Tap a date to see that day's events. Only listings with set dates appear here; places you can visit any open day are listed further down.
Halloween and fall events around the Twin Cities, checked on the venue's, city's or park department's page on Oct 23, 2026. Haunted attractions and adults-only events are left out. Look for the Good for little kids (2–4) marker for early, toddler-friendly options.
Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular
Minnesota Zoo · Apple Valley
ZooPaidOpen now · through Sun, Nov 1Good for little kids (2–4)Suburbs (Bloomington, Chaska, Eagan & more)
A nighttime walk of carved and lit jack-o'lanterns at the zoo. Tickets are for a set date and time and must be bought ahead online. Ages 0–2 are free. Through Oct 17 it runs 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday–Thursday and until midnight Friday and Saturday; from Oct 18 it opens at 5:30 p.m. and closes at 11 p.m. Sunday–Thursday and midnight Friday–Saturday. The Oct 31 night is for adults only (18+).
📅 Add the date range (Fri, Oct 23 – Sun, Nov 1)
- When: Through Sun Nov 1, 2026 (Oct 31 is an 18+ night)
- Time: Evening, by timed ticket
- Price: Adults $23–$30, children $19–$26 (by date); ages 0–2 free; parking $10 per vehicle for non-members
- Ages: Family-friendly; Oct 31 night is 18+
- Booking: Not listed on source
⚠️ Not fully confirmed: Hours and prices come from search summaries of the zoo's page. Check mnzoo.org before you buy.
Source:
Last checked 2026-10-23.
McDonough's Annual Halloween Party
McDonough Recreation Center (Saint Paul Parks and Recreation) · St. Paul (Saint Paul · St. Paul)
Community eventPrice not listedNext: Wed, Oct 28St. Paul
A neighborhood Halloween party at McDonough Recreation Center, listed on the city's fall events page.
Upcoming dates: Wed, Oct 28, 2026
📅 Add to calendar
- When: Wed Oct 28, 2026
- Time: 6–8 p.m.
- Price: Not listed on source
- Ages: Not listed on source
- Booking: Not listed on source
⚠️ Not fully confirmed: The city's page gives the date, time and place only. Cost and ages are not listed.
Source:
Last checked 2026-10-23.
Halloween Family Roller Skate Party
El Rio Vista Recreation Center (Saint Paul Parks and Recreation) · St. Paul (Saint Paul · St. Paul)
Community eventPrice not listedNext: Thu, Oct 29St. Paul
A family Halloween roller skate party at El Rio Vista, listed on the city's fall events page.
Upcoming dates: Thu, Oct 29, 2026
📅 Add to calendar
- When: Thu Oct 29, 2026
- Time: 6–8 p.m.
- Price: Not listed on source
- Ages: Family
- Booking: Not listed on source
⚠️ Not fully confirmed: The city's page gives the date, time and place only. Cost is not listed.
Source:
Last checked 2026-10-23.
Halloween Party
Hazel Park Recreation Center (Saint Paul Parks and Recreation) · St. Paul (Hazel Park · St. Paul)
Community eventPrice not listedNext: Thu, Oct 29St. Paul
A neighborhood Halloween party at Hazel Park, listed on the city's fall events page.
Upcoming dates: Thu, Oct 29, 2026
📅 Add to calendar
- When: Thu Oct 29, 2026
- Time: 6–7:30 p.m.
- Price: Not listed on source
- Ages: Not listed on source
- Booking: Not listed on source
⚠️ Not fully confirmed: The city's page gives the date, time and place only. Cost and ages are not listed.
Source:
Last checked 2026-10-23.
Family Halloween Event
West Minnehaha Recreation Center (Saint Paul Parks and Recreation) · St. Paul (Saint Paul · St. Paul)
Community eventPrice not listedNext: Fri, Oct 30St. Paul
A Saint Paul Parks and Recreation family Halloween event at the recreation center, listed on the city's fall events page.
Upcoming dates: Fri, Oct 30, 2026
📅 Add to calendar
- When: Fri Oct 30, 2026
- Time: 3–6 p.m.
- Price: Not listed on source
- Ages: Not listed on source
- Booking: Not listed on source
⚠️ Not fully confirmed: The city's page gives the date, time and place only. Cost and ages are not listed.
Source:
Last checked 2026-10-23.
Homeschool STEM Workshops
The Works Museum · Bloomington
Science museumPaidNext: Mon, Nov 2Good for little kids (2–4)Suburbs (Bloomington, Chaska, Eagan & more)
Hour-long engineering workshops for kindergarten through grade 5. A caregiver must stay for the whole visit. Registered families can add museum admission at half price ($7 per person, ages 2 and up). Upcoming: Environmental Engineering (Nov 2), Feel the Noise (Jan 4, 2027), Float Your Boat (Feb 1) and Light and Kaleidoscopes (Mar 1).
Upcoming dates: Mon, Nov 2, 2026
📅 Add to calendar
- When: Mon Nov 2, 2026; Jan 4, Feb 1 and Mar 1, 2027
- Time: 10:30–11:30 a.m. (museum open 10 a.m.–1 p.m. on workshop days)
- Price: $12 per child ($10 members); half-price admission add-on $7 per person
- Ages: Grades K–5 (non-school-age 4- and 5-year-old siblings may join with a parent)
- Booking: Register ahead. Tickets may be sold at the door if any are left. A Gateway scholarship form is on the page for families with financial need.
Source:
Last checked 2026-10-23.
Youth group rate for homeschool groups, plus free STEM Stations
Minnesota Zoo · Apple Valley
ZooPrice not listedNext: Tue, Nov 10Suburbs (Bloomington, Chaska, Eagan & more)
Homeschools with at least 8 youth count as a youth group for the zoo's group rate (ages 3 through college). Free STEM Stations run in the indoor zoo areas on select dates. Upcoming: Adventures in STEM (Nov 10–13 and 17–20), Zoo Careers (Dec 15–18) and Adventures in STEM again in January.
Upcoming dates: Tue, Nov 10, 2026; Tue, Dec 15, 2026
📅 Add a date to your calendar
- When: Group visits: school year, by reservation. STEM Stations: Nov 10–13, 17–20; Dec 15–18; Jan 12–15, 19–22
- Time: STEM Stations: 10 a.m.–1 p.m. (Tue–Fri)
- Price: Youth group admission rates on the zoo page (minimum 8 youth); parking $10 per car; STEM Stations are free
- Ages: Ages 3 and up
- Booking: Book group visits online at least 2 weeks ahead (full payment due 2 weeks before).
⚠️ The group-rate table on the page is hard to read in text, so check the exact rate with the zoo. Mondays are not available October–March.
Source:
Last checked 2026-10-23.
Homeschool Days at the Arboretum
University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum · Chaska
Arboretum & gardensPaidNext: Mon, Dec 14Good for little kids (2–4)Suburbs (Bloomington, Chaska, Eagan & more)
Hands-on plant science programs for homeschool students, each with an adult educator attending too. Upcoming: Green Grocery (grades 1–3, Mon Dec 14), Sprout! (grades PreK–1, Thu Feb 4, 2027), Plants and Their Habitats (grades 2–6, Fri Feb 12) and Maple Syrup Trail (grades 1–6, Mon Mar 29). The ticket covers one student plus the adult educator.
Upcoming dates: Mon, Dec 14, 2026
📅 Add to calendar
- When: Mon Dec 14, 2026; Feb 4, Feb 12 and Mar 29, 2027
- Time: Dec 14: noon–2 p.m.
- Price: $15 member, $35 non-member (student plus adult educator)
- Ages: Grades PreK–6, by program
- Booking: Register and pay online. No drop-off: the adult attends with the student.
Source:
Last checked 2026-10-23.
Homeschool Day (planetarium show, museum visit, hands-on activities)
Bell Museum (University of Minnesota) · St. Paul (St. Paul campus · St. Paul)
Science museumPrice not listedNext: Tue, Feb 2St. Paul
A special day for homeschool groups and co-ops with a planetarium show, a museum visit and hands-on activities. The museum also gives homeschool families or groups of 10 to 15 youth a group discount rate for a museum, planetarium or combo visit. Discovery Journals for grades 2 to 12 are provided for gallery visits.
Upcoming dates: Tue, Feb 2, 2027
📅 Add to calendar
- When: Tue Feb 2, 2027 (the Oct 13, 2026 day has passed)
- Time: Not listed on source
- Price: Not listed on source
- Ages: Homeschool groups and families
- Booking: See the museum page. Group visits need 2–3 weeks notice; school-style field trips need 50 or more people and 3 weeks notice.
⚠️ The price for the Feb 2 homeschool day is on a separate page we did not open. Check with the museum.
Source:
Last checked 2026-10-23.
Educator membership for licensed homeschool teachers
Science Museum of Minnesota · St. Paul (Downtown St. Paul · St. Paul)
Science museumPrice not listedOngoing / by arrangementSt. Paul
The museum's Educator membership covers K–12 teachers, licensed homeschooling teachers and informal educators, with free museum and Omnitheater access plus discounts on parking, shopping and at local museums.
- When: Year-round
- Time: Not listed on source
- Price: Membership price not listed in the text we read
- Ages: Educators (licensed homeschooling teachers)
- Booking: Join online from the museum's educator page.
⚠️ Not fully confirmed: The page says "licensed homeschooling teachers" and shows no price. Ask whether your homeschool setup qualifies.
Source:
Last checked 2026-10-23.
Homeschool discount program
Minnesota Children's Museum · St. Paul (Downtown St. Paul · St. Paul)
Children's museumPaidOngoing / by arrangementGood for little kids (2–4)St. Paul
Homeschool families (and licensed home day care providers) can join a discount program for a year of visits at a lower price. Groups are limited to 20 children, chaperones are free, and no reservation or minimum group size is required.
- When: Year-round (sign up once for a year of access)
- Time: Not listed on source
- Price: $7 per child age 1 and older; chaperones free
- Ages: Children age 1 and up (the museum's field trips are aimed at PreK–5)
- Booking: Bring proof of your homeschool status to the box office (the museum's field trip guide also lists an application route).
⚠️ Not fully confirmed: The museum's 2026–27 field trip guide PDF lists a different homeschool rate ($6.50) than its web page ($7). Ask the box office.
Source:
Last checked 2026-10-23.
Teacher and homeschooler membership discount
Minnesota Historical Society (Minnesota History Center) · St. Paul (Downtown St. Paul · St. Paul)
History museumPaidOngoing / by arrangementSt. Paul
MNHS takes $10 off a Basic Membership for active K–12 teachers, administrators and homeschoolers. Members get free general admission to MNHS historic sites and museums for a year, including the Minnesota History Center.
- When: Year-round
- Time: Not listed on source
- Price: $10 off a Basic Membership (price after discount not on the snippet we read)
- Ages: All ages
- Booking: Pick a Basic Membership online and enter "teacher" in the promo code box.
Source:
Last checked 2026-10-23.
Securian Financial Free First Sunday
Minnesota Children's Museum · St. Paul (Downtown St. Paul · St. Paul)
Children's museumFree (per source)Next: Sun, Nov 1Good for little kids (2–4)St. Paul
Free admission on the first Sunday of each month. Reservations are required, including for members. Tickets open at 10 a.m. on the Monday two weeks before the date, while supplies last. Families getting EBT, WIC or National School Lunch benefits can also buy discounted tickets any day through the museum's All Play program.
Upcoming dates: Sun, Nov 1, 2026; Sun, Dec 6, 2026
📅 Add a date to your calendar
- When: First Sunday of each month: Sun Nov 1 and Sun Dec 6, 2026
- Time: Not listed in the text we read (the museum's event calendar showed 9 a.m.–5 p.m. for the August date)
- Price: Free (reservation required)
- Ages: Children and families (museum designed for PreK–5)
- Booking: Reserve a timed ticket; arrive within 10 minutes of your time.
Source:
Last checked 2026-10-23.
Free First Saturday family day
Walker Art Center · Minneapolis (Lowry Hill · Minneapolis)
Art museumFree (per source)Next: Sat, Nov 7Good for little kids (2–4)Minneapolis
The first Saturday of each month is the Walker's free family day, with family programming and free gallery admission. The next date on the page is Designing Together on Nov 7. Gallery admission is also free for everyone on Thursday nights from 5 to 9 p.m. and always free for children and teens under 18.
Upcoming dates: Sat, Nov 7, 2026
📅 Add to calendar
- When: First Saturday of each month (next: Nov 7, 2026)
- Time: 10 a.m.–3 p.m. family programs (galleries free 10 a.m.–5 p.m.)
- Price: Free
- Ages: Families and kids
- Booking: Not listed on source
⚠️ The "under 18 free" line is from a search summary of the Walker's visitor guidelines; the Free First Saturday and Thursday-night hours are from the Walker's free admission page.
Source:
Last checked 2026-10-23.
Family Day
Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) · Minneapolis (Whittier · Minneapolis)
Art museumFree (per source)Next: Sun, Nov 8Good for little kids (2–4)Minneapolis
A free monthly event on the second Sunday with hands-on art, storytelling, artist demonstrations, gallery hunts and self-guided tours. Nov 8 is "Inside Out" (skeleton puppets, candy skulls, a puppet show and story times), Dec 13 is "Self-Portrait" and Jan 10 is "Dress It Up!".
Upcoming dates: Sun, Nov 8, 2026; Sun, Dec 13, 2026; Sun, Jan 10, 2027
📅 Add a date to your calendar
- When: Sun Nov 8 and Dec 13, 2026; Sun Jan 10, 2027
- Time: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. (activities 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.)
- Price: Free
- Ages: Families and kids
- Booking: Not listed on source
Source:
Last checked 2026-10-23.
Como Park Zoo & Conservatory
Como Park Zoo & Conservatory (City of Saint Paul) · St. Paul (Como Park · St. Paul)
Zoo & conservatoryFree (per source)Ongoing / by arrangementGood for little kids (2–4)St. Paul
Admission and parking are free, with a suggested voluntary donation. Open daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the fall, winter and spring season. The Conservatory stays open until 6 p.m. on Mondays except Nov 9 and Dec 21. No reservations needed.
- When: Daily, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
- Time: Not listed on source
- Price: Free (suggested donation $8 per adult, $5 per child)
- Ages: All ages
- Booking: Not listed on source
Source:
Last checked 2026-10-23.
Free general admission every day
Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) · Minneapolis (Whittier · Minneapolis)
Art museumFree (per source)Ongoing / by arrangementGood for little kids (2–4)Minneapolis
The permanent collection is free every day, with no ticket or reservation needed. Sundays are open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- When: Daily
- Time: Not listed on source
- Price: Free
- Ages: All ages
- Booking: Not listed on source
Source:
Last checked 2026-10-23.
Free Thursday Nights at the Minnesota History Center
Minnesota Historical Society (Minnesota History Center) · St. Paul (Downtown St. Paul · St. Paul)
History museumFree (per source)Ongoing / by arrangementGood for little kids (2–4)St. Paul
On most Thursdays, admission to the History Center is free from 4 to 8 p.m. Reserving in advance speeds up entry. Regular admission is $8 for ages 5 to 17, and children 4 and under are free.
- When: Most Thursdays, 4–8 p.m. (check the schedule)
- Time: 4–8 p.m.
- Price: Free
- Ages: All ages
- Booking: RSVP online to speed up entry.
Source:
Last checked 2026-10-23.
Free general admission for children 15 and under
University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum · Chaska
Arboretum & gardensPaidOngoing / by arrangementGood for little kids (2–4)Suburbs (Bloomington, Chaska, Eagan & more)
Children ages 15 and younger get free general admission with an adult. A gate ticket is still required. (This is not the paid homeschool-day programs.)
- When: Year-round
- Time: Not listed on source
- Price: Free for children 15 and under; adult admission applies
- Ages: Children 15 and under free with an adult
- Booking: Not listed on source
⚠️ Not fully confirmed: This came from a search summary of the Arboretum ticket pages. The adult price was not in the text we read, so check the ticket page.
Source:
Last checked 2026-10-23.
Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
Walker Art Center (Minneapolis Sculpture Garden) · Minneapolis (Lowry Hill · Minneapolis)
Sculpture gardenFree (per source)Ongoing / by arrangementGood for little kids (2–4)Minneapolis
Home of the Spoonbridge and Cherry. The garden is always free and open daily year-round, 6 a.m. to midnight. Dress for the weather in winter.
- When: Daily, 6 a.m.–midnight
- Time: Not listed on source
- Price: Free
- Ages: All ages
- Booking: Not listed on source
Source:
Last checked 2026-10-23.
Tree of Lights Tree Lighting Ceremony
Rice Park (Saint Paul Parks and Recreation) · St. Paul (Downtown St. Paul · St. Paul)
Holiday lightsPrice not listedNext: Sat, Nov 14Good for little kids (2–4)St. Paul
The city's annual tree lighting ceremony in Rice Park, listed on the Saint Paul Parks and Recreation fall events page.
Upcoming dates: Sat, Nov 14, 2026
📅 Add to calendar
- When: Sat Nov 14, 2026
- Time: Not listed on source
- Price: Not listed on source
- Ages: All ages
- Booking: Not listed on source
⚠️ Not fully confirmed: The city's page lists the date only. Check the start time.
Source:
Last checked 2026-10-23.
Magic of Lights drive-through
Magic of Lights at Viking Lakes · Eagan
Holiday lightsPaidOpens Fri, Nov 20 · through Sat, Jan 2Good for little kids (2–4)Suburbs (Bloomington, Chaska, Eagan & more)
A drive-through holiday lights display with LED scenes and animations. Afterward you can stop at Winter SKOLstice at Viking Lakes for skating, food and drinks. One carload, one price.
📅 Add the date range (Fri, Nov 20 – Sat, Jan 2)
- When: Nightly Nov 20, 2026–Jan 2, 2027
- Time: Sun–Thu 5:30–9 p.m.; Fri–Sat 5:30–10 p.m.
- Price: November standard car ticket from $21.99 per vehicle in advance ($25 at the gate); December prices differ
- Ages: All ages
- Booking: Not listed on source
⚠️ Not fully confirmed: The price table on the page does not read clearly in text. Check the page for the ticket you need.
Source:
Last checked 2026-10-23.
Northern Lights
University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum · Chaska
Holiday lightsPaidOpens Fri, Nov 20 · through Sun, Jan 3Good for little kids (2–4)Suburbs (Bloomington, Chaska, Eagan & more)
A new evening light show with 18 installations along a one-way path: tree-canopy projections, bonfires, geometric light sculptures, a 60-foot shadow wall and a lit indoor cafe. Closed Nov 26, Dec 24 and Dec 25.
📅 Add the date range (Fri, Nov 20 – Sun, Jan 3)
- When: Nightly Nov 20, 2026–Jan 3, 2027
- Time: 4:30–9:30 p.m.
- Price: Non-members $35, members $25, children through age 15 free (ticket required); gate tickets cost $10 more if space allows; parking free
- Ages: All ages
- Booking: Advance tickets strongly recommended.
Source:
Last checked 2026-10-23.