Maple Grove Community Center451

The Maple Grove Community Center's 750,000 annual visitors know a good thing when they see it! With the Grove Cove Aquatic Center's indoor and outdoors pools and water features, an ice arena, a gym, the Maple Maze Indoor Playground, a skate park, free wi-fi, concessions, a senior center, a teen center, and the rec board-operated Playhouse Nursery School, it's no wonder the place draws an all-ages crowd in every season.

More than 60 vendors sell a wide variety of fresh produce, flowers, nuts, jams, eggs, meat and dairy products, honey, baked goods, and more on Thursdays from mid-June through late October outside the center at the year-round Maple Grove Farmers Market (Thu 3pm-7pm). From November to May, the market moves indoors and takes place on only the first and third Thursday of each month (3pm-6pm). The market also offers live entertainment, special family programs, and children's activities.

Visit the website for cost, hours, and restriction information for each of the center's many attraction - for example, skate park admission is free, but helmets are required and kids under age nine must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Parties: Younger kids can celebrate Fri-Sun in a private party room with time in the aquatic center, playground maze, or ice arena. (Note that parties must be booked as such; groups visiting the center cannot open presents, eat cake, or place decorations in the common areas or without advance reservations.) Packages for eight to 30 guests ($85 for eight kids; $5 each additional child) include a t-shirt for the birthday child, tableware, beverages, and more. For teens, the center provides the cake and decorations, and two hours of access to the teen center's pool tables, DDR, Guitar Hero, movies, a jukebox, and more ($75 during public hours; Sun 7pm-9pm $80).

Maple Grove residents have another option: A Jr. Firefighter Party that includes an visit with a firefighter, a tour of the station, a ride on a fire truck, games, themed decor, cake and beverages, tableware, stickers, balloons, activity books, and firefighter hats for all ($100 for up to 12 kids; $200 for 13-24 kids; meal option additional). Call 763.494.5966 at least two weeks in advance to book any of the above parties.