Water Safety Festival

Water Safety Festival

Join us April 27th 2025 at the Jean K Freeman Aquatic Center to learn more about water safety through a day of FREE swim clinics, lessons, performances, activities, and games! Sign-up required for some activities. All ages welcome, children ages 12 and under must be accompanied by a guardian.

Sign up for general admissions to the Water Safety Festival for a day of events, performances, and activities.

Click here for aquatic rules + policies
Questions? Contact Bryna McElligott: [email protected]

 

Schedule

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Events and Performances

Schedules to be added closer to the event.

Lessons and Clinics

Schedules to be added closer to the event.

Activities

Schedules to be added closer to the event.

Some activities require additional sign-up to hold your spot. If there's a registration link attached to an activity, make sure to sign up! 

Need to Know

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Parking + Facility Access

The closest ramps to the Jean K. Freeman are the University Ave Ramp and the Washington Ave Ramp. Standard rates will apply for all campus ramps; however, there is free street parking available on University Ave. For more information about parking and potential parking rates for your event, please visit UMN Parking and Transportation

There are two entrances into the Aquatic Center for events. 

  • South Side Aquatic Center Entrance not the RecWell Entrance. (closest to Washington Ave. Parking Ramp) 
aquatics entrance
  • North Side (closest to University Ave. Parking Ramp)
aquatic center entrance

 

 

 

 

 

The Aquatic Center main entrance and lobby are open during events/rentals only.  

What to Bring

Please be sure to bring a swimsuit and towel for you and your child. Per RecWell’s policies, children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by a guardian in the water within arms’ reach at all times. Children 12-16 years of age must be within their guardian’s sight at all times.

This applies during any open swim or dive throughout the day. If your child is registered to take lessons, you will not need to be in the water with them during that time. 

Feel free to bring a US Coast Guard approved flotation device for you or your child as well. There will be open swim times in all of the pools for adults and children to enjoy!

Refreshments

More information coming soon.

Registration

More information coming soon.

Vendor Information

More information coming soon.

WSF 2023

  • 342 registrants/participants 
  • 22 vendors/community partners.

Bus Information

More information coming soon.

water safety participants prating CPR on pool deck
learn to swim participant jumping into pool with help

Interested in supporting our fundraiser? Donate here!

People swimming in a pool
Swimming lesson
Natatorium with paddle boards
Natatorium
Paddle Boarding
Paddle Boarding
Pool floaties