Parks programs
Parks programs for April, May, and June 2024
Accessibility options: Olmsted County Parks offer a variety of accessibility accommodations for park visitors and our public programming. Ranging from accommodations for mobility like our Action Trackchair, sensory sensitivities including our free rental kits, American Sign Language interpreter, and a microphone/speaker system for improved acoustics for hearing with certain programs. We know everyone’s experience is unique. For more information on these resources, contact oxbow@olmstedcounty.gov or call 507-328-7340. Please let us know of needed accommodations at least two days in advance, two weeks for an ASL interpreter.
Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo
The following events take place at Oxbow Park and are subject to change.
Saturday, April 27 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Nature Art and Craft Show
Come out to the Oxbow Park Nature Center to shop at our first-ever Nature Arts and Crafts show! Art includes watercolor, acrylics, woodworking, photography, ceramics, and much more! Partial proceeds go to Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo.
Saturday, May 4 at 11 a.m. – Spring Wildflower Hike
Spring offers a short time period for flowers of the forest to collect enough sunlight to bloom before the tree canopy grows and shades these ephemeral flowers. This hike will include identifying and learning the names of the flowers. Meet at the Nature Center.
Sunday, May 12 at 1 p.m. - Mother’s Day Craft
Come to Oxbow Park to make a craft for yourself, or a gift for mom or grandma! Meet at the Nature Center.
Saturday, May 18 at 10 a.m. – Feed the Otters
River otters are a curious animal with many adaptations for hunting on land and fishing in the water. Watch a staff member feed the river otters at Zollman Zoo and learn fun facts about river otters. Meet at the otter exhibit.
Saturday, May 25 at 11 a.m. – Feed the Raptors
Meet at the raptor exhibit to learn more about some of Minnesota’s most common birds of prey. Not only will you enjoy hearing interesting facts, but you’ll also enjoy watching them eat. Meet at the raptor exhibit.
Sunday, May 26 at 1 p.m. – Deer Tracks and Signs
Join us on a hike to see and discover all the signs that wild white-tail deer are in the park! We will teach signs of deer including scat, trails, tree markings, and more! Meet at the Nature Center.
Saturday, June 1 at 1 p.m. – Mindfulness Meander
Join a Naturalist on a stroll through the woods to learn about the many benefits being immersed in nature has on your health. Meet at the Nature Center.
Sunday, June 9 at 1 p.m. – Karst Geology
Oxbow Park is home to a unique landscape underground. Karst is full of fascinating features of caves, cracks, and fissures in the bedrock. A mile hike with a Naturalist will reveal the beauty of karst and waterfalls that accompany this rock feature. Meet at the Nature Center.
Saturday, June 15 at 10 a.m. – Fungus Among Us
Early summer offers many types of new forest growth, including many types of fungi! Join us on a Naturalist led hike identifying some of Oxbow Park’s most common species of fungi. Learn if they are edible or poisonous, where they grow, and what their role in the ecosystem is! Meet at the Nature Center.
Saturday, June 22 at 11 a.m. – Keeper Chat
Come learn about the animals that live at Zollman Zoo. A zookeeper will chat about how they care for the animals, what they eat, what their favorite toys are, and more! Feel free to ask questions about your favorite animals at the zoo. Meet at the Nature Center.
Sunday, June 30 at 1 p.m. – Intro to Skulls
A basic introduction to skulls. Learn some of the bones in the skull, how to use skulls to tell between predator and prey animals, and how teeth can help you identify what an animal eats. Meet in the Nature Center classroom and be prepared for a brief walk around the zoo.
Oxbow Nature Center & Zollman Zoo will be open late nights until 7 p.m.:
Thursday, June 27, Thursday, July 11, and Thursday, August 1.
Chester Woods Park
The following events take place at Chester Woods Park and are subject to change.
Saturday, May 11 “Big Birding Day” starting at 7:45 am – Hosted by ZVAS
Meet in the boat landing parking lot. If you didn't go to the earlier walks, we recommend you be at Chester Woods by 7:45 am in case we arrive early. Depending on how many people attend we may divide into two groups. Warblers, sparrows, and other songbirds will be our focus. Be prepared for a 3-mile hike. Leaders will decide which trails offer the best possibilities for seeing birds. We’ll likely cover a combination of the Dam Overlook and North Trails. Lunch: After the morning walks, we'll pause for lunch and to talk about our favorite finds at picnic shelter #1 in Chester Woods. Bring your own food and beverages.
Saturday, May 18 at 1 p.m. – Pelts and Furs
Meet at picnic shelter 6 to learn about some of the native wildlife that inhabit the state of Minnesota. Park staff will have a collection of pelts on display, and you can learn about some of the unique characteristics of these critters.
Friday, May 24 10 a.m. – Beach and watercraft rentals Open!
Memorial Weekend is the unofficial “start of summer!” What better way to celebrate than to head out on the lake!!!
Saturday, May 25 at 1 p.m. – Rock Painting
Meet at picnic shelter 1 and let your creativity go wild! Staff will have rocks and paint markers available all you need to bring is your artistic talent!
Saturday, June 22 – 4th Annual Youth Bass Classic
Project MN Youth Outdoors is once again holding this exciting free event for youth ages 3-15. Registration starts at 7 a.m. with the blast off at 8 a.m.! All the information can be found on the Project MN Youth Outdoors Facebook page.
Saturday June 22, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Amphitheater Grand Opening!
Join us at the brand-new Amphitheater for a full day of music and performances from the local community! Bring a chair or blanket, or enjoy the provided seating, and a picnic lunch! This is sure to be an event the whole family will love!
Wednesday and Thursday June 26 and 27 from 5-8 p.m. – Rochesterfest Family Fun Night
Bring the family down to Soldiers Field Park and check out all the fun activities and booths for kids and adults. Olmsted County Parks will be there with a few critters as well!
Root River Park
The following events take place at Root River Park and are subject to change.
There are no programs planned at Root River Park for the months of May or June.