Looking for fun things to do with your family this summer? Check out Go Outside with Hennepin County! They have it all including classic movies, trivia, fitness classes, the Downtown Farmers Market, food trucks, music and more all summer long! We have all the information you need for this event in the tabs below including where to find it, how to get there, and specific dates & times for all the fun.
New this year is the Snapchat filter! Share your experience at Go Outside with Hennepin County events with your friends and family through Snapchat at the events.
Hennepin County Government Center South Plaza (300 S. 6th Street) is a tree-lined, circle plaza with a grassy knoll located between 6th and 7th Streets in Downtown Minneapolis. Stop by the Government Center South Plaza to enjoy an outdoor piano, added seating options, free reading materials and great special events each week.
Target Field Station (335 N. 5th Street) is a dynamic transportation hub that connects Downtown Minneapolis with 500 light rail lines and 1,900 buses each day as well as the Northstar Commuter Rail. But it is also a major entertainment destination. After opening in 2014, it quickly flourished into a major entertainment destination. Located next to Target Field and nestled into the Warehouse District/North Loop, it is close to downtown residential communities, businesses, entertainment, dining, breweries and coffee shops.
Hennepin County Government Center South Plaza
Tuesdays (9 am-3 pm)
Beginning May 1 and running through October, the Downtown Farmers Market will be on site at South Plaza again in 2018. The farmers market initially moved here during the Nicollet Project, and since it was so successful it remains here on Tuesdays now that the Nicollet Farmers Market re-opened on Thursdays in downtown. It is a great way to bring people together on the South Plaza lawn to browse fresh produce, flowers and more. The farmers market has a wide variety of friendly local vendors that have great products to share.
Wednesdays (11:30 am-1:30 pm)
Every Wednesday, South Plaza will be transformed into an outdoor recreation room! The space will feature yard games (bean bags, connect four, etc.), an art cart (adult and youth coloring, bubbles, plado, yarn, paper, wasabi tape), a meditation area with colorful blankets and yoga mats there for you to enjoy a brief get-away, a Pianos on Parade piano if you’d like to play a song or two yourself, and rotating activities including food options, therapy animals and more. Stop in each week to see what activities are taking place!
Thursdays (12-1 pm)
Stop by for piano performances each Thursday throughout the summer during your lunch hour! Through Pianos on Parade program, a partnership between mdc, Mpls Downtown Improvement District, The Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association & Keys 4/4 Kids, a piano at South Plaza will include programmed musical performances each Thursday. Grab some food and enjoy a gift of music each week. You never know who will be tickling the ivories!
Target Field Station
Outdoor Trivia Nights – June 12, June 26, July 17, July 24
Trivia has always been a fun and trendy after work activity! We are bringing trivia outside at Target Field Station on select Tuesdays this summer. Gather a group of colleagues, friends or family and test your knowledge. Questions will be read aloud along with use of the big screen.
Outdoor Movie Nights
On select Mondays and Wednesdays throughout the summer, you can enjoy outdoor movie nights at Target Field Station. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, find a spot on the green grass outside the Twins’ ballpark and enjoy an evening watching a movie under the stars and the downtown skyline.
Wednesday, June 13 | 7 pm “A League Of Their Own”
Wednesday, June 27 | 7 pm “Space Jam”
Monday, July 2 | 7 pm “The Lion King”
Monday, July 16 | 7 pm “Princess Bride”
Monday, July 23 | 7 pm “Raiders of the Lost Ark”
Wednesday, August 6 | 7 pm “Coco”
Wednesday, August 22 | 7 pm “Mary Poppins”
Family Events, Outdoor Fitness and More
Throughout the summer, you’ll be be able to enjoy family events like our Most Epic Family Day (Sunday, Aug. 12, 12-4 pm), fitness classes outdoors (August 6, 13, 20) on the Target Field Station grass and much more. Our Monday fitness nights will be held by Alchemy and offer a chance to get your activity for the day in at a fun outdoor setting.
Tuesdays, 5/1-8/31: farmers market | 9 am – 3 pm
Wednesdays, 6/1-8/31: yard games and more | 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
Thursdays, 6/1-8/31: piano music | 12 pm – 1 pm
Tuesday, June 12: Trivia Night | 7 pm – 8 pm
Wednesday, June 13 | 7 pm “A League Of Their Own”
Tuesday, June 26: Trivia Night | 7 pm – 8 pm
Wednesday, June 27: Movie Night | 7 pm “Space Jam”
Monday, July 2: Movie Night | 7 pm “The Lion King”
Monday, July 16: Movie Night | 7 pm “Princess Bride”
Tuesday, July 17: Trivia Night | 7 pm – 8 pm
Monday, July 23: Movie Night | 7 pm “Raiders of the Lost Ark”
Tuesday, July 24: Trivia Night | 7 pm – 8 pm
Wednesday, August 8: Movie Night | 7 pm “Coco”
Monday, August 6: Monday Fitness Night with Alchemy | 5-6 pm
Sunday, Aug 12: The Most Epic Family Day | 12 pm – 4 pm
Monday, August 13: Monday Fitness Night with Alchemy | 5-6 pm
Monday, August 20: Monday Fitness Night with Alchemy | 5-6 pm
Wednesday, August 22: Movie Night | 7 pm “Mary Poppins”
The Go Outside with Hennepin County program is filled with fun activities and events for all ages and abilities throughout the year. Stop by Target Field Station and South Plaza to get in on the festivities!
While you’re there, don’t miss out on the opportunity to share your experience with others. Invite friends, family and colleagues to come with you, and share your experience on social media using the hashtags #gooutside and #mymplsdt.
You can learn more by following @mplsdowntown on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Plus, share your photos and videos with your friends using our Snapchat filter!
