This Week in the Cities
Refreshed every night, with a link straight to each event's page. Showing the next 7 days as of August 12, 2026.
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 ages 0–5 — a warm space to connect with other parents while your kid burns energy.
Visit WebsiteMinneapolis Institute of Art
Free general admission. The first-floor Family Room has toys and books curated for toddlers, and there's a coffee shop for you.
Visit WebsiteWalker Art Center
Kids get in free anytime, and Free First Saturdays are geared toward families. A quiet weekday visit is an easy win.
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, most at little to no cost.
Visit WebsiteComo Park Zoo & Conservatory
Free, year-round zoo and glass conservatory in St. Paul — polar bears, big cats, and a sunny Sunken Garden, with plenty of stroller-friendly paths. Donations welcome.
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 — campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
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 at MNbenefits.mn.gov or through your county.
Visit WebsiteMinnesota WIC Program
Food, formula, and nutrition support for pregnant and postpartum moms and kids under 5. Call 1-800-942-4030 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 clinic 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 your ZIP code to 898-211, or chat online, 24/7.
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 Library; also free events for ages 0–5 Saturdays at 10:30am.
Hennepin County Library
Programs for birth–24 months and caregivers: talk, sing, read, write, and play together with books, rhymes, and movement.
Linden Hills Library — Baby Storytime
Monday mornings, two sessions: 10:00–10:30am and 11:00–11:30am.
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 membership deals if you'll go often.
Lookout Ridge Indoor Playground
Multi-level woodland-themed play area with tunnels, bridges, 75+ play elements, and a dedicated toddler zone. Opened 2025 — on the more affordable side.
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 chaos.
Visit WebsiteWild Things
5,200 sq ft jungle-themed play space for ages 0–12, with a three-level climbing structure, slides, and a soft 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 or trial rates 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 motor skills.
Visit WebsiteGleason's Gym — Bitty-Mites (Eagan)
Introductory gymnastics for two-year-olds using mats, parachutes, and trampolines, with parent participation.
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 toddlers enjoy sensory play at "Sprouts."
The Works Museum (Bloomington)
Interactive engineering museum — build catapults, explore circuits and wind power, and see a giant kinetic sculpture.
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 Community Church, Minneapolis.
Visit WebsiteAbout GoBaby
GoBaby is a free, regularly updated guide to baby and toddler activities across the Twin Cities — built for parents who need somewhere to go and someone to talk to, not just something to do.
Raising a baby or toddler is one of the hardest, most disorienting seasons of life, and so much of that difficulty has nothing to do with the kid — it's the isolation. The long stretches at home. The feeling that everyone else has a rhythm figured out except you. Community is the thing that changes that. A storytime isn't just twenty minutes of songs; it's a room full of people who get it. A tot-time at the rec center isn't just an hour to fill; it's the start of a friendship for your little one, and maybe for you too.
GoBaby was built with stay-at-home moms and single moms especially in mind — the days can be long and the budget can be tight, so every listing is tagged Free, Under $10, or $10+ before you ever click through. You'll find storytimes, park meetups, indoor play spaces, music classes, museums, and parent support groups across Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the surrounding suburbs, all in one place, kept current so it's actually useful.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is GoBaby?
GoBaby is a free directory of baby and toddler activities, storytimes, playgroups, and parent meetups throughout the Twin Cities, built to help new parents get out of the house and build real community.
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 affordable ways to meet other parents and give their baby or toddler a chance to make friends.
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 before you ever leave the house.
How often is GoBaby updated?
The "This Week" section updates daily with current-week activities. The rest of the guide is reviewed regularly to keep hours, prices, and details accurate.