This Week in the Cities
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Full daily listings via Family Fun Twin Cities and Kids Out and About.
Free Favorites
Always-on spots worth bookmarking — some run weekly, so you never run out of things to do.
Minneapolis ECFE Drop-In Play & Learn
Minneapolis Public Schools' Early Childhood Family Education runs drop-in play and open gym times for families with young children at sites across the city.
Visit WebsiteMinneapolis Institute of Art
Free general admission. The first-floor Family Room has toys and books curated for toddlers, and the galleries are stroller-friendly for a slow wander.
Visit WebsiteWalker Art Center
Kids get in free anytime, and Free First Saturdays are geared toward families. A quiet weekday visit works well with a napping baby in tow.
Visit WebsiteWild Rumpus Bookstore
A tiny purple front door made for little kids, resident pets to meet, and weekly free storytime.
Visit WebsiteMinneapolis Parks Tot Times & Open Gym
Search "tot" or "open gym" on the Minneapolis Park & Rec activity site to find drop-in indoor play near you.
Visit WebsiteComo Park Zoo & Conservatory
Free, year-round zoo and glass conservatory in St. Paul — polar bears, big cats, and a sunny Sunken Garden that's lovely even on a cold day.
Visit WebsiteSupport & Resources
Real help for single moms, stay-at-home moms, and anyone stretching a budget. No judgment, just resources.
Jeremiah Program
Two-generation program supporting single moms and their kids with housing, career coaching, and community.
Visit WebsiteMinnesota Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)
Helps pay for child care on a sliding scale while you work, job search, or attend school. Apply through Minnesota's Department of Children, Youth and Families.
Visit WebsiteMinnesota WIC Program
Food, formula, and nutrition support for pregnant and postpartum moms and kids under 5. Call the state WIC line to find a clinic near you.
Visit WebsiteDiaper Bank of Minnesota
Free diapers for families in need, distributed through partner agencies across the metro. Ask your WIC office or community organization for a referral.
Visit WebsiteEmerge Mothers Academy
Nonprofit offering coaching and community for moms working toward stability and personal goals.
Visit Website211 Minnesota (United Way)
Free, confidential helpline connecting families to food shelves, rent help, child care, and more. Call or text 211 anytime.
Visit WebsiteLibrary Storytimes
Free, air-conditioned in summer, warm in winter, and a great way to meet other parents on your street.
Saint Paul Public Library — Baby & Toddler Storytime
Sing, read, and play together for ages 0–2 (siblings welcome). Held at branches including George Latimer Central and neighborhood locations.
Hennepin County Library
Programs for birth–24 months and caregivers: talk, sing, read, write, and play together with books, rhymes, and songs.
Linden Hills Library — Baby Storytime
Monday mornings, two sessions: 10:00–10:30am and 11:00–11:30am.
Most branches run their own calendar — check sppl.org or hclib.org for current times near you.
Parks & Splash Pads
Free, sunny-day favorites — pack a snack and go.
Rosemount Central Park Splash Pad
A south-metro favorite that works well for both toddlers and older kids.
Visit WebsiteAndrews Park Splash Pad (Champlin)
Low-to-the-ground water tables for toddlers, plus flower showers and nautical-themed features for older kids.
Visit WebsiteRound Lake Park (Eden Prairie)
Splash pad plus an extra-large nearby playground — a full outing in one stop.
Visit WebsiteManor Park Splash Pad (Robbinsdale/Minneapolis)
Buckets, fountains, and sun-shaded seating for parents.
Visit WebsiteIndoor Play Spaces
For rainy days and brutal Minnesota winters. Most charge entry — worth checking for punch cards or memberships if you'll be regulars.
Lookout Ridge Indoor Playground
Multi-level woodland-themed play area with tunnels, bridges, 75+ play elements, and a dedicated toddler area.
Visit WebsiteEagle's Nest Indoor Playground
A 23-foot web tower, a 36-foot quadruple wave slide, and a large separate toddler area away from the big-kid traffic.
Visit WebsiteWild Things
5,200 sq ft jungle-themed play space for ages 0–12, with a three-level climbing structure, slides, and a toddler zone.
Visit WebsiteGood Times Park
Matted floors, foam block building, basketball and soccer areas, plus a dedicated baby play space.
Visit WebsiteUrban Air
Volcano-themed jungle gym, trampolines, foam pits, a tricycle track, and a toddler play area.
Visit WebsiteMusic & Movement Classes
Parent-and-me classes for motor skills and socializing — most sell in multi-week packages, so ask about drop-in options if you want to try one first.
The Little Gym — Minneapolis & St. Paul
Mommy-and-me (and daddy-and-me) classes for little ones, plus gymnastics classes for all ages and abilities.
Visit WebsiteIGM Gymnastics (Burnsville)
Parent-participation classes with obstacle courses and kid-friendly music, building coordination, rhythm, and confidence.
Visit WebsiteGleason's Gym — Bitty-Mites (Eagan)
Introductory gymnastics for two-year-olds using mats, parachutes, and trampolines, with parent participation encouraged.
Visit WebsiteMusic Together
Family music classes for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers, offered at several Twin Cities and suburban locations.
Visit WebsiteMARJCC — Mommy and Me
Music, movement, and creative play, with a focus on parent-child bonding and toddler socialization.
Visit WebsiteMuseums
Hands-on spaces built for little explorers. Ask about free/reduced admission days — several MN museums offer them.
Minnesota Children's Museum (St. Paul)
A dedicated space for ages 3 and under with stairs, bridges, a slide, and a water table. Infants and early walkers have their own safe corner to explore.
The Works Museum (Bloomington)
Interactive engineering museum — build catapults, explore circuits and wind power, and see a giant kinetic ball wall in action.
Be With Me Playseum (Minnetonka)
Imaginative play spaces designed for young children.
Mom & Parent Support Groups
For connection, community, and the postpartum season — because you shouldn't have to do this alone.
Flutterbabies Mom+Baby Group
Postpartum support for babies up to 18 months. Meets 2nd & 4th Fridays, 10–11:30am. Free, donations welcome.
Visit WebsiteBlooma — New Mom Groups
Community and support groups for new moms across Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Visit WebsitePark Nicollet Women's Center — New Moms Support Group
Free drop-in group led by therapists, 2nd & 4th Mondays, 12:00–12:45pm.
Visit WebsiteAllina Postpartum Anxiety & Depression Support Group (West St. Paul)
Weekly education and support, Wednesdays 1:30–3:00pm. Free parking and drop-in child care available.
Visit WebsiteMOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers)
Groups held at churches throughout the Twin Cities for moms with kids from birth through kindergarten.
Visit WebsiteBabywearing Twin Cities
Nonprofit offering free baby-carrier education and support meetings across the metro.
Visit WebsiteQueer Birth Project
Expecting & new parent group for LGBTQIA families with kids 0–3. 2nd Saturdays, 10:00–11:30am, Walker Art Center.
Visit WebsiteHours, prices, and schedules change often — this list is a starting point. Worth double-checking a venue's website or calling ahead before you go.
About GoBaby
GoBaby is a free, regularly updated guide to baby and toddler activities across the Twin Cities — built by a parent, for parents.
Raising a baby or toddler is one of the hardest, most disorienting seasons of life, and so much of that is easier with somewhere to go and someone to see.
GoBaby was built with stay-at-home moms and single moms especially in mind — the days can be long, and getting out of the house shouldn't be one more thing to figure out.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is GoBaby?
GoBaby is a free directory of baby and toddler activities, storytimes, playgroups, and parent meetups across the Minneapolis–St. Paul metro.
Who is GoBaby for?
Any new parent in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area, especially stay-at-home moms and single moms looking for free or low-cost ways to fill the day.
Is everything on GoBaby free?
Most of it, but not all. Every activity is tagged Free, Under $10, or $10+, so you can plan around your budget.
How often is GoBaby updated?
The "This Week" section is pulled automatically from Family Fun Twin Cities and Kids Out and About, and refreshes continuously. The rest of the guide is reviewed periodically.