A few years ago, I started looking for ways my family could do fun holiday traditions, but not in our tiny house. I want my kids to experience holiday traditions like pumpkin carving, egg dying and Christmas cookie making. I just don’t really have the space for the mess. So we set out to find places to do these things together as a family. The following is a list of places to carve pumpkins in the Twin Cities that families can attend together and then leave the mess behind. When we have attended these events pumpkins and all tools – blade, x-acto knife, scraper, spoon, etc. – have all been provided. We just needed to show up in clothes that could get messy.
Halloween Partner
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The downside of carving elsewhere is that you don’t generally get to keep the insides of the pumpkin, so if you want something like pumpkin pie or pumpkin soup, you may need to buy some canned pumpkin for your recipes. However, if you ask, they might even let you take home a baggy of pumpkin seeds to roast later.
2025 Opportunities to Decorate or Carve Pumpkins
Minneapolis & Saint Paul Pumpkin Decorating Events:
Note that Minneapolis Parks are notorious for cancelling events without notice. We recommend registering when registration is available.
Family Pumpkin Carving Night
Date: 10/16/2025 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Location: Bryant Square Park, 3101 Bryant Ave S, Minneapolis, MN, 55408Families can register for pumpkin carving at Bryant Square. This is an outdoor event, so dress for the weather. Best for families with kids ages 6+. $20/Minneapolis residents. $30 for non residents.
MEA Pumpkin Carving & Seed Baking (FREE)
Date: 10/17/2025 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Location: Van Cleve Park, 901 15th Avenue Southeast, Minneapolis, MN , 55414
Pumpkins & Giggles
Date: 10/23/2025 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: 40th Street Park, 1900 E 40th Street, Minneapolis, MN, 5540740th Street Park hosts a “hilariously messy-free family carving extravaganza that promises laughter, fun, and zero hassle cleanup.” Pre-registration required. Resident $20.00/non-resident $30.00.
Battle Creek: Let's Carve a Pumpkin
Date: 10/25/2025 10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Location: ,A chance for kids ages 6-12 to carve their own pumpkin to take home just in time for Halloween week. $5-$8/child. Registration Required.
Pumpkins & Power Tools (FREE)
Date: 10/26/2025 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Location: Fulton Beer Taproom, 414 N 6th Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, 55401What to do when a kitchen knife won’t cut it and you need some drill power? The Minneapolis Tool Library has got you covered with its annual Pumpkins & Power Tools event at Fulton Brewing in Minneapolis. It’s family friendly, free, and includes the use of the library’s tool catalog: drills, drill bits, linoleum cutters, awl, etc. Any proceeds from your food and beverage purchases support the mission of the tool library. Event is FREE to attend (donations appreciated); pumpkins will be for sale. RSVP appreciated.
Drop-In Pumpkin Carving
Date: 10/30/2025 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Location: Brackett Field Park, 2728 S 39th Ave, Minneapolis, MN, 55406Need a last-ditch opportunity to decorate pumpkins? Drop in to Brackett Field Park to decorate a pumpkin and get your face painted. Maybe you can make it last until tomorrow? (Make sure you grab an old pillow case if you are going to try). $10/participant. Ages 3-14 (parents must accompany kids 6 and under).
Insight Brewing Casks & Candy (FREE)
Date: 10/31/2025 3:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Location: Insight Brewing, 2821 E Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN, 55413Insight Brewing’s family-friendly Casks & Candy event promises free Halloween-themed activities for all ages including pumpkin carving, free treats, a costume contest, spooky movie trivia (6-8pm) and a screening of the family comedy Halloweentown (8-10pm). Adults can enjoy a limited-edition beer release and a burger food truck.
Creekview Halloween Trick or Treat (FREE)
Date: 10/31/2025 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: Creekview Park, 5001 Humboldt Ave North, Minneapolis, MN, 55430Stop by Creekview Park in costume for Halloween candy, hot chocolate, games and pumpkin decorating. All ages are welcome.
Southwest Metro Pumpkin Decorating Events
Fall on the Farm (FREE)
Date: 09/20/2025 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Location: Historic Andrew Peterson Farmstead, 8060 MN-5, Waconia, MN, 55387Drop in for this annul event at the Historic Andrew Peterson Farmstead. Families can carve pumpkins (while supplies last), visit with llamas and other farmyard animals, learn about beekeeping, sample outdoor cooking and check out historic machines from Scott Carver Threshers.
Eden Prairie Harvest to Halloween at the Barn (FREE)
Date: 10/11/2025 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Location: Riley Lake Park, 9180 Riley Lake Road, Eden Prairie, MN, 55344A free and family-friendly fall and Halloween event at Riley Barn includes trick-or-treating at the historic barn. More family fun has traditionally included decorating pumpkins, horse-drawn wagon rides, glow dance, story stroll, scavenger hunt and art stations. Costumes are encouraged and please bring a treat bag.
Wayzata's Boo Bash Dash & Pumpkin Derby
Date: 10/25/2025 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Location: The Pavilion at the Promenade of Wayzata, 850 Lake Street North, Wayzata, MN, 55391Register to run a 10k, 5k, 1-Mile or Family Fun Run or enter your pumpkins on wheels for the a pumpkin derby. Wear a costume and check in on Race Day to enter a costume contest (open to everyone). Register by October 12th to get a t-shirt. $10-$55/pp.
Underwater Pumpkin Carving
Date: 10/26/2025 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
Location: SEA LIFE at Mall of America, 120 East Broadway East Side, Bloomington, MN, 55425SEA LIFEÂ divers will carve pumpkins in the Underwater Tunnel among thousands of fish, sharks and stingrays to entertain both guests and the Sea Life residents on October 1st at 8pm and Sundays throughout October at 11:30am & 1:30pm.
SEA LIFE pumpkin carving schedule
- October 19
- October 26
Northwest Metro Pumpkin Decorating Events
Anoka Giant Pumpkin Expo (FREE)
Date: 10/05/2025 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Location: Anoka City Hall, 2015 S 1st Avenue, Anoka, MN, 55303Watch three Anoka Halloween contests all in Giant Pumpkin Expo: the pumpkin weigh-off, the scarecrow contest and the adults pumpkin carving contest.
Springbrook Nature Center Pumpkin Carving (FREE)
Date: 10/16/2025 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: Springbrook Nature Center, 100 85th Ave NW, Fridley, MN, 55432Springbrook plans to have 1000 jack-o-lanterns at its annual Pumpkin Night in the Park and they need help carving. This really is a “leave the mess behind” event because you’ll be leaving the jack-o-lanterns behind, too. Sign up with a group or as a family for this fun event. Each time slot has room for 30 carvers. This could be a fun volunteer event for teens/tweens.
When Sunday, October 12, 2025, noon-4pm. Weekdays, October 13-16, 2025, 4-8pm.
Cost FREE volunteer event
Ages No ages specified, but this may be best to do with bigger kids
More information
- Registration link: Pre-register for a time slot.
Anoka Children's Pumpkin Carving Contest (FREE)
Date: 10/18/2025 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Location: Riverfront Memorial Park, 2201 2nd Ave, Anoka, MN, 55303Children ages 3 to 12 can help carve pumpkins for Anoka’s Light Up the Night Parade.Â
Riverdale Village Spooktacular (FREE)
Date: 10/18/2025 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Location: Riverdale Village, 12761 Riverdale Boulevard, Coon Rapids, MN, 55448Plenty of classic fall fun for the whole family: trick-or-treating from candy stations, pumpkin decorating (no carving necessary, materials provided), a bounce house and animals to meet in the petting zoo. Costumes are encouraged!
Pints & Paddle Pumpkin Carving
Date: 10/25/2025 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Location: Pint & Paddle, 15450 Grove Cir N, Maple Grove, MN, 55369Get into the Halloween spirit with Pint & Paddle – $5 gets you a pumpkin and a carving kit so you can prep your squash for Halloween! Try out the Downeast Ciders on tap while you work on your masterpiece.
Northeast Metro Pumpkin Decorating Events
Rookery Bobbing For Pumpkins
Date: 10/10/2025 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: The Rookery Activity Center, 7690 Village Drive, Lino Lakes, MN, 55014Pick your perfect Halloween pumpkin from the floating patch at the Rookery! Wade on into the splash pool, spend some time swimming, too. If you feel like creating your jack-o-lantern right away there will be a pumpkin carving station onsite. Plus a bounce house for the kids in the gym. Please pre-register to guarantee your pumpkin and treat bag. Cost is $10-$18 per child.
Hudson Hilltop Pumpkin Party & Halloween Parade (FREE)
Date: 10/18/2025 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Location: Camp St. Croix, 345 Riverview Drive, Hudson, WI, 54016Hudson’s annual all-ages family Halloween event includes a parade, outdoor fun and costume contests with cash prizes.
Southeast Metro Pumpkin Decorating Events
Inver Grove Heights Fall Fest
Date: 09/28/2025 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Location: Veterans Memorial Community Center, 8055 Barbara Ave, Inver Grove Heights, MN , 55077Fall Fest takes place at the Inver Grove Heights Farmers Market so you can shop for fresh fall produce plus today only do make-and-take art projects and enjoy live music and a free magic show, Be My Neighbor, a Tribute to Mr Rogers at noon.
Children’s activities:
- Paint mini pumpkins
- Enjoy live entertainment including music and a magician show
- Shop the harvest season at the market.
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thank you for the information
We’re glad you found it useful, Zidane. Did you find a place to take the kids to make jack-o-lanterns?