What better place to seize the seemingly endless days of summer than Edina, the smart Minneapolis suburb that’s full of fantastic shopping, restaurants and events, and just a short drive away from such family-oriented favorites as Minnehaha Falls, the Minnesota Zoo, and Mall of America?
If you’re looking to spend the night or a long weekend, Edina has you covered on the accommodations front, too, whether it’s the Westin’s seasonal stay-longer-and-save offer or Homewood Suites’ discounted rates for active and retired military families.
Here are five ways to keep the whole family happy in Edina this summer….
1. Welcome the Edina Art Fair back for its 59th year.
Minnesota’s leading fine arts fair is ready to rock Edina’s bustling 50th & France neighborhood once again. Expect to see more than 250 local and international exhibitors display their very best work alongside thousands of canvas, sculpture, and clay hunters the weekend of June 5.
Browsing countless booths is bound to work up an appetite, so be sure to swing by Mothership Pizza Paradise for wood-fired pies, house-made mozzarella sticks, and transcendent garlic knots afterwards. If there’s a wait — there often is, due to how popular this Mr. Paul’s Supper Club-related parlor is — you can always leave your name and number, and kill some pints on the patio of Wooden Hill Brewing Company.
2. Sharpen your mini golf skills at Centennial Lakes Park.
Players 8 years old and up are encouraged to pick up a putter at a par-51 “golf in miniature” course that’s nearly 1,700 feet long and studded with sand traps, ponds, boulders, and neatly trimmed planter beds. Eighteen one-of-a-kind holes costs $11 per person and should take a couple hours to complete.
If that sounds like a stressful way to spend an afternoon, Centennial Lakes also offers a more casual Scottish Links Putting course that costs just $7 per person, features nine holes, and can be completed in under an hour.
The park’s other recreation options include lawn bowling, croquet, paddle boats, and a sprawling greenway that ties it all together. Check out a complete breakdown of upcoming activities and events here, including a summer concert series at Maetzold Amphitheater and children’s entertainment on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.
3. Shop and see free music at Nolan Mains.
A multi-use development that keeps getting better and better (see: the cutting-edge sneaker culture of Studiiyo, the timeless menswear of Billy Reid, and the fabulous boutique finds of The Fitting Room), Nolan Mains will make outsiders want to move to the very heart of Edina.
Or at the very least, watch its Facebook page for free events in its public square, a unique space that stands alone with the greater metro area. The plaza is known for Friday night music between the Edina Art Fair and Labor Day, as well as family-friendly dancing and story time sessions that make the 50th and France neighborhood a must throughout the summer. Look at the latest dates and details here.
4. Revel in the renovations at Edina’s Aquatic Center.
Few suburban pools in the Twin Cities feel as destination-worthy as the Edina Aquatic Center. Located within Rosland Park, this longtime summer favorite is more like a full-on water park than a simple place to swim. Younger kids can splash through the Lil’ Lagoon water playground while older swimmers race down the Pirate’s Plunge body and tube slides, zip across the Shipwreck Express or test their skills on the Lost Wave — the only outdoor FlowRider surf simulator in Minnesota.
Families can easily spend an entire afternoon here between the 50-meter pool, diving boards, Oakwood Forest dry playground and nearby green space, making the Aquatic Center one of Edina’s quintessential summer experiences.
The experience is getting even better this summer thanks to a major infrastructure and amenities upgrade. The city recently completed a large-scale renovation project that included an expanded treatment and pump room, upgraded pool equipment and new shaded gathering areas designed to improve comfort during peak summer heat. While preserving the Aquatic Center’s longtime family appeal, the improvements help ensure another generation of cannonballs, surf sessions and summer traditions in Edina.
5. Beat the heat inside Edina Theatre.
Speaking of cooling things down, the historic Edina Theatre revealed its million-dollar reboot in 2022, a full-circle opening from the local moviehouse company Mann Theaters. Its president, Steve Mann, briefly ran the local landmark during the ‘70s, and his children Michelle and Michael are behind its mix of golden age nostalgia (vintage photos, a grand chandelier that looms over the lobby) and modern conveniences like ticket kiosks, luxury recliners, and reserved seating.
Not to mention a surreal Gold Room Bar inspired by The Shining. According to an Mpls.St.Paul interview with Michelle, the space immediately brought Stanley Kubrick’s iconic movie to mind. “We were like, ‘Guess what dad? We want to do this exactly like The Shining. He thought we were crazy, but we said, ‘trust us.’”
She continued, “We wanted to make it a destination — a place you’re not going to forget when you come in.”
Adding to that appeal is a tightly curated set of showtimes that includes special repertory screenings of classics like Casablanca, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, American Graffiti and Vertigo.
