Free events in Hennepin County, MN

Minneapolis Parks horticulture staff lead monthly gardening at Victory Memorial Garden, with activities based at the Victory Flagpole. Gloves and tools are provided for use during the session. Work continues in light rain and is paused or canceled if weather becomes severe. No prior experience is required, and the sessions welcome all skill levels.

The public is invited to donate used tech. Donated items will be refurbished and placed with students in Minnesota.

Free tables are set aside every Friday for board gaming. Bring a group, meet new players, or enjoy a solo session.

Howl-O-Ween fun awaits at the new Mississippi Gateway Regional Dog Park, featuring free activities for dogs. Snap spooky portraits at Pawtography, pick up a quick doodle of your dog from MNDoodleBooth, enjoy pup cup treats, let dogs play in the off-leash area, and listen to live music. Please review the dog park rules beforehand. A Three Rivers pass is not required.

Connect with neighbors while exploring Uptown on a relaxed group walk. Uptown United hosts the outing, beginning at Seven Points and heading out in small groups to wander parts of Hennepin, Lake, Lagoon, and Lyndale, with chances to discover new spots and enjoy a snack or drink along the way. No registration is required, and some participants choose to stay for dinner afterward.

Neighborhood Roots’s Southwest Farmers Market is a lively neighborhood market in South Minneapolis that showcases farm-fresh produce, meats and seafood, eggs, artisan cheeses, baked treats, flowers, handmade crafts, natural hygiene and body care items, pantry staples, and more from local farmers and makers. Visitors can enjoy a wide selection of ready-to-eat meals, fresh coffee, and refreshing beverages while they browse. Each market features live music from a rotating roster of local musicians and artists, creating a welcoming community atmosphere for all ages. The Power of Produce Club gives kids a chance to explore local foods through fun activities and includes a $2 token they can use to buy fresh fruits and vegetables.

Children’s Minnesota offers free car seat checkups to help families keep kids safe on the road. Certified technicians trained in car seat safety will examine your seat. The checkup is held at Richfield Fire Station No. 1. Registration is requested in advance by calling 612-813-6053 or emailing carseats@childrensmn.org.

This work day offers a mix of volunteer projects both indoors and outdoors. Please bring household cleaning supplies for indoor tasks, or gardening tools for outdoor cleanup. For more information, contact Patrick Kutzer.

Enjoy an open board game play session that is free to attend, with plenty of space and tables ready for play. Bring your own favorites, pick from a shelf of demo board games, or purchase a new title and start playing right away. Friends and family are welcome to play together. Gaming space is also available during the week.

Celebrate the season at Lynde Greenhouse & Nursery with a family friendly festival where admission is free. Enjoy a fall themed photo spot, a bonfire with apple cider, pumpkin bowling, a scavenger hunt, and a selection of food trucks along with vendors. Try painting a pumpkin for a $5 fee, with the pumpkin provided, and look for additional seasonal activities. Remember to bring a camera for photos.

Cloudy, yellowed, or scratched headlights can be refreshed at this complimentary restoration event. The process includes a careful wash, progressive sanding with increasingly fine grits to clear haze and surface marks, followed by a UV-protective coating to help guard against sun-related discoloration. Advance registration is required, and each appointment lasts about 45 minutes. If the weather is unfavorable, plans may be adjusted.

A free community repair clinic takes place at Saint Stephen Lutheran Church, where participants bring broken household items and work side by side with friendly, skilled volunteers to diagnose issues and make repairs when possible. Items commonly brought include small appliances, clean clothing, electronics, mobile devices and more. Service is first come, first served, and no advance registration is required. Attendees learn hands-on troubleshooting and basic repair skills, build community connections, and help keep repairable items out of the trash. Volunteer opportunities are available.

This weekly paint clinic provides an open workspace dedicated to assembly and painting. It welcomes newcomers who want to learn the basics and experienced painters interested in refining advanced techniques. Participation is free. Upcoming additions include expanded paint competitions with judging by a panel or by peers, along with more speed painting contests.

At the Golden Valley Farmers Market, a vendor will offer fresh-baked sourdough loaves, baguettes, and a few sweet treats. Bread tends to sell quickly, so availability may be limited. Support local makers, enjoy the community atmosphere, and take home something delicious.

Introduce your child to lacrosse at a free beginner clinic at the FHS turf field. The session is led by the FHS girls and boys lacrosse coaches and players, creating a welcoming space to explore the sport. Kids do not need to bring equipment or have any prior experience, and the focus is on fun, community, and trying something new.

A lively farmers market with a weekly rotation of about fifty vendors, including growers, specialty food producers, chefs, and artists, accompanied by live music. It runs in all weather and is set in the parking lot of Settergrens of Linden Hills.

Enjoy casual Star Wars Legion gaming in a weekly open play setting. Dedicated space is set aside for Legion players, and participation is free. Monthly Star Wars Legion tournaments are also available for those interested in organized competition.

Give last year’s outfit a second life at the Edina Halloween Costume Swap at Edinborough Park. Bring costumes your household has outgrown or is ready to pass along, then browse for a new-to-you look for Halloween. The swap is free and open to everyone. Costumes can be dropped off in advance at Edina Fire Station 2 or brought directly to the event. Participants can trade, explore the selection, and help great costumes make the rounds again.

The Second Sunday fire and flow jam returns to Dragons Lair Performing Arts for a relaxed, practice-focused gathering. Spectators are welcome to watch, and experienced spinners can take part. Those planning to spin should bring their own fire props and fuel. Admission is free, and parking is free with plenty of space. This is not a performance or a party, but a community practice for people with some flow arts or fire experience, with safety support available for those who are newer. Start times shift with the season and sunset, so plan with that in mind. Bring friends, capture the moments, and enjoy an evening of movement and light.

This gathering honors Ȟaȟá Wakpádaŋ (Bassett Creek) with a water blessing and educational activities, and it also recognizes Indigenous Peoples’ Day with song and a land acknowledgment. Indigenous participants will share ways to care for the lands and waters of Mni Sóta Makoce (Minnesota). The event takes place at Westwood Hills Nature Center in Minneapolis. It will proceed rain or shine, is free to attend, family friendly, and accessible. Attendees may bring chairs, blankets, and water bottles. Registration is optional. Appreciation is extended to cultural advisors Bradley Blackhawk (Ho-Chunk), Darlene St. Clair (Dakota), Jim Rock (Dakota), and Roxanne Gould (Anishinaabe). Funding is provided by the Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission, the City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission, and Valley Community Presbyterian Church. Additional support comes from the City of Golden Valley Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commission, the City of Minnetonka Historical Society, the City of St. Louis Park, Hennepin History Museum, Golden Valley Historical Society, Minnesota Repair Communities, Mississippi Watershed Management Organization, Plymouth History Center, Robbinsdale Historical Society, St. Louis Park Historical Society, The Loppet, Three Rivers Park District, Valley Community Presbyterian Church, and Westwood Nature Center.

Drag Queen Bingo hosted by Jamie Monroe takes place at James Ballentine "Uptown" VFW - Post 246 in Minneapolis. There is no cover charge. The event is sponsored by Absolut and features $5 Absolut drinks. Arrive early to secure a seat.

This free, drop-in social welcomes LGBTQ+ adults and allies aged 62 and older. Connect with peers in a warm, affirming setting, share a meal and conversation, and leave feeling more connected. These monthly gatherings focus on community and easygoing interaction, and an RSVP is not required. Please note that photography, audio, and video recording may occur; if you prefer not to appear in photos or recordings at any time, you can step aside or let a staff member know, no explanation needed.

Elmer L. Andersen Library in Minneapolis hosts a hybrid celebration honoring artist, author, and woodblock printmaker Betsy Bowen as the recipient of the Kerlan Award. The event is free and open to all, with registration required for both in-person and online participation. The program recognizes Bowen’s achievements in children’s literature and her contributions to the Kerlan Collection, followed by a reception and book signing, with book sales provided by Red Balloon Bookshop. Based in Grand Marais, Minnesota, Bowen is known for her close connection to the North Shore and the Boundary Waters. Through hand-carved woodblock prints, she has captured the changing seasons and rugged landscapes of northern Minnesota with bold lines and rich textures, highlighting local plants, wildlife, and traditional woodcraft. Her books include Antler, Bear, Canoe: A Northwoods Alphabet Year, Twelve Owls, and Big Belching Bog, and her illustrations have helped connect readers of all ages to the region’s environment. Presented annually, the Kerlan Award honors outstanding contributions to the creation of children’s literature and acknowledges the donation of distinctive materials to UMN’s Kerlan Collection. The Children’s Literature Research Collections, home to the Kerlan Collection, preserves books, manuscripts, illustrations, comic books, story papers, and other resources that document the making of children’s literature and is recognized as a leading repository in the field.

Warhammer Age of Sigmar open play is offered with free entry, and a dedicated space is reserved at no charge.

This event focuses on wildlife friendly care of a prairie garden and the rhythms of tending it through the seasons. Tools, gloves, and snacks are provided, and everyone is welcome. Stalks are left standing over winter to support birds with seeds and to shelter native pollinators that overwinter in the soil or within hollow stems. Trimming typically waits until temperatures reach about 50 degrees. Planting emphasizes perennials, with most work planned for late spring and occasional replacements as needed.

An open, social session for painting, building, and other personal projects. Beginners can get friendly guidance, and experienced hobbyists can connect with a welcoming creative community. The gathering is free to attend, and bringing outside food is allowed.

This weekly free community group run starts at PRG and offers 4- and 6-mile routes. Paces range from walking or jogging to about 9 minutes per mile. A headlamp is needed at least through February, along with a smile. Friends are welcome.

Trivia Mafia brings bar trivia to the VFW Karaoke Bar inside James Ballentine "Uptown" VFW - Post 246. Prizes include gift cards to the Uptown VFW, and the bar features a $5 Jack Daniels special with original, Tennessee Fire, Tennessee Honey, and Tennessee Apple. No cover.

Transmission is a longstanding club night at the Uptown VFW for people who enjoy a wide-ranging soundtrack, blending new wave, indie rock, Britpop, funk, garage, punk, post-punk, synth-pop and electro with plenty in between. There is no cover charge. The vibe also lives on the air as a weekly program on Minnesota Public Radio’s 89.3 The Current, featuring a fresh theme each week.

Get help ensuring your child’s car seat is properly set up. Arrive with your car seat or booster already installed, and bring the seat’s instruction manual along with your vehicle manual. Walk-ins are accepted, though making an appointment is preferred. To schedule a car seat check, call 612-813-6053.

Children’s Minnesota hosts a free car seat checkup in Edina, where certified child passenger safety technicians inspect your car seat and provide guidance to ensure proper installation and fit. The event takes place at Edina Fire Station No. 2. Registration is requested; to reserve a time or ask questions, call 612-813-6053 or email carseats@childrensmn.org.

This honky tonk dance night at Cowboy Jacks Downtown Minneapolis offers both partner-style and line dance formats, with lessons available in the Barn area. Admission is free, and attendees of all ages are welcome. It provides an easygoing setting to pick up new moves, share a laugh, and enjoy a honky tonk atmosphere.