Free Children's Activities in Minneapolis and St. Paul

1. Free Museums

Visit any metro library, and get a pass for up to four free admissions to local museums and attractions. Destinations include many children's favorites, like the Children's Museum in downtown St. Paul, Minnesota Zoo, the Bell Museum of Natural historyand the Works Science and Technology museum.

2. Como Park and Zoo

Como Park, Como Zoo, the Marjory McNeely Conservatory, and the gardens are free to visit. Como requests a small donation, but it's optional.

3. Free Childish Films at the Minneapolis Central Library

On selected Saturday mornings, Minneapolis Central Library in downtown Minneapolis screens short films for children, provides an free art project and free snacks and drinks too.

4. Free Storytimes at Libraries and Bookstores

Almost every library in the Twin Cities holds storytimes. There is usually a baby storytime, a toddler storytime, and one for pre-schoolers. Libraries are also great resources for other kinds of free entertainment, such as science classes, visiting with pets and other animals, and art projects.

Local bookstores have storytimes too. The chain bookstores have them, but independent stores like Wild Rumpus in Minneapolis and the Red Balloon in St. Paul have the best storytimes.

5. Free Activites at Children's Stores

Local toy stores are great places to visit with children, and not just for shopping for toys. Stores like Creative Kids Stuff and Wonderment have frequent free art projects and in-store entertainment.

The best stores to visit in the Twin Cities? It's a tie between Wild Rumpus in south Minneapolis for the fanciful decor, animals to visit, and free storytimes.

And another wonderful store is Choo Choo Bob's train store in St. Paul, which delights little engineers with several train layouts in the rear of the store that are free to play with.

6. Art, Music and Activities at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts

One Sunday a month is Family Day at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Art projects, activities, music, and entertainment based on a theme related to one of the museums collections are free for all.

7. Free Parades and Annual Events

The Twin Cities has a parade, a festival, or some kind of family-friendly celebration just about every month, from the Winter Carnival in January to the Holidazzle Parade in December, and the Aquatennial and Irish Fair in the summer, and most are free to visit or watch.

8. Free Children's Music, Movies and Entertainment in the Parks

Parks in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and across the metro area run summer programs with free screening of children's movies, children's musicians and bands, and entertainment. Centennial Lakes Park in Edina has the most family-friendly events with concerts and entertainment during the day and early evening.

9. Free Family Concerts from the Minnesota Orchestra

Target and the Minnesota Orchestra have frequent free family concerts. Tickets are in high demand, so are distributed by random drawing. Sign up at the Minnesota Orchestra's website for email notifications of when the next concert will be.

10. Indoor Play Areas at Malls

Free indoor play areas suitable for toddlers and small children are located in malls across the metro area. The Midtown Global Market has a play area, Maplewood Mall and Rosedale Mall in Roseville both have popular play areas, Eden Prairie Center has a Minnesota-themed play area, the Mall of America's lego store has lots of bricks and blocks to play with.