Parks and Recreation Special Events
Bloomington shines brightest during these special events. Local arts, recreation and community organizations join with the City's Parks and Recreation staff to create fun for Bloomington's families, neighbors and friends. From winter to fall, the town is jumping with excitement. Please join in!
Winter Fete (January/February)
January 18 - 26, 2020
Join Bloomington Parks and Recreation and area sponsors in welcoming winter during the 16th annual Winter Fete Celebration. Most activities are free and all activities are fun for the whole family!
Visit the Winter Fete page for all the exciting details.
Egg Hunt and Family Fun Day (April)
Saturday, April 11, 2020
Normandale Lake Park Bandshell
5901 West 84th Street
Cost: FREE!
Rain or shine!
Family Fun
10 - 11 a.m.
Enjoy music, information booths, prize drawings and other family fun activities presented by the City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department.
Egg Hunt
11:00 a.m.
Kids ages 8 and under are invited to hunt for 9,000 eggs scattered around the Normandale Lake Park Bandshell area. The egg hunt is sponsored by the Bloomington Optimist Club.
And more...
- Musical entertainment
- Informational booths by the Bloomington Optimists Club and the City of Bloomington's Parks and Recreation, Fire Department, Human Services, Police Department, Environmental Health, Public Health and more!
Event flyer
Step To It Challenge (May)
May 2020
What is the Step To It Challenge?
The Step To It Challenge is a FREE four-week physical activity challenge that motivates people of all ages and abilities to become more physically active. Family members, coworkers, schoolmates, neighbors, and friends come together to participate in this friendly competition among communities. Participants have opportunities to win prizes such as Twins tickets, T-shirts and more!
How do I get started?
- If you work or live in Bloomington, join our team online.
- Registration begins April 1 at www.steptoit.org
- Log your steps and other activities daily at the Step To It Challenge website beginning May 1, 2020. Use the online conversion chart to track other activities such as biking, zumba, skateboarding, working around the house or even washing your car!
- Get moving and stay active!
- Check back for community rankings and status updates.
Paper registration forms are available upon request. Participants may also fax (612-348-7548) or call (612-348-5618) in their weekly steps.
Benefits of Step To It
- All individuals who log their steps have a chance to win prizes through random drawings.
- The individual with the highest step total will win a pair of Twins tickets and be recognized on the field during a game this summer.
- The City with the most steps will win the "Most Steps Walked" Award.
- The City with the most active walkers will win the "Highest Average Number of Steps per Resident" Award.
Get to Know Public Works (May)
Saturday, May 16, 2020
Bloomington Public Works Building
1700 West 98th Street
Please join us for a fun, family event that will celebrate and demonstrate the essential and quality of life service that Public Works provide to the community year round.
- Equipment display, equipment rides, demonstrations and interactive displays, prizes snacks and more!
- Children of all ages are welcome, but must be accompanied by an adult.
- Free event. No registration required.
Questions? 952-563-4870 or publicworks@BloomingtonMN.gov
Event flyer
- flyer coming soon!
Kites and Bites (June)
Saturday, June 6
11:00 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Valley View Playfield
East 90th Street and Portland Avenue South
Kites and Bites is Bloomington’s annual kick off to a summer of fun for the whole family! On June 6, enjoy kite flying (free kites given out while supplies last), numerous food trucks, and great music.
Entry to the event is free. No registration required. Food is available for purchase.
Parking available at Valley View Middle and Elementary School lots, and on area streets.
2020 Food vendors include the following (more may be added soon!):
- Big Bell ice Cream
- Heavy Metal Grill
- D&D Goodies (featuring great Asian selections)
Arts in the Parks (June - August)
Various days June - August
Grab the kids and invite the neighbors to see the best music groups and entertainers in the Twin Cities. Arts in the Parks includes Monday Morning Kids Series, Evening Performances, Thursday Blockbusters and Friday Night Live. All programs are free of charge and open to the public.
Discover more about all the excitement on our Arts in the Parks web page.
Farmers Market (June - March)
Saturdays, June 13 - October 24, 2020 (outdoor markets)
Wednesdays, July 8 - August 19, 2020 (Midweek Music & Market)
Saturday, February 8 & March 14, 2020 (Indoor Market at Bloomington Civic Plaza)
The Bloomington Farmers Market is a weekly gathering in which farmers, growers and producers sell their own products directly to the public. At the market you will find a great variety of fresh locally grown produce as well as flowers, meat, cheese, honey, maple syrup, berries, fresh baked goods, jams, jellies, coffee, smoothies, art and more! The market also features music and special activities.
To learn more or become a vendor, check out our Farmers Market page
Safety Boot Camp (June)
June 17, 2020
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Bloomington Civic Plaza East Lot and Amphitheater
1800 W. Old Shakopee Road
Attend a morning of fun safety activities. You will be able to participate and learn through the help of Bloomington's finest divisions: Police, Fire, Environmental Health, Public Health, Parks Maintenance and Parks and Recreation! This event is free to the public and there is no registration required!
Summer Fete (July)
July 3, 2020
Normandale Lake Park
84th Street between Normandale Blvd and Chalet Road
Bloomington's Independence Day celebration is held each year on July 3 at Normandale Lake Park. The fun starts with a carnival, includes two entertainment stages, a great line up of performers, and as usual, a fantastic fireworks display just after dusk!
On the Summer Fete page you can find detailed information on performers, parking, schedule, weather and more!
River Rendezvous (September)
September 21 - 25, 2020
This wonderful festival is a chance to experience living history at the Pond-Dakota Mission Park in Bloomington, Minnesota. Its goal is to demonstrate the lifestyles of people living in Minnesota between 1830 and 1870 through story-telling and interactive, hands-on demonstration!
The public event is held in the evening on the Thursday of the week. For more information check out the River Rendezvous page!
Halloween Event (October)
October 31, 2020
3:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Northwestern Health Sciences University
2501 West 84th Street (84th and Penn)
Join us for the first-ever Drive-Thru Boo! at the 2020 Citywide Halloween event. This event is for preschoolers through fourth graders. During this drive-through event, children will enjoy costumed characters, Halloween-themed booths, candy and other surprises, and much more!
- Guests must remain in vehicles at all times.
- ONE household per vehicle.
- Costumes not required.
- Free event. No registration required.
- Donation of a non-perishable food items for the VEAP food shelf is not required but greatly appreciated.
See map below for traffic routing. Click image to enlarge.
Coloring Contest
The entry deadline for the annual coloring contest has passed. But you can still download and print the flyer below and to color just for fun.
2020 Drive-Thru Boo! Flyer and Coloring Contest (English)
2020 Drive-Thru Boo! Flyer and Coloring Contest (Español)
Contest Rules
- Age groups: Preschool (3 - 4 years), Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grades.
- Complete the drawing on a printout of page 2 of the PDF linked above using markers, crayons or colored pencils.
- Coloring contest entries are due by Monday, October 19, 2020 at 4:30 p.m.
1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes will be awarded for each age group.
View and Vote
Over 180 young artists submitted coloring sheets for the 2020 Coloring Contest. View and vote for your favorites at blm.mn/halloween-contest-2020. Voting closes on Tuesday, October 27 at 11:59 p.m.
The Citywide Halloween Drive-Thru Boo! is presented by the Recreation Division of the City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department and is co-sponsored by the Bloomington Optimist Club.