FUN Halloween Things To Do in Minneapolis for Everyone in 2023
Halloween is one of those events that has everyone wondering, what are you planning on doing? It’s hard to not survive the month of October without going to one of the Halloween events near Minneapolis and the surrounding areas. In some cases, it might be one every weekend.
These are great ways to get into the Halloween spirit. I’ve got a list of Halloween things to do in Minneapolis for everyone that you’ll need to check out.
Family-Friendly Halloween Things To Do in Minneapolis
Adults have taken over this children’s event. Come to think of it, the origins of it started with family-friendly pagan traditions of giving thanks to the season’s harvest.
Dressing up was added and before you knew it, we were going up to strangers’ doors asking for candy in silly costumes. In the last 10-20 years it transitioned into parties and gory costumes.
In Late September is when things start getting spooky, with plenty of indoor and outdoor activities. Thankfully there is still plenty of family-friendly Halloween fun things to do.
Scarecrow in the Garden at the MN Landscape Arboretum | Chaska
Location: 13000 Zoo Blvd, Apple Valley, MN 55124
Dates: September 16th – October 31st
Cost: $15
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The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is a perfect place to enjoy the season. During the Month of October stop in and see the Scarecrows in the Garden.
This fun event features artist-inspired scarecrows. Most are along the hill in front of the Arboretum. As you go through the gardens and hidden locations in the park, you’ll see more and more.
On Halloween, come back and do some trick or treating indoors. This is a great Halloween attraction to warm up for the season.
Minnesota Zoo Jack-O-Lanter Spectacular | Apple Valley
Location: 13000 Zoo Blvd, Apple Valley, MN 55124
Dates: September 30th – November 4th
Cost: $24
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Ever wondered what the zoo looks like after hours? Join the MN Zoo for their Jack-O-Lanter Spectacular this year and see thousands of lighted-up displays. This is a naturally spooky event completely family-friendly.
The event takes about an hour to go through. This is a mix between a pumpkin night and a haunted trail. This annual event will have everything having a good time.
Halloween Capital Parades | Anoka
Location: Downtown Anoka
Dates: October 21st – Oct 28th
Cost: Free
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Anoka is self-proclaimed Halloween mecca of the world. They celebrate the season with a month-long celebration. Every weekend in October there is something new going on.
The crowd favorites are the Light Up The Night Parade on Oct 22nd and a Grand Day Parade on the 29th. Anoka Halloween is like one big Halloween Party with some of the world’s largest gatherings along the Mississippi River.
Valleyfair’s Trick and Treats | Shakopee
Location: 1 Valleyfair Dr, Shakopee, MN 55379
Dates: September 23th – October 29th
Cost: $34
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Valleyscare’s Halloween Haunt has transformed this year to a family-friendly fun! Valleyfair in October shuts down a few of its rides to make room for Halloween-inspired fun.
During the day, it becomes a buzz of pumpkins and rides for the kids. Those that are getting braver can visit the Tricks attractions.
This is a great way to celebrate Halloween without getting into the scarier haunting experiences.
Wondering what the new attraction is like? I got to visit on Opening Weekend and it was a blast! Click here for all the details on what rides are open, and what there is to do!
Stillwater Harvest Festival | Stillwater
Location: 101 Water St S, Stillwater, MN 55082
Dates: October14th – 15th
Cost: Free
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The Stillwater Harvest Fest is one of the premier events in downtown Stillwater and one of the largest of its kind in the Midwest.
Held the second weekend of October each year, the festival features a variety of arts and crafts, food samples, music, and Pumpkin Weigh-Off. In 2010, the event set a World Record for the most pumpkins brought to the scale – 221 lbs!
Stillwater has a great time with its pumpkins. In addition to the traditional fall festival events, they also host a pumpkin drop, smashing them from cranes.
They also do a pumpkin regatta. Racers hop in carved-out pumpkins and race them down the St Croix River. It’s a #smashinggoodtime! Make sure to check out the nearby apple orchards and pumpkin patches!
Stillwater is a fun small town to explore. Check out all the happenings at 39 Fun Things To Do in Stillwater Minnesota
Frankenstein’s Laboratory at the Bakken Museum | Minneapolis
Location: 3537 Zenith Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55416
Dates: October
Cost: $13
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The Bakken Museum is a fun museum featuring all thing electrical. One of the best Halloween Inspired legends is that of Frankenstein.
Want to see what Frankenstein’s Laboratory may have looked like? Stop into the Bakken Museum! This exhibit is open year-round but stopping in during the Month of October is always more fun!
See a Mummy at the Science Museum | St Paul
Location: 120 W Kellogg Blvd, Saint Paul, MN 55102
Dates: October
Cost: $9.95 – $34.90
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The Science Museum of Minnesota has a Mummy exhibit is full of fascinating information about mummies and their afterlife.
Visitors can learn about the different types of mummies, how they were made, and what they can tell us about ancient Egyptian culture.
The exhibit also includes a replica tomb from Ancient Egypt, which allows visitors to see for themselves the elaborate burial rituals that were once common.
Nickelodeon Boo-niverse at the MOA | Bloomington
Location: Nickelodeon Universe® 5000 Center Ct, Bloomington, MN 55425
Dates: September 15th – October 31st
Cost: Free Admission, not including rides.
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Nickelodeon Universe changes to boo-niverse each season. With all of your favorite characters dressed up in Halloween costumes.
Enjoy Fright Lights and the Shock and Ride Dance Party or the Rad zoo with haunting animals on site. There is no better way to celebrate Halloween with young kids, than at this fun event!
Graveyard Ghost Stories | Minneapolis
Location: 2330 West 42nd Street, Minneapolis, MN 55410
Dates: October 28st
Cost: $18
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Graveyard Ghost Stories are some of the best ways to get spooked this season. Well, get ready for three of the best in the dark, on an antique trolley rides that’s been around for one hundred years.
Hear classic tales of the beyond reading by Philip Brunelle, Nancy Nelson, and Don Shelby.
Transylvania Trolly | Minneapolis
Location: 2330 West 42nd Street, Minneapolis, MN 55410
Dates: October 21th
Cost: $4 a single ride, $10 for unlimited rides
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If you’re looking for a spooky and fun event to attend with the whole family, travel on the Transylvania Trolly.
This ride takes you through a dark forest, and while there is no blood or gore involved, it may be frightening for the very young.
However, as the night progresses, the ride becomes even more frightening. There are no advance tickets or reservations required, so it’s perfect for those looking to experience an event without any prior planning.
Haunted Forest | Lakeville
Location: 17100 Ipava Avenue, Lakeville, MN 55044
Dates: October 28nd
Cost: $10 per car
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Come out to Fenton Area Park on Halloween for a spooky time! There will be trick-or-treaters, music, puppet shows, and a haunted forest trail.
In addition, there will be creepy concessions such as hot dogs, chips, popcorn, hot chocolate, candy, and water and pop. Most items are priced around $1-2.
Screaming Green Hauntoween | Bloomington
Location: 300 South Avenue Level 3, Bloomington, MN 55425
Dates: September 1st – October 31st
Cost: $25.99
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Looking for a spooky month full of family-friendly activities? Look no further than Screamin’ Green Hauntoween at Crayola Experience Mall of America!
This month-long event features 26 creative attractions, including a themed scavenger hunt, character photo ops, and more!
Plus, all admission is included with the price of admission. So come enjoy some monster-ific fun with your friends this Halloween season!
Adult Themed Attractions to Scare You
If you’ve graduated to something to scare you, you’ll want to check out these Halloween things to do in Minneapolis. This is just the highlight list. Keep reading to find my full list of stuff that will scare the bejesus out of you!
Scream Town and Abandoned Hayride | Chaska
Location: 7410 US-212, Chaska, MN 55318
Dates: September 22nd – October 29th
Cost: $34 – $149
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Scream Town is a staple for Halloween things to do in the Twin Cities and one of the best values in my opinion. One price gets you into eight different attractions.
A few years ago, they changed up what a Hayride is by adding on the Abandoned Hayride. It’s a separate adventure right next door that includes the hayride, a woods walk, and two haunted houses.
What I love about Scream Town’s activities, is that they add something new each year, changing set designs and giving you new scares. This is one of my favorite haunted attractions in the Twin Cities
Dead End Hayride
Location: 28186 Kettle River Blvd N, Wyoming, MN 55092
Dates: September 22rd – October 31st
Cost: $23 – $75
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The Dead End Hayride is known as one of the scarier attractions. In Wyoming MN, they offer a Hayride experience that drops you off into a cornfield. It’s up to you to get back out of the corn and through the Haunted house.
Looking for more? Check out my full list of The Scariest Haunted Houses in the Twin Cities
Real Haunted Places
When you are looking for an authentic scare, you should consider going into some of the real haunted places around the Twin Cities. There are more than you think out there. They are a perfect Halloween-inspired things to do in Minneapolis!
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Location: 350 S 5th St, Minneapolis, MN 55415
Dates: Year Round
Cost: Free
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While nothing sinister happened in the MIA, the theory of the ghosts comes attached to the items in the rooms. The number one area with hauntings is the third floor Connecticut Room. Walking in you’ll notice it’s distinctly colder than the surrounding rooms. Nightguards have stories about apparitions.
Looking for more? Check out my full list of 13 Real Haunted Places In MN
Wabasha Street Caves
Location: 215 Wabasha St S, St Paul, MN 55107
Dates: Year Round
Cost: $15
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The Wabasha Street Caves have a sinister history. Once the hip nightclub called the Castle Royal in the 1920s and home to gangsters. A disagreement happened on the night and someone unloaded a Tommy gun.
When the cops came to check it out, they told the hostess to stay outside.
After an hour, they came out and told her she must have been dreaming.
The theory is they must have buried the bodies in the back. Today the space is available for tours and rental parties, where guests report seeing strange things.
St. Paul Gangster Tours
Location: 215 Wabasha St S, St Paul, MN 55107
Dates: Year Round
Cost: $49
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Hear more about some of the gangsters’ activities around the cities. In the 1920s the crime families had a system worked out with the St. Paul Police.
We don’t care what you do as long as it’s not in our town. It made for the perfect safe haven. But it wasn’t all good times.
The St Paul Gangster Tours takes you near the hot spots of crime and some of the places they still haunt.
The Wabasha Street Caves tours are back in action. These will sell out, especially around Halloween. Make sure to get tickets today.
Haunted Cave Tour
St Paul Gangster Tour – All the Sites in St. Paul
How to Prioritize Halloween Things to do in Minneapolis?
Each year I try to do a little all three different types of Halloween things to do in Minneapolis. I get the kids out to a new Family-Friendly event.
I do a date night with the hubby at something that would scare the pants out of you. And a little bit of history for everyone on a real haunted tour.
I always seem to leave out the whole heading into a haunted establishment part with the kids. What haunting experience are you planning this year?
