All of these venues are located just minutes from downtown Minneapolis, making it easy to plan a full day of fun with your friends or family. From lawn bowling and pottery classes to interactive game experiences, St. Louis Park and Golden Valley have activities for groups of any size and interest.
Brookview Golf & Lawn Bowling
Brookview Golf & Lawn Bowling is a go-to destination for outdoor group fun in Golden Valley. During warmer months, Brookview is home to the largest lawn bowling green in Minnesota, serving up eight rinks of fun for you and your friends or family. You can reserve single rinks, half the green, or the entire green for your party.
Brookview is also known for its 18-hole regulation golf course, a par-3 course and a driving range. In winter, take advantage of their two 18-hole disc golf courses (with discs available to rent) and six pub curling rinks.
There’s an onsite restaurant, Three One Six Bar + Grill, and a large outdoor firepit, making it an ideal location for group outings in Golden Valley.
Copperwing & Dampfwerk Distilleries
Copperwing Distillery and Dampfwerk Distillery sit directly across the parking lot from one another, making it easy to visit both during a group outing in St. Louis Park.
Copperwing, which is known for its vodka, gin and vodskey, offers one-hour distillery tours Wednesday through Friday starting at 5 pm. Tours include spirit tastings, a production area tour, an explanation of how the spirits are made, and a commemorative Copperwing shot glass.
Dampfwerk, known for its German-style fruit brandies and herbal liqueurs, offers an in-depth one-hour tour for up to eight people. The tour includes a sampling of three products of your choice and 25 percent off a cocktail in their Cocktail Lounge. They also have a private event space called “die Stube” that is perfect for hosting gatherings of up to 40 people, and outside catering is allowed.
Fired Up Studios
Fired Up Studios in Golden Valley is the perfect place to get creative with friends. In this two-hour pottery wheel class, you can take a pottery wheel for a spin and get your hands dirty while Fired Up’s instructors help you create your own unique pot. They provide all the tools, buckets and towels you need for the class, and they’ll finish and fire your pot with the glaze of your choice.
Perfect for small groups of up to eight people (ages 18+). Because the classes are popular, clay dates should be booked well in advance.
Game Show Battle Rooms
Game Show Battle Rooms at the Shops at West End in St. Louis Park offers one of the most unique group activities in the Twin Cities. Face off against friends or coworkers in one of their custom arenas as you play interactive versions of classic television game shows, all facilitated by your own personal game show host.
Choose between Classic Showdowns or Primetime Showdowns and play games inspired by favorites like Family Feud and Wheel of Fortune. It’s a perfect activity for groups of six to 64 or more.
iSMASH
iSMASH, also at the The Shops at West End in St. Louis Park, offers a completely different kind of group activity. Need to blow off some steam? Their Rage Rooms provide a mess-free, safe space where you can smash objects and let loose without consequences. Rage Room sessions are perfect for ages 8 and up. Prefer something creative? Try a Splatter Paint session, where guests fling paint and create colorful works of art to take home. Splatter Paint experiences are designed for ages 3 and up.
Whether you’re celebrating a birthday or just looking for a fun outing with friends, iSMASH offers an unforgettable experience.
Photo: iSMASH
Park Tavern Bowling & Entertainment Center
The Park Tavern has been a favorite local St. Louis Park hangout for more than 60 years. This retro-cool bowling alley features more than 20 bowling lanes, an arcade and darts, along with a full-service restaurant and bar. Private party rooms are available for groups celebrating birthdays or special occasions.
An expansive covered outdoor patio offers cozy seating and big screen TVs, along with cornhole or bocce ball during warmer months.
Pavek Museum
St. Louis Park’s Pavek Museum invites visitors to talk a walk on the retro side and explore one of the world’s largest collections of vintage radio and television equipment. Display highlights include an AEG Magnetophon, an RCA Theremin, a Spark Gap Generator, a Philco Mystery Control Radio, and a collection of vintage video game consoles. Groups can even produce their own old-time radio show or go head-to-head on a quiz show. The museum also offers private event space for gatherings.
Punch Bowl Social
Punch Bowl Social, located at The Shops at West End in St. Louis Park, is known for its energetic mix of food, drinks and games. The venue features craft beverages, including legendary punches, along with scratch kitchen food that’s fit for foodies. Guests can enjoy bowling, ping pong, billiards and bocce ball. Other classic games include Giant Scrabble, Giant Jenga, Bonzini and foosball tables. Would-be singing sensations will enjoy the karaoke rooms, and the vintage arcade offers plenty of nostalgic fun.
Punch Bowl Social is capable of hosting very large events, with space for groups of up to 1,000 people.
Skylab Glass Arts
Skylab Glass Arts is a lampworking and glass arts studio in Golden Valley. Participants put on safety glasses, step up to a torch and learn how to melt and shape colorful glass into pendants, wine stoppers, drinking straws and other creative pieces. Guests get to keep their finished creations, making this a memorable experience for small groups of up to eight people.
Warehouse Winery
Warehouse Winery is both a working winery and an eclectic event space in St. Louis Park’s Libation District. They combine Minnesota-grown Marquette cold-climate grapes with select Northern California grapes to produce cabernet sauvignon, frontenac, syrah, merlot, zinfandel and a wide variety of red blends, along with several white wines.
Join them on the last Wednesday of every month for Wine Down Wednesday. Guests enjoy tastings of up to five wines, a glass of their favorite selection, light appetizers and live entertainment. Bonus: the whole winery can be rented for your custom event, with multiple catering options available.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are fun group activities near Minneapolis?
St. Louis Park and Golden Valley offer several fun group activities just minutes from downtown Minneapolis, including lawn bowling at Brookview Golf & Lawn Bowling, pottery classes at Fired Up Studios, competitive game shows at Game Show Battle Rooms, and bowling or arcade games at Park Tavern Bowling & Entertainment Center.
What are good birthday party ideas in St. Louis Park or Golden Valley?
Popular birthday party activities include Rage Rooms or splatter paint sessions at iSMASH, bowling parties at the Park Tavern, creative workshops at Skylab Glass Arts, or private gatherings at local distilleries like Copperwing Distillery.
Are there indoor group activities in the Twin Cities during winter?
Yes. Indoor options near Minneapolis include pottery classes at Fired Up Studios, interactive game competitions at Game Show Battle Rooms, bowling and arcade games at the Park Tavern and entertainment venues like Punch Bowl Social.
Are there group activities for adults in St. Louis Park?
Yes. Adults can enjoy distillery tours at Copperwing Distillery and Dampfwerk Distillery, wine tastings at Warehouse Winery, or nightlife-style gaming experiences at Punch Bowl Social.
Planning a Corporate Event?
Many of these venues also host corporate outings and team-building events. If you’re organizing a company retreat or employee appreciation event, explore our guide to team-building activities in St. Louis Park and Golden Valley.
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