The leaves are changing and soon there will be snow. Get out now and enjoy all that Minnesota has to offer this October. If you’re looking for events in the Twin Cities this October there is plenty to choose from! The final weekend of the Parade of Homes is going on, corn mazes, and all things halloween are taking place this month. Grab the kids and enjoy the beautiful autumn in Minnesota.

Events in the Twin Cities this October 2023

Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon
When: October 1st, 2023
Where: MN State Capitol
75 Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
St. Paul, MN

Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Weekend is the community’s signature running and fitness celebration. Entering its fifth decade, the weekend features runs for participants of all ages and paces. The community-inclusive event also includes live art, course entertainment, the Summit Beer Garden, and welcomes non-participants to join the 300,000+ cheering spectators who line the race courses each year. Kids 18 years old and younger run FREE at all TCM events!

Scarecrows in the Gardens
When: Now through October 31st, 2023
Where: Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
3675 Arboretum Drive
Chaska, MN

The popular Scarecrows in the Gardens adds a festive note to the Arboretum’s autumn displays on the Dahlberg Terrace and Scarecrow Hill. Check out the artistry of the experts from Bachman’s, Arboretum staff and members of the community.

Pinehaven Farm Fall Festival
When: Now through October 29th, 2023
Where: Pinehaven Farm
2816 Kettle River Blvd
Wyoming, MN

Experience Minnesota’s most fun-filled family fall festival at Pinehaven Farm in Wyoming, Minnesota. The 30+ activities and adventures include launching pumpkins out of a cannon, blasting apples, diving into a massive corn pit filled with 4,000 barrels of kernels, ascending a giant Straw Bale Mountain, picking pumpkins, zooming down a zipline, super-sized slides, themed weekends and more. Families can snack and refresh with a sweet and savory supply of treats and lemonade, root beer and coffee.

Minnesota Renaissance Festival
When: October 1st, 2023 (final weekend)
Where:12364 Chestnut Blvd
Shakopee, MN

King Henry and his royal court invite one and all to his 16th Century European village featuring 16 stages of exciting entertainment. Over 250 artisans fill the Festival marketplace to display and sell their handcrafted wares for a truly unique shopping experience. Patrons can interact with hundreds of memorable characters roaming the village streets as well as view live armored jousting throughout the day. Come celebrate our 52nd season by visiting the Festival grounds in Shakopee, MN. Huzzah!

Sever’s Fall Festival & Corn Maze
When: Weekends through October 29th, 2023
Where: Sever’s Festival Grounds
312 W. 150th Street
Shakopee, MN

Mark your calendar for the 2023 Sever’s Fall Festival. This year’s maze theme is Robots and as always, the corn maze is JUST THE BEGINNING of the activities included in the Fall Festival admission.

Blacksmithing Basics
When: October 5th, 2023
Where: Dodge Nature Center
8946 70th Street S
Cottage Grove, MN

Join blacksmithing instructors from Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center for a four-week dive into the basics of blacksmithing at Dodge Nature Center’s new smithy at Shepard Farm ! This course is designed to ignite your passion for blacksmithing and introduce you to the seemingly endless ways of shaping iron with fire and hammer. You’ll gain basic knowledge of iron and its characteristics, an understanding of the dynamics of forging using a coal forge, and the ability to safely shape iron with heat and a hammer.

By the end of this class, you’ll have covered the basic forging processes, including drawing and tapering, drifting, punching, twisting, and setting shoulders. You’ll develop those skills through projects such as: quick tongs, scribe/center punch, round punch/drift, basic heat treating, hooks, multi-hook rack, trivet…and you’ll know what a clinker is!

Arboretum Auxiliary Harvest Sale
When: October 6-8, 2023
Where: 3675 Arboretum Drive
Chaska, MN

The Arboretum Auxiliary Harvest Sale will offer up exquisite crafts. There will be nature-inspired items, including home decor, potpourri, Arboretum wood creations, knitwear for adults and children, beautiful autumnal wreaths and arrangements, cards, children’s toys and many other creative arts. All items are handcrafted by Auxiliary members, and all proceeds benefit the Arboretum.

Once again, the sale will also include the same beautiful tulip bulbs that will be planted at the Arboretum this fall. These high-quality, fresh bulbs are shipped from the Netherlands.

St. Paul Art Crawl
When: October 6-8, 2023
Where: Union Depot
214 4th Street E
St. Paul, MN

Ready to refresh your home or wardrobe? Shop 30 local artists with a wide variety of options at Union Depot including painters, photographers, mixed media artists, jewelry designers and apothecary creators! Come support local makers and bring home a new piece of art.

Rivertown Fall Art Festival
When: October 7th and 8th, 2023
Where: Lowell Park
Stillwater, MN

The Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce is proud to present its 46th annual Rivertown Fall Art Festival, attracting more than 10,000 people from MN and Western WI and throughout the Midwest. Located in beautiful historic downtown Stillwater, Minnesota along the scenic St. Croix River, a stunning fall backdrop to showcase your art! To attract visitors, this event also offers a beer & wine tent, a variety of food selections, Live music and entertainment.

The Rivertown Fall Art Festival is just steps away from a bustling main street that features art shops & galleries, boutiques and every flavor of restaurant.

This juried Fine Art Festival showcases artisans who hand-craft specialty items, including artist mediums of all kinds: ceramics, clay, culinary arts, drawing, fiber work, glass, jewelry, metal, mixed media, painting, photography, pottery, wood and an others category.

Stillwater Harvest Fest
When: October 14th & 15th, 2023
Where: North Lowell Park
101 Waterstreet S
Stillwater, MN

Stillwater Harvest Fest, held the second weekend of October each year, is one of the premier events in downtown Stillwater. It is located along the St. Croix River in Lowell Park. Stillwater Harvest Fest includes a wide range of events including a giant pumpkin weigh off, a pumpkin drop from a 100′ crane, a pumpkin regatta, live music, a beer and wine garden, a chili cook off, a vendor market and more!

Twin Cities Bead Bazaar
When: October 28th & 29th, 2023
Where: Eisenhower Community Center
1001 Highway 7
Hopkins, MN

The Twin Cities Bead Bazaar is a gathering of artistically inspired individuals looking for further education in jewelry design and trends. The show, which is hosted by Edina’s own Dakota Stones and Goodybeads, will include dozens of local and nationally known vendors who will offer their wide selection of gemstones, beads, kits, & finished jewelry. Attendees have the opportunity to participate in numerous Make-and-Take projects for beginners.