Living well and centsibly in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area
In years past there were fun places to visit in the Twin Cities on Mother’s Day weekend where moms and grandmas get in FREE. This year there are mostly events that are free for everyone! Of course, you could be like me and be just fine napping in bed all day! But if you’re looking for family fun, here are some ideas:
First, be sure to print out my FREE Mother’s Day Activity Page! [Read more…]
Leprechaun Gnome Paper Craft
I have the perfect St. Patrick’s Day craft for you!
It’s a Leprechaun Gnome Paper Craft! Make this cute gnome (who doesn’t love gnomes?) with simple items and a FREE printable template I provide below.
I have been seeing gnomes everywhere – in parks (used for scavenger hunts), in stores (Bachman’s and other gift stores have so many adorable ones), and even used as outdoor decor.
Where have you seen gnomes?
Well now you can make one yourself! You can give this paper gnome as a gift or decorate your home with it! And it’s super easy. Here are all the supplies you need and 7 simple steps.
Memorial Day weekend is here and the weather is supposed to be nice for most of it here in the Twin Cities!
So here I put together a list of activities in the Twin Cities, if you’re staying in the area! To be weather-wise, I separated events by whether they’re OUTDOOR and INDOOR.
Minneapolis Wading Pools and Water Parks open Saturday.
Memorial Day Weekend at Fort Snelling. Over Memorial Day Weekend, explore the grounds and engage with the many stories that make up this location’s history. Included with site admission of $12 adults, $10 seniors, veterans/active military, college students, $6 ages 5-17, free age 4 and under, Native Americans, and MNHS members free. (NOTE: This is a great place for limited income families to get discounted admission!)
[Read more…]
Easter is coming up on Sunday, April 21st, which means it’s time for Easter egg hunts and events all throughout the Twin Cities metro!
Here is my 2019 list of free egg hunts and events, including many free opportunities to meet and get photos with the Easter bunny!
Do you have events I could add to this list? Email me at twincitiesfrugalmom@gmail.com and check back regularly for updates!
FRIDAY, APRIL 5
Glow in the Dark Easter Egg Hunt. 5:30 – 7:00pm. Mount Hope Lutheran Church, 3601 W Old Shakopee Rd, Bloomington. Our Family Connections night for April is an Easter style night with a glow-in-the-dark egg hunt, carnival games and prizes, and supper. This event is FREE.
SATURDAY, APRIL 6
Free Portrait with Peter Cotton Tail. 9:00am – 12:00pm. The Home Depot,
6701 Boone Ave North, Brooklyn Park. Come for a FREE Portrait with Peter CottonTail, FREE Kid’s Workshop, FREE Product Demos and FREE Family Fun. This event is brought to you by The Home Depot in Brooklyn Park.
EasterFest Petting Zoo & Egg Hunt. 10:00am – 12:00pm. Cross View Lutheran Church Edina, 6645 McCauley Trl W, Edina. On Saturday, April. 6, 10:00 am – Noon, Cross View’s annual EasterFest celebration gives families a chance to spend the morning celebrating the Easter story! Everyone is invited! This year’s EasterFest will once again have a service component, as we will be collecting donations of non-perishable food items for The Sheridan Story. The Sheridan Story is a network of weekend food programs, commonly called backpack programs, operating in multiple schools throughout the Twin Cities. Please consider bringing a food donation to EasterFest!
SATURDAY, APRIL 13
Easter Egg Hunt & Petting Zoo. 10:00am – 12:00pm. Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1390 Larpenteur Ave E, Saint Paul. Easter egg hunt for each age group, petting zoo, photo booth, bingo, games, crafts, snacks provided. Ages: tiny tots through 5th grade. Cost: Free. Please bring a canned food donation for the food shelf.
Free Community Egg Hunt. 10:00am – 12:00pm. Crossroads Church Cottage Grove, 7955 Ivystone Ave S, Cottage Grove. Free and open to the community! Crossroads Cottage Grove is hosting their annual Easter Egg Hunt. Doors open at 10 am and the Egg Hunt will begin at 10:30 am. We will also have crafts! Weather depending we will have a petting zoo outside.
[Read more…]
Memorial Day weekend is here and it’s expected to be in the 90s from Saturday to Monday! I even saw a forecast of 97 degree on Monday. Wow – summer came fast. Seems like spring was about a month long in Minnesota this year, doesn’t it?
I put together a list of activities in the Twin Cities, if you’re wanting to brave the hot weather with the kiddos. Or, if you want to stay cool, there are indoor events, and many wading pools and splash pads are open now (some have opened up earlier due to the heat!). [Read more…]
Valentine’s Day is almost here, and it’s the second busiest holiday for dining out (after Mother’s Day). Here’s a list of restaurant deals (that you’ll find in the Twin Cities) to help you plan a meal out with your special someone (or family) for less!
For more restaurant deals and gifts, visit the Groupon Valentine’s Day page!
Auntie Anne’s Pretzels
Buy One Get One Free Heart-Shaped Pretzels on Valentine’s Day.
Bakers Square
Sweetheart Dinner: Two “Just Right Portion” Entrees & Two Beverages for $19.99. Valid 2/14.
Buca di Beppo:
Dinner for 2 for $49.99 (Feb 14) Includes Heart-Shaped Lasagna salad, garlic bread and cannolli – Get more details here.
Many Halloween celebrations at area malls are happening this year, so there is plenty of opportunity to costume and candy fun!
Woodbury Lakes. 5:30 – 7:00pm. “Treat Street.” If you have children 12 years and younger and are looking for a free, fun, Halloween event, stop by Woodbury Lakes on Friday, October 27 from 5:30PM to 7:00PM. Costumed kiddos can bring their Trick-or-Treat bag and visit participating retailers for a Trick or a Treat! We’ll have music and entertainment for everyone. *Please note, Treat Street will run from 5:30-7:00PM, or while supplies last. Look for the Treat Street sign in each retailer’s window. If they do not have a sign displayed, they are not participating or their candy has been distributed. Children 12 and under only please. Trick-or-Treating is rain or shine.
Arbor Lakes, Maple Grove. 9:30am – 1:30pm. Dress to impress the judges of our Halloween costume contest, while trick or treating at your favorite Main street businesses! This event begins bright and early, so you can be sure to hit up all of the trick or treating spots. And make sure you get that perfect family picture at our photo BOO-th donated by Untiedt’s Farmers Market! Join us October 28th from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM for a spook-tacular good time!
Galleria Edina. 10:00am – 12:00pm. Edina. “Tricky Treat-A-Palooza.” Each listing here is October 31st unless specified otherwise. Costumes and candy. The makings of a spook-tacular time! Stop by the Galleria for mall-wide trick-or-treating, complimentary treat bags and fun, in-store events from 10 a.m. – noon on Saturday, October 28. Check-in stations will be located throughout Galleria – don’t forget to grab your complimentary treat bag and map of participating stores before heading out on your candy adventure.
Main Street, Stillwater. 12:00 – 4:00pm. Both Saturday and Sunday. Trick or Treat on Main Street this weekend! Dress the kids up and Discover Downtown Stillwater. Participating merchants will have a Trick or Treat sign in windows of their store or restaurant. Spend a day discovering all the treats Downtown Stillwater’s independent businesses have to offer. Start/Stop wherever you’d like! [Read more…]
Looking for Halloween freebies and deals in the Twin Cities? Check out this round-up for freebies & deals at restaurants, stores and online, and check back for updates!
Free Trick-or-Treat Safety Supplies at AAA Minneapolis offices – Children are four times more likely to be struck by a motor vehicle on Halloween than any other day of the year. This is especially alarming considering more than 40 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 trick-or-treated in the United States in 2015.
The increase in child pedestrian traffic during Halloween is the driving force behind AAA Minneapolis’ Halloween safety campaign. In an effort to help keep trick-or-treaters safe, AAA Minneapolis will be giving out free safety kits to parents and kids at all AAA Minneapolis locations from Monday, October 23rd through Tuesday, October 31st!
The kits contain: Halloween education materials, candy, and one light-up bracelet. [Read more…]
Halloween is almost here. Pumpkin Nights at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds has begun, and soon starts 13 nights of Halloween movies on Freeform (formerly ABC Family)!
(My affiliate Amazon.com links for the DVDs are included.)
Thank you to MyHomeBasedLife.com for this list!
Looking for deals and free things to do with dad this weekend in the Twin Cities?
Here’s a list of deals, activities and freebies for dad!
Boston Market – On Sunday only, get 1 Whole Chicken, 1/2 Rack of Ribs, 4 Sides, and 4 Cornbread for $29.99 with coupon.
Caribou Coffee. If you’re a Perks member (free), Buy One Get One Drink FREE 6/17 – 6/18.
Firehouse Subs – Firehouse Subs restaurants across the nation are celebrating the everyday heroes in our lives by offering a free medium sub with the purchase of an additional medium or large sub, chips and drink this Father’s Day – June 18. To claim the offer, dads can redeem a coupon online via this link.
