Fall Activities in Minneapolis Saint Paul Region

The Minnesota State Fair, which runs from Aug. 23 through Labor Day, always signifies the end of summer. Enjoy 75 creative foods on a stick or catch an act at the Grandstand including Bonnie Raitt, Rascal Flatts, Kiss and Journey. Also don’t miss the last chance to catch the Real Piratesexhibit at the Science Museum of Minnesota in Saint Paul, which runs through Labor Day.

Shakopee also hosts its Renaissance Festival weekends from Aug. 18-Sept. 30. New attractions  this year include a fairy house competition, the princess court and human combat chess. More merry-making can be found at the Medieval Fair in Eagan’s Caponi Art Park Sept. 30. Also check out the Lakeville Art Festival Sept. 15-16 and Take Me to the River, a celebration of arts and music in 50 towns along the St. Croix River from Hastings to Taylors Falls on Sept. 22.

Celebrate harvest time at area vineyards with grape stomps Sept. 8-9 at St. Croix Vineyards in Stillwater and Crofut Family Winery in Shakopee.  The weekend of Oct. 13-14, when fall colors are at their peak, Stillwater will host the Stillwater Harvest Fest and Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off and Hastings will host the St. Croix Valley Apple Fest with three area orchards offering hay rides, farm animals, mazes, cider press demonstrations and pick your own apples. That same weekend,Waconia will host a scarecrow tour showcasing 30 designer scarecrows around town. Take plenty of pictures, vote for your favorite scarecrow and win valuable prizes.

By month’s end, festivities take on a ghoulish cast as Anoka, the “Halloween Capital of the World,” stages Anoka Halloween, a week-long celebration of costume contests, parades, activities, and events culminating with a Halloween Grand Parade Oct. 27. Meanwhile, Mall of America inBloomington will feature Nickelodeon Blackout Oct. 19-20, 26-27, where the park will be transformed with unlit rides, black lights and fog affects for ghouls and witches. The Mall will also stage the world’s largest indoor Trick or Treat Oct. 31 with 150 stores dishing out treats for kids. For the adults, Burnsville hosts Frightmares at Buck Hill Oct. 5-28 – 13 nights of four haunts, including a full bar, restaurant, live entertainment and music. In downtown Minneapolis First Avenue’s Halloween Contest will be a night of crazy costumes and plenty of live entertainment in this popular concert venue, favored by Prince and several other rock icons.

Winter Preview

Visit the Minneapolis Saint Paul area for holiday shopping, the Holidazzle Parade and dozens of community holiday events that feature tree lightings, live reindeer, hot chocolate, cookies and parades. Come enjoy winter sports in the snow and ice and plan to visit Winter Carnival in late January. For more detailed information on these and other Minnesota Metro Region events and attractions, visit www.mspvacations.com.

The Explore Minnesota Metro Tourism Committee is comprised of 18 destination marketing organizations including and surrounding the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul. This area and its neighboring communities make up an inviting metropolitan area with an appealing array of things to see and do. The region is cosmopolitan at its core and more rural along its perimeter. It offers an exciting arts scene, award winning theaters, landmark architecture, terrific restaurants, intriguing museums, unique shopping, including the famed Mall of America, and lots of fun for families. The Minnesota Twins, Vikings, Timberwolves, Lynx and Wild pro sports teams draw enthusiastic sports fans year ‘round. The urban scenery includes an abundance of shady greenways and sparkling lakes with miles of bike trails, making it nationally recognized as one of the best areas for biking. The Mississippi, Minnesota and St. Croix rivers wind through the region. Not only is it a major cultural and commercial center, this vibrant urban region is one of the most beautiful metro areas in the country. In addition to the two downtowns, a variety of close-knit neighborhoods, suburban communities and semi-rural areas offer lots to see and do.   For more detailed information please visit www.mspvacations.com.

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