Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington area · Latest check Sat, Oct 24
Things to do with kids in Dakota County, MN
37 upcoming family events and 10 places and programs in Dakota County, MN. Every listing links to the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it — confirm the details there before you go. Dates are in Central Time.
All of the Minneapolis area →This weekend in Minneapolis →Upcoming family events
Oct24SatPumpkins and patchesThrough Nov 1
Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular at the Minnesota Zoo
Minnesota Zoo
From $19All ages
- STEM & discovery
Sat, Oct 24 · 9:30 AM
Little Learners at the Minnesota Zoo
Minnesota Zoo
From $30Ages 2–5
- Outdoors
Sat, Oct 24 · 9:00 AM
The Scales and Tales of Snakes (Afton State Park)
Afton State Park Visitor Center
With admission
- Festivals and parties
Sun, Oct 25 · 12:00 PM
Halloween Skating Party at Burnsville Ice Center
Burnsville Ice Center
Free
- Sports & play
Sun, Oct 25 · 8:00 AM
Sensory Sunday at Urban Air Apple Valley
Urban Air Adventure Park Apple Valley
All ages
- Sports & play
Mon, Oct 26 · 6:00 PM
Full Moon Forest Bathing
Main Property, Farm Entrance
From $30
Oct29ThuSTEM & discoveryThu, Oct 29 · 9:00 AM
Nature Tots (Thursday Morning Series)
Main Property, Farm Entrance
From $150
Oct30FriSTEM & discoveryFri, Oct 30 · 9:00 AM
Nature Tots (Friday Morning Series)
Main Property, Farm Entrance
From $150
- Festivals and parties
Fri, Oct 30 · 6:00 PM
Burnsville Halloween Fest at Nicollet Commons Park
Nicollet Commons Park
From $8All ages
Oct31SatCommunitySat, Oct 31 · 10:00 AM
Howl-O-Ween at the Minnesota Zoo
Minnesota Zoo
With admissionAll ages
- Pumpkins and patches
Sun, Nov 1 · 10:30 AM
Pumpkin Smash at Neill Park (Burnsville)
Neill Park
Free
Nov2MonOutdoorsMon, Nov 2 · 8:15 AM
Outdoor Learning Day at Dodge Nature Center (Grades 1-4)
Dodge Nature Center, Main Property (Main Office Entrance)
From $75
Nov12ThuOutdoorsThu, Nov 12 · 4:00 PM
Pride Outside at Dodge Nature Center (grades 5-12)
Dodge Nature Center, Main Property (Main Office Entrance)
Free
- Arts & crafts
Fri, Nov 13 · 7:00 PM
A Christmas Story (Lakeville Area Arts Center)
Lakeville Area Arts Center
From $20
- Sports & play
Sat, Nov 21 · 9:15 AM
Run Now, Gobble Later 5K & Fun Run (Burnsville)
North River Hills Park
From $21All ages
- Arts & crafts
Sat, Nov 21 · 3:00 PM
Seed Bead Charm Pins at Farmington Library
Farmington Library (Farmington Large Meeting Room)
Ages 7–14
- Outdoors
Sat, Nov 21 · 1:00 PM
Track Tales (Afton State Park)
Afton State Park Visitor Center
With admission
- Tree lightings
Tue, Nov 24 · 6:15 PM
Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony (Apple Valley)
Apple Valley Municipal Center
- Outdoors
Wed, Nov 25 · 11:30 AM
Nature Story Time at Afton State Park
Afton State Park Visitor Center
With admission
- Tree lightings
Wed, Nov 25 · 6:00 PM
Winter Lighting Ceremony (Burnsville)
Nicollet Commons Park
Free
- Community
Sun, Nov 29 · 5:30 PM
Light Up The Square (South St. Paul)
Central Square Community Center
- Nutcracker and shows
Tue, Dec 1
Mini-Nutcracker by Twin Cities Ballet (Lakeville Area Arts Center)
Lakeville Area Arts Center
From $18All ages
- Arts & crafts
Thu, Dec 3 · 6:00 PM
No Nose for Rudolph – Schifelly Puppets (Lakeville Area Arts Center)
Lakeville Area Arts Center
From $15
- Arts & crafts
Thu, Dec 3
Tour de Rec: Holiday Gift Making (Mendota Heights)
Thompson Park Activity Center
Free
- Community
Fri, Dec 4 · 5:00 PM
Tinsel, Treats & Giving (Burnsville)
Diamondhead Education Center
Free
- STEM & discovery
Sat, Dec 5 · 1:30 PM
Chemists in the Library at Wentworth Library
Wentworth Library (Wentworth Large Meeting Room #130)
Ages 6+
- Arts & crafts
Sat, Dec 5 · 10:00 AM
Sensory-Friendly Saturday at Wescott Library
Wescott Library (Wescott Large Meeting Room)
Ages 3–8
- Nutcracker and shows
Sat, Dec 12 · 7:00 PM
A Christmas Carol Radio Play (Lakeville Area Arts Center)
Lakeville Area Arts Center
From $15
- Santa visits
Sat, Dec 12 · 9:00 AM
Breakfast With Santa (South St. Paul Lions Club)
St. John Vianney Catholic Church
- Sports & play
Sat, Dec 12 · 3:00 PM
Parachute Explorers at Farmington Library
Farmington Library (Farmington Large Meeting Room)
Ages 4–7
- STEM & discovery
Sat, Dec 12 · 10:00 AM
STEM Saturday: Foaming Fake Snow (Heritage Library)
Heritage Library (Heritage Large Meeting Room)
Ages 5–10
- Santa visits
Sun, Dec 13 · 1:00 PM
Skate with Santa at Doug Woog Arena
Doug Woog Arena
Dec18FriOutdoorsThrough Jan 3
Trails by Lantern Light at Lebanon Hills Regional Park
Lebanon Hills Regional Park (Visitor Center, Schulze Lake loop)
FreeAll ages
- Nutcracker and shows
Fri, Dec 18
A Christmas Carol & Hall of Trees (Lakeville Area Arts Center)
Lakeville Area Arts Center
From $20
Dec21MonOutdoorsMon, Dec 21 · 5:00 PM
Winter Solstice Bonfire at Dodge Nature Center
Dodge Nature Center, Main Property (Farm Entrance)
From $10All ages
- Community
Tue, Dec 29 · 10:00 AM
Community Helpers: Police Visit at Pleasant Hill Library
Pleasant Hill Library (Pleasant Hill Large Meeting Room)
Ages 2+
- STEM & discovery
Tue, Dec 29 · 2:00 PM
Winter STEM Party at Pleasant Hill Library
Pleasant Hill Library (Pleasant Hill Large Meeting Room)
Ages 6–12
Places and ongoing programs
VisitanytimeOutdoorsVisit on your schedule
Buck Hill Snow Tubing
Buck Hill
From $12
VisitanytimeOutdoorsVisit on your schedule
Minnesota Zoo
Minnesota Zoo
From $19.95
OngoingprogramOutdoorsRecurring / by appointment
Royal Credit Union Sea Lion Discovery at the Minnesota Zoo
Minnesota Zoo (Discovery Bay)
With admissionAll ages
VisitanytimeSports & playVisit on your schedule
Sky Zone Eagan trampoline park (Toddler Zone, Freestyle Jump)
Sky Zone Eagan
PaidAll ages
VisitanytimeSports & playVisit on your schedule
Urban Air Adventure Park Apple Valley
Urban Air Adventure Park Apple Valley
From $34.99All ages
- Sports & play
Visit on your schedule
Good Times Park Eagan (indoor playground)
Good Times Park Eagan
From $13
- Arts & crafts
Recurring / by appointment
Imagination Stations at the Minnesota Zoo
Minnesota Zoo
With admissionAges 2–5
- Sports & play
Recurring / by appointment
Jumperoo toddler time at Urban Air Apple Valley
Urban Air Adventure Park Apple Valley
- Arts & crafts
Session in progress
Music for Families (6 wk-5 yr) - Apple Valley fall semester
MacPhail Center for Music - Apple Valley
From $224
- Public skating
Visit on your schedule
Public Ice Skating at Burnsville Ice Center
Burnsville Ice Center
From $6
Recently ended
- Oct23FriSTEM & discovery
EndedPast · Oct 23 · 9:00 AM
Nature Tots (Friday Morning Series)
Main Property, Farm Entrance
From $150
- Oct22ThuSTEM & discovery
EndedPast · Oct 22 · 9:00 AM
Nature Tots (Thursday Morning Series)
Main Property, Farm Entrance
From $150
Check?datesOutdoorsEndedPast · Oct 22
Trivia on the Trails: Owl Trivia (self-guided)
Dodge Nature Center, Main Property (Main Office Entrance)
FreeAll ages
- Oct22ThuCommunity
EndedPast · Oct 22 · 12:00 AM
Trivia on the Trails: Owl Trivia!
Main Property, Main Office Entrance
Free
- Oct21WedCommunity
EndedPast · Oct 21 · 12:00 AM
Trivia on the Trails: Owl Trivia!
Main Property, Main Office Entrance
Free
- Community
EndedPast · Oct 21 · 6:00 PM
Wild Cocktails
Main Property, Farm Entrance
From $35
- Community
EndedPast · Oct 20 · 12:00 AM
Trivia on the Trails: Owl Trivia!
Main Property, Main Office Entrance
Free
- Community
EndedPast · Oct 19 · 12:00 AM
Trivia on the Trails: Owl Trivia!
Main Property, Main Office Entrance
Free
- Community
EndedPast · Oct 18 · 12:00 AM
Trivia on the Trails: Owl Trivia!
Main Property, Main Office Entrance
Free
- STEM & discovery
EndedPast · Oct 17 · 1:30 PM
Chemists in the Library (MN American Chemical Society)
Heritage Library (Large Meeting Room)
- Outdoors
EndedPast · Oct 17 · 7:00 PM
Creatures of the Night at Afton State Park
Afton State Park Visitor Center
With admission
- Community
EndedPast · Oct 17 · 12:00 AM
Trivia on the Trails: Owl Trivia!
Main Property, Main Office Entrance
Free
A county page lists the county’s own addresses (by ZIP code, from the Census Bureau’s ZIP-to-county file); pages appear in our sitemap once a county has 10 or more current listings.