Fun activities to keep kids occupied during spring break
For families staying in town, there are plenty of activities that will make the week fly by, whether you're looking for a staycation or just need to keep kids occupied for a few hours.
Force the issue and put thoughts of summer in your life by heading to a conservatory. The mossy, earthy-smelling Marjorie McNeely Conservatory is a reliable bet for a pleasant afternoon at the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory. Plus, it's a great chance to check out the recently revamped Sunken Garden and its spring flower show. There's also the Meyer-Deats Conservatory over at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.
The Walker has programming geared toward younger audiences during spring break. It's not a bad spot to go under any circumstances — it's always free for people 18 and under — but here are the special events you'll find at the museum this week.
April 2: Teen Maker Break, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
April 3: Woven Textiles with Andy Jacobs (during free Thursday nights), 5–8 p.m.
April 3: Art & Sound Lounge (during free Thursday nights), 5–8 p.m.
April 5: Free First Saturdays: Earth Elements, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
The Twin Cities is packed with museums, some of which offer free admission. The Minnesota Children's Museum will be open on Monday during spring break (it's normally closed on Mondays), and there's plenty to see at the Science Museum of Minnesota, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Bakken Museum, Weisman Art Museum, Mill City Museum, and American Swedish Institute, among other places.
Here are a few special events taking place during the week.
April 1: Makers Mornings (virtual) with American Swedish Institute
April 2: Open Studio: Visual Verses at Weisman Art Museum
April 3: "On the Shoulders of Giants" w/ films, DJs, and food trucks at Minneapolis Institute of Art
April 4: Preschool Program: Easter Witches, Feathers, and Fun at American Swedish Institute
April 4: Museum Nights at Science Museum of Minnesota
April 5: Art Play! at Minneapolis Institute of Art
Any clear night is an opportunity to stargaze with kids. However, if stargazing feels daunting and unfamiliar, join the Bell Museum for one of its free star parties, which will take place at 9 p.m. on April 4. Inside the museum, there are hands-on activities that will illuminate the night sky. Outside, experts have telescopes ready for young eyes and can help kids spot planets and other exciting night sky objects.
Here's an easy one: Catch a movie. There are plenty of family movies in theaters right now (Dog Man, Paddington in Peru, A Minecraft Movie, The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie), but some theaters are hosting special screenings that will entertain younger audiences.
March 29: Barbie (2023) at Minneapolis Institute of Art (free)
Mar. 29–30: Flow (2024) at Riverview Theater
March 30: The Mummy (1999) at Emagine Willow Creek
Mar. 30–31: Grease (1978) at Oakdale Cinema, Parkwood Cinema, Rosemount Cinema, and West End Cinema
March 31–April 3: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024) at Cinema Grill
April 3: Hoosiers (1995) at Emagine Willow Creek
April 3: Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) at The Parkway Theater
April 4: Dune (1984) at Alamo Drafthouse
April 5: Spirited Away (2001) at The Parkway Theater
April 6: Empire Records (1995) at Audrey Rose Vintage
April 6: Little Big League (1994) at Niccolet Island Pavilion (free)
Sandbox VR, with locations in Eden Prairie and Roseville, offers a unique virtual reality gaming experience. It doesn't last hours, if you're looking to occupy kids for any length of time, but it will delight.
Adventurers don a headset and, for some games, weapons to dive into a fully immersive VR world with multiple adventures available, including a zombie wasteland, a pirate ship, a dragon attack, and a Squid Games-themed experience. It'll pull you into its world as your group follows instructions to complete quests inside each game.
The St. Paul arcade and mini golf course — recently named one of the best mini golf courses in the country — is operating with extended hours during spring break, opening at 11 a.m. daily. (And don't forget admission is just $10 on Tuesdays and kids 5 and under are free every day.)
There are dozens of arcade games to keep kids entertained for hours. Additionally, it's hosting a skateboard art workshop on Saturday.As always, there are storytimes for kids of all ages all around the Twin Cities. That includes community gathering places like Wild Rumpus bookstore, as well as libraries. (There are multiple storytimes over the week at Hennepin County Libraries and Ramsey County Libraries.)
While there are plenty of other activities around the Twin Cities like zoos and indoor adventure parks (see Bring Me the News' list of winter activities for kids for more details on some of those), it's also nice enough to get outside. Go to a park, take a hike, or explore a state park. (And don't forget, many libraries will let you check out a free pass to Minnesota's state parks!)
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