Minnesota Family Festival is here.
Families from across Central Minnesota are invited to The Park Event Center in Waite Park on Sunday, Sept. 20, for a day filled with live music, inflatables, games, hands-on activities and community connection.
Admission, parking, games and activities are free.
Opening ceremonies begin at 9:30 a.m. with a St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting. The Honor Guard will present the colors at 9:40 a.m., followed by Maddie Moore singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at 9:45 a.m. as the doors open.
Live music will continue throughout the day with Maddie Moore, Aksel Krafnick, Chris O’Brien, Lance Bukowski, Charlie Roth, and Kathy Kampa with Brad Nelson. Dee Cheng Kung Fu Academy will also present demonstrations, and Beatriz Lauer, Trudy Midas and Kathy Kampa will share a Peruvian dance presentation during the afternoon.
Festival activities run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with music continuing until 4 p.m.
There will be plenty for families to explore.
The St. Joseph Lions Club will offer free eye exams, collect used eyeglass frames and host a large inflatable activity. Funtastic Fun Inflatables is bringing zorb balls, jousting, All Star Sports, Palm Paradise, Kerplunk, Tetris, Guess Who and bean bag toss. Granite City Jump is sponsoring the Caterpillar, Magic Castle, Castle O’ Fun and Tiki Forest inflatables.
Central Minnesota Council, Scouting America will offer inflatable archery. The St. Cloud Area Family YMCA will host two jump houses. Traut Companies will have ring toss and the Caterpillar inflatable, while JD Home Health Care will offer a Halloween-themed craft and bounce house activity.
Families can race Hot Wheels-style cars with Amy Hedtke State Farm, try a mystery fishing activity with the St. Joseph Rod & Gun Club, play chess with the St. Cloud Chess Club and build and test a catapult with Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin Lakes and Pines.
Younger children can enjoy a 10-by-10 soft-play area from Nurture to Play, while North Crest Kids Activity Center will offer a junior-sized springboard, tunnel, balance beam and pull-up bars. Bravo Burrito will have Plinko, kid-friendly swag and prizes, and St. Cloud Youth Hockey will give kids a chance to shoot at mini hockey nets.
Waite Park Police will host inflatable jousting. Stearns County Sheriff’s Office will bring Porter, a bloodhound trained to help locate missing children. Aslan Health will host zorb ball racing, and Place of Hope will host the All Star Sports inflatable.
Families can also learn kung fu and try challenges with Dee Cheng Kung Fu Academy, pick up free books and create their own story with St. Cloud Friends of the Library, enjoy Kerplunk sponsored by St. Cloud Honda, and visit Minnesota Family for Palm Paradise and additional games.
Sentry Bank will offer a matching game, Build-a-Bank activity, prize wheel and register-to-win basket.
Families can explore the festival with a Minnesota Family Festival Passport. One passport will be available per family while supplies last. Visit participating booths, collect stamps and show the completed passport at the Minnesota Family Magazine booth by 3 p.m. for a chance to win one of five $100 Play It Again Sports gift certificates.
The Park Event Center will have breakfast and lunch items available for purchase throughout the day.
Special thanks to the many volunteers helping bring Minnesota Family Festival to life, including Jon, Derrick, Kimberlee, Theresa and the planning volunteers, along with every organization, sponsor and volunteer contributing to the day.
Minnesota Family Festival is designed to give families a place to play, explore, connect and enjoy the good happening throughout our community.
Minnesota Family Festival
Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026
Opening ceremonies: 9:30 a.m.
Doors open: 9:45 a.m.
Festival activities: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Live music concludes by 4 p.m.
The Park Event Center, Waite Park
Free admission. Free parking. Free games and activities.