# Things to do with kids in Dayton, MN

> 11 upcoming family events and 0 places and ongoing programs in Dayton, MN (Hennepin County, MN), in the Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington area. Listings whose address is in this town. 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/towns/dayton-mn

## Events ahead

- [Big Woods Halloween](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/big-woods-halloween--listing-824999f5f2218a88cbf0c401) — Sat, Oct 24 · 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM · Eastman Nature Center, Dayton · Ages 4+ · From $8 · checked Oct 13. Join the animal characters of the Big Woods on a Halloween trail walk at Eastman Nature Center. Visit the bubbling cauldron, eat a bug and experience the Gross Out Grotto. Enjoy…
- [Drop-In Discoveries: Microscopes by the Fire](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/drop-in-discoveries-microscopes-by-the-fire--listing-f47872a856b12486ba8fcab4) — Sun, Nov 1 · 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM · Eastman Nature Center, Dayton · All ages · Free · checked Oct 20. An afternoon drop-in at Eastman Nature Center that pairs a warming fire with magnifying gear. Naturalists set out microscopes so families can look closely at soil and other tiny…
- [Animal Myths by the Fire](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/animal-myths-by-the-fire--listing-dd5d99fcf2744a1da68c93f9) — Sat, Nov 7 · 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM · Eastman Nature Center, Dayton · From $6 · checked Oct 20. An evening by the fire at Eastman Nature Center that tackles the myths that make some animals seem spooky. Naturalists ask questions such as whether bats really fly into people's…
- [The Wandering Naturalist: Native American Games with Nashke Games](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/the-wandering-naturalist-native-american-games-with-nashke-games--listing-3a66d77704863b3ed3b2138e) — Sat, Nov 7 · 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM · Eastman Nature Center, Dayton · Ages 5+ · From $6 · checked Oct 20. A hands-on program at Eastman Nature Center tied to the Wandering Naturalist podcast's November episodes on Native American games. Tony Drews of Nashke Games and his team bring…
- [Drop-In Discoveries: Water Stories Open Mic (Eastman Nature Center)](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/drop-in-discoveries-water-stories-open-mic-eastman-nature-center--listing-d11c528df76499b061248769) — Sun, Nov 8 · 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM · Eastman Nature Center, Dayton · All ages · Free · checked Oct 20. A family-friendly outdoor "open mic" around the fire pit at Eastman Nature Center with a water theme. Visitors of any age can simply listen, or share a poem, short story, picture…
- [Drop-In Discoveries: Thankful for Squirrels](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/drop-in-discoveries-thankful-for-squirrels--listing-ce70b9ec4387e2a5077ed3f5) — Sun, Nov 15 · 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM · Eastman Nature Center, Dayton · All ages · Free · checked Oct 20. A free drop-in afternoon about squirrels at Eastman Nature Center in Elm Creek Park Reserve. Kids hunt for acorns, pick up squirrel facts, handle unusual artifacts and try a…
- [Opt Outside: Family Nature Hike](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/opt-outside-family-nature-hike--listing-1972cdec3fcfa452290eb842) — Fri, Nov 27 · 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM · Eastman Nature Center, Dayton · All ages · Free · checked Oct 13. Enjoy an easy hike with a naturalist at Eastman Nature Center on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Look for evidence of animal activity and play a few games along the way. All…
- [Drop-In Discoveries: Wild Turkeys and a Trot (Eastman Nature Center)](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/drop-in-discoveries-wild-turkeys-and-a-trot-eastman-nature-center--listing-bc327227e51bf21d8bb23f8c) — Sun, Nov 29 · 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM · Eastman Nature Center, Dayton · All ages · Free · checked Oct 16. Thanksgiving-weekend drop-in: learn about Minnesota's wild turkeys through indoor activities, then take a short trot outside to look for signs of them in the park. All ages…
- [Winter Storytime and Sensory Fun at Eastman Nature Center](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/winter-storytime-and-sensory-fun-at-eastman-nature-center--listing-a7499aa3a08601c235ca55b2) — Sat, Dec 12 · 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM · Eastman Nature Center (Elm Creek Park Reserve), Dayton · All ages · From $6 · checked Oct 24. A cozy one-hour Saturday morning inside Eastman Nature Center: children explore sensory activities, drink hot cocoa and gather for a storytime about what the park's wild animals…
- [Drop-In Discoveries: Make a Luminary at Eastman Nature Center](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/drop-in-discoveries-make-a-luminary-at-eastman-nature-center--listing-3c3b92c47c693fcc29752675) — Sun, Dec 13 · 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM · Eastman Nature Center (Elm Creek Park Reserve), Dayton · All ages · Free · checked Oct 24. A free drop-in art afternoon at Eastman Nature Center to get ready for the center's Winter Solstice Luminary Walk. Children color, draw, punch holes and decorate paper luminary…
- [Winter Solstice Luminary Walk at Eastman Nature Center](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/winter-solstice-luminary-walk-at-eastman-nature-center--listing-5d5780b83eddda352a93ac87) — Mon, Dec 21 · 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM · Eastman Nature Center (Elm Creek Park Reserve), Dayton · Free · checked Oct 24. On the longest night of the year, Eastman Nature Center lines a trail with luminaries for a quiet walk through the woods. Visitors stop in any time between 5 and 8 p.m. as…

## Recently ended

- [Drop-In Discoveries: Fall Scavenger Hunt Hike](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/activities/drop-in-discoveries-fall-scavenger-hunt-hike--listing-bcdb2a8c713d249ef5f95714) — ended Sun, Oct 18

## Nearby

- [Things to do with kids in Hennepin County, MN](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/counties/hennepin-county-mn) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/counties/hennepin-county-mn.md)
- Other towns in Hennepin County, MN: [St Paul, MN](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/towns/st-paul-mn) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/towns/st-paul-mn.md), [Brooklyn Park, MN](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/towns/brooklyn-park-mn) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/towns/brooklyn-park-mn.md), [Bloomington, MN](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/towns/bloomington-mn) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/towns/bloomington-mn.md), [Maple Grove, MN](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/towns/maple-grove-mn) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/towns/maple-grove-mn.md), [Edina, MN](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/towns/edina-mn) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/towns/edina-mn.md), [Hopkins, MN](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/towns/hopkins-mn) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/towns/hopkins-mn.md), [Wayzata, MN](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/towns/wayzata-mn) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/towns/wayzata-mn.md), [Eden Prairie, MN](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/towns/eden-prairie-mn) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/towns/eden-prairie-mn.md), [Maple Plain, MN](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/towns/maple-plain-mn) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/towns/maple-plain-mn.md), [Minnetrista, MN](https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/towns/minnetrista-mn) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/minneapolis/towns/minnetrista-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.