13 Best Minnesota Fall Festivals to Experience Autumn (2023)
Are you looking for the best Minnesota fall festivals to celebrate the Autumn season and have some fun?
There are so many great festivals scattered all around the state, some that are all season long, while others are just a weekend.
Attending these festivals means the entire family will have fun playing games, visiting the pumpkin patch, eating delicious food, and spending time together.
From corn mazes to petting zoos to playgrounds and corn pits, there’s something for everyone to love!
I grew up in Minnesota and have spent a lot of time exploring these festivals because fall is my favorite time of year!
So if you’re looking for something to do this fall, check out these awesome festivals.
Best Minnesota Fall Festivals
Below are the best festivals to check out this fall. Be sure to add them all into your calendar so you don’t miss out on these fun events!
1. Twin Cities Harvest Festival – Brooklyn Park
One of the best places to be in the fall time is the Twin Cities, because there are so many fun events happening throughout the season!
At the Twin Cities Harvest Festival in Brooklyn Park, your entire family can have fun wandering around and exploring all there is to do.
The main attraction is their massive corn maze, which each year is shaped like something new and is the largest in the Twin Cities.
You’ll even find trivia questions within the maze that you can answer and be entered to win a prize for!
Aside from the corn maze, you can enjoy other activities like a corn pit, straw bale maze, and petting zoo.
Plus a carnival area with inflatable climbing toys, pony rides, a playground, magic shows, face painting, and so much more.
You can head out into the pumpkin patch and choose your favorite one, or pick up some other fresh and local produce from the farm market.
Live music happens every weekend, and you can find a lineup of food trucks, typically 10-12 a weekend, to grab a bite to eat at!
This is overall one of the very best fall festivals in Minnesota out there, and a great Twin Cities fall festival!
2. Minnesota Renaissance Festival – Shakopee
The Minnesota Renaissance Festival takes place on weekends throughout August and September, and you can find a large variety of themes!
Perhaps the biggest and most fall-like theme is Oktoberfest, which offers you the chance to experience Munich, Germany’s traditional festival.
From people dressed in lederhosen and dirndl to Beer Steins everywhere, you’ll know this is a unique festival!
This is the last weekend of the season for the Renaissance Festival, and it’s encouraged that you dress up to fit the theme! (Although it is optional!)
Check out all of the local vendors that line the streets and try your hand at the Stein holding contest.
And to even better fit the theme, you can take part in a sauerkraut eating contest or see which guest has the best yodel.
Minnesotans wait all year for the Minnesota Renaissance Festival, so be sure to add it to your calendar this year!
3. Stillwater Harvest Fest – Stillwater
Held over the second weekend in October every year, the Stillwater Harvest Fest is one that should not be missed!
You’ll find unique events spread out throughout the entire weekend, and you’ll want to be there for all of them.
Starting off with perhaps the most unique event, is the Pumpkin Regatta, where you can watch people paddle across the St. Croix River in a pumpkin. You read that right.
Other fun activities include the pumpkin weigh-off, to see which local farmer grew the biggest one, and a pumpkin drop, where you catch watch huge pumpkins be dropped from 100 feet above the ground!
Check out the vendor market, where you’ll find locally-made items or the beer and wine garden for a delicious drink.
Live music happens all day, and you can take part in a chili cook-off, where you can try a bunch of local restaurants’ chili recipes and vote for the best!
Overall, the Stillwater Harvest fest is one of the very best and offers some really great family fun!
4. Sever’s Fall Festival – Shakopee
Found in Shakopee, Sever’s Fall Festival is a fantastic place to spend a free weekend this fall with your family!
You’ll find a seemingly endless variety of events at Sever’s, and in fact, some of the very best in the entire Midwest!
Try to escape from the corn maze, cruise down the giant slide, and send the kids in to climb around the extreme corn pit.
Everyone can enjoy the petting zoo, hayrides, wildlife shows, live music, comedy shows, magic shows, and straw sculptures.
Along with all of the fun activities to check out, be sure to grab a bite to eat when you get hungry, and visit their apple orchard to take home some delicious fruit.
Many of the attractions are free at the festival and some cost extra, but overall, it’s a great Minnesota fall festival!
5. Anoka Halloween Events – Anoka
Located just a short distance outside of Minneapolis is something very special; the Halloween Capital of the World.
In Anoka, you’ll find everything Halloween during the month of October, and you can join in on the fun!
Attend their awesome Halloween parade where you’ll see spooky goblins and vampires and have the chance to get some candy.
Or take a guess at what the largest pumpkin is going to weigh at their giant pumpkin weigh-off.
Other fun events take place throughout the month such as relaxing and watching a Halloween-themed movie outdoors.
Plus pumpkin carving contests and scarecrow contests are fun events for everyone of all ages.
6. Boats and Bluegrass Festival -Winona
Unique from many of the other fall festivals that include corn mazes and pumpkin smashing, the Boats and Bluegrass Festival features music and camping!
You’ll be situated in a campground that’s nestled along the bluffs of the Mississippi River in Winona and will get to enjoy a final weekend before cold sets in.
Enjoy live music from all sorts of family-friendly genres. From bluegrass to country to old-time.
There are 80 acres of camping space that everyone will be spread out on and you’ll hear music throughout the entire day!
And on the first two days of the festival, you can enjoy wandering out on the Mississippi River on a boat to take in all of the scenic views.
The entire weekend is a blast for everyone who attends, so be sure not to miss this one!
7. Moose Madness Family Festival – Grand Marais
Found up North on the North Shore in Grand Marais is the Moose Madness Family Festival, happening in October each year.
Moose are seen in Minnesota, but it’s rare! One of the best places to see them is on the North Shore and along the Gunflint Trail.
There are all sorts of events taking place on the weekend of the Moose Madness Family Festival.
From scavenger hunts to drives to spot this elusive creature and more activities to learn about the moose, this is a great event for the entire family.
While it’s not like any of the other events where you get to pick pumpkins or go on a hayride, this Minnesota fall festival is unique and fun for everyone!
8. Harvest Moon Festival – Ely
The Harvest Moon Festival has been taking place in Ely for nearly 30 years, and is back for another great year this September!
Join in on the fun of this three day event where you can check out everything from food vendors to art fairs and more.
Support local businesses by shopping the art and craft fair where you’ll find handmade items to bring home.
And along with all of the handmade goods, you can also grab a bite to eat from their food vendors, many of which are local and all serve up delicious food.
9. Chester Bowl Fall Fest – Duluth
Held each September on the third weekend of the month, the Chester Bowl Fall Fest has been taking place for nearly 40 years!
If you’re located in or near Duluth, then you know that there are fun events happening year-round and endless things to do!
And this is another thing to add to your must-do list, where you can experience a sense of community with all of the others attending.
As the event has continued to grow, there are now over 100 vendors to check out selling everything from crafts, decor, food, snacks to bring home, and more.
There are also specific food vendors to grab a bit to eat at during your visit and live music happening throughout the day.
And because this event is popular, there is a free shuttle service that runs between the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) and the Chester Bowl.
Plus, being in Duluth gives you the perfect opportunity to explore along Lake Superior and head up the North Shore to see some amazing fall colors!
10. St. Paul Oktoberfest – St. Paul
Another of the greatest Oktoberfest celebrations in the state takes place right in St. Paul, held on the grounds of the Germanic-American Institute.
Enjoy two days in September of traditional celebrations, just like they have in Munich, Germany.
Sip on a tall glass of their huge selection of beers, some being imported from Germany, and others being from local breweries.
Along with the drinks, you can’t forget the food! Munch on a few classic German foods like bratwurst, pretzels, potato pancakes, and more.
Wander around and experience what it would be like to celebrate Oktoberfest over in Germany and enjoy the all day entertainment.
This family friendly event is one of the best fall festivals in Minnesota!
11. Grape Stomp Festival – Stillwater
Head over to one of the most beautiful vineyards and wineries in the state, St. Croix Vineyards, for a unique Grape Stomp Festival.
This is the oldest and original grape stomping in Minnesota, so it’s a must-do during the fall season!
You can get in on the fun yourself and try a few techniques that you think would be best for grape stomping, and you might even win a price.
The audience will decide by clapping and cheering who had the best style in their stomping.
And during your visit, be sure to take a tour of the winery and vineyard, to see where all of the magic really happens.
Live music often plays and you can of course, sit back and relax as you sip on a glass of their award-winning wines.
12. Tricks and Treats at Valleyfair – Shakopee
This great family-friendly event is an immersive experience that lets the entire family enjoy the fall and Halloween season without the scares.
Valleyfair used to host an event called ‘ValleyScare’ that was more catered towards older kids and adults.
But now, with their new event, Valleyfair Tricks and Treats, the entire family, including young kids can attend and have a blast.
Wander through the park and hop on all of the rides, from roller coasters to drop rides to kiddie coasters.
Enjoy the extravagant decorations that fill the park, from giant pumpkins to cobwebs to lights, you’ll almost feel like you’re in Halloweentown!
There are two different areas, Lands of Treats and Lands of Tricks, each of which has its own theme, decor, and activities.
During your time, you can expect to find places to go trick or treating, Halloween-themed games to play, and delicious fall-themed foods to eat.
If you have kids and are looking for somewhere fun to bring them this fall, Valleyfair Tricks and Treats is the place to be!
13. Twin Cities Oktoberfest – St. Paul
There are a few Oktoberfest celebrations that take place across Minnesota, and multiple right within the Twin Cities!
The Twin Cities Oktoberfest is the largest in the state and is held as an annual event at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.
Everything that you find at the event is local, because those who run it understand the importance of supporting our local businesses!
Enjoy many, many local beer vendors including popular breweries like Socialable Cider Werks and Utepils Brewing.
Or taste a delicious array of European and German-inspired foods from local businesses, including European pancakes and a variety of pies.
You’ll also find many, many people dressed in lederhosen and dirndl, traditional German attire.
Along with all of the other fun, you’ll find live music and dancing to enjoy watching.
This family-friendly event is a great place to go if you’re looking for a way to celebrate the fall season!
FAQs
Fall in Minnesota typically is between September and October. This is when the leaves start to change and most festivals are taking place.
Weather in the fall typically has temperatures floating between 30 degrees F and 65 degrees F. There are still sunny days, but there are starting to be more gloomy and rainy days.
There are a few Oktoberfest celebrations in Minnesota. The Twin Cities Oktoberfest in Brooklyn Park is the most popular, but there is also one in St. Paul, New Ulm, at Carlos Creek Winery, and at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival.
Wrap-Up: Fall Festivals in Minnesota
Attending a fall festival is a great way to get out and enjoy the season, and there are so many in this beautiful state that it’s easy to find them!
Whether you want to just sit back, relax, and listen to live music or you want to let the kids run off some energy in the corn maze, you can do it all.
These Minnesota fall festivals are great for the entire family, and a nice way to enjoy the last few bits of warm weather before winter comes our way.
