Heights Fest 2025

Free Fun for Everyone!

Heights Fest, formerly Parks Celebration, is this weekend!

For a sneak peek at what's in store, check this out!

In case of rain, visit the Parks and Recreation Facebook Page for updates.

Friday, Aug. 8

Food Truck Festival
4:30-8 p.m. - Mendakota Park

Kids Dance DJ
5-5:45 p.m. - Mendakota Park

The Patience Band
6:30-8 p.m. - Mendakota Park

Movie in the Park: The Goonies
8:30-10 p.m. - Mendakota Park

Saturday, Aug. 9

Kids Fest
12-2 p.m. - Mendakota Park

Mini & Me Golf Tournament*
2 p.m. - Par 3 Community Golf Course

Sunday, Aug. 10

Pickleball Tournament**
8 a.m. - Marie Park

Oheyawahe Tour**
3 p.m. - 2044 Pilot Knob Rd.

*Registration closed, stop by to watch the fun.
**Register online

Invasive Water Garden Plants to Avoid

Constructed water gardens and ponds have become a popular part of backyard landscaping. There are many native water-loving plants that work well in these gardens. However, some non-native plants sold for backyard water gardens have become invasive and out-compete native vegetation in our natural wetlands and water bodies.

Here are some invasive water-loving plants to avoid buying and planting:

• Common Reed Grass (Phragmites australis) Is an invasive wetland grass with large, light, feathery seedheads that grows in dense stands up to 15 feet tall. Identify carefully before removing. There is a native subspecies of this grass that is beneficial to wetlands. Additional information can be found here: Invasive Phragmites | Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center (MAISRC)
• Reed Canary Grass (Phalaris arundinacea) is an invasive grass that gows 2- 6 feet high with hairless, hollow stems. Leaves are wide and rough in texture, and up to 10 inches long.
• Invasive Water Lilies (Nymphaea spp.) are perennial aquatic flowering plants that are rooted with floating leaves/pads with typically showy flowers in various colors that bloom throughout the summer. There are some native water lilies that are important vegetation in our natural wetlands, so identify carefully before removing.
• Invasive Cattails (Typha angustifolia or Typha X glauca) are non-native or hybrid cattails are tall plants with thick reeds and dense seedhead spikes up to 8 inches long that form dense communities that outcompete other native shoreline plants. They are often hard to distinguish from the native broadleaf cattails, so the best form of management is to not buy or plant them.

Weekly Crime Report

The Mendota Heights Police Department provides a weekly list of incidents taking place in our community. View historical crime reports.

Coffee with the Council

Aug. 9; 9 a.m.
Market Square Park

Join Council members for a casual conversation over coffee!  In case of rain, Coffee with Council will be at Ze's Diner in Mendota Heights  (730 Main Street). 

Petals and Planting

Aug. 18; 3-5 p.m.
Friendly Hills Park

Join us to help create the Bloom Buddies Butterfly Garden! Plant pollinator-friendly plants, paint garden rocks and enjoy a dirt cup snack. Free event, no registration required.

Music in the Park: The New Mendota Heights Jazz Ensemble

Aug. 20; 6 p.m.
Market Square Park

Join Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation on various Wednesday evenings this summer for Music in the Park at Market Square Park! Don't forget a lawn chair or blanket.

This performance is sponsored by the Mendota Heights Community Foundation.

Picnic with Public Safety

Aug. 25; 5-6:30 p.m.
Civic Center Park

Stop by City Hall for a picnic with police officers and firefighters. Enjoy hot dogs, chips, and cookies, with live music, yard games and a video game truck! Free event, no registration required.