Free Holiday Events in Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis, MN's free holiday events include City of Minneapolis, Como Park Zoo & Conservatory, Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board - Chain of Lakes, and Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board - Loring Park. Tree lighting ceremonies, holiday parades, and free outdoor concerts typically run late November through December.
Free zoo. Not a typo. Como Zoo is genuinely free and the polar bear exhibit is legit.
1225 Estabrook Dr, Saint Paul, MN 55103 · Daily 10am-4pm (winter), 10am-6pm (summer)
Always free. 90,000 works of art. Family Day second Sunday of every month with free hands-on activities.
2400 3rd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55404 · Tue-Sun 10am-5pm, Thu until 9pm, closed Mon
53-foot waterfall inside city limits. Free. Playground, wading pool, disc golf, and bike rentals.
4801 S Minnehaha Dr, Minneapolis, MN 55417 · Daily 6am-10pm
Five connected lakes with beaches, bike paths, canoe rentals, and free wading pools. This is what summer in Minneapolis is.
3000 E Calhoun Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55408 · Parks open 6am-10pm
24 free outdoor ice rinks across the city. Free loaner skates at most locations. This is Minnesota.
Multiple locations citywide · Daylight to 9pm, weather permitting
Free storytime, crafts, STEM programs. 41 branches across the county. The central library is architecturally stunning.
300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55401 · Mon-Thu 9am-8pm, Fri-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 12-5pm
Free live music all summer at the bandshell. Bring a blanket. Kids run around on the lawn. Nobody cares.
4135 W Lake Harriet Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55410 · Concert schedule varies, typically 7pm-8:30pm
Downtown park with a playground, wading pool, and direct walking bridge to the Sculpture Garden.
1382 Willow St, Minneapolis, MN 55403 · Daily 6am-10pm
11 miles of enclosed, heated, second-floor walkways connecting 80 blocks. Free to walk. January survival mode.
Downtown Minneapolis (multiple entrances) · Most sections Mon-Fri 6:30am-10pm, reduced weekend hours
Free outdoor movies and live music in parks all summer. Bring a blanket. The mosquitoes are also free.
Multiple park locations citywide · Movies at dusk, music evenings — check schedule
Beyond the zoo: paddleboats, free pool, picnic areas, a Japanese garden, disc golf, and a historic streetcar.
1199 Midway Pkwy, Saint Paul, MN 55103 · Daily 7am-10pm
Indoor market with food from 20+ countries. Take the kids on a world food tour for the price of a few small plates.
920 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55407 · Daily 10am-8pm (hours vary by vendor)
Always free, no reservations — Rembrandt, van Gogh, Monet, 90,000 works
2400 Third Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55404 · Tue-Sat 10am-5pm, Thu until 9pm, Sun 10am-5pm, closed Mon
28 miles of trail connecting five lakes — free concerts at Lake Harriet
3000 E Calhoun Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55408 · Open 24 hours; rental hours vary seasonally
53-foot waterfall in the city — free year-round, frozen ice formations in winter
4801 S Minnehaha Dr, Minneapolis, MN 55417 · Daily 6am-10pm
Free live music every single night — no cover, ever
331 13th Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413 · Daily noon-2am
Free lakeside concerts all summer — bring a blanket, sit by the water
4135 W Lake Harriet Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55409 · Summer concerts typically 7pm; schedule varies
Free Frank Gehry museum overlooking the Mississippi — the building is the art
333 E River Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55455 · Tue-Sun 10am-5pm, Wed until 8pm, closed Mon
Largest open studio tour in the country — hundreds of artists, free, third weekend of May
Various studios, 13th Ave NE corridor, Minneapolis, MN · Third weekend of May (Fri-Sun); First Thursdays year-round
Experimental art in a former soap factory — the Haunted Basement in October is legendary
514 SE 2nd St, Minneapolis, MN 55414 · Thu-Sun noon-5pm, check schedule for special events