Summer is coming to an end, but that doesn’t mean the fun has to stop! While the weather is cooling down, the fun activities are heating up. Check out the top 10 fall activities in Minnesota and western Wisconsin to explore in 2018.
Bring the kiddos
1. Sever’s Corn Maze, located in Shakopee, MN, is the original fall fun destination for Minnesota families! Come to solve this year’s “Scuba Sever” maze and stay for the pumpkin patch, live music and yummy food. The event is open:
- Sept. 7 – Oct. 28, 2018
- Fridays (1 p.m – 8 p.m.), Saturdays (10 a.m. – 8 p.m.) and Sundays (10 a.m. – 6 p.m.)
2. Get into the Halloween spirit— make sure you see the first ever Jack O’Lantern Spectacular at the MN Zoo, where there will be over 5,000 illuminated pumpkins. Enjoy an enchanting evening here:
- Oct. 4 – Oct. 31, 2018
- Sundays – Thursdays (7 p.m. – 10 p.m.) and Fridays – Saturdays (7 p.m. – 11 p.m.)
3. Savor the last bit of fresh fall air by exploring Theodore Wirth Regional Park. Trails with views ranging from dense forest to Minneapolis’ downtown skyline are open for you to bus, bike, drive, walk and more. The park is open:
- Daily (6 a.m. – midnight, in developed areas)
- Year round
Fall festivals
4. Festivals pack in the fun all in one place! Be sure to stop by the St. Croix Falls AutumnFest in Wisconsin, where you can enjoy farm-fresh food from the market, crafts, music and other special events. Catch this day-long event on:
- Saturday, Oct. 8, 2018 (10 a.m.– 1 p.m., farmer’s market) and (10 a.m.– 3 p.m., fair)
5. A great fall day definitely includes apples! The Bayfield Apple Festival has all the apples you can eat, showcasing over 60 orchard and food booths. Drive past your usual fall stop in Duluth and head to Bayfield, where the streets will be lined with carnival games, parades, entertainment and vendors.
- Oct. 5 – 8, 2018
- Hours and events vary by day, check the Bayfield website for details
6. Welcome to the 2018 SurlyFest! Here, beer, games, music and pizza are abundant. This event is located in Minneapolis during:
- Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018 (10 a.m. –10 p.m.)
Something unique
7. Love to bike, but need some sweet treats for fuel? Head south to the annual Mankato River Ramble Bike Tour, where participants in the 30-mile tour are rewarded with a mid-race pie stop (because pit stops are overrated).
- Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018 (8 a.m.-3 p.m.)
8. If you’re craving more brewery bliss, plan some stops on the Land of 10,000 Drinks map. Many breweries create pumpkin, apple and seasonal varieties that you’ll be able to sip on throughout your “brewcation.”
- Hours vary by location, visit the MN brewery map for details
- Year round
9. If you’re raring to go, but happen to make plans when there is rain or — gasp — early snowfall, spend the day inside! There’s plenty of history to take in at the gorgeous new Bell Museum in St. Paul. Stop by on:
- Daily (10 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
- Year round
10. And don’t forget to hit up the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon! Whether you’re racing or joining in on the celebration, this event proclaims to be “the most beautiful urban marathon in America.” The marathon weekend festivities will be held:
- Oct. 5 – 8, 2018
- All weekend long! Check out the marathon website for more details