We’ve rounded up the latest free events, activities and crafts going on at various locations in the Twin Cities, Minnesota area and also nationwide this weekend (11/9-11/11). Please leave a comment if you know of any others and we’ll add them to this list.
Your turn: What other free weekend events and activities do you know of?
Nationwide Events
Archiver’s
Make a free card and a free treat holder at Archiver’s as part of their Holiday Open House. Dates and times vary by location; check out the full list of Archiver’s store calendars.
Barnes & Noble
Check your local Barnes & Noble for events. Most stores have storytimes once or twice per week.
Cabela’s
Cabela’s offers various samples and demonstrations each weekend. Events vary by location, so check for details at your local store.
This weekend, the Rogers, MN Cabela’s is hosting:
- USA Shooting Team Member Kim Rhode: Saturday from 10am-4pm
- Basic Firearms Cleaning for Rifles, Handguns, and Shotguns: Saturday at 11am
- Cabela’s World’s Foremost Fried Chicken Wing Demo: Saturday from 1-3pm
Guitar Center
Guitar Center offers a free recording workshop every Saturday from 10-11am. Find a Guitar Center location near you.
- Working with Audio in Pro Tools 10 is the topic for this Saturday’s workshop
Home Depot
Home Depot offers free workshops for adults to help you improve your DIY skills. Dates and times vary by location, so check the Home Depot website for details. Topics this month include:
- Interior Paint
- Small Updates for Kitchens
- High Efficiency Lighting
Lakeshore Learning
Every Saturday, Lakeshore Learning offers a free craft for kids from 11am-3pm. Find a Lakeshore Learning Store near you.
- Flying Fun Airplane Craft this Saturday
Michaels
Michaels often offers free make-and-take craft events over the weekend. This weekend’s free events include:
- Passport to Imagination Holiday Ornament (ages 3+): Sunday from 1-3pm
Pottery Barn
Adults are invited to free workshops at Pottery Barn on Saturdays or Sundays. Find a Pottery Barn location near you.
- Decorating Your Home for the Holidays: Sunday at 10am
Pottery Barn Kids
Visit Pottery Barn Kids on Saturday from 10am-12pm for a LEGO Nameplate Building Event. Create your very own name plaque using LEGO bricks and featuring your favorite DC Universe Super Hero icon. Event for children ages 4-12; must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Find a Pottery Barn Kids location near you.
Target
Target sponsors free and reduced-priced admission opportunities at museums and cultural events nationwide. Select your city to find participating venues and their next scheduled discount day. In the Twin Cities area:
- The Walker Art Center is free every Thursday night as a part of Target Free Thursday Nights
- The Minneapolis Institute of Arts is free every second Sunday as a part of Target Family Day
Williams-Sonoma
Williams-Sonoma stores offer various special events and cooking classes, some of which are free to attend.
- This weekend’s class is The Side Show. Times for this one-hour class vary by location and reservations are recommended. Contact your local Williams-Sonoma for more information.
Twin Cities Events
Be sure to check the MELSA calendar for free events at your local library (I chose to leave them off the list this week – if you’d like me to include them in future weeks, please let me know).
Friday, 11/9
- Holiday Open House (Galleria – Edina)
- Ikebana Show (Como Conservatory)
- 4140 Fish in the Boat Moonbots Demonstration (Mall of America): 6-9pm
- Caragh O’Brien – Promised (The Red Balloon Bookshop – St. Paul): 6:30pm
Saturday, 11/10
- Free Entrance Days in the National Parks
- Free Thanksgiving Cooking Seminars (Kitchen Window – Minneapolis)
- Holiday Open House (Galleria – Edina)
- Ikebana Show (Como Conservatory)
- Artisan Festival (St. Paul’s United Church of Christ): 9am-4pm
- Free Family Flick: TMNT (Mall of America): 10am
- The Author’s Studio: Lorna Landvik (Edina Art Center): 10-11am
- Working with Audio in Pro Tools 10 (Guitar Center locations): 10-11am
- LEGO Nameplate Building Event (Pottery Barn Kids locations): 10am-12pm
- USA Shooting Team Member Kim Rhode (Rogers – Cabela’s): 10am-4pm
- There Is Only 1 You Women’s Expo (Water Street Inn – Stillwater): 10am-4pm
- Christian Community Fair (Minneapolis Convention Center): 10am-8pm
- Madeline Storytime with Stages Theatre Company (The Red Balloon Bookshop – St. Paul): 10:30am
- Basic Firearms Cleaning for Rifles, Handguns, and Shotguns (Rogers – Cabela’s): 11am
- Flying Fun Airplane Craft (Lakeshore Learning locations): 11am-3pm
- Minnesota Millionaire Raffle Launch Party (Mall of America): 12-3pm
- Holiday Party (The Children’s Place stores): 12-4pm
- Pierce the Veil Autograph Signing (Mall of America): 1pm
- Reading Is Magic! Comedy Show (Barnes & Noble – Roseville): 1pm
- Cabela’s World’s Foremost Fried Chicken Wing Demo (Cabela’s – Rogers): 1-3pm
- Mem Fox and Lauren Stringer, Tell Me About Your Day Today (Wild Rumpus – Minneapolis): 2pm
- Golden Valley Orchestra: “Let’s Get Romantic” (Calvary Lutheran Church – Golden Valley): 7pm
Sunday, 11/11
- Free Entrance Days in the National Parks
- Holiday Open House (Galleria – Edina)
- Ikebana Show (Como Conservatory)
- Decorating Your Home for the Holidays (Pottery Barn locations): 10am
- Veterans Day at MOA: 10am-5pm
- Target Family Day: China (Minneapolis Institute of Arts): 11am-5pm
- Veterans Day Ceremony (Stillwater Veterans Memorial): 11:30am
- Free Family Fun Day: Microscopes and Magnifiers (Carl Kroening Interpretive Center – Minneapolis): 1-3pm
- Passport to Imagination Holiday Ornament (Michaels locations): 1-3pm
- Todd Park – The Thankful Book Signing and Food Drive (The Red Balloon Bookshop – St. Paul): 2pm
- Guitar Transcribing Workshop with Jeff Lambert (MacPhail Center for Music – Minneapolis): 3pm
- Northern Lights Chorale Fall Concert: American Choral Heritage (Luther Seminary – St. Paul): 3pm
- Critters Close-Up (Richardson Nature Center – Bloomington): 3-4pm
- Wedding Showcase (Como Park Zoo & Conservatory): 5-7pm
- Veterans Day Concert (Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral – Minneapolis): 6pm
About Laura Wales
