Free/Low Cost Activities in Minnesota
As you spend time with your new-to-country friends, here are some ideas of fun things to do together:
- Winter sports: sledding, cross-country skiing, snow shoeing, ice skating, ice fishing
-
St. Paul Winter Carnival
- Lake Harriet Winter Kite Festival
- Science Museum of MN – only $3 with EBT card or other low income programs; jump on the light rail to get there!
- Minnesota Zoo – free admission with EBT card or other low income programs; take the bus there!
- Como Zoo – free admission. The conservatory is a nice break from winter weather!
- Make cookies
- Invite them to your family Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Years
- Make “snow ice cream” – google the recipe, or hit the link!
- Stove-top popcorn & games – some good low English level games are: Mastermind, Candyland, Dominoes, Checkers, Memory, Chess, Uno…ask them to teach you a game too!
- Build snowmen, snow forts, snowball fights
- Cook a meal together – teach them your recipes & learn theirs
-
Como Zoo Conservatory
Decorate the Christmas tree together – great opportunity to explain your family traditions
- Watch a movie in their language (one of their movies or look for movies with subtitles)
- Go out for tea or coffee
- Find a local newspaper in their language and show them how to get it
- Minneapolis Art Institute – free admission
- The Works Children Museum – $4.25 per ticket with EBT card or other low income programs
- Take the family on a day trip to the North Shore (Duluth)
- Take advantage of free events at the Minnesota History Center
- Attend a local sporting event
- Shovel snow together & make hot chocolate from scratch and homemade marshmallows
- Coloring
- Visit the frozen falls at Minnehaha Falls
- Build a blanket fort & have an indoor scavenger hunt
- Take a drive to look at all the holiday lights & decorations in the neighborhood
- Make homemade ornaments & Christmas cookies together
- Go to story time at your local library with the kids
- Find indoor playground or rec center with open gym time near you
- Toddler Tuesdays at Mall of America: free entertainment for toddlers and preschoolers every Tuesday
- Wee Wednesdays at Midtown Global Market: free entertainment for children and free kids’ meal with purchase of an adult meal at several Midtown restaurants
- Attend free classes/activities for all ages at Midtown Global Market
- Check out a free Museum Adventure pass at your local library
- Pack a sack lunch and attend Ballet Tuesdays (free!) at Landmark Center