17 Best Things to Do in Minnesota in October for Fall Fun (2023)
Are you looking for the best things to do in Minnesota in October to have fun this fall season?
Luckily for you, there are so many amazing things to do and check out in the fall, many of which include seeing beautiful fall colors, eating good food, and having fun with the family.
From the vibrant city of Minneapolis to the rugged shores of Lake Superior, there are plenty of activities happening all over the state!
I grew up in Minnesota and my favorite season is fall. So I spend a lot of time wandering around the state during September and October, finding the best activities.
In this post, I’ll share with you some of the very best things to do to make the most of this season before the long winter hits.
Things to Do in Minnesota in October
Below you’ll find some of the best things to do during your time in Minnesota during the fall months. Whether you’re a local or are just visiting, these fun activities will keep you busy!
1. Go Apple Picking
Picking apples is a great, peaceful way to enjoy the cool weather that the fall season in Minnesota brings.
You’ll find local orchards scattered all over the state, each of which grows its own varieties of apples, including the Honeycrisp, which was developed at the University of Minnesota!
Whether you pick a few to bring home as a snack or to bake into a delicious pie, visiting apple orchards is a great fall activity.
A few of the best ones include Aamodt’s Apple Farm, Afton Apple Orchard, and Minnetonka Orchards.
2. Wander Through a Haunted House
When October rolls around, it’s officially haunted house season, and you can find yourself a good fright all over the state.
From haunted hayrides to corn mazes to haunted houses, it’s likely that you’ll still be looking around every corner, even after you get home.
Whether you love a good scare of you’re just being dragged along by someone who does, there are so many great options to choose from.
You’ll find all sorts of haunted houses, from kid-friendly ones to terrifying interactive experiences where the actors can touch you.
A few of the very best are the Deadend Hayride in Wyoming, the Haunted Ship in Duluth, and Scream Town in Chaska.
3. Visit a Winery
Fall is the perfect time to visit a winery and sit outside on the patio, enjoying the cool air as you sip on a glass of wine.
Local wineries are found all over the state, and wandering through the vineyard is a peaceful experience.
Some of the wineries even offer grape stomping festivals that you can attend and experience the unique event.
Some great wineries to check out include North Shore Winery in Lutsen, Schram Vineyards in Waconia, and Saint Croix Vineyards in Stillwater.
This is a nice way to get out and have a relaxing and romantic evening, or to hang out with friends as you soak up the last few days before winter.
Specifically, visit Carlos Creek Winery, where you’ll find their very own Oktoberfest celebration!
4. Go Leaf Peeping
One of my very favorite parts of fall is seeing all of the amazing colors that fill the trees as they start to change color.
From bright shades of red to intense yellows and oranges, everywhere you look, you see beautiful fall foliage.
Even just a simple drive down the road will provide you with some of the most amazing colors!
But if you really want to get a good look at the fall colors, try to get out on a hiking trail!
Locations like the North Shore, Stillwater, Winona, or Taylors Falls all provide great opportunities for hiking to take in all the colors.
But you’ll have to move fast on this one, as the fall foliage doesn’t last for long before the leaves start to drop!
5. Pick out a Pumpkin at the Pumpkin Patch
There’s just something so classic and nostalgic about visiting a pumpkin patch and bringing home the perfect pumpkin to carve up.
Wandering around the patch and choosing the perfect fit for you before carving it into your perfect Jack-O-Lantern and setting it on the front step.
You can find pumpkin patches all over, from right in the Twin Cities to all the way in Northern Minnesota and all the way to Southern Minnesota.
Along with just picking out your pumpkin, many of these patches have other activities like hayrides, corn mazes, snack shacks, or hay jumps.
A few favorites around the state include Pinehaven Farm in Wyoming, Afton Apple Orchard in Hastings, and Waldoch Farm in Lino Lakes.
6. Get Lost in a Corn Maze
Corn mazes are another fun thing to do in Minnesota in October that brings up a lot of nostalgia and child-like fun in people!
Whether you plan to just meander through and take your time or you’re trying to race the clock, these can be fun for everyone!
You can find corn mazes at a lot of the pumpkin patches around Minnesota, as well as at some of the fall harvest festivals.
Some even have an option where you can head in after dark and try to make your way out with just a flashlight. Spooky!
7. Go for a Hike
As I mentioned above, one of the very best ways to see the amazing colors during fall in Minnesota is to go for a hike.
There are hiking trails all over, and you can even find many right in Minneapolis!
But if you want to experience some of the most beautiful colors you’ll ever see, head up to the North Shore and hike around Grand Marais and Lutsen.
The foliage contrasts beautifully against Lake Superior and you will just be blown away!
Other great places to hike in the fall are around Stillwater, Winona, Red Wing, and Taylors Falls. In Taylors Falls, head into Interstate State Park.
Hiking around this time is perfect because there are fewer crowds, cooler weather, and you get to enjoy the outdoors before the snow and cold come!
8. Ride the Gondola on the North Shore
While you’re on the North Shore for some hiking, you should also plan to take a ride on the gondola up to Moose Mountain.
The Summit Express Gondola takes you in a cable car to the top of some of the beautiful Minnesotan mountains.
From the top, you can see for miles and miles, with bright red, orange, and yellow trees covering the landscape.
It’s one of the top attractions on the North Shore, and in saying that, is very busy. So I recommend visiting on a weekday if possible, or early in the morning.
But either way, it’s a beautiful ride, and once you’ve made it to the top, you won’t believe your eyes, as you stare out into a sea of color.
9. Attend a Harvest Festival
Harvest festivals are one of the best ways to experience multiple of these fall activities in Minnesota at once.
You can find them all over the state, from the Stillwater Harvest Festival to the Twin Cities Harvest Festival.
While you’re at them, you can typically participate in fun activities like corn mazes, wandering through a pumpkin patch, snacking on mini donuts, or visiting a petting zoo.
Some have even more activities to check out, and all are great family-friendly fall events.
10. Get in One Last Weekend Getaway
While you can most definitely still get away and enjoy Minnesota’s winter, sneaking away for one final weekend getaway before the cold sets in is a must.
One of the best ways to do this is to take a road trip to certain places around the state that offer fun activities.
My personal favorite is the North Shore, where you can take a road trip from Duluth to Grand Portage.
Other places to getaway to include Stillwater, Winona, Red Wing, Rochester, and the Twin Cities.
Each of these locations has fun fall festivals, pumpkin patches, corn mazes, haunted houses, and more that you can fit into a weekend of adventure!
Plus, as you drive, you’ll get to admire the amazing colors along the side of the road.
11. Attend Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest is a fun festival that was originally only held in Munich, Germany, but has since spread all over the world.
In Minnesota, there are multiple Oktoberfest Festivals to attend throughout the month of October.
The largest in Minnesota is the Twin Cities Oktoberfest, which is held at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.
Here you’ll find an entirely local event featuring lots of beer, ciders, food, music, and more. And of course, plenty of people dressed in lederhosen and dirndls.
Other events around the state include at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival, New Ulm’s Oktoberfest, and many other locations.
One of the very best things to do in Minnesota in October is attending Oktoberfest, so if you’ve never been, add it to your calendar now!
12. Try Out Brewery Hopping
Minnesota has a large craft brewery scene with local breweries all over the state.
A nice way to try out some of the very best local breweries is to go brewery hopping or take a brewery tour.
You can also often find local ciders at the breweries, and sometimes delicious foods to eat.
Of course, do not drive after drinking, and always have a designated driver or visit breweries that are within walking distance of one another.
13. Go for a Scenic Drive
Enjoying the beautiful fall foliage in Minnesota is really just as simple as hopping in your car and going!
Oftentimes, roads, especially back roads, are completely lined with colorful trees that you can admire from the car.
No matter where you’re located or visiting in Minnesota, you can usually find somewhere to take a scenic drive to see the colors.
Minnesota has 22 scenic byways that stretch across the state to choose from, if you want to go a little further.
A few of the best options are the North Shore Scenic Drive, the St. Croix Scenic Byway, the Gunflint Trail, and the Great River Road.
14. Go Fall Camping
With the camping season almost over, it’s a must to get in one last weekend out in your tent or RV before packing it up for the winter!
One of my favorite parts of fall camping is that you can enjoy the crisp, cool weather, rather than sitting outside in the hot sun.
There’s just something about sitting around a campfire, all bundled up in a flannel and fuzzy socks with the cool breeze blowing across your face.
You’ll find so many amazing campgrounds around Minnesota, so there won’t ever be a problem snagging a spot!
15. Watch a Minnesota Vikings Game
Minnesotans take a lot of pride in their NFL team, the Minnesota Vikings, and you can catch one of their home games starting in September.
The Vikings play at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, and watching a game provides a truly unique experience, as you listen to the crowd sing their SKOL chant.
Whether you’re a football fan or not, catching one of these games is a fun way to spend a day in doing fall activities in Minnesota.
16. Visit the Halloween Capital of the World
Many people don’t know that Minnesota is actually home to the Halloween Capital of the World, Anoka.
Throughout the month of October, you can find all sorts of fun events taking place to get you in the Halloween spirit!
You can take part in everything from a Halloween parade to Halloween movie nights, and even a giant pumpkin weigh-off.
There’s a scarecrow contest, pumpkin carving contests, a high school football game called the ‘Pumpkin Bowl,’ and a haunted house. Plus so much more.
Visiting Anoka during Halloween time is one of the best ways to spend time in Minnesota in October.
17. Visit Valleyfair’s Tricks and Treats
While Valleyfair is known for being a fantastic theme park and outdoor waterpark, around Halloween, it turns into something totally different!
This over-the-top Halloween celebration features extravagant decorations, places for kids to trick or treat, fun shows and games, and more.
Plus, you can ride the thrill rides like roller coasters and drop rides to add more fun to your day!
Valleyfair used to host this as a more scary event, but in recent years, it’s become totally family-friendly! So all ages will have a blast.
What is the Weather Like in Minnesota in October?
Minnesota’s weather during October is absolutely beautiful! With cooler temperatures, minimal to no snow, and gorgeous fall colors, it’s a great season for us!
You’ll typically start seeing temperatures drop around the beginning of October and Minnesota sees lows around 35 degrees F and highs around 65 degrees F.
This is the perfect time for getting outside because there are fewer crowds, less hot sun, and beautiful cool temperatures.
You may see some snow towards the end of October, but it usually doesn’t stick around for long!
When Do the Leaves Change Color in Minnesota?
One of the best parts about Minnesota in October is that the leaves change absolutely beautiful shades of red, yellow, and orange before dropping.
When the leaves turn colors depends on where you are in the state, but it’s typically between mid-September and early October.
The further north you go, the earlier the leaves begin to change.
So if you’re looking for peak fall colors on the North Shore, then plan to head up there around the last week of September to the first week of October.
Closer to Minneapolis, you might not see peak colors until mid-October.
But, you should always double-check on the Minnesota DNR website to see where the leaves are at before visiting to avoid being disappointed when you arrive!
FAQs
Fall is great all over Minnesota, but the best places are the Twin Cities and the North Shore. The Twin Cities have great festivals, celebrations, and more. While the North Shore has amazing outdoor activities and opportunities to see the changing leaves.
There is so much to do in Minneapolis in the fall season such as attend Oktoberfest, visit a harvest festival, go to a pumpkin patch, visit a winery, and more.
Yes, Minnesota is absolutely beautiful in the fall! With shades of gold, red, and orange filling every forest, it’s a magical site and a must-visit for everyone!
Wrap-Up: Things to Do in Minnesota in October
Whether you’re planning a visit to Minnesota or you’re a local looking for some October and Halloween fun, there is plenty to do during the fall season.
So if you’re searching for things to do in Minnesota in October, you’ll never be bored with all of the great activities!
From pumpkin patches to Oktoberfest to harvest festivals and apple orchards, there is truly something for the entire family!
