Sit down, buckle up, and get your calendar out, because it’s going to be a long post today- there are SO many fun local summer events to highlight!

River towns all up and down the St. Croix really know how to party when summertime (finally!) comes along. To celebrate the good vibes, sun and fun, summer festivals and events pop up like crazy. If you can’t make one, don’t fret- there will be plenty of others for you to check out!

Let’s kick off our list with River Falls Days, happening this week from 7/10 – 7/13.

• RIVER FALLS DAYS 7/10 – 7/13

Take the night off from cooking dinner on Thursday and head out to Rush River’s Thursday Market to get a nice cold beer and some yummy grub for the whole family from the food truck while enjoying live music.
Friday, take advantage of the free walking tacos at First Covenant Church, then head over to Main Street to enjoy the parade (bonus, free candy counts as dessert).
Burn off all that energy the sugar from the parade provided with a kids water fight over at the River Falls Fire Hall from 11am – 1pm before heading over to the city hall plaza for tons of free kids activities that will continue throughout the rest of the weekend.

• HASTINGS RIVERTOWN DAYS 7/17 – 7/20

Next up is Rivertown Days in Hastings. While you do have to pay admission to access the music in downtown Hastings and entrance to the carnival on Friday, your presale ticket is good for the whole weekend and kids 12 and under are free!
Things you will not need a ticket for are: the car show, the arts and crafts fair, and the carnival on Sunday 7/20.

There is no shortage of family-friendly things to do at Rivertown Days. There will be a free kickoff event on 7/17 with complimentary burgers, cookies, drinks, and music provided for guests, along with a cool antique fire engine show and a light and water show at the Hastings Golf Course.

On Friday, the gates open and there will be concerts, food trucks, beer, and carnival rides – the perfect way to enjoy the weather and get some outside hours in. Saturday and Sunday are chock-full of things to do like a craft fair, petting zoo, bubble park, and even a duck race! If you have younger children, be sure to check out the River of Life Kids Carnival on Saturday from 10am – 2pm at River of Life Church (800 Vermilion St).

• HUDSON ST. CROIX RIVERFEST 7/22 – 7/26 & CONCERTS IN THE PARK (ALL SUMMER)
  

Hudson really knows how to bring the community together with tons of fun events throughout the summer. If you’re a music lover, you’ll appreciate the free concerts in the park on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from now til the end of August. Their featured bands can be found on their website, and the concerts take place at the bandshell at Lakefront Park on 505 First Street.

If you’re looking for even more fun in the sun in Hudson, you can’t miss St. Croix Riverfest! Show your appreciation for this beautiful town by participating in the annual River Cleanup, where you’ll not only collect trash and beautify the area, but connect with other locals as well. It’s a great opportunity to serve as a family and teach kiddos about stewardship and the value of community.

Tons of vendors and businesses have come together to offer plenty of free, fun and educational opportunities throughout Riverfest for families, including but not limited to: puppet shows, crafts, a movie night, an ice cream social, and a concert put on by the St. Croix Valley Community Band.

• STILLWATER SUMMER TUESDAYS 7/8 – 8/12

I can’t forget to include my absolute favorite river town, Stillwater. Stillwater just kicked off their Summer Tuesday events on 7/8 and will continue to provide free family entertainment weekly until 8/12. Each Tuesday, the vendor market opens at 5pm, live music plays from 6-8pm, and a kid-appropriate movie begins 10 minutes after sunset. There’s a different activity each week, ranging from things like Snake Discovery (see my previous post about them here), to big truck night, to crafts, etc.
Bring a blanket or a chair, and feel free to bring along your well behaved furry friends, too.

• WHITE BEAR LAKE MARKETFEST 6/13 – 7/31

WBL’s Marketfest is a laid back collection of vendors, music, and themed weeks. Check the website to see what the theme of the night is, to get an idea of the types of entertainment and attractions that will be offered. If your kiddo has always wanted to meet a real-life policeman, they’ll have the opportunity to do so on July 17th during Public Health and Safety Night. If science is more your style, don’t miss the AFSA Science & Agriculture Night on 7/24 where there will be presentations on science and ag activities along with the usual music and businesses. Their final week’s theme is the Environmental Resource Expo – a great place for curious minds to ask all the questions they have about composting, pollinators, conservation and more.

There are plenty more activities throughout eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin that I’ll be writing about soon, but this list should keep your family busy for most of the summer. Be sure to subscribe to keep up with the latest happenings!