Sometimes when I look at our “monster list” of the Halloween events happening in the Twin Cities, I get a little scared, frankly. We love our Halloween in Minnesota and there is definitely something for everyone. But how to choose between all those thrills and chills? As we update our lists, we have come up with our top 10 Halloween events. These clear winners are either on my big bucket list or every year most-dos. We would love to hear from you. What is your favorite Halloween event?
Tricks and Treats
Halloween for Everyone!
Valleyfair's Tricks and Treats is a gotta-be-there Halloween event packed with fun
and family-friendly eeriness.
From little goblins to grown-up ghouls, everyone will find ghastly great things to
do for Halloween. Plus, we’ve got skeleTONS of delicious seasonal treats, drinks and, of course, candy!
If that’s
not fang-tastic enough, our most popular rides are open during the Halloween event to deliver the amazing
thrills and chills found only at Valleyfair.
The event runs on select dates, September 30 - October 29.
Save on
tickets at Valleyfair.com.
Twin Cities Top 10 Halloween Events
Even narrowing down to the Top 10 Halloween Events was difficult, so we have created the Top 10 categories and some offer a few options. As always, we strive to alert you to FREE or low cost events and attempt to spread them across the Minneapolis-St Paul Metro Area:
1. Top Trick-or-Treat Trails in the Twin Cities
We love the hometown shopping districts that lure little costumed characters in with trick-or-treating. Here are three of the best; for more, jump over to our list of Trick-or-Treating at Twin Cities Shopping Malls & Shopping Districts.
Robbinsdale: Give & Get Trick-or-Treat
Kids up to 12 can dress up and trick-or-treat at local businesses on Broadway with the donation of a non-perishable food item. October 27, 2022, 4-6pm. FREE.
Stillwater: Trick-or-Treating on Main Street
Troll for treats along Stillwater’s business district. October 29, 2022, 1-4pm. FREE.
St Paul: Trick-or-Treat at Highland Village
Starting point is the Langford and Karls Chiropractic parking lot. Businesses will have stations set up along a designated route through the Highland Village that will be staffed by employees/volunteers handing out candy and other items. There will be a Halloween scavenger hunt as well! October 29, 2022, 10am-2pm. FREE.
2. Top Place in the Twin Cities to Carve PUmpkins - Highwood Hills Park
Pumpkin Carving Contest
Highwood Hills Rec Center, 2192 Londin Ln E, St Paul, MN 55119
Carve your Halloween masterpiece here and leave the mess. Prizes for 1st, 2nd & 3rd places. Limited openings. October 25, 2022, 5-6;30pm. FREE.
If you’d rather carve at home, may we suggest picking out a pumpkin from one of our favorite Twin Cities pumpkin patches?
3. Top Twin Cities Halloween Parties for the Family
We’ve included one each from the four corners of the Twin Cities Metro Area. And these are FREE. Get a little more use out of those Halloween costumes before the big night!
NORTHWEST METRO: PLYMOUTH HALLOWEEN AT THE LAKE
Parkers Lake Playfield, 15205 County Road 6, Plymouth, MN 55447
Kids can get close up looks at first-responder vehicles, get treats and participate in family fun. Costumes encouraged. Friday, October 28, 2022. 5-8pm. FREE.
NORTHEAST METRO: MAHTOMEDI PUNKINMANIA
1520 Mahtomedi Ave, Mahtomedi, MN 55115
Games, inflatables, treats and, true to the name, a pumpkin patch! (Pumpkin prices $2-$4/each.) Oct 8, 2022. 9am-3pm.
SOUTHEAST METRO: HALLOWEEN WITH THE JOLLY POPS
Galaxie Library, 14955 Galaxie Ave, Apple Valley, MN 55124
Two Sessions: 10am-10:30am.
Dance and clap with the Jolly Pops in the library atrium, then trick-or-treat for stickers. Costumes encouraged. Ages: 0–6. Monday, October 31, 2022. FREE.
SOUTHWEST METRO: HARVEST TO HALLOWEEN AT THE BARN
Riley Lake Park, 9180 Riley Lake Road, Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344
Decorate pumpkins, horse-drawn wagon rides, glow dance, story stroll, scavenger hunt and other family activities. Additional activities include art stations, a scavenger hunt and awards. October 15, 2022, 2-5pm. FREE.
4. Top Twin Cities Spot to Party in the Park - Springbrook Nature Center
All Ages: Pumpkin Night in the Park at Springbrook Nature Center is a Halloween event for even the littlest pumpkins in the family. Enchanted trails, fire dancers, games, a dance, glowing pumpkins and more. October 22, 2022, 6-10pm. $10-$12/pp. Pre-purchased tickets required.
Teens option: Whatever Bare Bones Halloween Extravaganza offers in 2022, should amaze. These shows are nighttime, outdoor spectaculars with puppetry, fire dancers, music and dance. Located on the Midtown Greenway: 2828 11th Avenue S, Mpls, MN. October 28-31, 2022, 7-8pm. Tickets/$20.
For dozens more places to party in the park, jump over to our Free Halloween Fun in Twin Cities Parks mega-list.
5. Top Twin Cities Spooky Storytimes
HALLOWEEN STORYTIME AND COSTUME PARADE
Burnhaven Library, 1101 County Rd 42 W, Burnsville, MN 55306
Halloween-themed, but not scary, story time, with songs, stories, crafts and a short movie, followed by a costume parade.. Ages: 2–6 (siblings welcome). October 26, 2022.
6. Top Twin Cities Pumpkin Patch - Waldoch Farm Pumpkin Patch and Joyer Adventure Farm
It’s a full-on fall festival at WALDOCH FARM PUMPKIN PATCH! One inclusive price gets your kids access to the corn boxes, corn maze, train rides, pedal trikes, obstacle courses, playhouses, the works.
Admission options: A scenic hayride to the pumpkin patch is always free whether you choose to stay and play or not; pumpkins are sold by size. Admission to the Adventure Farm is $14.99/weekdays and $17.99/weekends ages 3+. You can also tour Joyer Barnyard without paying an admission fee.
Fall Fun open Sept 17- Halloween, 2022. 10am-6pm *last entry to the corn maze is at 5pm.
7. Best Halloween movie screening in the Twin Cities - Robbinsdale, Sanborn Park
Spooky Sanborn & Movie in the Park – Frankenwennie
Sanborn Park, 4242 Drew Avenue N. Robbinsdale, MN 55422
Come to the Movie early for some fun trunk or treating around the park, story time and crafts. Bring a snack and chairs and/or blankets to kick off the season with a Halloween movie. October 7, 2022. 5pm Family Fun & 7pm movie.
8. Best Twin Cities Hometown Halloween - Anoka, Minnesota
Our very own Anoka Minnesota is the self-proclaimed “Halloween Capital of the World”! Curious as to why? Come visit during one of the dozens of events scheduled for 2022’s hometown celebration: city scavenger hunt, house-decorating contest, pumpkin carving for kids and more spooky spectacles. If you have to pick just one, make it Anoka’s Grand Day Parade (Main Street & Fifth Ave). Oct 29, 2022, 1-3:30pm.
9. Twin Cities Halloween with Big Rigs
What a delightful (never frightful) combination! Big trucks and treats make for a memorable Halloween weekend at these outings:
Plymouth Halloween at the Lake
Parkers Lake Playfield, 15500 County Road 6, Plymouth, Minnesota 55447
Check out first responder vehicles while collecting treats and having some Halloween fun. October 28, 2022, 5-8pm. FREE.
Columbia Heights Truck or Treat
Huset Park East, 3965 Jefferson St NE, Columbia Heights, MN 55421
Explore a bunch of vehicles, including police cars, fire trucks, tow, dump, garbage and mail trucks, and a school bus. Kids middle-school aged and younger will receive a free treat bag as they leave. Come in costume if you like. October 29, 2022, 1-4pm. FREE.
Halloween Tricks or Treats at Afton Rd Fire Station
Kids are welcome to stop by Halloween Tricks or Treats at Afton Road Fire Station in Woodbury for an open house with apple cider and candy. October 31, 2022, 5pm. FREE!
10. Road Trip Halloween
A Halloween event on the rails! Especially enticing if you haven’t picked out your Halloween pumpkins yet.
Pumpkin Express Train Rides
Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway
Last train leaves Dresser, to return to Osceola, at 4pm. Free pumpkins for kids, games and rides, music and performances included w/ tickets. 9:30am -1:30pm on the hour. Oct 21-23, 2022. Tickets: $25-$30, Age 2 and under: FREE.
Got teens who want a little more thrill in their Halloween? Refer them to our brand new list of things for Tweens & Teens on Halloween in the Twin Cities.
