Events & What’s Happening
The largest open studio art crawl in the nation, held in Minneapolis's Northeast Arts District, where artists open their studios over a weekend for free public exploration.
💡Kids love watching artists work live — many studios offer hands-on activities and are very welcoming to families.
One of the largest Pride celebrations in the Midwest, held at Loring Park with live music, a parade on Hennepin Avenue, food vendors, and family-friendly programming.
💡The festival has a dedicated family area with activities for children, and the Sunday parade is an uplifting, colorful experience for all ages.
An annual community bike ride through car-free city streets, celebrating Minneapolis's world-class bike infrastructure with routes for all ages and abilities.
💡The family route is flat and manageable for young riders — bring a trail-a-bike or tag-along for smaller children.
Minneapolis's official civic celebration featuring a torchlight parade, fireworks over the Mississippi River, and family-friendly activities throughout the city.
💡The torchlight parade downtown is magical for kids — stake out a spot on Nicollet Mall at least an hour early.
One of the largest state fairs in the US, running 12 days ending on Labor Day, with rides, food on a stick, livestock, and live entertainment at the Falcon Heights fairgrounds.
💡Visit on a weekday morning to avoid peak crowds, and pick up a kids' activity booklet at the gate for scavenger hunt fun.
An annual independent film festival in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area screening international and domestic films, including family and youth programming.
💡Check the youth and family film screenings — they're affordable and a great way to introduce kids to independent cinema.
A free outdoor winter festival in Loring Park featuring a village of heated vendor tents, holiday lights, ice skating, live performances, and visits with Santa.
💡Dress in full winter gear — it gets very cold at night — and arrive early on weekends to snag a spot near the skating area.
One of the oldest and largest open-air markets in the Midwest, located near downtown Minneapolis with fresh produce, flowers, baked goods, and local vendors.
💡Saturday mornings are lively but manageable — let kids pick one special treat each to keep them engaged and happy.
Free weekly storytime sessions for young children at the Minneapolis Central Library and branch locations, featuring books, songs, and movement activities for ages 0–5.
💡Arrive 10 minutes early to grab a good spot on the floor — the sessions fill up quickly, especially in winter months.
A beloved neighborhood farmers market in South Minneapolis offering local produce, prepared foods, artisan goods, and a friendly community atmosphere.
💡The market is stroller-friendly and has food vendors with ready-to-eat breakfast items perfect for a relaxed Sunday morning outing.
On the first Saturday of every month, Target Free Saturdays at the Walker Art Center offer free general admission for all visitors, including family art-making activities.
💡The hands-on art studio for families is especially popular — it's a wonderful rainy-day or cold-weather outing for creative kids.
Free weekly outdoor concerts at the historic Lake Harriet Band Shell, featuring a wide variety of musical genres in a beautiful lakeside setting with lawn seating.
💡Bring a blanket and picnic dinner — kids can dance on the grass in front of the stage and it's one of Minneapolis's best free summer traditions.
Planning Your Visit
Neighborhoods & Areas
Local Tips for Families
- 💡The Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) is completely free every day, including its impressive collection of arms and armor and Egyptian artifacts that kids consistently love — skip the overpriced downtown tourist attractions and spend a morning here instead.
- 💡The Lake Harriet Bandshell hosts free family concerts nearly every evening from late May through Labor Day — shows start at 7:30pm on weekdays and 6pm on Sundays, and locals bring blankets and picnic dinners from the nearby Sebastian Joe's or Linden Hills shops.
- 💡At Minnehaha Falls, park in Lot A near the falls entrance rather than the main park lot — it's a shorter walk to the waterfall and usually has space even on busy summer weekends.
- 💡The Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley (about 20 miles south of downtown) offers a $2 discount per ticket if you buy online in advance, and the Russia's Grizzly Coast and Tropics Trail indoor exhibits are open year-round — useful for shoulder season visits.
- 💡The Midtown Global Market on Lake Street is an underrated lunch stop for families — it's an indoor food hall with over a dozen diverse vendors, seating for large groups, and dishes well under $15. It's also covered, making it ideal for rainy days.
- 💡Rent a surrey bike or tandem at Wheel Fun Rentals at Bde Maka Ska (Lake Calhoun) on summer mornings before 11am — availability drops sharply by noon on weekends and prices are the same regardless of time.
- 💡The Children's Theatre Company on Vineland Place is nationally ranked and sells rush tickets for $15 per seat starting 30 minutes before most performances — call the box office directly to check availability rather than checking online.
- 💡If visiting in late August, the Minnesota State Fair in Falcon Heights (just north of Saint Paul, about 30 minutes from downtown Minneapolis) is one of the largest state fairs in the country — arrive via the Park-and-Ride shuttles from the Minnesota State Fairgrounds Blue Line station to avoid the $20+ parking fees and gridlock.