Halloween activities for kids in the Twin Cities: Indoor and outdoor events for October 31–November 1

Families looking for Halloween activities in the Twin Cities have options ranging from indoor mall trick-or-treating to neighborhood costume parades and an illuminated pumpkin trail. This guide separates events by region and by indoor or outdoor setting, with addresses, advertised times and costs.

Most events below take place Saturday, October 31, 2026. The Minnesota Zoo’s Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular also runs Sunday, November 1. Times are Central Time. Listings describe scheduled events, not live ticket availability; check the linked organizer before leaving, especially where a timing discrepancy is noted. Some morning and early-afternoon activities may have ended by the time you read this.

Photo above: Mall of America’s 2026 Mall-O-Ween promotional image. Image: Mall of America, from its official event listing.

St. Paul

Indoor and mixed-setting events

Mischief Toy Store Halloween Costume Contest — Saturday, 11 a.m.–8 p.m., at 818 Grand Avenue. Children can arrive in costume to enter the contest. Free professional face painting is advertised from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Participation is free. Event listing.

Highland Bridge Boo Blast and Fall Festival — Saturday, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., at Lunds & Byerlys, 2170 Ford Parkway. Costumed children can collect treats and join seasonal activities. Admission is free. Treat this as a mixed-setting outing rather than a guarantee that every activity is indoors. Boo Blast schedule.

Outdoor events

Grand Avenue Boo Bash — Saturday along Grand Avenue, with free business trick-or-treating and fall festivities. Published hours differ: Red Balloon Bookshop lists 11 a.m.–1 p.m., while the Grand Avenue Business Association advertises 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Plan for the shared 11 a.m.–1 p.m. window and confirm individual business hours. The association also advertises a ghost scavenger hunt, games and crafts. Business association listing and Red Balloon’s schedule.

Minneapolis

Indoor events

Not-So-Scary Trick-or-Treat at Midtown Global Market — Saturday, 5–7 p.m., at 920 East Lake Street. The free family event includes vendor trick-or-treating, treat-bag decorating and face painting, according to the supplied listing. Parking may cost extra. Family Halloween listings.

Walker Art Center Middle School Movie Club — Saturday at 725 Vineland Place. Drop-in art-making runs noon–4 p.m.; the Edward Scissorhands screening begins at 1 p.m. The Walker advertises a movie-inspired costume contest and free admission, but registration is required for the screening. This program is designed for middle schoolers and their friends rather than as a toddler event; caregivers and family members are welcome. Official event and registration.

Outdoor and park-based events

Halloween at North Loop Green — Saturday, 1–3 p.m., at 350 North Fifth Street. This free neighborhood party includes treats, pumpkin decorating, entertainment and a photo backdrop. The costume parade begins at 2 p.m. Children, pets and adults are welcome. Official neighborhood event page.

Pershing Park Halloween Celebration — The supplied guide and Thrifty Minnesota list Saturday, 3–7:30 p.m., at 3523 West 48th Street, with treats, cider and s’mores. However, another family calendar currently places Pershing’s Halloween event on November 5. Because those dates conflict, confirm directly with the park before making a trip. October 31 listing and conflicting park calendar.

Brackett Park Halloween Photo Booth and Treats — Saturday, 5–6:30 p.m., at 2728 South 39th Avenue. Families can stop for costume pictures and treats, and pets are welcome for photos. Admission is free. This is a park-based stop; confirm the photo-booth setting if you need an entirely indoor outing. Event listing.

Northern, northeastern and northwestern suburbs

Indoor events

Rosedale Center Halloween Haul, Roseville — Saturday, 4–7 p.m., at 1595 Highway 36 West. The free event includes participating-store trick-or-treating and a Twin Cities Road Crew dance party in the East Court. The mall’s current listing names Spider-Man and Moana among the characters. Masks are not allowed for guests older than 12 except for religious or medical reasons. Candy is available while supplies last. Official event page.

Maplewood Mall Spooktacular Candy Crawl, Maplewood — Saturday, 4–8 p.m., at 3001 White Bear Avenue. The free indoor event is listed with participating-store trick-or-treating, crafts and a photo booth in Center Court. Family event listing.

Mini Hops Gymnastics Pumpkin Party, Plymouth — Saturday, 2–3 p.m., at 2600 Campus Drive. Open gym, mini-pumpkin decorating and dancing are advertised for ages 3–5, with caregiver participation required. Listed admission is $20, with a $15 additional-sibling price in one event listing. Registration and waivers are required; check availability before arriving. Program details.

Outdoor events

Spring Lake Park Lions Trunk or Treat — Listed for Saturday, 5–6:15 p.m., at Sanburnol Park, 520 Sanburnol Drive NE. The free parking-lot event welcomes children in costume. One directory carries an outdated weekday reference, so confirm with the organizer before departure. 2026 family calendar listing.

Revolution Gymnastics Trunk or Treat, Rogers — Saturday, 2–3:30 p.m., at 14680 James Road. The organizer confirms parking-lot trick-or-treating and a collection for CROSS Services. Food and drinks from Prosperity Grill are advertised. An admission price is not stated on the organizer’s page; check before attending. Official event page.

Anoka County Farms, Ham Lake — The farm’s season ends Saturday, October 31, at 125 Bunker Lake Boulevard NE. Its official website advertises weekend hours of 10 a.m.–6 p.m., $5 cash admission per person including a hayride, and some additional activities costing $2–$5. Cards are not accepted. A separate guide reports an earlier Halloween closing, so call 763-427-0000 to confirm Saturday’s closing time. Official farm information.

Southern and southwestern suburbs

Indoor events

Mall-O-Ween at Mall of America, Bloomington — Saturday, noon–6 p.m., at 60 East Broadway. Costume photos and a live DJ begin at noon in the Rotunda. Store trick-or-treating begins at 4 p.m. for children ages 12 and younger, while supplies last. Bring a treat bag; bags are not provided, and candy is distributed at participating stores rather than the Rotunda. An Allergy-Friendly Zone is planned in Southeast Court. The parental escort policy begins at 3 p.m. Mall activities are free; amusement rides cost extra. Official event, participating stores and map.

Outdoor events

Fat Pants Brewing Trunk or Treat, Eden Prairie — Saturday, 11 a.m.–2 p.m., at 8335 Crystal View Road. The family event is listed as free, with trick-or-treating, pumpkin decorating and seasonal activities. Family event listing.

Halloween in Victoria — Saturday in downtown Victoria and Bayfront Park, 1730 Steiger Lake Lane. Business trick-or-treating runs 1–2 p.m.; park games and activities run 1:30–3:30 p.m. The free city event includes fire-truck exploration, pumpkin activities, a treat trail and a photo station. The city says games move to the Victoria Lions Pavilion, 1505 82nd Street, in inclement weather. Official city schedule.

Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular, Apple Valley — Minnesota Zoo, 13000 Zoo Boulevard. The outdoor pumpkin trail continues through Sunday, November 1, offering a weekend option after Halloween night. The zoo advertises more than 5,000 carved pumpkins and requires advance online tickets for a specific date and time. Published prices range from $23–$30 for adults and $19–$26 for children, with children ages 0–2 free. Nonmember parking is listed at $10 per car. Confirm the total price and remaining time slots before traveling. Official tickets and event information.

Choosing an outing for younger children

For families with toddlers and preschoolers, short visits to mall trick-or-treating, neighborhood business stops or North Loop Green may be easier to fit around naps and meals. Maplewood Mall and Rosedale provide indoor evening choices; Mall of America combines daytime entertainment with store trick-or-treating starting at 4 p.m. Mini Hops is specifically advertised for ages 3–5, while the Walker program is aimed at middle schoolers.

Sunday has fewer Halloween-specific listings in this guide. The zoo’s pumpkin trail is confirmed to continue through November 1; Saturday-only events should not be assumed to repeat Sunday.

Event information was checked against organizer pages and local family calendars on October 31, 2026. Where sources disagree, the discrepancy is stated rather than presenting uncertain times as confirmed. Images are credited to Mall of America and the Minnesota Zoo and are promotional images, not photographs documenting this weekend’s attendance.