Family Fun Events to Make Everyone Say Boo-Ya!
If you’re looking for a place to take your kids for family friendly festivities this Halloween, there’s bound to be a spooktacular spot for you in the Twin Cities. Halloween happenings in the Twin Cities are in abundance again this year and we’ve compiled a comprehensive list to help you find your happy haunting place. Read on to find where you can take little trick or treaters or find your share of scare.
Zoo Boo
Como Zoo, 1225 Eastbrook Dr., St. Paul
Zoo Boo is an annual fundraiser for Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, but more than that, it is a safe and non-scary Halloween celebration especially for kids and their families. During the event, the zoo is transformed into a world of fairytales, magic and fun. More than 200 costumed characters are on hand to interact and mingle with the kids along the Zoo Boo trail to make sure everyone is happy and having a great time!
Zoo Boo is recommended for kids between the ages of 3 and 8 and runs on Saturday and Sunday, October 24 & 25 from 4:30 pm until 7:30 pm. Tickets are $6 in advance online and $7 at the door. For more information and to get your tickets, please click here.
Minnesota Streetcar Museum Como-Harriet Streetcar Line
Linden Hills Station, Lake Harriet
The Transylvania Trolley gives you the chance to take a ride with your host, Count Karl the Vampire Motorman. And, if you wear a costume for this 15-minute ride, you’ll get a treat. This ride is happening on Saturday, October 24 from 12:30 p.m. until 4:30 pm. Tickets are $2 and free for kids 3 and under. No advance sales or reservations.
BareBones Halloween Outdoor Puppet Extravaganza
Hidden Falls Regional Park, North Gate, St. Paul
The 22nd Annual BareBones Halloween Outdoor Puppet Extravaganza features a show titled We All Fall Down, which will take audiences through a journey of life, death, grief and peace. That said, BareBones performances are appropriate for kids as well as adults. The show is a community-created spectacle that includes larger-than-life puppetry, drama, stilt walkers, aerialists, fire performers, a live orchestra and more.
The show is happening on October 24, 25, 29, 30 & 31 at 7:00 pm each night. A suggested donation of $10 or $20 is appreciated at the gate. For more information, please click here.
The Great Pumpkin Fest at ValleySCARE
Valleyfair, One Valleyfair Dr., Shakopee
While the older kids and adults get their scare on at night at Valleyfair, the younger kids can have a blast at the Great Pumpkin Fest during the day. There is trick-or-treating, a corn maze, story-telling by a zany witch who reads It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, a petting zoo and much more.
The fun runs Saturdays and Sundays through November 1. For more information, check out Valleyfair’s website.
Big Woods Halloween
Eastman Nature Center, Dayton
Play carnival games for prizes, go on a pumpkin scavenger hunt and participate in other spooky and fun activities. For those a bit braver, visit the Gross-out-Grotto with creepy sites and slimy challenges. 10 a.m. -3 p.m. Oct. 24; $5-$8; 763-559-6700.
Boo Run 5K
Harriet Island, St. Paul
Harriet Island’s annual Halloween 5K and half-mile Kid’s Fun Run along the Mississippi River. Costumes welcome. Kids’ run starts at 8:30 a.m., 5K starts at 9 a.m. Oct. 24; 651-688-9143 andersonraces.com.
Ghouls and Giggles
Oswald Visitor Center, Minnesota Arboretum, Chaska
Enjoy family-friendly arts and crafts, live music, costumed trick-or-treating nd a semi-spooky trail walk. 3-6 p.m. Oct. 24; $5; 952-443-1400; arboretum.umn.edu.
Halloween at the Art Park
Caponi Art Park; 1220 Diffley Road, Eagan
Trick-or-treat around the park with spooky sculptures and fun costumes for an afternoon of family fun. 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Oct. 24; free; 651-454-9412; caponiartpark.org.
Haunted Forest
Steve Michaud Park, 17100 Ipava Ave. Lakeville
Are you brave enough to walk through the forest? A spooky trail along with other tamer activities for kids like trick-or-treating and friendly-costumed characters make up this year’s Haunted Forest. 5 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Oct. 24; $3 per person, $10 per carload; 952-985-4600, lakevillemn.gov.
Haunted Woods Trail
2893 145th St. W., Rosemount
This spooky trail is for kids ages preschool through middle-school and includes treats and tricks for the whole family. 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Oct. 24; free; 612-840-9016; rosemountevents.com.
Hilltop Pumpkin Party
YMCA Camp St. Croix, 532 County Road F, Hudson, Wis.;
For family fun in the outdoors, this pumpkin party has numerous events, including wagon rides, a pumpkin patch, games, ghost stories, the fire department, crafts, a petting zoo and more. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 24; free; 751-386-8411; hudsonwi.org.
Ar-BOO-retum!
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Chaska
Gather your little ghosts and witches for a day at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum with free admission for those in costume. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 30; free in costume 952-443 1400;
arboretum.umn.edu.
James Sewel Ballet Halloween Parade
The Cowles Center, Goodale Theater, 528 Hennepin Ave. Minneapolis
Bring your family to the ballet for a day performance of both tricks and treats, with excerpts from “Grave Matters” and “New Moves” performed. Bring your best costume and walk in the annual Halloween Parade, too. 11 a.m. Oct. 24; $10; 612-206-3600; the cowlescenter.org.
Lowry’s Enchanted Forest Halloween
Lowry Nature Center, Victoria, Minn.
The Lowry Nature Center transforms into an enchanted forest for this one-day-only event with trick-or-treating on the trail, skits, stories by the bonfire, the chance to meet a live owl and more. 5 p.m.-9 p.m. Oct. 24; $9; 763-694-7650.
Spooktacular Concert
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Chaska
A music concert of Halloween favorites performed by the Minnetonka Symphony Orchestra. 3 p.m-4:30 p.m. Oct. 25; $12, children younger than 12 free; 952-443-1400 arboretum.umn.edu.
Tamarack Trick-or-Treat
Tamarack Nature Center, 5287 Otter Lake Road, White Bear Township
Low-key and non-spooky, this event provides plenty of fun Halloween activities, including hand-pressed cider and live animals. 3 p.m.-5:30 p.m. Oct. 24; $7.50-$3.25; 651-407-5350.
Thrill the World Minneapolis
2121 W. 21st St., Minneapolis
Hosted by beARTrageous and the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board, be part of a Halloween-style block party. Come in costume and take part in a worldwide simultaneous dance of “Thriller.” 3 p.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 24; free; 612-423-7554; artrageousadventures.com.
Trick-or-Treating on Main Street
Downtown Stillwater, 100 Main St., Stillwater
Dress up in costume and spend a day discovering the treats of downtown Stillwater’s independent businesses. Noon-4 p.m. Oct. 24-25; free; 651-342-1386; discoverstillwater.com.
Trunks ‘n’ Treats
1965 E. County Road E, White Bear Lake
Enjoy food, games and live music at a family-friendly event. Treats from decorated trunks for kids in costumes, too. Food shelf donations accepted. 2 p.m-4 p.m. Oct. 24; free; St. Stephen Lutheran Church; 951-777-1107; ststephenwbl.org.
Boo-ology
Science Museum, 120 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul
Experiment with hands-on Halloween-themed science activities for an afternoon of learning. Costumes encouraged. Noon-4 p.m. Oct. 31; $13, $10 ages 4-12 and seniors, kids 12 and younger free with costume; 651-221-9444; smm.org.
Dia de los Muertos
Minnesota History Center, 345 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul
Celebrate Mexican culture and tradition with the Day of the Dead. Learn an Aztec dance, look at decorated altars, see a puppet show and enjoy hands-on activities. Noon-4 p.m. Oct. 25; $6-$12; 651-259-3000; minnesotahistorycenter.org.
Hijinks Puppet Show
Maplewood Nature Center, 2659 E. Seventh St., Maplewood
Watch a wild animal puppet show about autumn and stay after to hike outside. Best for ages 2-5. Shows at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Oct. 28; $5; 651-249-2170; maplewoodnaturecenter.com.
Howl-O-Ween
Mall of America, Bloomington
Grab your mummies and daddies and join a trick-or-treating celebration at participating shops at the Mall of America. 4:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Oct. 31; free; 952-858-8500; mallofamerica.com.
Pumpkin Carving
Silverwood Park, 2500 County Road E. St. Anthony
Find inspiration for a pumpkin masterpiece with carving, sculpting and creative jack-o’-lantern samples and tools. After the pumpkins are completed, enjoy a mass pumpkin lighting and marshmallow roasting. 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Oct. 28; $8; 763-694-7707.
Pumpkin Patch Party
1818 Gervais Court E., Maplewood
Celebrate on roller skates at this kid-friendly Halloween party. 7:30 p.m.-10 p.m. Oct. 30; $6, $2-$3 roller-skate rentals; Saints North Roller Rink; 651-770-3848.
The Great Pumpkin Chase
Lake Elmo Park Reserve, 1515 Keats Ave. N., Lake Elmo
Tie up your running shoes and prepare for a 5K, 10K or Kids Dracula Dash Fun Run at Lake Elmo. 10K at 8:30 a.m., 5K at 10 a.m. Oct. 31; 651-430-8370; frontrunnerusa.com.
Trunk or Treat at Mosaic Christian Community
Mosaic Christian Community, 540 E. Wheelock Parkway, St. Paul
Dress in costume for free family fun with inflatables, treats, food, warm bonfires, live music and more. 5 p.m.-7 p.m. Oct. 31; free; 651-774-2770; mosaicstpaul.org.
Witch Hazel Hustle 5K
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Chaska
Throw on your costume and get ready to run this fun race around the thee-mile drive at the arboretum. 8 a.m. Oct. 31; $30-$35; 952-443-1400; arboretum.umn.edu.
Frankenstein’s Laboratory
The Bakken Museum, 3537 Zenith Ave. S., Minneapolis
Watch the spooky lights and sounds show of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein’s laboratory at the Bakken Museum. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, open until 8 p.m. Thursdays; $10 adults, $8 students and seniors, free for ages 3 and younger; 612-926-3878; thebakken.org/frankenstein.
Pumpkin Fest
Gertens, 5500 Blaine Ave., Inver Grove Heights
Gertens annual Pumpkin Fest bring fun for the whole family with Minnesota grown pumpkins, food, hayrides, maze, petting zoo, games, crafts and much more. Swing by for fall treats like fresh apples, pies, rollovers and more tasty treats. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 24; $2-$10 for activities; 651-450-1501.
Severs Fall Festival and Corn Maze
1100 Canterbury Road, Shakopee
Come for the corn maze — this year’s theme honors firefighters — stay for the activities, including an exotic animal petting zoo, corn pit, giant slide and camel rides. 1 p.m.-8 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturdays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays through Nov. 1; $15, free for ages 3 and younger; 952-975-5000;
severscornmaze.com.
Twin Cities Harvest Festival and Maze
8001 109th Ave. N., Brooklyn Park
Celebrate fall with Minnesota’s largest corn maze — this year’s theme celebrates the Minnesota Wild’s 15-year anniversary. Enjoy corn pit, live music, petting zoo, hayride and more. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 25 and MEA weekend, Oct. 15-16; $12, children shorter than 36 inches free; 952-992-9326; twincitiesmaze.com.
Halloween Lights on York
1526 York Ave., St. Paul
Drive through the neighborhood of York Avenue to see more than 15,000 lights strung between seven neighbors’ houses. Lights are choreographed to music that broadcasts from the car stereo. Dusk-10 p.m. through Oct. 31, weather permitting; free.
HallZOOween
Minnesota Zoo, 1300 Zoo Blvd. Apple Valley
It’s the Minnesota Zoo but with Halloween-themed treats and activities that let families learn more about the animals. Visit the website for daily schedules of events and activities. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 24-25 and 30-31; $12-$18; 952-431-9200; mnzoo.org.
Monster Bash
Nickelodeon Universe, Mall of America, Bloomington
Silly, spooky hosts, such as disco zombies and mad scientists, take over Nickelodeon Universe at the Mall of America for rides, treats and spooks. 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 23-24, Oct. 30-31; $23.99 ride wristbands; 952-883-8800; mallofamerica.com.
Halloween in Anoka
Various locations, Anoka
Anoka calls itself the Halloween Capital of the World and they claim to be the first city to host Halloween activities organized by civic leaders. This year they have not one but two Halloween parades (one during the day, one at night), the famed Grey Ghost 5k run, an orange-tie ball, a house-decorating contest, and lots more. Check out all the activities at https://anokahalloween.com/
