TWIN CITIES SPECIAL EVENTS – FREE
3/3: Forever Wild Family Friday: Nature Bingo | Lebanon Hills Visitor Center, Eagan, 7-8:30pm
3/4: First Free Saturday: Kids Film Festival | 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.
3/4: Free Kids Workshop: | TC Home Depot locations
Details: 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.
3/7: Free Tuesday @ Washington County Parks | find a listing of parks here • Explore Washington County Parks free on the first Tuesday of every month (non-holiday). No vehicle permit required.
3/12: 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. Art make-and-take to follow.
3/1: Museum Day Live! @ Scott County Historical Society, 235 Fuller St S, Shakopee • 10am-3pm
Details: Courtesy of the Smithsonian, download your free tickets (limit 2) here and visit the museum free of charge. Drop-in activities for kids will be going on all day, plus tours of the historic site.
3/12: Family Art Sunday | Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts, Fridley, 1-3pm • Drop in for art projects, a scavenger hunt, snack, and occasional special entertainment.
3/12: Urban Expedition: Columbia | Landmark Center, St Paul • 1-3pm • Travel the globe without hopping a plane through music, food, crafts and more.
3/12: Family Day: | Minneapolis Institute of Art, 11am-5pm
3/14: Ballet Tuesday | Landmark Center, St Paul • 12pm • Excerpts from the classics; perfect for budding ballerinas.
3/18: Free Ink Day | Highpoint Center for Printmaking, Minneapolis, 12-4pm • Drop in for Spring Free Ink Day. This event will focus on relief printmaking. Visitors of all ages are invited to carve blocks and create prints.
3/18-19: Hop Into Spring Weekend | Como Park Zoo & Conservatory, St Paul, 10am-4pm • Games, crafts and animal talks for the whole family.
3/19: Target Free Third Sundays | Minnesota Children’s Museum, Mall of America, 9am-7pm • Explore the pop-up museum free, including the newest exhibits Curious George and The Amazing Castle, before this temp location closes mid-April.
3/20: Free 3rd Monday | Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Chaska • 8am-4pm
3/25: March Movie Night in the Park: Shrek 2 | Central Park, Woodbury • 6-8:30pm
3/25: Easter Kids Kraft | Scott County Historical Society, Shakopee, 10:30-11:15am • Easter stories, songs and crafts, and an Easter egg hunt in the Stans Garden. Free, registration required for supplies.
3/: It’s Tapping Time | Harriet Alexander Nature Center, Roseville, 10am-4pm • Help volunteers as they tap maple trees, collect sap and boil it to make delicious maple syrup. Learn about traditional syruping methods, listen to Native American stories, and taste maple treats. It’ll make a sweet family outing.
ONGOING MARCH WEEKENDS – FREE
Minneapolis Institute of Arts | Minneapolis • Daily, 11am-5pm
Como Park Zoo & Conservatory | St. Paul • Daily, winter hours 10am-4pm • suggested donation of $2/child & $3/adult, but all are welcome whether or not you donate • Seasonal events include the Winter Flower Show in the Conservatory’s sunken garden, storytime at noon, and animal programs throughout the day.
Lakeshore Learning Free Crafts for Kids | TC locations • Ongoing Saturdays, 11am-3pm
Saturday Live! | George Latimer Central Library, St. Paul • 11:15am • Fresh entertainment every Saturday including live music, puppetry, magicians and more.
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.
Nature Rocks! Open House | Eden Prairie Outdoor Center • Ongoing Saturdays, 9am-12pm • Free outdoorsy family activities such as hiking, animal encounters, craft projects and more.
Free Family Fun Days | Three Rivers Parks
Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park (Brooklyn Park side of the river) Sundays: 3/12, 3/26, 1-3pm
Richardson Nature Center • Sundays: 3/5, 3/12, 3/19, 3/26, 3-4pm
Naturalist’s Nature Table (Sat, 11am-3pm) & Family Funday (Sun, 12:30-3:30pm) | Carl Kroening Interpretive Center at North Mississippi Regional Park, Minneapolis • Drop in Saturdays for naturalist-led activities or Sundays for self-guided exploration of the visitor center’s interactive exhibits.
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.
ONGOING MARCH WEEKDAYS – FREE
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. You can view upcoming event details here. Make a day of it with a special Nickelodeon Universe 5-hour ride wristband ($11.95 plus tax) and a stop at the free play tables at the LEGO Store.
Bloom Room Playdates | Teeny Bee Boutique, St. Paul • Wednesdays, 10:30am-noon • Kids ages 0-3
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, Jenga, etc.
Lil Explorer Thursdays | Como Park Zoo & Conservatory, St. Paul • Ongoing Thursdays through April, 2017, 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, Edina • Ongoing Thursdays, noon.
Drop-in Playtime @ Amma Parenting Center, Edina • Ongoing Fridays, 11:45am-12:45pm • Drop-in play for newborns through walking age.
• 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 Citis 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. We’ve reviewed several: Dodge Nature Center & Farm, Indoor & Outdoor Play at SW Metro Nature Centers, and Indoor & Outdoor Play at NE Metro Nature Centers.
• 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”.
The post Free Twin Cities March Family Events & Activities appeared first on Family Fun Twin Cities.