Things to do in Minneapolis & St Paul this weekend with your kids!
This Twin Cities Family Weekend Guide covers the weekend of September 9-10, 2023. 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.
TWIN CITIES FESTIVALS THIS WEEKEND FOR THE FAMILY
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 8-9, 2023.
EAGAN: Art Block Festival
Kid and family-friendly art activities, over 30 events in the 15 days starting the weekend of September 8-9, 2023. 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 9-10, 2023.
INVER GROVE HEIGHTS: 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. September 9-10, 2023.
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 9-10, 2023. 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 2023, 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 9-10, 2023, FREE admission.
ST. LOUIS PARK: 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 9, 2023, 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 9, 2023, FREE.
WAYZATA: James J Hill Days
Lake Minnetonka Carnival, logrolling, llamas at the Wayzata Depot, an airshow, parade, and fireworks. FREE admission. September 9-10, 2023.
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 Park Day at Minnesota State Parks
Nine beautiful Minnesota state parks are located within 60 miles of the heart of Minneapolis and St Paul; an hour’s drive or less: Afton, Fort Snelling, Frontenac, Interstate, Lake Maria, Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area, Nerstrand Big Woods, Wild River & William O’Brien. Pick and visit one this Saturday FREE! Fall is often the loveliest season for a hike in the park with kids. September 9, 2023.
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 10, 2023, 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 9, 2023, 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 September 9, 2023, from 1-4pm.
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 the opening of FALL HARVEST ORCHARD in Montrose and APPLE JACK ORCHARDS in Delano. This weekend we continue our theme out west of the Twin Cities metro to give you the delicious details on more of our favorite apple orchards opening THIS WEEKEND!
Minnetonka Orchards
6530 County Road 26, Minnetrista, MN 55364
Refresh after apple-picking with hot apple cider and apple doughnuts. $7-$10/pp weekends covers all activities including hayrides, lawn games, live music, kids play areas and more. Season passes available. Daily, 10am-6pm.
Deer Lake Orchard
1903 10th St SW, Buffalo MN 55313
Apples both u-pick and pre-picked, live music on fall weekends, a corn maze to meander through, wagon rides, a little train, animals to meet…all the classic orchard activities you’d hope to find. Open 10am-6pm. Free admission, activities $4 each or $20/wristband.
VISIT A PUMPKIN PATCH & FALL FESTIVAL THIS WEEKEND
We are SO pumped for this time of year. Stow away the swimsuits, break out the hoodies and start planning that ultimate Halloween jack-o-lantern! We must have something close to two dozen patches to choose from in our GUIDE TO THE BEST TWIN CITIES PUMPKIN PATCHES & FALL FESTIVAL but are picking just one to highlight because it opens THIS WEEKEND!
Fresh Acres Farm Fall Festival
8102 72nd St NE, Monticello, MN 55362
The largest pumpkin patch and corn maze in the Albertville-St Michael area features an annual fall festival ripe with activities for all ages. A wristband includes access to wagon rides, a petting zoo, inflatables, the playground, corn pit and cannon. Get your Halloween jack-o-lantern! Open September 9 thru October 29, 2023 Fridays 11-4pm, weekends 10-6 plus MEA. $12/pp ages 4-69. SUNFLOWER FIELD open this fall 7 days/week, admission FREE with donation requested. $2/stem to cut-your-own bouquet.
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 9, 2023, 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 10, 2023, 11am-5pm.
Grandparents Safari at Como Park Zoo & Conservatory
A mellow fall-ish weekend outing perfect to celebrate with grandparents. Catch the flower show at the Conservatory and visit the animals on this special African-themed weekend. September 9-10, 2023.
