MEA WEEKEND is October 19-22, 2023
MEA Weekend (Thursday & Friday October 19 & 20, 2023 are school breaks) is on the horizon, so if you like to plan ahead Family Fun Twin Cities has compiled a list for you to use as a starting point for this fabulous, fall four-day weekend. If you plan more spur of the moment like me, these options will be on our OCTOBER FAMILY GUIDE for quick access. Also, be sure to check our FAMILY FUN CALENDAR and FALL FAMILY FUN GUIDE for dozens more ideas.
Table of Contents
FALL FAMILY ACTIVITIES FOR MEA WEEKEND
Pick your pumpkin – plus more fall fun festivities, many with special MEA hours!
Afton Apple Orchard
14421 90th Street South, Hastings, MN 55033
MEA hours & activities: 10am-4pm daily. Admission includes hay rides when available, use of play equipment, a straw mountain and tire hill and petting farm. Take a hayride to the pumpkin patch to pick-your-own and call (651) 436-8385 to check the status of apple picking. $5-$7/pp admission, small extra fee for cow train, corn maze & jump pillow. Does not include anything you pick.
Barten Pumpkins
5716 West 280th Street, New Prague, MN 56071
MEA hours & activities: Open 7 days/week during daylight hours with free admission! Stroll down the Pumpkin Walk, try the stilts and nature play area.
Country Sun Farm
MEA hours & activities: Open Thurs-Friday, 10am-5pm & Sat-Sun, 10am-5pm. Admission is free as is visiting the animals, but expect to pay extra for a hayride ($6), to play in the corn pit, ($4), jump in the bouncer ($4), silly string zone ($4), and run through the corn maze ($5). Pick out a pumpkin from their garden market.
Dehn’s Pumpkin Patch
17270 125th Ave N, Dayton, MN 55327
MEA hours & activities: Thurs 9am-7pm, Fri-Sat 9am-10pm & Sun 9am-6pm. Purchase a wristband ($8-$12) for admission to the fun stuff including: hay ride, corn pit, corn maze, inflatables & more. There are extra fees for a few of the extra special attractions. Pumpkins are priced at 0.42/lb.
Eveland Family Farm
2575 Andover Boulevard Northwest, Andover, MN 55304
MEA hours & activities: Thurs 4 – 7pm, Fri 3-7pm, weekends 10am – 6pm. Admission is $3/pp and includes a hayride, a self-guided tour of the barnyard and use of the picnic shelter. Come pick a Halloween pumpkin from their patch!
Marshall’s Farm Market
9100 Eden Prairie Rd Eden Prairie, MN 55347
MEA hours & activities: Thurs-Fri 10am-7pm & Sat-Sun 10am-6pm. Halloween is celebrated all of October with a corn maze, pumpkin patch, games for kids, photo ops, and special weekend activities – even local food trucks!
Peter’s Pumpkins & Carmen’s Corn
12860 Old Brick Yard Road, Shakopee, Minnesota 55379
MEA hours & activities: Open weekdays 11am – 6:30pm, weekends 9am – 6:30pm, free admission. October weekends feature PYO pumpkins and free hayrides and a free corn maze!
Pinehaven Farm
28186 Kettle River Blvd, Wyoming, MN 55092
MEA hours & activities: Thurs 12pm-6pm; Fri-Sun 10am-6pm. MEA Thursday admission is $10/online & $13/door; Friday admission $13/online & $16/door; weekend $16/online & $19/door. This is spendier than most pumpkin farms, but the price includes the majority of available attractions: playground equipment, mazes, all-terrain trikes, a petting farm, wagon rides and special events on select weekends.
Sever’s Corn Maze & Fall Festival
3121 150th Street West, Shakopee, MN 55379
MEA hours & activities: Special MEA hours: Thursday-Saturday: 10am-7pm. Admission is $12-$19/pp for ages 4 & up. Ticket price includes Sever’s well-known extensive menu of activities featuring their corn maze, corn pits, and exotic petting zoo. Learn more about SEVERS CORN MAZE here.
Waldoch Farm
8174 Lake Drive, Lino Lakes, MN 55014
MEA hours & activities: Open MEA weekend 10am-5pm. Admission to the Joyer Adventure Farm includes access to the PYO pumpkin patch via hayride, entry to the Maze Area with its extensive fall activities, and will allow you to run through the corn maze and obstacle courses, play in the corn pit, use the pedal trikes and more. MEA weekend cost is $15/Thurs-Fri & $18/Sat-Sun.
Find your way through a corn maze
In case you need a little extra challenge (stress?) in your life, we’ve got a round up of 11 corn mazes we see fit for families. In our experience, this activity is a big hit with the tweens! We recommend checking out the Twin Cities Harvest Festival & Maze for Minnesota’s largest corn maze plus tons of fun fall activities for all ages.
TWIN CITIES & HALLOWEEN FALL FESTIVAL PICKS - MEA WEEKEND
So many not-so-scary ways to celebrate with the family! Need a complete list of the different options? We have it for you in our monster TWIN CITIES HALLOWEEN FUN GUIDE. Notable special events during MEA Weekend include, organized by regions of the Minneapolis-St Paul Metro Area:
Minneapolis & St Paul MEA Weekend Halloween Events
Minneapolis: Transylvania Trolley
Como-Harriet Streetcar Line, 4200 Queen Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55410
Non-scary Halloween trolley ride. Wear your costume and get a treat! October 21, 2023, 12:30-4pm. $3/pp, under 3 free.
Twin Cities Northwest Metro MEA Weekend Halloween Events
Anoka: Free Family Art Day with Rumriver Art Center
Anoka Lions Tent at 2nd and Jackson
Special Halloween-themed art activities for kids ages 4 & up w/ caregivers. October 21, 2023, 10-11am. FREE.
Blaine: Flashlight Pumpkin Hunt & Dance
Tom Ryan Park, Blaine
Flashlight pumpkin hunt, outdoor dance, S’mores, Halloween Games. Costume Contest. Fee includes a treat bag, one pumpkin, one craft, and refreshments. Registration required. October 20, 2023, 7-8:30pm, Price: $20-$21/pp.
Brooklyn Center: Halloween Party
Centennial Park
Ages 2-12 can trick-or-treat down the trail before doing a little BOOgie at the amphitheater. October 20, 2023, 5:30-7:30pm. $2/child.
Osseo: Osseo Lions Halloween Event
Central Ave., Osseo, MN 55369
Trick or treat up and down Central Avenue from 11am-noon and end at the park for more fun and games. TBA 2023 (Oct 22, 2022, 11am). FREE.
Anoka: Light Up The Night Parade
Anoka Main Street, 1922 1st Ave. S., Anoka, MN 55303
Lighted floats parade down the darkened streets of Anoka. October 21, 2023, 7-8pm.
Maple Grove: Halloween Family Fun Day
Weaver Lake Park | Maple Grove
Activities, crafts and treats aimed at kids ages 2-8. October 21, 2023, $6/child; pre-registration is required.
Plymouth: MEA Open Play
Plymouth Community Center, 14800 34th Ave. N.. Plymouth, MN 55447
Kids and teens can play in the indoor playground and gym. October 18, 2023, 9am-2pm; $10/wristband.
Twin Cities Southeast Metro MEA Weekend Halloween Events
Savage: Halloween Bash
Savage Sports Center
Costumes, food, music, games, inflatables, and of course candy. This event happens rain, snow, or shine. October 21, 2023, 5pm-8pm. $8-$10/pp.
Twin Cities Southwest Metro MEA Weekend Halloween Events
St Louis Park: Westwood Annual Halloween Party
Westwood Hills Nature Center, St Louis Park
Come in costumes and enjoy a variety of indoor and outdoor activities. October 20-21, 2023 Friday or Saturday 6:30-9pm, $11-$13/pp, pre-registration required.
GET CRAFTY OVER MEA WEEKEND BREAK
Fall Crafts at Heartfelt
4306 Upton Avenue S., Minneapolis, MN 55410
We love this cozy space in the Linden Hills neighborhood. You can craft alongside your kids, choosing from their menu of fall projects (see website for details). Drop-Ins will be accommodated as space allows, but reservations are recommended. Call 612-877-8090. Thurs-Sat of MEA weekend, 10am-4pm.
2023 MEA Weekend Camps
3rd Lair Camps
3rd Lair Skatepark and Skateshop, Golden Valley
$50-$60/day, October 18-20, 2023 | for ages 8 and older
Animal Humane Society Camps
Animal Humane Society, Golden Valley and Woodbury
$180, October 19-20, 2023 | for grades 3-6 in Golden Valley, 3-5 in Woodbury
Camp Fire Minnesota Camps
Camp Fire Camp, Excelsior
$75/day, October 19-20, 2023 | for ages 5-14
MN Zoo Schools Out Camps
MN Zoo, Apple Valley
$65-$73/day, October 19-20, 2023 | for grades K-6
Snapology Camps
Snapology Discovery Center, Minneapolis
$60/day, October 19-20, 2023 | for ages 5-13
Theatre Arts Training Camps
Children’s Theatre Company | Minneapolis
$250/camper, October 19-20, 2023 9 am-4 pm | for grades K-3
The Works Museum Camps
The Works Museum, Bloomington
$99-$110/day, October 19-20, 2023 9 am-4pm | for grades K-6
Timberwolves and Lynx Academy
Various Locations around Metro
$45-$99/, October 18-21, 2023, Various Times | for grades K-8
TWIN CITIES MEA WEEKEND AT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY
Don’t forget about your local library branch for tons of FREE programming over MEA weekend break (plus hours of book browsing, storytimes and Play & Learn spots).
DISCOVER A NEW LOCAL MUSEUM OVER MEA WEEKEND
Bakken Museum
3537 Zenith Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55416 Explore the electricity exhibits at this super kid-friendly museum. For tips on visiting with kids, try our list of 10 THINGS FOR KIDS AT THE BAKKEN MUSEUM. Open MEA Weekend, 10am-5pm. Reserve your timed tickets online, $9-$11/pp.
Bell Museum
2088 Larpenteur Ave W, St Paul, MN 55113 Enjoy science-related family fun in the education wing, a special display in Collections Cove, and some favorite Solution Studio challenges. Make sure to add on a planetarium show! Open MEA Weekend, 10am-4pm. Advanced tickets not required. $9-$12/pp.Mill City Museum
704 S 2nd St, Minneapolis, MN 55401 This museum was designed with care to include exhibits that appeal to a wide range of ages. Kids will love the water play room and other activities they can get their hands on. Check our list of 10 Things for Kids at Mill City Museum before you head out.
Minneapolis Institute of Arts
2400 3rd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55404 Free every day of the week and stuffed with ways to make art-going a family experience. Open MEA Weekend, Thurs-Fri, 10am-5pm.Minnesota History Center
345 W Kellogg Blvd, St Paul, MN 55102 Nearly all the exhibits at the museum are hands-on and very family friendly. Discover our Top Things for Kids at the Minnesota History Center. Open MEA Weekend, 10am-4pm (Sun 11am). $8-$12/pp.
Science Museum of Minnesota
120 W Kellogg Blvd, St Paul, MN 55102 Packed full of interesting exhibits including Ultimate Dinosaurs, Sportsology, and the Human Body Gallery. Add on a show at the Omnitheater. Open MEA Weekend, Thurs 9am-5pm, Fri-Sat (9am-8pm), Sun 9am-5pm). $12.95-$18.95/pp plus parking.The Works Museum
9740 Grand Ave S, Bloomington, MN 55420 MEA Break Camps are offered October 19-20 if you need to drop the kids off; or visit the museum as a family over the weekend. Open MEA Weekend Thurs-Fri 9am-3pm & Sat 10am-4pm. $13/pp.Twin City Model Railroad Museum
668 Transfer Rd Ste. 8, St Paul, MN 55114 Halloween Night Trains begins October 21, 2023 and is a super fun excuse to view model trains over MEA Weekend. $15/pp with discounts for groups of 4 or more. TCMRM will also be open for extended MEA hours on Thursday, November 19, 2023 from 10am-3pm in addition to their regular Friday hours.
MORE IDEAS FOR MEA WEEKEND 2023 IN THE TWIN CITIES
Explore a local toy store
We have some great locally-owned Toy Stores in the Twin Cities Metro Area. Find a new game for family-game night or some gear to explore the parks.
Explore a local castle
American Swedish Institute’s Family Gallery
2600 Park Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55407
ASI’s Family Gallery currently presents the exhibit Our Dragon Story. Drop in for hands-on play when exploring the Turnblad Mansion as a family. Located in Minneapolis. Open MEA Weekend, Thurs-Sun. $6-$13/pp, under 6 are free.
Explore local sports on a budget
Hey! Find more activities for your tweens and teens on a page specially dedicated to them! Or browse some of these ideas:
BOWLING: University of Minnesota Coffman Union
Bowl for $3/pp plus $2/shoe rental on Thursdays & free shoe rental on Fridays. 8am-8pm, later Fri & Sat.
HOCKEY: St Louis Park Rec Center Youth Open Hockey
Kids can bring their own equipment for to play hockey (adult supervision recommended). $5/ages 6-15. Thursday & Friday, October 19 & 20, 2023; 9:30am-11:30am.
SWIMMING: Great River Water Park
Admission is $7. There’s a great zero-depth entry splash and play pool for younger ones! Located at Oxford Recreation Center, St Paul.
Explore Bloomington Parks on a Cache Quest
The City of Bloomington is offering a digital treasure hunt on Thursday, Friday and Saturday MEA weekend. This fun, free activity requires a free membership to geocaching.com and then participants can explore locations around Bloomington in search of hidden caches containing Geocaching in the Parks 2023 commemorative coins and other treasures. Find more information on MEA Break Geocaching in the Parks HERE.
More Like This: Twin Cities Quests, Scavenger & Treasure Hunts for Families
Is there a train that goes from Mpls to a WI pumpkin patch along the St Croix on MEA weekend?
Yes! It is called the Pumpkin Express. It runs Friday and Saturday; and you can find links and all the details in our October Things to Do with Kids article: https://www.familyfuntwincities.com/twin-cities-things-to-do-with-kids-in-october-sorted-by-age/
Can you explain why pineheaven is “more” expensive..?? It seems cheaper then say waldoch?
Hi Mary. I believe Anne was comparing Pinehaven to other pumpkin farms, whereas Waldoch’s Joyer Adventure Farm has pumpkins but is sold as a farm experience and Sever’s is a full festival.
This is a really inileltgent way to answer the question.
We agree. That is why you’ll be seeing more of these guides.