October is one of my favorite months of the year because of the cool, crisp air, pumpkin everything, and Halloween events and fall festivals galore! Here I’ve rounded up over 80 fun events you can enjoy with your family in the Twin Cities. Many are free, some are at cost (but so worth it!). All items are free (to my knowledge) unless specified.
And thank you so much to Socially Handcrafted for sponsoring this list!
Socially Handcrafted is two moms offering DIY workshops & made-to-order custom pieces, wooden signs & home decor. Events for girls night, bridal & baby showers, team building events, birthdays & more!
They’ve just moved to a new location in Burnsville and have a busy calendar with events for adults and kids! Check them out at:
https://www.sociallyhandcrafted.com/.
They have some great events coming up:
October 11 – Hocus Pocus Craft Night
October 13 – Open Workshop
October 16- Double Sided Porch Workshop
October 18- Kids Paint Pouring Workshop
October 19- Paint Pouring Workshop
October 25- Open Workshop
October 26- Ladies Night Out
October 27- Make & Takes
Also check out their Facebook page for more info, pics and events!
October Ongoing Events
Screamin’ Green Hauntoween begins at Crayola Experience. Mall of America. September 29 – October 31. Get discounted tickets through my special link! Tickets are $13.99 (regularly $20.99; save $7 per ticket!). Here’s how:
- Just click on my personalized online store web link (URL) and enter the access code TCFM. (Or visit https://tickets.crayolaexperience.com and enter my personalized store name: Twin Cities Frugal Mom)
- You’ll be able to purchase and print the tickets right away, saving you time waiting at the entrance turnstiles and bypassing ticket booth lines! And they’re valid for up to a year.
Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular at the Minnesota Zoo. Oct 4 – Oct 31. HealthPartners/Park Nicollet presents Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular making it’s Midwest debut at the Minnesota Zoo! Walk in wonder through the enchanted forest, nestled in the heart of the Zoo. This strolling exhibit features over 5,000 illuminated pumpkins of all different sizes, shapes and faces creatively carved and displayed from ground to tree-top. A variety of musical vignettes and fog make the perfect back drop for a special date night or family-friendly, fall outing. Not a free event – tickets are available on their website or in person (Sundays – Thursdays are cheapest).
Sever’s Fall Festival & Corn Maze. Shakopee. Weekends through October 28th.
Twin Cities Harvest Festival & Corn Maze. Brooklyn Park. Weekends through October 28th.
12 Days of Halloween. October 20 – 31. Pleasant Valley Orchard, 17325 Pleasant Valley Rd, Shafer. Have a Spooktacular time at the orchard celebrating the end of fall and Halloween! Special activities include crafts and a scavenger hunt for the kids, hayrides to the pumpkin patch and music.
Apple Fest. Afton Apple Orchard, 14421 So. 90th St. · Hastings. September 29th – 30th, October 6th – 7th, October 13th – 14th.
Holiday Light Display. Running nightly until Oct 31. Holiday Lights on York Ave/Schultz Family Lights – Location: 1526 York Ave, St Paul, MN.
October Events by Date
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5
Lake Fest. 3:00pm – 10:00pm. Lakeside Memorial Park, Forest Lake. October 5th through 6th. Food, fun and games, including a tailgate party before the homecoming game!
Forever Wild Family Friday: Twilight Hike. 7:00 – 8:30pm. Lebanon Hills Regional Park, 860 Cliff Road, Eagan. Join us for family fun on the first Friday of every month with park activities and s’mores. Take a walk in the woods at dusk on a self-guided scavenger hunt. Bring a headlamp or flashlight. All ages. Free!
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6
Free Kids Workshop at Home Depot – 9:00am -12:00pm. FREE hands-on workshops; designed for children ages 5 – 12. Offered the 1st Saturday of every month at all The Home Depot stores. All kids get to keep their craft, receive a FREE certificate of achievement, a Workshop Apron, and a commemorative pin. One workshop kit, apron and pin per child. Scheduled on a first come, first served basis, so be sure to register online. (Today’s craft is a Fireboat.)
Fall Frenzy. 10:00am – 12:00pm. 5000 Kop Pkwy SE, Prior Lake. Join the City of Prior Lake Recreation Department for this great FREE fall family event on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018, from 10 a.m. – noon at Lakefront Park, 5000 Kop Pkwy. in Prior Lake. The Kids Pedal Tractor Pull, pumpkin painting, pumpkin bowling, inflatables and live music will be returning this year. We are excited to have Radio Active as our band this year! A food truck will be on site selling concessions, please bring cash. Watch for more details to be posted here soon.
FREE FIRST SATURDAY FAMILY DAY at the Walker Art Center from 10:00am to 5:00pm. Family activities scheduled from 10:00am to 3:00pm. Activities are recommended for ages 6-12. Each month has a different theme! This month, October 2018, it’s a Kids’ Book Fair! Celebrate young readers at the Walker’s first ever Kids’ Book Fair! Listen to award-winning children’s authors share their work, catch demonstrations by illustrators, get your books signed, and create your own literary-themed artwork. Free First Saturdays feature free gallery admission on the first Saturday of every month, plus performances, games, art-making, and kids’ films from 10 am to 3 pm. Family friendly food options are available or bring something from home to snack on in the lounge or in the Garden.
Free Corn Maze. 11:00am – 5:00pm. 5825 Kelvin Ave N, Lake Elmo. Free corn maze and other fun games like pedal cars, corn cannon, wagon rides, and more!
2018 Harvest Howl. 11:00am – 4:00pm. Wildlife Science Center, 22830 Sunrise Rd NE, Stacy. Celebrate autumn with the Wildlife Science Center! Join us for a day of autumn family fun with wolves, raptors, and other wild animals. Educational demonstrations, local artisans and vendors selling their wares, kid’s games, pumpkin painting contests, food truck and more! This festive family event provides an opportunity for the entire community to celebrate the annual fall harvest. Dogs on leash always welcome. All proceeds benefit the Wildlife Science Center. Event Admission: Adults – $10.00 Kids – $8.00. (Not a free event.)
Fall Festival! 12:00 – 4:30pm. Hamline Elementary, St. Paul. Entertainment, bouncy houses, fun & games, a bake sale, food for purchase, and more activities – this is a great place to connect with community in support of this great elementary school. Admission is free for everyone. Rain or shine! Free.
Lake Fest. 3:00pm – 10:00pm. Lakeside Memorial Park, Forest Lake. Join us in celebrating the Forest Lake community at the annual Lake Fest, October 5th through the 6th. There will be food, fun and games, including a tailgate party before the homecoming game!
Movies in the Park. 5:30 – 9:00pm. Como Regional Park, 1151 Como Ave, Saint Paul. Hocus Pocus. Join us for the Halloween favorite ‘Hocus Pocus’ in Como Regional Park! Free family activities including a climbing wall, games, button machine, and a costume contest will take place before the film starting at 5:30pm. Film will start at dusk. Free popcorn and hot beverages will be served during the movie.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7
Oktoberfest. 3:00 – 6:00pm. Cross View Lutheran Church Edina, 6645 McCauley Trl W, Edina. Everyone is invited to a FREE neighborhood party with great food, beverages, music, and more! Cross View’s Oktoberfest on October 7 will include:
•Free kraut-worthy food, beer, and root beer
•Totally legit German Polka Band and sing-a-long
•Games and activities for kids
MONDAY, OCTOBER 8
Pre K Mondays. 9:00am – Noon. The Works Museum, Bloomington. Our Pre K Mondays feature special activities just for kids ages 3 to 5 and their adult companions. Kids are natural engineers – experience the amazing fun of hands-on engineering together! Encourage your Pre K student to explore his or her curiosity and design, build, and create. No registration needed! Half price admission ($4.25) for kids from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Grown-up admission is $9. October 8th’s theme is Balloon Tennis.
Halloween Parade. 10:00am – 11:00am. The Glenn Hopkins, 1011 Feltl Ct, Hopkins. This will be our third annual Halloween costume parade through the Glen of Hopkins bring your kids and a bucket to collect candy.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11
FEATURED EVENT:
Hocus Pocus Open Workshop. 7:00 – 9:00pm. Socially Handcrafted, 1153 E. Cliff Rd, Burnsville. Come and get your craft on and watch Hocus Pocus! We are basically indulging our love of this movie with a screening during open workshop. We will have the craft bar open, including a special Hocus Pocus design, and you’re also free to pre-register for any of the designs in our gallery or contact us for a custom design. Register online at www.sociallyhandcrafted.com.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12
Hyland Hills Free Chairlift Rides. 5:00 – 9:00pm. Hyland Hills Ski Area, 8800 Chalet Rd, Bloomington, Ride a chairlift to the top of Mount Gilboa and enjoy the picturesque view from one of the highest elevations in Hennepin County. Look at the Minneapolis skyline through a spotting scope, meet a live raptor, and play lawn games. At sunset, listen to live folk music from Northern Aire, make s’mores by a campfire, and walk down a lantern-lit trail to the bottom of the hill. Food and beverages available for purchase. No pets allowed. Fees: $5 pre-registration, $6 day-of, Children under 2 are free.
Family Oktoberfest. 5:30 – 7:30pm. Shorewood Community & Event Center, 5735 Country Club Rd, Excelsior. All ages will enjoy our community Oktoberfest! Enjoy free German food, samples from Excelsior brewing, German Polka music, kids crafts, a photobooth, and wine tasting. All free for the entire family. Everyone is German tonight!
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13
Stillwater Harvest Fest. October 13-14. Lowell Park, Stillwater. Tons of events including a Harvest Fest Market & Kids Activities!
FEATURED EVENT:
Open Workshop. 9:00 – 11:00am. Socially Handcrafted, 1153 E. Cliff Rd, Burnsville. Come and get your craft on! Choose from any of the designs in our gallery or contact us for a custom design. We will walk you through the steps to create a fun new piece of art and make sure you leave with something you love. No artistic ability needed — we promise. Register online at www.sociallyhandcrafted.com
Highland Water Tower Open House. 9:00am – 5:00pm. Saturday and Sunday. 800 Snelling Ave S, St Paul, MN. View the fall colors from atop the Highland Park water tower. Free event. Open to the public only twice a year – spring and summer.
Pumpkin Party. 9:00am – 12:00pm. HomeTown Auto Service, 20315 Iberia Ave, Lakeville. Everyone in the community is welcome! We are having our annual pumpkin party again this year partnered with our surrounding businesses/church! Come by our parking lot to get FREE pumpkins, Bouncy Houses, Face Painter, Balloon Artists, Coffee, Cider, and Cookies! Valley Christian Church and New Horizon Academy (located on each side of our business) will also have great events happening from 9:00-12:00 so make sure to stop by them as well! Wear your costumes if you have them! Everything is FREE. Hope to see you there!
Century 21 Red Shoe Realty Annual Pumpkin Giveaway! 9:30am – 11:00am. Century 21 Red Shoe Realty, 1106 S Broadway St, New Ulm. Join us on Saturday, October 13, 2018, in our back parking lot, for our annual PUMPKIN GIVEAWAY! Bring an item for the food shelf and you will receive a FREE pumpkin! Treats and refreshments will also be served.
2nd Annual Outdoor Halloween Spooktacular Vendor & Craft Fair. 10:00am – 3:00pm. Northtown Mall, 398 Northtown Dr NE, Blaine. 2nd Annual Fall Outdoor Pop Up Market at Northtown Mall located at Burlington Coat Factory end of the parking lot. FREE Event for the Family!
Twin Cities Book Festival. 10:00am – 5:00pm. Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Located in the Progress Center at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, Rain Taxi’s TWIN CITIES BOOK FESTIVAL is not only the largest, most adventurous literary event in the Upper Midwest; it is THE annual get together for devoted book lovers from the Twin Cities and beyond! And it is FREE to all!!
Burnsville Family Fest. 10:00am – Noon. Join us for the first annual #BurnsvilleFamilyFest! With over 50+ local vendors, come and enjoy food, games, kids activities and entertainment all while connecting with local businesses and resources. Visit www.BurnsvilleChamber.com to learn more about the FREE, family-friendly event!
FALL FEST kids party 2018. 10:00am – Noon. Gail & Andy Haering Edina Realty, 4121 Dean Lakes Blvd, Shakopee. Pony rides, petting zoo, bounce house, treats, costume contest, pumpkin give-away (while supplies last). Super fun FREE event! We invite you to bring donations for Shakopee Saber Nation Station. Needs include shampoo, deodorant, body wash. Also new or gently used clothing: sweatshirts & tennis shoes in teen sizes.
Trunk or Treat. 10:30am – 12:00pm. Christ Lutheran Church Blaine, 641 89th Ave NE, Blaine. It’s a tailgate party in the parking lot of Christ Lutheran! Children are invited to come in costume and “trunk or treat” at car trunks that are decorated in themes. Some have candy, some have games or activities for you. Don’t miss out on the fun! Free community event!
FREE GOOSEBUMPS 2 Party. 10:00am – Noon. October 13 – 14. At participating Marcus theatres – Oakdale, Rosemount, Rochester, Southbridge Crossing. Note that the party is free but movie admission is sold separately. Activities will include:
Cotton Ball Ghost Crafts
Make-Your-Own Tissue Paper Candy Corn
Coloring and Activity Sheets
Prize Giveaways
Enjoy Delicious Free Snacks
The Great Pumpkin Giveaway. 11:00am – 2:00pm. National Sports Center, 1750 105th Ave NE, Blaine. 13,000 pumpkins are being given away! Come get your free pumpkin, listen to live musical makings of The Teddy Bear Band, have our chance to meet Lindy the KLRE mascot, jump in bouncy houses, eat some grub at your favorite food trucks, get your face painted, and so much more! Come one, come all! This event is TOTALLY FREE for EVERYONE and offers fun for the entire family! We went to this a couple years ago (pic above) and there truly were a ton of pumpkins free for the taking. There were pumpkins of all sizes – we took several medium sized ones.
Leaf Fest. 12:00 – 4:00pm Caponi Art Park, 1220 Diffley Rd, Eagan. Community celebration of Fall featuring family art activities and entertainment.
Fall on the Farm. 12:00 – 3:00pm. Eidem Homestead, 4345 101st Ave N, Brooklyn Park. Adults $6, Children (5-12) $4, Children, 4 and under Free. Activities: Harvesting the garden, Pressing cider, Drying apples, Cooking in the kitchen, Hayrides, Mock one-room schoolhouse, Kid’s make-and-take.
Pumpkin Giveaway. 1:00 – 3:00pm. Lynhurst Recreation Center 1345 W. Minnehaha Parkway Minneapolis. FREE! Hosted by Semira Mundt- Realtor.
Hyland Hills Fall Chairlift Rides. 4:00 – 9:00pm. Hyland Hills Ski Area, 8800 Chalet Rd, Bloomington. Ride a chairlift to the top of Mount Gilboa and enjoy the picturesque view from one of the highest elevations in Hennepin County. Look at the Minneapolis skyline through a spotting scope, meet a live raptor, and play lawn games. At sunset, listen to live folk music from Northern Aire, make s’mores by a campfire, and walk down a lantern-lit trail to the bottom of the hill. Food and beverages available for purchase. No pets allowed.
Fees
$5 pre-registration
$6 day-of
Pumpkins in the Park. 4:00 – 6:00pm. Huber Park, 150 Fillmore St. N., Shakopee. The Shakopee Chamber presents Pumpkins in the Park, a non-scary Halloween celebration every year. Children will enjoy a Trick-or-Treat Trail, face painting, jump houses, fun photos, ghoulish games, refreshments, plus they get to choose their very own pumpkin from the Pick-A-Pumpkin Patch. Children will also get to meet firefighters of the Shakopee Fire Department.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14
Stillwater Harvest Fest. October 13-14. Lowell Park, Stillwater. Tons of events including a Harvest Fest Market & Kids Activities!
Highland Water Tower Open House. 9:00am – 5:00pm. Saturday and Sunday. 800 Snelling Ave S, St Paul, MN. View the fall colors from atop the Highland Park water tower. Free event. Open to the public only twice a year – spring and summer.
FREE GOOSEBUMPS 2 Party. 10:00am – Noon. October 13 – 14. At participating Marcus theatres – Oakdale, Rosemount, Rochester, Southbridge Crossing. Note that the party is free but movie admission is sold separately. Activities will include:
Cotton Ball Ghost Crafts
Make-Your-Own Tissue Paper Candy Corn
Coloring and Activity Sheets
Prize Giveaways
Enjoy Delicious Free Snacks
FREE “TARGET FAMILY DAY” at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts from 11:00am to 5:00pm. This is a free monthly event for families, kids, and the young at heart. This month’s theme: Cartoon Creations. Step into the shoes of a comic book character at this month’s FREE Family Day at Mia! Enjoy a live drawing demo and a mini film festival of animated shorts, create your own cartoons, and make your own comic book.
Rosedale Center Fall Fun Fest. 12:00 – 2:00pm. Rosedale Center, 10 Rosedale Ctr Ofc, Roseville. Join us Oct 14th for a free, fun, fall event featuring live music by The Bazillions, face painting*, dining and shopping offers, and a large prize drawing! Rosedale Center lower east court.
Family Art Sunday. 1:00 – 3:00pm. Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts. Family Art Sundays are events where families of all definitions are invited to visit the Center, make art, go on an art scavenger hunt, and enjoy art together. Family Art Sundays are free.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 15
FREE Admission to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. 8:00am – 5:00pm. FREE admission on the 3rd Monday of each month. Visitor Center and buildings close at 4:30 p.m.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16
FEATURED EVENT:
DIY Workshop! Double Sided Porch Sign. 7:00 – 10:00pm. Socially Handcrafted, 1153 E. Cliff Rd, Burnsville. Double-sided porch signs! 8 designs to choose from or contact us for a custom design (additional $10 fee will apply). Signs are 60″ x 10″ and $60.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17
MEA Break Camps. 9:00am. The Works Museum. Engage your kids in hands-on, minds-on activities during MEA break. Camps for older kids too! Museum exploration, games, engineering activities, and pizza lunch are included. (Fees vary)
Family Fall Bonfire. 6:30 – 8:00pm. Phalen Recreation Center, 1000 Wheelock Pkwy E, Saint Paul. Celebrate the end of the fall sports season with neighbors at a family friendly bonfire. Roasting sticks for marshmallow roasting, pie irons for pudgy pies, and hot apple cider will be provided. Outdoor youth athletic equipment will be available to use. No registration necessary. All are welcome. FREE!
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18
MEA Break Camps. 9:00am. The Works Museum. Engage your kids in hands-on, minds-on activities during MEA break. Camps for older kids too! Museum exploration, games, engineering activities, and pizza lunch are included. (Fees vary)
FEATURED EVENT:
Kids Paint Pouring! 9:00am – 1:00pm. Socially Handcrafted, 1153 E. Cliff Rd, Burnsville. This workshop includes paint pouring instruction — including a small test piece and your chosen cut out or canvas. Mini Paint Pouring Projects & Make and Takes. We will have a variety of shapes & canvas’ available to create a paint pouring masterpiece. While your projects dry you can create make & takes from our craft bar, or arrange a pick up time to grab your projects. Cost $15 per child/project. This project does have a substantial drying time (60-90 minutes) before the project can be moved for transport home. Our craft bar will also be open with a variety of $10-25 projects to do while you wait — or just hang out and chat. Ages 5 and up!
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19
MEA Break Camps. 9:00am. The Works Museum. Engage your kids in hands-on, minds-on activities during MEA break. This year we’ve added camps for older kids too! Museum exploration, games, engineering activities, and pizza lunch are included. (Fees vary)
Flashlight Pumpkin Hunt. Aquatore Park, Blaine. $10 resident, $11 non-resident. Pumpkins are hiding and waiting to be found at Aquatore Park. Children along with their parents, can search the grounds for one umkin of their choice, celebrate by dancing under the stars with our family deejay, make a S’more and play glow games. Fee includes a treat bag, one pumpkin, ne craft, and refreshments. Come in a costume for our costume contest and bringa flashlight. Registration is required. Max. 200. Event held at Aquatore Park. Registration deadline is October 12 or when spaces fill.
FEATURED EVENT:
Paint Pouring. 7:00 – 9:00pm. Socially Handcrafted, 1153 E. Cliff Rd, Burnsville. This workshop includes paint pouring instruction — including a small test piece and your chosen 16” large sign (state, pumpkin, leaf, etc). $40. You can also add on a frame for $35. You will stain and assemble your background board. The finished product measures approximately 16” x 20.” This project does have a substantial drying time (60-90 minutes) before the project can be moved for transport home. Our craft bar will also be open with a variety of $10-25 projects to do while you wait — or just hang out and chat. Ages 10 and up.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20
Free Farmers Market. 9:00 – 10:00am. Willow Lane Elementary, 3375 Willow Ave, White Bear Lake. Free Farmers Market- all are welcome! Stop by for a selection of free farm fresh produce courtesy of Second Harvest Heartland. Bring your own Bags!
Free Halloween Family Activities. 10:00am – 4:00pm. RUMRIVER ART CENTER, 2665 4th Anoka MN 55303. Spooktacular drawing all day.
Play pin the heart on the skeleton. Create your own Halloween decorations. Come in costume to receive your treat. We dare you to drink our Witches Brew! Face Painting from 11am – 2pm.
Halloween Family Fun. 1:00 – 4:00pm. Weaver Lake Park, Maple Grove. Games, costumes, activities and treats for kids ages 2-8. Under 2 free. Registration begins October 1 at maplegrovedays.org.
Trick or Treat Trail. 2:00 – 4:00pm. Casey Lake Park, 2039 17th Ave E, North Saint Paul. Come Join us for the 2nd Annual Trick or Treat Trail at Casey Lake Park. Come anytime between 2-4pm on Saturday Oct 20th and walk the trail and collect candy and goodies from booths like girl scouts, Target, Bachmans, North St Paul Fire dept and stay for some dancing with our DJ playing all kinds of fun Halloween themed music. More Information to come, no age limit and handicap accessible for all to enjoy! This is a free event open to the public!
Pumpkin Night in the Park. 6:00 – 10:00pm. $10 per person, 2 & under free.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21
Target Free 3rd Sunday. Minnesota Children’s Museum. Thanks to the generosity of Target Corporation, visitors can roam the museum free of charge, every third Sunday of each month, from 9 a.m. 5 p.m. (Be prepared for crowds and leave the stroller at home if you can.)
Fall Festival. 2:00 – 4:00pm. Wargo Nature Center, Lino Lakes. Join the fun as we celebrate fall at Wargo Nature Center! At this FREE fall festival, we’ll crank up the cider press, play pioneer games, and have self-guided nature activities available for you and your family.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 22
Pre K Mondays. 9:00am – Noon. The Works Museum, Bloomington. Our Pre K Mondays feature special activities just for kids ages 3 to 5 and their adult companions. Kids are natural engineers – experience the amazing fun of hands-on engineering together! Encourage your Pre K student to explore his or her curiosity and design, build, and create. No registration needed! Half price admission ($4.25) for kids from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Grown-up admission is $9. Theme is “Crayon Relief with Water Color Wash.”
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25
FEATURED EVENT:
Open Workshop. 7:00 – 9:00pm. Socially Handcrafted, 1153 E. Cliff Rd, Burnsville. Come and get your craft on! Choose from any of the designs in our gallery or contact us for a custom design. We will walk you through the steps to create a fun new piece of art and make sure you leave with something you love. No artistic ability needed — we promise. Register online at www.sociallyhandcrafted.com. Registration closes 48 hours before the workshop starts.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26
Halloween Party. 5:30 – 7:30pm. Brooklyn Center Recreation, 6301 Shingle Creek Pkwy, Brooklyn Center. TRICK or TREAT down the trail at Centennial Park before having a treat and doing a little BOOgie with Kidsdance DJ at the amphitheater. Friday, October 26, 5:30 – 7:30 pm, Ages 3-12. Centennial Park | 6301 Shingle Creek Parkway. $5 per trick-or-treater. Max of 300 tickets will be sold. Purchase tickets at the community center, 6301 Shingle Creek Parkway or over the phone by calling 763-569-3400.
Halloween Ball. 6:00 – 7:30pm. Wayzata Community Church Nursery School, 125 Wayzata Blvd E, Wayzata. Join us at our annual Halloween Ball in Mithun Hall at WCC! There will be snacks, a DJ, arts & crafts, raffle baskets, and lots of FUN! Kids come in costumes. Open to the public.
Halloween Fest. 6:00 – 8:00pm. Nicollet Commons Park, 12600 Nicollet Ave, Burnsville. Halloween Fest offers an illuminated trick-or-treat trail, music and entertainment. Refreshments will be available for purchase. All ages are encouraged to come in costume! $5 per family at the door; no pre-registration required.
Halloween Party at Playground Plaza. 6:00 – 9:00pm. Playground Plaza, 11701 95th Avenue North, Maple Grove. Ticketed event.
Spooky Family Fun Night. 6:00 – 8:00pm. Community Center, 1255 Fuller St. Shakopee, Minnesota 55379. Test out your costume before the big night of trick-or-treating! Bring your family and friends to the Shakopee Community Center and Shakopee Ice Arena for a night of Halloween fun with costume contests, bounce houses, Cosmic Zumba, ice skating, crafts, games and the Spooky Not Scary Magic Show by Magician Brian Richards. Free limited skate rental available. This free event runs from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26.
Halloween Spooktacular. 6:30 – 8:00pm. Shoreview Community Center, 4580 Victoria St N, Shoreview. Come join the spooky fun! Enjoy DJ music and dance to the monster mash, create a Halloween craft, play bingo, carnival games, and more! Children must be accompanied by an adult. Costumes are encouraged! Admission is good for one child and one adult. Pre-registration is required; no walk-ins. $16; $14 Shoreview Resident. Registration deadline: October 24. Register online.
Little Goblins Costume Party. 6:30 – 8:00pm. Wargo Nature Center, Lino Lakes. Ghosts, goblins, and more! Join us in your favorite costume for a night of fun! We will have a variety of themed carnival games and crafts. Refreshments will be provided and you can even take a photo with our special photo backdrop. Wargo Nature Center staff will lead a flashlight hike and a look at the stars. Don’t forget your camera! Note: Parents/guardians are encouraged to dress in their favorite costume as well. Please make sure all costumes are family appropriate; no costumes with weapons. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Children ages 8 years and younger are welcome. Pre-registration is required. $8/child + tax. Adults Free.
FEATURED EVENT:
O.M.Gourd It’s Girls Night! -Therapy Night. 7:00 – 10:00pm. Socially Handcrafted, 1153 E. Cliff Rd, Burnsville. Our fall event will focus on staging some of your home decor for the upcoming holidays! We can’t wait to introduce the small business’ we will be partnering with to make this event a hit! Look forward to shopping, appetizers, crafting, creating, laughing & enjoying a fun girls night out! We can’t wait to show you what we have planned. Registration before October 12th is $12, and after Octrober 12th is $18, so register early!
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27
Halloween ComicFest. Get a FREE comic book! This year, Halloween ComicFest (HCF) features a whole new selection of 34 comic book titles for the industry’s most anticipated fall event taking place Saturday, October 27, 2018 at participating comic shops worldwide!
2018 Pumpkin Fest. 50th & France. Join us in 2018 for our 36th Annual Pumpkin Fest! More details to come.
Huge Kids Sale – Blaine Sports Center. October 27 – 28. Munchkin Markets Fall/ Winter sale is coming soon! We will host up to 250 consignors at the National Sports Center in Blaine. You will find thousands of gently used kids items including baby equipment, toys, clothes, books, shoes and boots and all things related to kids. Prices are generally 40-90% off retail.
FEATURED EVENT:
October Make & Takes. 9:00am – 12:00pm. Socially Handcrafted, 1153 E. Cliff Rd, Burnsville. Come and get your craft on! Our monthly kid-friendly make and take event. We will have a selection of seasonal designs available for $10-25. No pre-registration needed. Drop in and feed your creative side. October designs will be posted in the FB event during the first week of the month.
Halloween at the Museum. 10:00am – 7:00pm. Twin City Model Railroad Museum, 668 Transfer Road, Suite 8, Saint Paul. The museum is open late on Halloween! Join us for a unique event! See some “spooky” trains on the layouts as we dim the layouts for a twist on our popular Night Trains events! From 4-7 pm we will turn down the lights and hand out treats! Regular admission rates apply!
Spooktacular Carnival by Women of Today. 10:00am – 1:00pm. National Guard Armory, 408 E Main St, Anoka. Join the Anoka Women of Today before the Grand Day Parade as they provide this special event for your children’s enjoyment. Children’s games : 25 cents or 5 / $1.00. 1 free game ticket for each food shelf item donated (maximum of 5). Walking tacos, Hot dogs, Chili, pop, hot chocolate, coffee available for purchase.
Trick or Treat Downtown. 10:00am – 12:00pm. Downtown Shakopee, 138 Lewis Street S, Shakopee. Trick or Treat in Downtown Shakopee is held annually on Halloween weekend and gives parents and kids a safe place to “run a muck” and get some treats as well! Dress up your little ones and visit downtown from 10 AM until 12 PM on Saturday, October the 27th!
The Great Pumpkin Festival. 10:00am – 1:00pm. The Shops at West End, St. Louis Park. Photo Opportunity: The Twin Cities Road Crew will create a fun photo opportunity, with custom cut outs giving families an opportunities to take some fun photos of their children in costume! Bounce House: A bounce house will be onsite for kids to enjoy through out the event! It also offers a great visual for the event! Balloon Artist: We will have a balloon artist on site to offer themed balloons, free for all the children in attendance! We will also have a DJ, games, prizes and trick-or-treating at select stores. See you there!
Trick or Treat Trail. 11:00am – 2:00pm. Afton. Afton’s main street will be crawling with ghosts, goblins, princesses and super heroes Saturday, October 27th from 11 am to 2 pm for the seventh annual Afton Trick or Treat Trail. Children can collect treats at over 15 businesses along St. Croix Trail, from The Lumberyard Pub to Selma’s. Stop at the Afton House Inn for a special craft project and pumpkin decorating at the Afton Museum. Don’t miss “Scream For Ice Cream” contests at Selma’s, costume judging at The Lumberyard Pub and the photo booth!
Halloween Fun Comes Back to Osseo October 27th. 11:00am – 2:00pm. Osseo Lions, P.O. BOX 473, Osseo. Join in the Halloween Fun this October Starting with a Candy Parade the Saturday before Halloween in Downtown Osseo! Young Trick’or’Treaters can start at Osseo City Hall and then tour local businesses up and down “Main Street” (Central Avenue) between 11A and 12P to claim their Halloween treats. (No costumes required, but we love to see the little ghosts and ghoulies.)
Happy Halloween Event. 11:00am – 2:00pm. Southtown Shopping Center, Bloomington MN. Families can enjoy free horse-drawn hayrides, music, games and giveaways at the Southtown Halloween Party from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., Saturday, October 27, 2018 at Southtown Shopping Center in Bloomington.
Halloween Spooktacular at American Girl Stores. 11:00am – 2:00pm. Calling all ghouls and their mummies: you’re invited to celebrate Halloween at American Girl! Girls who visit our store in costume will receive a sweet treat (while supplies last). Plus, they can take part in a fun Halloween Boo Box craft and pose for a photo op. For girls ages 8 and up.
Trick or Treating on Main Street. 12:00 – 4:00pm. Stillwater. October 27 -28. Trick or Treat on Main Street this weekend! Dress the kids up and Discover Downtown Stillwater. Participating merchants will have a Trick or Treat sign in windows of their store or restaurant. Spend a day discovering all the treats Downtown Stillwater’s independent businesses have to offer. Start/Stop wherever you’d like!
Pumpkin Fest & Petting Zoo. 12:00 – 3:00pm. Skyview Ranch LLC, 2413 210th St E, Farmington. BlueNose Coffee will be providing Free Coffee & Hot Coco at Skyview Ranch’a 5th Annual Pumpkin Fest! 🎃 Free Petting Zoo Admission. Free Pumpkins ( while supplies last).
Grande Day Parade. 1:00pm – 3:30pm. Anoka. Join us as we celebrate 98 years as Anoka Halloween Capital of the World™ at the largest parade in the state. Location: Main Street and Fifth Avenue. FREE parking ramps available on 2nd Avenue one block North and South of Main Street. One ramp available on Van Buren Street between 3rd and 4th Avenue.
Bruentrup Boo Bash. 1:00 – 3:00pm. BRUENTRUP FARM, 2170 COUNTY ROAD D EAST. Join us at the farm for a FREE family friendly event for all ages! We’ll have activities, crafts, and games. Costumes are encouraged but not required. This event will be held outside, please dress for the weather. •Live Animals from the MN Raptor Center •Puppet Show •Wagon Rides •Sensory Scavenger Hunt •Concessions available for purchase.
Trick or Treat at Hy-Vee. 1:00 – 3:00pm. Hy-Vee (New Hope, MN), 8200 42nd Avenue North, New Hope. Kids! Dress up for Halloween at Hy-Vee on Saturday, October 27th from 1-3pm for our free Kid’s Halloween Party! We will be having a variety of activities, including cookie decorating, pumpkin painting, and coloring throughout the store. We will also have treats (food and non-food) at a several stations around the store. Plus, the first 100 kids will receive a free bag!
Boo ‘n Brew Festival. 2:00 – 5:00pm. Maplewood Mall. We are kicking up treat or treating and expanding your tradition into a spooktacular festival filled with treats, crafts, bounce houses, face painters, balloon artists, live music and more! Join us for the first annual Boo N Brew at Maplewood Mall. Perfect for all ages, we will have trick or treating and activities throughout the center for the kids, a fall themed photo booth set up to get in some pictures with the family, BAE or your besties, food and beer tastings (21+) from local breweries, and of course, some live music!
Tamarack Trick or Treat. Times starting at 3:00pm. Tamarack Nature Center, 5287 Otter Lake Rd, 55110. Bring your favorite little goblin to a Halloween party designed just for them. Deliberately low-key, this non-spooky event includes games, old-fashioned, hand-pressed cider and close encounters with live animals. Enjoy friendly costumed characters handing out treats along our prairie loop trail and spend time in Discovery Hollow. This is a very popular event, so register early! Activities during Trick-or-Treat take approximately 75 minutes. Register for start times of 3, 3:20, 3:40 or 4 p.m. Ages: Youth ages 2-10 with an adult. Fee: $7.50 per child; $3.50 per adult. (Not free.)
Thrill Kenwood Halloween Event. 3:00pm. Kenwood Park, 2101 Franklin Ave W, Minneapolis, MN 55405. Join us for the ultimate Halloween block party hosted by ARTrageous Adventures and Kenwood Park. Activities include: zombie make overs, caricatures, music, ARTrageous Creation Stations, a bounce house and other activities. The event will include a Global Simultaneous Thriller Dance at 5 PM.
Cobwebs and Caches. 5:00 – 8:00pm. Lebanon Hills Regional Park, Eagan. Use a GPS unit to find hidden jack-o-lantern caches and collect Halloween trinkets. Bring your own GPS unit or borrow one of ours. Costumes encouraged. All ages. $5/person; youth 5 and under free.
Halloween Spooktacular. 6:00 – 9:00pm. Minnesota Children’s Museum, St. Paul. Get your tickets to one of our Halloween Spooktacular events! Wear your costume, trick or treat and take part in other spooktacular activities. There are three dates to choose from. Saturday, Oct. 27, 6 – 9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28, 6 – 9 p.m. Monday, Oct. 29, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Save $2 per person if you purchase tickets online with my code TCFM.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28
Huge Kids Sale – Blaine Sports Center. October 27 – 28. Munchkin Markets Fall/ Winter sale is coming soon! We will host up to 250 consignors at the National Sports Center in Blaine. You will find thousands of gently used kids items including baby equipment, toys, clothes, books, shoes and boots and all things related to kids. Prices are generally 40-90% off retail.
Trunk or Treat. 12:00 – 2:00pm. Maple Grove Lutheran Church, 9251 Elm Creek Blvd N, Maple Grove. MGLC welcomes members, neighbors and friends to our fifth annual Trunk or Treat on Sunday, October 28 from 12 – 2 pm. We hope you’ll join us for an afternoon of safe and ghoulish Halloween fun. This event is free and open to the public.
Trick or Treating on Main Street. 12:00 – 4:00pm. Stillwater. October 27 -28. Trick or Treat on Main Street this weekend! Dress the kids up and Discover Downtown Stillwater. Participating merchants will have a Trick or Treat sign in windows of their store or restaurant. Spend a day discovering all the treats Downtown Stillwater’s independent businesses have to offer. Start/Stop wherever you’d like!
Great Pumpkin Halloween Celebration. 1:00 – 3:00pm. Landmark Center, St. Paul. For all the fun, without any fright, the annual Great Pumpkin Halloween Celebration, Oct. 28, 1-3 p.m., is perfect for princesses, superheroes, and creatures of all ages. This free celebration features a kids DJ, the fan-favorite magician, Brodini, as well as crafts, treats, and a costume parade.
Halloween Hodgepodge. 3:00 – 7:00pm. 3830 Pilot Knob Rd, Eagan. Celebrate Halloween at our giant indoor, fun-filled costume party at the Eagan Community Center. There are plenty of things to see and do for all ages. New this year! Admission tickets will ONLY be available at www.discovereagan.com. This is a popular event and tickets sell fast! (Not free.)
Trunk-n-Treat. 3:00 – 5:00pm. Golden Valley Lutheran Church-GVLC, 5501 Glenwood Ave, Golden Valley. You’re invited to our free, family event: Trunk-n-Treat! Safe, fun trick-or-treating with decorated vehicles in the Golden Valley Lutheran Church parking lot. Costumes encouraged. Bring friends and enjoy the fun!
Halloween Party at Crossing St. Paul. 5:00 & 6:30pm. Crossing Church St Paul, 179 Robie St E, Saint Paul. Join us at The Crossing Church in St Paul on Sunday, October 28 for a HUGE COMMUNITY-WIDE KIDS HALLOWEEN PARTY during each service (5 & 6:30 pm)!!
Halloween Spooktacular. 6:00 – 9:00pm. Minnesota Children’s Museum, St. Paul. Get your tickets to one of our Halloween Spooktacular events! Wear your costume, trick or treat and take part in other spooktacular activities. There are three dates to choose from. Saturday, Oct. 27, 6 – 9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28, 6 – 9 p.m. Monday, Oct. 29, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Save $2 per person if you purchase tickets online with my code TCFM.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 29
Halloween Spooktacular. 10:00am – 1:00pm. Minnesota Children’s Museum, St. Paul. Get your tickets to one of our Halloween Spooktacular events! Wear your costume, trick or treat and take part in other spooktacular activities. There are three dates to choose from. Saturday, Oct. 27, 6 – 9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28, 6 – 9 p.m. Monday, Oct. 29, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Save $2 per person if you purchase tickets online with my code TCFM.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30
Boo Blast 2018. 4:00 – 7:00pm. Lunds & Byerlys Ridgedale, 13081 Ridgedale Dr, Minnetonka. We’re inviting all kids to try out their costumes the night before Halloween! Join us for an evening of dancing, face painting, treats, and maybe a few tricks. We’ll see you there!
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31
Wee Wednesday Halloween Party. 10:30am – 11:15am. Join Miss Nina for a spooky Wee Wednesday. There will be some spook-tacular activities, so bring the whole gang! We want to see your creative costumes, so come dressed Boo-tifully!!
Ar-BOO-retum! 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Oswald Visitor Center. Gather your little ghosts and witches and visit the Arboretum–free gate admission for everyone in costume. Trick or Treat for apples in the Gift & Garden Store 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; free cookies in the Cafe for kids in costume.
Alaween Halloween Carnival. 3:00 – 6:00pm. Alamo Drafthouse Twin Cities, 9060 Hudson Road, Woodbury. It’s that time of the year boys & ghouls! Kick off your Trick-or-Treating at Alamo Drafthouse Woodbury with the FREE Alaween Halloween Carnival! This is totally FREE to attend! Featuring:
-Face Painting
-Bounce House
-Carnival Games, Tricks, and Treats in the theaters
-Spooky Specials for scarents in Vetted Well
Halloween Party. 5:00 – 7:00pm. O’connell Fire Station, Savage. Join the Savage Fire Department for a Halloween Party at O’Connell Fire Station! This is a safe environment for children up to 12 years of age and their family to:
• Visit with firefighters
• Play games
• Leave with candy
• Prizes
• And a smile on their face!
Halloween Spooktacular at American Girl. 5:00 – 7:00pm. At American Girl stores. Calling all ghouls and their mummies: you’re invited to celebrate Halloween at American Girl! Girls who visit our store in costume will receive a sweet treat (while supplies last). Plus, they can take part in a fun Halloween Boo Box craft and pose for a photo op. For girls ages 8 and up.
Superhero Halloween. 5:00 – 8:00pm. Rosedale Center. East Court. Have you ever wanted to meet a superhero? Now’s your chance! This year, spend Halloween with some of your favorite superheroes. Join us for our Superhero Halloween event for the chance to meet and take a photo with local superheroes in addition to trivia, crafts, games, prizes, music, and free Halloween themed balloons.
The event will be held in East Court.
Fall Festival & Trunk or Treat. 5:00 – 8:00pm. Crossroads Alliance Church, 9000 101st Ave N, Brooklyn Park. Come out and join us for a FREE and safe night of family fun! Each kid will get a passport upon arrival to get stamped at each station below along their journey through our festival for a great prize!
Trunk or Treat. 5:00 – 8:00pm. Coon Rapids United Methodist Church, 10506 Hanson Blvd NW, Coon Rapids. Join us in the church parking lot to trick or treat from decorated car to decorated car! Safe friendly place to bring your kiddos! Enter to win a Cub Foods gift card! Free popcorn, coffee and hot cocoa! Event happens rain or shine or snow! See you there!
Trunk n Treat. 5:30 – 7:30pm. Mosaic Christian Community, 540 E Wheelock Pkwy, Saint Paul. FREE fun for the whole family! Trick or treat from trunk to trunk, inflatables, food and more!
Trunk or Treat. 6:00pm. North Heights Lutheran Church, 2701 Rice St, Roseville. TRUNK or TREAT at North Heights in Roseville from 6-8pm on October 31st! Come join us for some safe fun for the whole family. Food, inflatables, decorated car trunks, and games for all ages. 2701 Rice Street Roseville MN 55113
Halloween Bonfire. 6:00 – 8:00pm. Rice Recreation Center, 1021 Marion St, Saint Paul. Come celebrate Halloween at Rice Recreation Center and stay warm by the bonfire! Get your face painted and roast marshmallows and hot dogs on the fire. NOTE: Please do not wear loose fitting or flammable costumes. No registration necessary. Free. All are welcome.
Trunk or Treat. 6:00 – 7:30pm. Wayzata Free Church, 705 County Road 101 N, Plymouth. Don’t miss our 6th annual Trunk or Treat event, happening on Halloween this year! Stop by and go trunk-to-trunk in our family-friendly parking lot (and indoors). This event includes free candy, inflatables, interactive games, mini-donuts and more!
SLP Lions Trunk or Treat. 6:00 – 7:30pm. 520 Sanburnol Drive, Spring Lake Park. Join the Spring Lake Park Lions at our annual Trunk or Treat event. Bring the kids out to Sanburnol Park in Spring Lake Park for some fun and safe Halloween fun! The event is free and the first 500 kids get a drawstring back pack.
Vadnais Heights Halloween Party. 6:00 – 8:00pm. Vadnais Heights Commons, 655 E County Road F. Enjoy an evening of entertainment and fun; Circus Manduhai Show from 7:00-7:45pm, Halloween treats, balloon animals and refreshments. Get into the Halloween spirit with this free community event. This event is sponsored by the Vadnais Heights Fire Relief Association and the Vadnais Heights Parks and Recreation Department.
Trunk or Treat. 6:30 – 8:00pm. Woodcrest Kids, 525 Cliff Rd, Eagan. Come enjoy a great night of safe trick or treating! Woodcrest Church is filling their parking lot with decorated cars that kids will enjoy visiting as they collect their goodies. Inside the church there will be games, activities, hot drinks and food for everyone! Don’t forget to vote for your favorite car because at 7:45 we will announce the winners of the 3rd, 2nd, and Grand Prize!
Trunk or Treat. 6:30 – 8:00pm. Cornerstone Church Crystal, 5000 West Broadway, Crystal. Bring your neighbors and friends to Cornerstone on Halloween for Trunk or Treat!
After Dark Spooky Storytime (For Big Kids). 6:30pm. Red Balloon Bookshop, St. Paul. Costume up and head to the Haunted Red Balloon Bookshop in St. Paul for After Dark Spooky Storytime – a special, scary storytime party that we’re having AFTER DARK. Scary Stories! Silly Songs! Scary Games! Mad Science! Bwahahahahahaha!!!!