April is literally blooming with free events and activities in the Twin Cities! Make sure to check our Family Fun Calendar for a complete listing of events around town.
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We are excited to introduce you to our April sponsor Occasions with Character. They have a super fun event for anyone who loves a tea party.
Splendidly Spring Tea
Saturday April 28 1:00-2:00
Afton House Inn, Afton MN
Join Tea Party Miss, Magical Nanny and your favorite Fairytale Princesses for a Royal Tea Party! Guests enjoy tableside visits from princesses and other characters, tea party treats, charming character-led experiences, photo opportunities, and delightful memories together at this lovely, intimate event.
Whether you’re looking for a special treat to celebrate Mother’s Day or a fun family outing, this magical tea will be a “splendid” addition to your spring plans!
TWIN CITIES APRIL SPECIAL EVENTS – FREE
4/3/18: Free Tuesday @ Washington County Parks | Listing of parks here | Explore Washington Cty Parks free on the first Tuesday of every month (non-holiday). No permit required.
4/6/18: Forever Wild Family Friday | Lebanon Hills Regional Park, Eagan | 7-8:30pm
4/7/18: First Free Saturday: Words, Words Everywhere | Walker Art Center, Minneapolis | 10am-3pm | Activities are geared towards kids ages 6-12, but don’t let that stop you from bringing your littler ones! Free gallery admission for the whole family every first Saturday of the month.
4/7/18: Drop-in Discoveries | Tamarack Nature Center, White Bear Township | 10am-noon | Hands-on, family-friendly themed stations. Drop in anytime.
4/7/18: Home Depot Kids Workshop: Window Birdhouse | TC Home Depot locations | 9am-noon | The first Saturday of each month is workshop day at Home Depot. Kids get a kit to build, apron and pin while supplies last; adults must accompany their kids.
4/7/18: Music & Melody Makers | Minnesota Youth Symphonies, St Paul | 9-11am | Kids ages 3-14 can try out instruments of the orchestra, ask the musicians questions, and hear a mini-concert. Registration required.
4/7/18: Animal Open House | Eden Prairie Outdoor Center, Eden Prairie | 1-4pm | Interact with a variety of animals including rabbits, a hedgehog, turtles and more.
4/7/18: Slow Art Day & Weekend with the Weisguides | Weisman Art Center, Minneapolis | Activities run 11am-3pm
4/8/18: Family Art Sunday: Splash of Color | Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts | Fridley | 1-3pm | Take a scavenger hunt through the galleries and do a make-and-take project.
4/10/18: Ballet Tuesday | Landmark Center, St Paul | 12pm | Join the Saint Paul Ballet as they perform excerpts from the company repertoire. Perfect for budding ballerinas.
4/13/18: Friday Family Movie Night | Edinborough Park, Edina | 6:30pm
You are invited to
Free
Heartfelt on Saturday, April 14, 2018
10:00 am-1:00 pm
4/14/18: Family Arts Blast | Ordway Center for Performing Arts, St Paul | 9:30am-12pm | So much to love here for kids: try out instruments, learn new dance moves, watch cultural performances and go behind the scenes of productions.
4/14/18: Second Saturdays at TPT | Twin Cities PBS, St Paul | 8-11am | Activities are all free but reserving a time slot is required.
4/14/18: Saturday Family Fun: Garden Starters | Springbrook Nature Center, Fridley | 10-11am
4/15/18: Urban Expedition: France | Landmark Center, St Paul | 1-3pm | Take a tour of Togo through music, crafts, dance, food and more.
4/15/18: Puppet Adventures of Ned the Naturalist | Silverwood Park, St Anthony | 1-3pm | Join Ned the Naturalist as he stops Trasher the Trash Can from trashing nature. Make-and-take art to follow.
4/15/18: Art Center Open House | Eden Prairie Art Center, Eden Prairie | 2-4pm | Teacher demonstrations, art activities for kids, and face painting.
4/15/18: Free Family Art Day | Rumriver Art Center, Anoka | 2 sessions: 12 & 2pm | Take a free, hour-long art class designed for kids ages 5+ with caregivers. Reservations are required and can be made by phone at 763.323.8830 or online.
4/15/18: ArtStart Children’s Concert | Mount Zion Synagogue, St Paul | 2pm art activities & 3pm concert with St Paul Civic Symphony.
4/16/18: Free 3rd Monday | Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Chaska | 8am-5pm
4/22/18: Target Free 3rd Sunday | Minnesota Children’s Museum, St Paul | 9am-5pm | Explore the newly renovated and expanded museum free! Keep in mind that this program is very popular and you may wait in line to be admitted.
4/28/18: Nature Art – May Day Baskets | Carl Kroening Interpretive Center, Minneapolis | 2-3pm
4/28/18: Kids Kraft: Spring Fun | Scott County Historical Society, Shakopee | 10:30-11:15am | Get krafting the last Sat of each month Oct-April. Free; registration required.
4/28/18: Art in Bloom Family Day | Minneapolis Institute of Art | 10am-1pm
4/28/18: Independent Bookstore Day – special programming at:
TWIN CITIES EARTH DAY FAMILY EVENTS
4/24/18: Earth Day: Give Back to Nature | Dodge Nature Center, West St Paul | 5:30-8pm | Lend Mother Nature a hand by help with a variety of projects including litter pick-up, invasive species removal, and garden clean-up. Volunteers will grab a bite beforehand; please register in advance at the above link.
4/20/19: Art Start’s EcoArts Fest | Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Bloomington
4/21/18: Earth Day Celebration | Harriet Alexander Nature Center, Roseville | 10am-4pm | Enjoy free entertainment, beat a drum in the parade, and help with planting at this annual celebration. Top off the day with a slice of cake to celebrate the nature center’s birthday!
4/21/18: Earth Day Story Stroll | Richardson Nature Center, Bloomington | 10am-2pm | Search for signs of spring on a Story Stroll, learn about pollinators, and join a service project.
4/21/18: Family Earth Day Celebration | Wargo Nature Center, Lino Lakes | 12:30-3pm | All kinds of family fun at this Earth Day celebration: climbing wall, light refreshments, and a make-and-take earth art project.
4/21/18: Earth Day Cleanup & Garden Work Day | Tamarack Nature Center, 9am-noon | Volunteer for a morning at Tamarack by cleaning up the grounds and trails, as well as working in the Garden to get it ready for planting. RSVP at the above link.
4/21/18-4/22/18: Party for the Planet | Como Zoo & Conservatory, St Paul | 10am-4pm | Tons of free activities will take place throughout the weekend, focusing on creative ways to conserve energy.
4/22/18: Earth Day & Arbor Day Celebration | Wood Lake Nature Center, Richfield | 1-4pm | Help rid the environment of litter, plant a tree, or help remove invasive plants.
4/22/18: Family Funday – Earth Day Celebration | North Mississippi Regional Park, Mpls | 1-3p
4/22/18: Earth Day Hike | Eastman Nature Center, Maple Grove
Minneapolis Institute of Arts | Minneapolis | Daily, 11am-5pm
Como Park Zoo & Conservatory | St Paul | Daily, 10am-6pm, suggested donation of $2/child & $3/adult, but all welcome whether or not you choose to donate. Seasonal events include the opening of the Spring Flower Show in the Conservatory’s sunken garden, storytime at noon, and animal programs throughout the day.
Materials Lab | Minnesota Museum of American Art, St Paul | Open during exhibition hours, ongoing Sat/Sun, 10am-4pm. All ages can drop in and get creative with available materials and a little guidance. The Minnesota Museum of American Art has opened in a brand new space. Programming will resume in the Center For Creativity in April.
Saturday Live! | George Latimer Central Library, St. Paul | 11:15am | Fresh entertainment every Saturday including live music, puppetry, magicians and more.
Lakeshore Learning Free Crafts for Kids | TC locations | Ongoing Saturdays, 11am-3pm
Nature Rocks! Open House | Eden Prairie Outdoor Center | 9am-noon | Ongoing Saturdays of each month enjoy free family-friendly activities such as hiking, hands-on interaction with live animals, craft projects and more.
MayDay Build Workshops | In the Heart of the Beast Puppet & Mask Theatre, Minneapolis | Ongoing Saturdays, 9am-11am & 1-3pm | Come help create floats for the annual MayDay celebration in Powderhorn Park. Artists will guide volunteers in creating a piece of their own or a contribution to a parade float. Workshops also held every Tuesday & Thursday in April, 7-9pm.
Bell Museum of Natural History | Minneapolis | Ongoing Sundays, 12-5pm | Explore the very kid-friendly Touch and Feel room and the wildlife dioramas free each Sunday. The Bell Museum will be closed through summer 2018 when it will reopen in a brand new location.
April Free Family Fun Days | Three Rivers Parks
Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park (Brooklyn Park side of the river) Sundays: 4/8, 4/22, 1-3pm
Richardson Nature Center: Ongoing Sundays, 3-4pm
Gideon Pond House Open House | Pond Dakota Mission Park, Bloomington | Ongoing Sundays, 1:30-4pm | Drop by for a house tour and living history activities.
Parent/Tot Time & Preschool Open Gym | Apple Valley Community Center | Ongoing Mon/Wed/ Fri, 9:30-11am | Ages: 5 & under w/ caregiver | Burn off some energy with other kids, develop motor skills and coordination. A special tot time for tykes ages 2 & under is held from 9-9:30am followed by open play for 5 & under until 11.
MOA Toddler Tuesdays | Mall of America Rotunda | Ongoing Tuesdays, 10am – noon | Live entertainment and activities guaranteed to excite the stroller set. Upcoming event schedule here.
Free Tuesday Nights | Minnesota History Center, St Paul | Ongoing Tuesdays, 3-8pm | Explore the highly interactive and kid-friendly exhibits.
Wee Wednesdays | Midtown Global Market, Minneapolis | Ongoing Wednesdays, 10:30am – 1pm. In the past, MGM has offered dance troupes, cooking lessons, and live animals to entertain kids. Stay for lunch — there are many tasty ethnic vendors to choose from, and several offer specials on Wednesdays. Park in the adjacent Midtown Exchange Ramp up to 1.5 hrs. free with validation.
Games Galore | Union Depot, St Paul | Ongoing Wednesdays, 10am-8pm | Play giant-sized versions of classic games including chess, checkers, Connect Four, Dominoes and more.
Lil Explorer Thursdays | Como Park Zoo & Conservatory, St. Paul | Ongoing Thursdays starting through April 2018, 10am-noon | The hall between the Visitor Center and the Conservatory is filled with hands-on activities, manipulatives, art projects and games perfect for the 4 & under set. Explore a different theme each week.
Free Children’s Entertainment | Edinborough Park Amphitheater, Edina | Thursdays, noon.
Top Preschool Storytimes in the Twin Cities – many local bookstores, libraries and other businesses offer FREE storytimes during the week. Click the link to read our picks.
Kid-friendly Twin Cities coffee shops and cafes with dedicated FREE play spaces.
Twin Cities Nature Centers offer FREE admission and hands-on exhibits and outdoor play opportunities most days of the week.
St. Paul Recreation Centers offer free open gym Tot Times at 16 sites across the city.
Minneapolis Recreation Centers also offer free options. Click this link and search “parent tot”.
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