following:
MacPhail Center for Music’s Kidfest
501 S 2nd St, Minneapolis, MN 55401
Two sessions will include a musical performance, a half hour of instrument stations, an art activity, sample music classes and snacks. September 10, 2022, concerts at 10:15 & 11:15am. FREE.
Minneapolis Institute of Art Family Day
2400 3rd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55404
For those of you either with young kids you’ve been too skittish to bring to an art museum or you with older kids who claim art museums are a snooze, this is an event worth considering. The MIA plans fun activities promoting art enjoyment and with a theme inviting a unique perspective of the galleries. September 11, 2022, 11am-5pm.
Como Park Zoo & Conservatory
A mellow fall weekend outing perfect to celebrate with grandparents. Catch the Fall Flower Show at the Conservatory and visit the animals. Remember, reservations are required.
