Embracing the season’s spooky spirit with an array of annual festivities and Halloween events.
October is the BEST month in Minnesota! It’s pumpkin time, it’s baking and chili time, it’s football time, it’s MEA fall break time (mine and my kids fave!). Here are Halloween fun ideas for families in Minnesota:
Pumpkin Patch Visits
Explore one of the many pumpkin patches around the state. Pick your own pumpkins, enjoy hayrides, corn mazes, and other family-friendly activities. Your top three voted family favorite patches are:
1st Place: Waldoch Farm | Lino Lakes, MN
2nd Place: Nelson Farm | Litchfield, MN
3rd Place: Pearson Family Farm | Ramsey, MN
Make sure to check out your family favorites too! Or visit our pumpkin patch directory to find over 20 patches across Minnesota here.
Minnesota Haunted Houses
Many haunted houses offer family-friendly hours, with toned-down scares suitable for kids. The classic haunted house to visit is the Anoka Haunted House located on the Anoka County Fairgrounds. A new one to the Twin Cities is located at the Mall of America, American Monster’s: Onionhead’s Revenge.
Twin Cities Trick-or-Treating
Check your local community for designated trick-or-treating and the super popular trunk-or-treat event hours and neighborhoods to visit. Here is a long list of events to check out:
Weekend of October 6th – 8th
Trick or Trot and Transylvania
Weekend of October 13th – 15:
Detroit Lakes Kids and Parents Expo
4th Annual Great Pumpkin Giveaway
Harvest to Halloween at the Barn
Trunk or Treat at Kimberly Lane
Weekend of October 20th-22nd:
Trunk or Treat 2023 in Crystal
Trunk-or-Treat with North Crest
Half-Haunted Halloween in Richfield
CarQueenz 8th Annual Trunk Or Treat Auto Show!
Trick-or-Teeing at Mendota Heights Par 3
St. Michael Cinema Trick-Or-Treat & Movie Event
Trunk or Treat in Circle Pines
Festival Foods White Bear Lake Halloween Event
Andover Station Halloween Event
Maple Grove Halloween Family Fun Day
Pumpkin Patch Bash in St Paul
Monster Bash – 3 Year Anniversary Party in Burnsville
Boo Bash Halloween Event in Hugo
Trick-or-Teeing 2023 in Mendota Heights
Boo ‘n’ Brew Halloween Bash in Minneapolis
Trunk or Treat in Maple Grove
Twin Cities Pride Trunk-or-Treat
Trunk or Treat in Woodbury
Trunk or Treat in St Paul
Weekend of October 27 -29:
Spoketacular Weekend at Rum River BMX
Camp Spooktacular in Crosslake
Downtown Trick or Treat 2023 in Elk River
Cannon Falls Chamber Trick or Treat Trot
Halloween Candy Crawl in Eyota
Trunk n Treat in Belle Plaine
Vadnais Heights Halloween Party
Fall Festival at NHA in Bloomington
FAC’s Trick-or-Treat in Bloomington
Trunk or Treat in Farmington
Trunk or Treat in Waconia
Halloween Walk in Farmington
Ghostly Gathering in Inver Grove Heights
Halloween Spooktacular Bash (Phalen)
LCARC & LC Lions Club Trunk or Treat Street
Halloween Bash: Haunted Maze Preview in Mendota Heights
Halloween at the Lake in Plymouth
Trickin’ & Treatin’ and Creepy Doll Scavenger Hunt
Trunk or Treat/2023 Centennial Halloween Hustle
Swappers Spooktacular in South Haven
St. Cloud Kids and Parents Expo
Annual Trick R Truck Community Event in Mora
Trunk or Treat at Mount Calvary
Trunk or Treat in Oakdale
Trunk or Treat in Blaine
Halloween Hop 2023 in New Ulm
Halloween Scavenger Hunt at Brown County Museum
BOO at the ZOO! in Byron
Halloween School Bus Trunk or Treat/ Open House! in Maple Grove
Downtown Austin Trick or Treat
Trunk or Treat Community Event in Burnsville
Magnus Veterans Foundation Trunk or Treat Event
Trunk n Treat in Golden Valley
Trick or Treat the Chaska Commons! – Presented by Little Roos
Halloween Extravaganza in Cottage Grove
Trunk or Treat Events with Bounce House in Hutchinson
Trunk or Treat at Rochester Toyota
**Trunk or Treat at Willow Tree Winery
Red Wing Parade of Lights Trunk or Treat
Maple Grove Halloween Trunk or Treat
Trunk or Treat in St Paul
Trunk or Treat Contest in Coon Rapids
Trunk or Treat in Minneapolis
Trunk or Treat in Woodbury
Trunk or Treat in Minnneapolis
Trunk or Treat in Burnsville
Trick or Treat in Historic Chaska
Trick-or-Treetops Halloween High Ropes
Trunk or Treat! in Rogers
Trunk or Treat at FGU Elk River
BOO!seum: Magical & Mythical Creatures!
Boo Bash in Shoreview
Trunk or Treat in Bloomington
Trunk or Treat in Woodbury
Whew! That’s a lot! But wait…there still more here!
Minnesota Zoo’s Halloween Festivities
If you’re in the Twin Cities, consider visiting the Minnesota Zoo for their annual Jack-O-Lantern Pumpkin Spectacular event. The Lake Superior in Duluth is hosting Boo at the Zoo! which features trick-or-treating, a scavenger hunt, and animal exhibits. Up in Freeport, MN, Hemker Park and Zoo is hosting Boo at the Zoo! Pine Grove Zoo is hosting BooFest an event where you can enjoy games, activities, and Halloween fun all day!
Halloween Movie Nights
Host a family movie night with Halloween classics like “Hocus Pocus” or “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.” We have a list of our 10 favorite Halloween movies and shows here. Or head to a local park for a Halloween favorite! Here are some to check out:
TRUNK-or-TREAT featuring PAW PATROL: The Mighty Movie at the Long Drive In
Movies in the Parks: The Nightmare Before Christmas in St Paul
Spooky & Scary Movies in the Garden at Heritage Garden and Amphitheater
Movies in the Parks: Friday the 13th in St Paul
Movie in the Park- The Bad Guys & Friday the 13 in Anoka
Cafesjian Art Trust: Teen Movie Night at the CAT in Shoreview
Movies in Brooklyn Park – Adams Family 2
Fright Night Movie Night – FREE Event Hosted by the City of Anoka!
Movie in the Park (Lions Halloween Tent)- Addams Family Values & The Sixth Sense in Anoka
Trick-or-Treat with Scoob! at Marcus Theatres
Kids Costume Contests
Participate in or attend a local costume contest. Many malls and community centers host these events. The City of Anoka is hosting a children’s costume contest on October 21st!
Spooky Nature Walks
Some nature centers organize guided night hikes with a Halloween theme. It’s a fun and educational way to celebrate. Wood Lake Nature Center is hosting Half-Haunted Halloween, Dodge Nature Center in Cottage Grove is hosting Halloween Extravaganza on October 28, Springbrook Nature Center in Fridley is hosting Pumpkin Night in the Park on October 21st and at Harret Alexander Nature Center you will have a great time at their Halloween Spook-tacular event!
Halloween Crafts
Spend time creating Halloween-themed crafts at home or attend local craft workshops. We put together 4 DIY arts and crafts project’s to do at home:
-Cotton Ball Ghosts
-Halloween Slime
-Goggle Eyes Vase
-Handprint and Q-tip bones
Halloween Baking Ideas
Bake Halloween cookies or decorate cupcakes with your kids. They can be both fun to make and eat. These spooky spider treats are a hit with the kiddos! The yummy mummies are fun to make and eat too! Grab the recipe here.
Twin Cities Fall Festivals and Halloween Events
Many fall festivals in Minnesota include Halloween events and themed activities. Check out events like the Stillwater Harvest Fest, Sever’s Fall Festival, Pinehaven Farm, Fall events at Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Twin Cities Harvest Festival or Anoka Halloween Parade.
Glow-in-the-Dark Mini Golf
Some mini golf courses offer glow-in-the-dark Halloween-themed mini golf, which can be a blast for the family. You can find Lilli Putt Haunted Glow Golf in Coon Rapids, Halloween Glow Mini Golf at the Green Lagoon Golf in Chisago Lakes or go Trick-or-Teeing at the Mendota Heights Park 3 Golf Course on October 21st.
Halloween Hayrides
Look for haunted hayrides or spooky train rides suitable for families. These Halloween events are family favorites and they make lasting family memories! Check out the Puppets in the Park Halloween Hayride at Franconia Sculpture Park for a haunted hayride, the Magnus Veterans Foundation Trunk or Treat Event offers hayrides and more for the kids, Trunk or Treat at FGU Elk River will offer hayrides at Lions Park, Boo Bash in Shoreview will have hayrides in McCullough Park, and the 39th Annual Halloween Party in Chanhassen will host family hayrides.
Remember to check the specific event details, hours of operation, and weather related closures, as they may vary from place to place.
Have a spooktacular time celebrating Halloween with your family in Minnesota!
