Things to do in Minneapolis & St Paul this weekend!
This Twin Cities Family Weekend Guide covers the weekend of September 23-24, 2023. To find our most recent guide, click here.
September is that glorious month in Minnesota where it’s still possible to run around in shirtsleeves, enjoying the sunshine. We like to make every late summer day count and We like to make every early fall day count – and prove it with weekends packed full of festivals, craft fairs, farm fun and other reasons to run around in the outdoors. We’ve listed our picks for this weekend below. For more ideas on what to do this weekend in the Twin Cities with your kids hop over to our SEPTEMBER FAMILY GUIDE, our ULTIMATE FALL FUN GUIDE or our FAMILY FUN CALENDAR.
TWIN CITIES FESTIVALS THIS WEEKEND FOR THE FAMILY
We can’t get enough of the fresh outdoor fall festivals that populate every corner of the Twin Cities this time of year. Here we feature a few we think are worth your time this weekend; plan for more on our FALL FAMILY FESTIVAL CALENDAR.
OPENS THIS WEEKEND: Twin Cities Harvest Festival & Maze
8001 109th Ave N, Brooklyn Park, MN 55445
Is this truly Minnesota’s largest corn maze? Find out for yourself when you visit now thru October 29. Admission includes a St Paul Saints baseball-themed maze, a hayride, giant corn pit, petting zoo, live music and a new car show. You can also grab all your pumpkins for Halloween needs. Opens weekends starting September 23-October 29, 2023. $13/pp.
EAGAN: Holz Farm Harvest Festival
4665 Manor Dr, Eagan, MN 55123
Located at the historic HOLZ FARM PARK, there’s lots of old-fashioned farm fun to be had here and most of it included in your ticket: explore the chicken coop, play at outdoor farm chores, take a wagon ride and more. September 23, 2023, 11am-3pm. $3/pp.
More fall festivals this weekend around the Twin Cities metro:
Plymouth On Parade
Plymouth City Center, Plymouth Blvd, Plymouth, Minnesota 55447
The parade route runs from City Hall, 3400 Plymouth Blvd., to the Plymouth Community Center. September 23, 2023, parade starts at 10:30am.
St. Louis Park Roctoberfest
Recreation Outdoor Center (ROC), 3700 Monterey Drive, St. Louis Park, Minnesota 55416
Rock and polka music, food, beverages, beer and games/challenges for all ages and prizes. September 23, 2023. 5-9pm, $5/pp.
Afton Art in the Park
Art vendors and free art pavilion for kids with fall crafts and spin art. September 23-24, 2023. 10am-5pm Saturday & 11am-4pm Sunday, FREE admission.
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
POND DAKOTA MISSION PARK is a 40 acre Bloomington park on the bluffs of the Minnesota River. The park is a living history site that works to preserve the history of of the early Minnesota settlers, the Christian missionaries and the Dakota people of the mid-nineteenth century. It also works hard to get kids warmed up to the idea of learning while having fun.
The best days to visit the park in 2023 have been during the Saturday drop-in open houses. These feature free hands-on historical activities that my kids have really enjoyed. Plus, if you are interested in the historical and cultural significance of the land, families can visit the park and explore the grounds any day. If these open houses continue into the fall of 2023, you can be sure they’ll be listed on our FAMILY FUN CALENDAR. In the meantime, there’s a chance to fit in a fall festival at the Pond House this weekend:
Pond Dakota River Rendezvous
Experience the life of Minnesotans between 1800 and 1870 through story-telling, games and interactive demos. The Pond House is located in Bloomington. September 23, 2023, 10am-5pm, $10/adults, $5/children.
FEATURED TWIN CITIES PARK EVENTS THIS WEEKEND
National Public Lands Day is Saturday, September 23! Some ideas to make the most of the weekend outdoors:
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. Want to explore more nature centers? Check out the links on our big list of Twin Cities nature & interpretive centers for all the details. September 24, 2023.
Try an outdoor challenge course
Northwest Greenway Pavilion, 5250 Peony Ln N, Plymouth, MN 55446
Do you have teens? The NORTHWEST GREENWAY CHALLENGE COURSE offers unique challenges and activities, such as net climbing, balancing and agility on different surfaces and structures. Perfect for families with older kids who want to have some ninja-training fun. FREE.
VISIT A TWIN CITIES APPLE ORCHARD THIS WEEKEND
Most smaller orchards are thrilled just to get you in the door (with the hope that you’ll purchase the privilege of picking their fresh apples, of course) and offer free admission. And our favorites are the ones that not only don’t charge to enter, they don’t nickel-and-dime you for activities as soon as you’re in. Some highlights from the orchards we recommend:
Sunrise River Farm
7602 Wyoming Trail, Wyoming, MN 55092
Take a short walk into the orchard to pick your own apples, pet a few farm animals, play some games, take a mini-train ride and hang out on the playground. (Even tweens and teens will find something to like here!)
LuceLine Orchard
2755 Rose Ave, Watertown, MN 55388
Apples are now pick-your-own while supplies last! There are lots of other activities onsite to stay busy, including some that are open on weekdays such as the hay mountain, petting farm, corn boxes and swings. THIS WEEKEND: Concert in the Country with live music starting at 2:30pm. September 23, 2023.
Apple Jam at Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
3675 Arboretum Dr, Chaska, MN 55318
Best reasons to visit in the fall: 1) the Apple House is open, 2) not too hot to run through the hedge mazes, 3) Scarecrows in the Garden and 4) this weekend is Apple Jam, the Arb’s annual fall festival. Enjoy live music, BINGO, lawn games, a scavenger hunt and food for purchase. Festival is September 23, 2023, 10am-4pm. Reservations are required to visit. $10-$25/adults, $5/kids.
Get our complete guide to Twin Cities apple orchards!
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:
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.
KIDS IN THE CORN (MAZES)
Love them, fear them, however you feel about corn mazes, they are a staple of outdoor fall fun in Minnesota. Several are opening this weekend, or are already open to challenge you with their latest design. Opening this weekend:
Pine Tree Apple Orchard Corn Maze
450 Apple Orchard Rd, White Bear Lake, MN 55110
This might be a maze for your middle-sized kids; plan to spend about 20 minutes in the corn. Get the complete lineup of fall entertainment at Pine Tree’s website. 11am-3pm.
Pearson Family Farm Corn Maze
8846 Highway 10 Ramsey, MN 55303
Corn maze, antique tractors, games for the kids, popcorn pit. Weekends include hay rides and food trucks. Wristbands for the activities: daytime $5/pp or $30/household & nighttime $10/pp or $45/household. 10am-6pm.
Twin Cities Harvest Festival Corn Maze
8001 109th Ave N, Brooklyn Park, MN 55445
This is the king of all Minnesota corn mazes at 20 acres. Admission includes access to the pumpkin patch, sunflower field, corn pit and other activities. Weekend tickets $13/pp.
Find more of our suggestions for the best TWIN CITIES CORN MAZES.
MORE IDEAS FOR THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND IN THE TWIN CITIES WITH KIDS
Drop in for big rigs!
Woodbury Big Truck Day
Central Park, 8595 Central Park Place, Woodbury MN
This is nirvana for those kids who are fascinated by the big vehicles. They can climb inside a fire truck, garbage truck, ambulance and more. Head for the east parking lot. What if it rains? Woodbury’s Central Park is a lovely place to spend a day inside – kids can enjoy Lookout Ridge Indoor Playground, a branch of the Washington County Library, and the landscaped indoor atrium. September 23, 2023, 9am-noon, FREE.
Lake Harriet Trucksploration
4912 Vincent Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55410
Join Lake Harriet Upper school for this drop-in event. Kids can climb on, learn about and explore big trucks and vehicles — including a fire engine, snowplow and helicopter. September 23, 2023, 12pm-3pm.
Plan ahead for more big rig fun with our Twin Cities TOUCH-A-TRUCK calendar!
FINAL WEEKEND! Como Town Amusement Park
1301 Midway Pkwy, St Paul, MN 55103
It’s the last chance this season for outdoor rides and games at COMO TOWN. Make a day of it by visiting the COMO PARK ZOO & CONSERVATORY. September 23-24, 2023, 11am-5pm.
Find hundreds more things to do in Minneapolis & St Paul with kids!