# Things to do with kids in Washington County, MN

> 25 upcoming family events and 2 places and ongoing programs in Washington County, MN, in the Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington area. Listings whose address ZIP code is in this county (Census Bureau ZIP-to-county file). Dates and times are Central Time. Today is Sat, Oct 24.

Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Oct 24, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about
Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-10-24), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/counties/washington-county-mn

## Events ahead

- [Animal Detectives Nature Table (William O'Brien State Park)](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/animal-detectives-nature-table-william-o-brien-state-park--listing-0fbacda26bed1c469ca53508) — Sat, Oct 24 · 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM · William O'Brien State Park Visitor Center, Marine on St. Croix · With admission · checked Oct 20. Kids play nature detective at the naturalist table in the William O'Brien State Park visitor center, matching skulls and furs to the Minnesota mammals they belong to by examining…
- [Escape Room at the Historic Courthouse](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/escape-room-at-the-historic-courthouse--listing-ecc42a06c5a40ef6444f9067) — Sat, Oct 24 · 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM · Washington County Historic Courthouse, Stillwater · From $20 · checked Oct 16. An escape room inside the historic jail of the Washington County Historic Courthouse in Stillwater. Teams follow clues based on the true story of Ada Hubbell, the only woman…
- [Fall Festival at Wargo Nature Center](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/fall-festival-at-wargo-nature-center--listing-44b8d092be4043efb0fb1a4f) — Sat, Oct 24 · 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM · Wargo Nature Center, Lino Lakes · All ages · Free · checked Oct 13. Celebrate fall at Wargo Nature Center in the Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park Reserve: staff crank up the cider press, play pioneer games and offer self-guided nature activities…
- [Halloween Extravaganza](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/halloween-extravaganza--listing-670931be01a3701dd2e9d956) — Sat, Oct 24 · 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM · Shepard Farm in Cottage Grove · From $8 · sold out when last checked · checked Oct 16. Let’s celebrate Halloween at Dodge Nature Center’s Shepard Farm Property in Cottage Grove! Trick-or-treat through the woods, ride on the tractor-pulled wagon to look for ghosts…
- [Halloween Extravaganza at Dodge Nature Center's Shepard Farm](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/halloween-extravaganza-at-dodge-nature-center-s-shepard-farm--listing-ffacce3534ad630a73855629) — Sat, Oct 24 · 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM · Shepard Farm (Dodge Nature Center), Cottage Grove · All ages · From $8 · checked Oct 13. Celebrate Halloween at Dodge Nature Center's Shepard Farm property in Cottage Grove. Trick-or-treat through the woods, ride the tractor-pulled wagon to look for ghosts and…
- [Know Your Meal: Quail Date Night](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/know-your-meal-quail-date-night--listing-be44eda6bd73bc1e5da11957) — Wed, Oct 28 · 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM · Shepard Farm in Cottage Grove · From $40 · sold out when last checked · checked Oct 16. Deepen your appreciation for where food comes from during this one-of-a-kind date night. Learn the basics of cleaning and preparing quail, then transform your hard work into a…
- [Spooky Basement at Bayport Public Library](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/spooky-basement-at-bayport-public-library--listing-8e91c7b83c32995858f6e1d2) — Thu, Oct 29 · 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM · Bayport Public Library (Children's Area and basement) · All ages · checked Oct 13. Come to Bayport Public Library dressed in your Halloween costume and brave the library's scary basement for some candy. An all-ages, drop-in Halloween evening in the children's…
- [Not So Spooky Creatures: Owl Pellets and Bats at William O'Brien State Park](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/not-so-spooky-creatures-owl-pellets-and-bats-at-william-o-brien-state--listing-485a8807beeede9f265568f4) — Sat, Oct 31 · 10:00 AM – 1:45 PM · William O'Brien State Park Visitor Center, Marine on St. Croix · All ages · With admission · checked Oct 13. Two Halloween-morning programs in the William O'Brien State Park visitor center. At 10–10:45 AM, find out what an owl makes for breakfast by dissecting owl pellets (all ages). At…
- [Family Jigsaw Puzzle Competition](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/family-jigsaw-puzzle-competition--listing-58cde2b267d8c53792b7475e) — Sat, Nov 7 · 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM · Stillwater Public Library (Margaret Rivers Room A&B) · All ages · checked Oct 13. Teams of 2 to 5 people put together a 300-piece puzzle as fast as they can; puzzles are suited for ages 8-12 and the whole family, adults included, is welcome. Register online…
- [Bird Hike at Lake Elmo Park Reserve](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/bird-hike-at-lake-elmo-park-reserve--listing-965a46cc3744ef8e0ca1667a) — Sat, Nov 14 · 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM · Lake Elmo Park Reserve (Nordic Center) · All ages · checked Oct 20. A guided morning bird hike at Lake Elmo Park Reserve for beginners and experienced birders alike. Participants listen to the sounds of the park, learn to identify birds of the…
- [Teens Make Resin Bookmarks (Oakdale Library)](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/teens-make-resin-bookmarks-oakdale-library--listing-d20a399282e74cc72a23c0a2) — Tue, Nov 17 · 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM · Oakdale Library · checked Oct 16. Teens mix resin and colors, then choose dried flowers, beads or other small items to preserve in their own resin bookmark at Oakdale Library. The one-hour workshop runs 4:30-5:30…
- [Teens Make Stuff: Clay Play with Sayge Carroll (R.H. Stafford Library)](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/teens-make-stuff-clay-play-with-sayge-carroll-r-h-stafford-library--listing-04a4f0916228479402673d66) — Wed, Nov 18 · 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM · R.H. Stafford Library, Woodbury · Ages 11–18 · checked Oct 16. A beginner-friendly clay workshop for middle and high school students (ages 11-18) led by COMPAS teaching artist Sayge Carroll. Teens create a unique clay piece, which is fired…
- [Christmas at the Historic Courthouse (Stillwater)](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/christmas-at-the-historic-courthouse-stillwater--listing-bb5e63186bc6c0de14598120) — Sat, Nov 21 (+1 more date) · 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM · Washington County Historic Courthouse, Stillwater · All ages · Free · checked Oct 16. The 33rd annual Christmas at the Historic Courthouse fills Stillwater's 1870s courthouse, decorated top to bottom for the holidays, with a Holiday Bazaar of more than 30 vendors…
- [Let's Clay: Galaxies and Space (Wildwood Library)](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/let-s-clay-galaxies-and-space-wildwood-library--listing-999538e19c58f1dfec7e7242) — Sat, Nov 21 · 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM · Wildwood Library, Mahtomedi · Ages 8–12 · checked Oct 16. A teaching artist from Parcel Arts shows children ages 8-12 different sculpting techniques with oven-safe polymer clay, and each child makes a miniature galaxy with an alien, a…
- [The Journey of a Water Droplet: Children's Program (William O'Brien State Park)](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/the-journey-of-a-water-droplet-children-s-program-william-o-brien-stat--listing-d717be17a5675dc864010f0c) — Sat, Nov 21 · 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM · William O'Brien State Park Visitor Center, Marine on St. Croix · With admission · checked Oct 20. A one-hour children's program on the water cycle at William O'Brien State Park. Kids follow the path of a water droplet as it moves between lakes, clouds and glaciers around the…
- [Baby and Toddler Dance Party (Stillwater Public Library)](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/baby-and-toddler-dance-party-stillwater-public-library--listing-2416b60426ff8d790110a3ec) — Mon, Nov 23 · 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM · Stillwater Public Library · Ages 0–3 · checked Oct 16. A 30-minute dance party for babies and toddlers at Stillwater Public Library. Library staff play music and children dance along with scarves, bubbles and shakers. The program is…
- [Backyard Birding and Friendly Giants pine tree program at William O'Brien State Park](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/backyard-birding-and-friendly-giants-pine-tree-program-at-william-o-br--listing-24992e0d82e6f70273a3fe67) — Sat, Nov 28 · 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM · William O'Brien State Park Visitor Center, Marine on St. Croix · All ages · With admission · checked Oct 13. Two naturalist programs on Saturday Nov. 28 at the William O'Brien State Park visitor center. Backyard Birding (10–11:30 AM, all ages): learn to adjust binoculars and identify…
- [Puppet Show: "The Gingerbread Man, a.k.a. Super-Cookie!" (Stillwater)](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/puppet-show-the-gingerbread-man-a-k-a-super-cookie-stillwater--listing-ca59e2a449dcae06fd386dae) — Wed, Dec 2 (+1 more date) · 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM · Stillwater Public Library · checked Oct 16. Stillwater Public Library staff and assistants present a puppet show of the Gingerbread Man in which the cheeky cookie insists he is "Super-Cookie" and refuses to be eaten. The…
- [Animals of the St. Croix River Valley with Carpenter Nature Center](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/animals-of-the-st-croix-river-valley-with-carpenter-nature-center--listing-260eb57c0dffafd6c251f5b8) — Sat, Dec 5 · 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM · Stillwater Public Library (Margaret Rivers Room A&B) · checked Oct 13. Learn about some amazing animals that call the St. Croix River Valley home, and meet them up close. Presented by Carpenter Nature Center at Stillwater Public Library.
- [Hot Cocoa GPS Challenge at Wargo Nature Center](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/hot-cocoa-gps-challenge-at-wargo-nature-center--listing-e714efe695240ccac0e3970a) — Sat, Dec 5 · 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM · Wargo Nature Center, Lino Lakes · All ages · Free · checked Oct 13. Search Wargo's chilly peninsula for the ingredients needed to make a piping cup of hot chocolate. Participants are given a GPS unit to explore Wargo's new GPS Challenge Course…
- [Winter Survival at Shepard Farm (Dodge Nature Center)](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/winter-survival-at-shepard-farm-dodge-nature-center--listing-74c977c61d90b1c6483ae574) — Sat, Dec 5 · 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM · Shepard Farm in Cottage Grove (Dodge Nature Center) · From $10 · checked Oct 16. Could you survive a night outside in winter? Kids learn to stay warm and safe in the cold by choosing the right clothing and practicing winter survival skills through hands-on…
- [Gingerbread Houses at Lake Elmo Library](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/gingerbread-houses-at-lake-elmo-library--listing-65375f94b6b5b270cccdd2bd) — Thu, Dec 10 · 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM · Lake Elmo Library · Ages 5+ · checked Oct 16. A Lake Elmo Library tradition: children build a gingerbread-style house out of graham crackers and candy. The program runs 3:30-5 p.m. on Thursday, December 10 in the combined…
- [Bird Hike at Pine Point Regional Park](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/bird-hike-at-pine-point-regional-park--listing-279a3ebecb8d3337ee6b58fa) — Sat, Dec 12 · 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM · Pine Point Regional Park (Trailhead Kiosk), Stillwater · All ages · checked Oct 20. Washington County Parks leads an early-winter bird walk at Pine Point Regional Park north of Stillwater. Naturalists help families and new birders identify the birds that stay in…
- [Winter Wildlife Tracking Series at Wargo Nature Center](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/winter-wildlife-tracking-series-at-wargo-nature-center--listing-694ce8fa6520d4e8277a57f5) — Sat, Dec 12 (+1 more date) · 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM · Wargo Nature Center, Lino Lakes · Ages 12+ · Paid · checked Oct 24. A winter series at Anoka County's Wargo Nature Center in Lino Lakes for ages 12 and up. Participants head out with one of Wargo's three wildlife trackers certified by Tracker…
- [Winter Recreation Sampler at Wargo Nature Center](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/winter-recreation-sampler-at-wargo-nature-center--listing-58d339ee8b2909f41bf33687) — Tue, Dec 29 · 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM · Wargo Nature Center, Lino Lakes · Ages 5+ · checked Oct 13. A family-friendly winter break event at Wargo Nature Center: with a little luck there will be snow to play in, and participants can try snowshoeing, kick-sledding and fat tire…

## Places and ongoing programs

- [Good Times Park Woodbury (indoor playground)](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/good-times-park-woodbury-indoor-playground--listing-a9adaa8248cbae236860e58c) — Every day 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM; Christmas Eve 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM; closed Christmas Day and… · Good Times Park Woodbury · From $13 · checked Oct 13. Self-supervised indoor playground in Woodbury, open daily 7 am-9 pm, where parents and caregivers guide their children's play in a climate-controlled park with climbing…
- [Once Upon A Story Time at Wargo Nature Center](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/once-upon-a-story-time-at-wargo-nature-center--listing-287de5c9375678537daf6a99) — Select Tuesday of each month, 9–10 AM: Nov 3 (Turkey and Deer BFFs), Dec 1 (Winter… · Wargo Nature Center, Lino Lakes · Ages 2+ · Free · checked Oct 13. A free nature story time at Wargo Nature Center for ages 2 and up with an adult: a storyteller leads nature adventures through stories, songs and crafts. Held on a select Tuesday…

## Recently ended

- [Courthouse by Candlelight (Stillwater)](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/courthouse-by-candlelight-stillwater--listing-84de039d31be3962eddad411) — ended Thu, Oct 22
- [FIRST Robotics Demonstration at R.H. Stafford Library](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/first-robotics-demonstration-at-r-h-stafford-library--listing-77669697c1fee77c42a2b5e7) — ended Thu, Oct 22
- [Mystery Youth Writing Contest Celebration and Rebecca Ansari Author Visit](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/mystery-youth-writing-contest-celebration-and-rebecca-ansari-author-vi--listing-32b7637fd4ddbba5b202ee20) — ended Thu, Oct 22
- [Intro to Archery at Lake Elmo Park Reserve](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/intro-to-archery-at-lake-elmo-park-reserve--listing-223abee9a1f08d5f4e7e843f) — ended Tue, Oct 20
- [Aamodt's Apple Farm MEA Weekend wagon rides](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/aamodt-s-apple-farm-mea-weekend-wagon-rides--listing-c8929ff4aa4259c37c1316ec) — ended Sun, Oct 18
- [Fall Break Camp: Farmer for a Day (Grades K-2)](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/fall-break-camp-farmer-for-a-day-grades-k-2--listing-afd61bfda305dc51319467cf) — ended Fri, Oct 16
- [Fall Break Camp: Nature’s Palette (Grades 3-5)](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/fall-break-camp-nature-s-palette-grades-3-5--listing-c8581d2c320734e36df9b6ff) — ended Fri, Oct 16
- [Reptiles Around the World at Oakdale Library](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/reptiles-around-the-world-at-oakdale-library--listing-e933809c245935415c0faa5c) — ended Fri, Oct 16
- [Fall Break Camp: Fall Harvest (Grades 3-5)](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/fall-break-camp-fall-harvest-grades-3-5--listing-d9ee8e5400a290b97f21a992) — ended Thu, Oct 15
- [Fall Break Camp: Trash to Treasure (Grades K-2)](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/fall-break-camp-trash-to-treasure-grades-k-2--listing-336b4b30a05da1e3bd16e826) — ended Thu, Oct 15
- [Snake Discovery: Snake, Rattle and Roll (Woodbury)](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/snake-discovery-snake-rattle-and-roll-woodbury--listing-a18b15cce26743e4e2cfbf03) — ended Thu, Oct 15

## Nearby

- Towns in Washington County, MN: [Stillwater, MN](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/towns/stillwater-mn) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/towns/stillwater-mn.md), [Lino Lakes, MN](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/towns/lino-lakes-mn) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/towns/lino-lakes-mn.md), [Cottage Grove, MN](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/towns/cottage-grove-mn) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/towns/cottage-grove-mn.md), [Marine on St. Croix, MN](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/towns/marine-on-st-croix-mn) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/towns/marine-on-st-croix-mn.md)
- [Things to do with kids in Minneapolis](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis.md)
- [This weekend in Minneapolis](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/this-weekend) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/this-weekend.md)

Town pages are listed once a town has 3 current listings, county pages at 10.