There will be FREE parking in the Dunwoody Institute parking lot, as well as street parking around the fest. Public parking is available for a fee at the MCTC parking lot, Walker Art Center, St Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral, and other downtown area parking ramps. Please check with these locations for their specific fees. (view map)

2011 Photos

Check out these random photos from the 2011 event, or view the entire set on Flickr.

Kids' Culinary Area

This is where kids discover that healthy eating can be an adventure! Famed local chef Brenda Langton (founder of the Mill City Farmers Market and owner of Spoonriver) will be wowing kids by showing them how to make wholesome snacks they can easily re-create at home.

Show Culinary Schedule

11:00am Chef Brenda Langton | Culinary Demo
12:00pm Chef Brenda Langton | Culinary Demo
1:00pm Chef Dina Berray | Culinary Demo
2:00pm Chef Dina Berray | Culinary Demo
3:00pm Chef Josh Arnold | Culinary Demo
4:00pm Chef Josh Arnold | Culinary Demo

Creative Kidstuff Activity Tent

The focus will be on art projects where all budding Picassos can use their imagination to create at the festival and then take to showcase in their homes.

Video Games for Fun & Fitness

In the video game lounge, everyone can get in on the interactive fun!

  • Twin Cities Game Theater and free GameInformer magazines

Move & Groove Playground

There is something here to get the entire family moving, whether it's picking up the jumprope for a contest or hula hooping your way to a workout you didn't even know you were getting. It's such a good time!

Show Move & Groove Schedule

12:00pm - 3:00pm Jonny's Pros of the Rope doing double dutch
1:00pm - 3:00pm Music & prizes with Cities 97
3:30pm - 5:00pm Jonny's Pros of the Rope offering free single rope & double dutch instruction
All Day Inflatable Moonwalk & Giant Slide

All-day Activities

  • Park Nicollet 5-2-1-0 Activity Tents
  • 1:00pm - 3:00pm - Special appearance by Goldy Gopher
  • T-Mobile Free Charging Station & Giveaways!

Park Nicollet Fitness Stage

Enjoy fun, fitness-related classes and instruction!

Show Park Nicollet Fitness Schedule

11:30am F-U-N-damentals Class
12:30pm Yoga class
1:30pm Zumba class
2:30pm F-U-N-damentals Class
3:30pm Yoga class
4:30pm Zumba class

About Brenda Langton

Award winning chef and restaurateur Brenda Langton is a pioneer of fresh, local, and sustainable food, and as the owner of Spoonriver (along with Timothy Kane) has been committed to sustainably produced products and healthy eating for over three decades. In 2006, Brenda also founded the Mill City Farmers Market, a community-based enterprise made of over 70 local vendors, and she has also been a repeat judge for the James Beard Foundation's annual cookbook awards.

Penn Cycle Bike Corral

Get into the spirit of the event and ride your bike to the fest. Secure and complimentary bicycle parking will be provided at the Penn Cycle Bike Corral! Bike valets will provide safe parking and friendly service with a check in and check out for your bike. Be sure to stop by and visit with Penn Cycle, even if you arrive via other transportation, and be sure you snap up one of the complimentary Penn Cycle water bottles they will be giving away on-site!

Music & Dance Stage

The music and dance stage is the perfect opportunity for families to sing and dance along with some of today's most entertaining children's musical acts. Headlining the festival will be Grammy Award nominees, Justin Roberts & the Not Ready for Naptime Players! Also featured on the stage will be the wildly popular family favorite Koo Koo Kanga Roo, as well as Backpack Kidz!

Show Music & Dance Schedule

10:30am Buckets and Tap Shoes
11:00am One World Drums with Stan & Chico of New Primitives
11:30am The BackPack Kidz
12:00pm Rince Na Chroi
12:30pm Koo Koo Kanga Roo
1:00pm Justin Roberts & the Not Ready For Naptime Players
2:00pm Buckets and Tap Shoes
2:30pm Sole to Soul Dance
3:00pm One World Drums with Stan & Chico of New Primitives
3:30pm The BackPack Kidz
4:00pm Koo Koo Kanga Roo

Justin Roberts

Justin Roberts & the Not Ready for Naptime Players are one of the top acts in family music, delivering power pop tunes that speak to today's families. Justin's latest CD, Jungle Gym, was nominated for a 2010 Grammy Award and features iconic moments of childhood memory: from trick or treating to gym class parachutes, to the magic stillness of snow days. He has been compared to Buddy Holly, Weezer, and even Paul McCartney. Millions have seen him on The Today Show and Nick Jr., and the USA Today has called him "hands down the best songwriter in this genre."

Koo Koo Kanga Roo

Koo Koo Kanga Roo is an interactive live show and a dance extravaganza for all ages! Their show is jam packed with zany sing-alongs and choreographed group dancing that is guaranteed to have you on your feet and engaged in the fun. Koo Koo Kanga Roo's passion is firmly based around creating fun and interactive moments that will connect with everyone, and they have even been described as a combination between the Beastie Boys and Sesame Street. Come play with Koo Koo Kanga Roo and their hyperactive stage presence, warm personalities, and circus-like extravaganza of FUN!

Backpack Kidz

Backpack Kidz is an urban male dance crew that represents positivity through music. The Kidz were created in 2010 by Karon SkinnyKid Love. They represent a new dance movement called Jerkin which originated on the West Coast. Their image is cutting edge, confident and self-expressive through the art of dance. They range in age from 14-17 years old. They've performed and made personal appearances in a variety of community and family events throughout the Twin Cities area, including the Minnesota State Fair and Valleyfair.


Rince na Chroi &
Sole to Soul Dance Conversion

Come see how fun all kinds of dance can be with Twin Cities favorites, Rince na Chroi and Sole to Soul Dance Conversion who will be showing off Irish dance moves and modern dance grooves!

Vendor Village & Bazaar

Families will have the opportunity to visit food, beverage and sampling tents around the festival that will offer a variety of tasty and fun summer treats and healthy fare. And for all of the budding shoppers, there will be local artisans and crafters with an array of unique designs and products.

Be sure to check out all of our Fest Friends, including FamiliesOutdoors.Org who will be on-site showing families exciting and interesting ways to be active, healthy and have fun together!

Volunteers!

We'd like to thank the following volunteers:

Boys & Girls Club of the Twin Cities
Ahmad Aly
Christina Benz
Judy Birkholz
Cevaughn Bradly
Terri Doeden
Jacob Dolezal
Nadira Farah
Alfonso Fernandez
Emilie George
Mark Graves
Han Ha
Trionna Hall
Kyanna Harris
Malorie Hayle
Pachi Her
Cathy Leonard
Wanda Mabone
Amaiyan Manuel
Julia McKinney
Jan and Hilary Marquis
Meaghan McNamara
Sarah Moore
Rich Murray
Janet Niska
Nina Putmon
Andrea Sanocki
Christie Soderling
Dejua Watson
Jahmaul Williams