The best things to do and see in Minnesota!
When our kids were young we used to love the puppet wagon events. A free show and a great way to enjoy a park and maybe even coordinate a picnic lunch. During the summer, the Eagan Puppet Wagon takes place at Lebanon Hills Regional Park from 10-10:45 Friday mornings (June-mid August). Are there puppet wagon events in your town that we could share with our readers? Or what do you enjoy most in the summer?
When our girls were young we would seek out activities and places to bring them. Just a change of scenery and maybe just the right amount of driving so they would nap in the car. Nature Play for Wee Ones at the Arboretum is a great event for kids 0-5 and is free with admission into the Arboretum. It takes place Saturday mornings in the summer from 9:30-11am at the Green Play Yard, located outside the Learning Center.
The June/July them is sand and stones, while the August/September theme is leaves, sticks, and cones. It’s all about nature and learning just happens to be fun which makes it even better.
More specifics about what is offered can be found here on the Arboretum website.
If you’ve never been to the quaint town of Dorset, put it on your list and check it out. Not far from Park Rapids or Itasca State Park is the town of Dorset. Not a big town, with a population of just 22. Check it out this weekend, June 23rd happens to be their annual Boardwalk Art Festival. If you can’t make it this weekend, August 5th is their annual Taste of Dorset.
I can still remember my first visit to Dorset. I was about 5 and my uncle took my sisters and I there for lunch. It’s grown since then, more businesses have been added. Have you been to Dorset or any other fun places you would like us to spotlight or share. We love to explore so please let us know. Minnesota has some great off the beaten path places and we love to explore them.
One of our favorite things about summer, so many festivals and parades to attend. Not to mention all of the county fairs around the state. Not enough hours in the day to make it to everything! The Blaine Festival takes place this weekend, June 22-24. three days packed full for fun for all ages.
Check out the full schedule of events here on the event page.
We’ve mentioned the Twin Cities River Rats: Free Water Ski Show! other summers but want to give a reminder. The show is fun to watch, it’s free and something a bit more unique to do on a Thursday evening in the summer. You can catch the show several upcoming Thursdays in North Minneapolis. Check out the schedule here as well as map of the location.
*Development show starting at 6:30 pm and main show at 7 pm
Another great car show is coming up. The Blaine Festival Car Show at Northtown takes place June 24th from 10-3pm. This particular car show benefits the Invisible Wounds Project. The event is free to spectators and for those that wish to enter their vehicle it’s a very reasonable fee of $10. More information can be found here.
Come hungry and enjoy some great food from the
Route 65 Pub & Grub Food Truck and don’t miss
local artist Amy Kulseth as she creates a special car
themed painting during the event.All proceeds going to Invisible Wounds Project to raise awareness and
provide services for our military and first responders who are
battling PTSD, suicide and other mental health issues.Open to all vehicles with a $10 car entry fee, free to spectators.
The event is being held in the Herberger’s parking lot next to Co. Rd. 10
Now’s your chance to check out The Bakken Museum! We found a great deal on discount tickets for their upcoming event: Art in the Garden on Thursday, June 21st from 5:30 – 9 pm.
The Bakken is a hidden gem, located in a mostly residential area in South Minneapolis. On occasion they offer adult-only events like this one, a time to learn about science without the kids. There are half-price tickets available through Goldstar which will get you in for $6 (reg. $12), plus service fees.
The best party of the summer is coming up soon at The Bakken Museum. Head to Art in the Garden, an evening soiree that lets you discover the natural beauty of the museum’s distinct garden spaces.
Grab a drink and have your own picnic on the green roof as you create artsy items inspired by the flora on the Minneapolis museum’s grounds. There’ll be a Crop Art Station for those of you looking to practice your seed skills before the State Fair, a plant stamp postcard you can send to someone special and a community art studio where you can let the watercolors flow and make something unique.
MollieRae Miller will use her skills with acrylic paint and stenciling to help you create some native plant-inspired window art. Market Science will also be on-hand to share leaf pigment and chromatography science.
The Chalk Art Cars will be there for all of your automobile-arts needs and the Science Museum of Minnesota will have watercolor bots for that extra mechanical artsy feel.
With beer and wine to sip on and food from Gastrotruck and Olivia’s Organic Café, there will be plenty of fun for you and your crew to enjoy.
Get your discount tickets HERE!
Check out the fancy cars at the Hyland Hills Ski Motor Hills Car Show. You can enjoy the fun June 20th, July 18th or August 15th. With three different options, you can plan ahead a bit. Roll in with your own fancy ride for a chance at prizes or just check out what others have and dream a little.
More information can be found here on the Three Rivers Park District Site. Hyland Hills Ski area is located in Bloomington. The motor show is free to attend and food will available to purchase. You can enjoy the fun from 4-8. 
It’s no secret that we enjoy ice cream. One of our favorites Ice Cream shops, located in Bloomington is Scoops. Tomorrow evening, June 16th you can Celebrate Summer with Midnight Scoops! Just a few nights each summer they extend their hours and stay open until Midnight. The lights change and they have a night of fun.
*100 free cone coupons will be given out randomly at Midnight Scoops on June 16th! (9:30-midnight) They will be good for any future day in June! Also some other free prizes!
Have you ever attended an airshow? If you haven’t, this weekend is your chance, or maybe you have and you love them. The Ray Fagen Memorial Airshow take place this Saturday at the Granite Falls Airport. The gates open at 11 and the airshow begins at 3pm. The airshow is followed by a concert at 7pm and then a night airshow takes place at the end.
Admission is: Presale of wristbands for the June 16th Ray Fagen Memorial Airshow – Greatest Generation Celebration have begun in Granite Falls, Minnesota, at Fagen, Inc. headquarters, Citizens Alliance Bank and Fagen Fighters WWII Museum. Wristband sales at these locations will take place during regular business hours and will run through June 15th. Adults – $20, Youth 10-17 – $10, Children 9 and under are free. You can also purchase the wristbands on-site the day of the show.
You can find more specifics here on their FB event page.
