Wright & West Hennepin Family Guide

Issue #1 — Week of March 7, 2026

Free weekly events, hidden gems, and family-friendly fun across Maple Grove, Rogers, Otsego, St. Michael, Dayton, and Monticello.

Hey neighbors 👋

Welcome to the very first issue of the Wright & West Hennepin Family Guide. I live out here too, and I got tired of Googling "things to do this weekend" and getting results for downtown Minneapolis. So I made this — one quick email, every Thursday, with the best stuff happening in our corner of the metro. Let's get into it.

🎉 This Weekend

Maple Grove Spring Craft & Gift Show
📅 Saturday, March 7 · Maple Grove Community Center
Handmade crafts, local art, and food vendors. Great for picking up a unique gift or just browsing with the kids. Free to attend.

Monticello Indoor Farmers Market
📅 Saturday, March 7 · 9 AM–12 PM · Monticello Community Center (505 Walnut St)
Fresh baked goods, honey, maple syrup, pickles, microgreens, and handcrafted items. Live music while you shop. Free admission. Only a few of these left before outdoor season starts!

Live Music at Rockwoods (Otsego)
📅 Friday, March 6: Matt McAllister (7–10 PM)
📅 Saturday, March 7: Jesse Totushek (7–10 PM)
Rockwoods is one of the best spots in the area for casual live music with good food. Family-friendly early evening, 21+ atmosphere later.

International Women's Day Hike — Riverbend, Otsego
📅 Sunday, March 8 · 12 PM · Free
A free guided hike at Riverbend (off Territorial Rd / County Rd 116). Sign a quick waiver online and show up. Beautiful winter trails.

📅 Next Week

Half-Price Snow Tubing at Elm Creek
📅 Wednesday, March 11 · 4–9 PM · Elm Creek Winter Recreation Area (Maple Grove)
If you haven't taken the kids tubing yet this season, this is your last-chance deal. Half-price Wednesdays won't last much longer.

Journey Into the Sugarbush — Eastman Nature Center
📅 Saturday, March 14 · 1–4:30 PM
Learn how maple sap becomes syrup on a guided walk through the sugarbush. Hands-on, outdoors, and perfect for curious kids.

Maple Grove Home Show
📅 Saturday, March 14 · 10 AM–4 PM · Maple Grove Community Center
150+ exhibitors covering home, lawn, and garden projects. Free parking. Giveaways all day. Not strictly a "kid event" but free and easy to pop into if you're in the area.

Last Indoor Farmers Market — Monticello
📅 Saturday, March 14 · 9 AM–12 PM · Monticello Community Center
This is the final indoor market of the season! Same great vendors. Next one is the Spring Preview Market on April 25.

Leprechaun Open Skate — Rogers
📅 Sunday, March 15 · 4–5:15 PM · Rogers Activity Center (21080 141st Ave N)
St. Patrick's-themed open skate. Grab the kids and some green and hit the ice.

🐣 Mark Your Calendar

• Rogers Winter Farmers Market — Wed, March 18, 3–5:30 PM at 21st Century Bank Event Center. Support local makers.
• St. Patrick's Day at Rockwoods — Tue, March 17. Green garb encouraged. Food and drinks all day.
• Eastman Maple Syrup Festival — Sat, March 21, 1–4 PM. The big annual maple event near Maple Grove. Don't miss this one.
• Breakfast with the Bunny — Monticello — Sat, March 21, 8:30–11:30 AM at the Monticello Community Center. Pancakes, pictures with the bunny, games & coloring. $12 adults / $6 kids / free for ages 2 & under. Hosted by Swan River PTO.
• Glow-N-Skate — Rogers — Wed, March 25, 6–7:15 PM at Rogers Activity Center. Glow-in-the-dark skating for the whole family.

💎 Hidden Gem of the Week

Rockwoods Community Nights (Otsego)
Every other Wednesday, Rockwoods donates 10% of all dine-in sales to a local organization. This month: Rogers Royals Lacrosse (Mar 4), Rogers DECA (Mar 11), and Rogers Otsego Softball Association (Mar 25). It's a great excuse to eat out and support a local cause at the same time. Kids welcome.

☀️ Summer Sneak Peek

It's still cold, but these are worth getting on the calendar now:

• Maple Grove Nature Run (Half Marathon, 10K, 5K) — May 9
• Spring Into Summer (Maple Grove Lions) — May 16
• Maple Grove Chalkfest — June 13–14. Free street chalk art, kids zone, food, and live music.
• Rockin' Rogers — June 18–20. Carnival, live bands, parade. Thursday is Family Night.
• St. Michael Daze & Knights — August 7–8. "Something for everyone."
• Otsego Prairie Festival — September 12. Exhibitors, activities, wagon rides, fireworks at dusk.

👋 That's Issue #1

Thanks for being here from the start. If this was useful, forward it to one friend or neighbor — that's the best way to help this grow. And if you know about an event I missed, just hit reply. I read every one.

See you next Thursday.

— Wright & West Hennepin Family Guide

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