Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota

05/29/2026

We are so excited to offer Musikgarten classes here at the museum for infants and preschooler/toddlers! These hands on classes for child and caregiver provide not only exploration of songs, music and instruments but also help build fundamental milestone skills such as language, movement, and sensory input! A great way to bond with your little one.

Dates:
Session 1: June 2, 9,16,23
or
Session 2: July 28 August 4,18,25

Times:
Preschool/Toddler Course | 9:30-10:15am
Infant Course | 10:30-11am

🎵These classes are free but require registration
🎵They are not included in Museum admission so if you would like to stay and play, please purchase daily admission at the front desk.

Register here:
https://ecom.roller.app/cmsouthernmn/website/en-us/products

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

05/29/2026

As part of our Summer Camp kick off event we are offering a 10% discount on all summer camps through this weekend (5/29-5/31)!
Does your child want to...
🪡learn to sew?
👨‍🎨make things with clay?
😎become a special spy agent for a day?
Check out our camps today!
Camp details here: https://www.cmsouthernmn.org/curiosity-camps/summer-camps/
Register here: https://ecom.roller.app/cmsouthernmn/curiositycamps/en-us/home
Scholarship applications available here: https://forms.roller.app/ #/cmsouthernmn/13677d1ef69e4dd/form

Curiosity Camps are sponsored by the Xcel Energy Foundation

05/28/2026

These quarterly events invite children with sensory challenges or other special needs and their families to experience and enjoy the Museum free of charge at a time when there is a limited number of visitors present.

2026 Schedule:
Wednesday, June 10th- 4:30-6:30 PM
Saturday, August 8th- 7:30-9:00 AM
Wednesday, October 14th 4:30-6:30 PM

05/27/2026

The Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota is excited to offer KinderKids Drama & Acting Classes!

Tailored for children in Pre-K or Kindergarten, this program assists in developing your child’s communication skills and boosting their confidence from the start. In our Kinder Kids program, every student will actively participate in creative drama activities aimed at improving speaking skills, boosting confidence, and fostering creative learning and early social skills.
Ray Smart (“Mr. Ray”) has a Master’s degree in Education and has spent the past 8 years serving over 1500 students in the Mankato area earning the 2023 Spirit of Youth Award from Mankato Public Schools.
The class includes 4 sessions, each session will be 30 minutes long and will be using Drama Kids curriculum as the core mode of instruction. The last 10 minutes of the first 3 classes will focus on building a character that students will perform during our fourth and final class of the session - Parents will be invited to watch!

Class Dates:
June | 12 & 26
July | 10 & 17

TIME: 9:30-10am

Ages: 4-6 years old
Cost: Free, registration required
Class Capacity : 15
Parents do not attend but are required to stay onsite during the entire 30 min session

Register Here: https://ecom.roller.app/cmsouthernmn/programregistration3/en-us/product/1962834?date=2026-06-12

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

05/27/2026

We are so excited for this season of the Butterfly House and Pollinators at Play! Our first set of 36 itty bitty Monarch caterpillars has arrived this morning and they are so cute! Be sure to follow along as we share their growth and life cycle!

05/27/2026

We’re excited to welcome Highland Family Farms as a Corporate Partner of the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota!

We’re grateful for their support and shared commitment to families, community, and creating meaningful experiences for children.

Thank you, Highland Family Farms, for investing in children and families in our region!

05/25/2026

The Museum will be closed today, Monday, May 25th

05/24/2026

Mark your calendars!
📅Saturday, May 30 | 9am-4pm
Join the Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota for a day about the local Ag industry! Learn about the journey from a seed in the field to the food on your table. Many local companies' will be represented along with BIG trucks from each step of the process.

🚜Event Highlights:
Live animals - Calves, turkeys, piglets...
Combine Simulator with Southern Agricultural Center of Excellence
Fresh grilled samples with Nicollet County Pork Producers
Seed Planting with the Minnesota 4-H Ambassadors
Corn Trailer and drainage tile Play Zone with POET and ADS Agriculture
The life cycle of a Turkey egg with Minnesota Turkey
Scavenger hunt and raffle drawing for a Pedal Tractor from Kibble Equipment
And MUCH more!

This event is free for all visitors. No admission or membership is required.

💚Sponsored By:
Central Farm Service
CHS Inc
Grover Farm Trucking
Minnesota Corn
Minnesota Foundation for Agriculture
Blue Earth County Farm Bureau
Brown County Farm Bureau
Faribault County Farm Bureau Association
Goodhue County Farm Bureau
Le Sueur County Farm Bureau
Martin County Farm Bureau
Nicollet County Farm Bureau
Sibley County Farm Bureau
Steele County Farm Bureau
Waseca County Farm Bureau
Watonwan County Farm Bureau

05/22/2026

Join us on Saturday June 13th from 10am to noon to celebrate the start of summer with our Butterfly House Opening Day! Enjoy a fun-filled day with colorful activities, friendly llamas, and pollinators galore. Explore the beauty of Minnesota Native butterflies and other essential pollinators while experiencing interactive activities for the whole family. It’s the perfect way to welcome the season with nature, learning, and community fun!

With special guests from Happy Jolly Llama! 🦙

This event is included with Museum admission or membership.

This event is part of our Pollinators at Play exhibit powered by the CenterPoint Energy Foundation.

05/22/2026

05/22/2026

Check out our latest blog post about Ag Education Day! Be sure to join this amazing FREE event on Saturday, May 30th from 9am-4pm here at the Museum.

Join us on Saturday, May 30 from 9am to 4pm for one of our favorite events of the year: Ag Education Day at the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota! This is a free and fun-filled day for the whole family to get up close and hands-on with the agriculture industry right here in Mankato, and we t...