The 15 Greatest Halloween Attractions In Minnesota This Year
There's a chill in the air, the leaves are turning, and somewhere in Minnesota a guy in a hockey mask is warming up his chainsaw. Yep, it's officially spooky season.
Halloween isn't just for kids anymore, either. Americans are expected to spend a record $13.5 billion on Halloween this year, averaging about $115 per person on costumes, candy, and decorations. And with Halloween landing on a Saturday in 2026, the party is going to be bigger than ever.
The good news is that Minnesota knows how to do Halloween. We have family fun events, super-scary attractions, and even something for those who'd rather celebrate in their birthday suit. (More on that in a minute.)
Here are 15 of the best ways to celebrate Halloween in Minnesota this year, in no particular order. Dates, hours, and prices can change, and many of these events sell out, so check each website before you go.
The Best Ways to Celebrate Halloween in Minnesota in 2026
William A. Irvin Haunted Ship In Duluth
Where else can you get scared out of your wits aboard a 610-foot freighter on Lake Superior? Now in its 31st year, the haunt aboard the William A. Irvin in Duluth is themed around the Captain's Curse this year.
It's so effective that 111 people had to be escorted off the ship one year. Too scary for you? New this year are not-so-haunted tours with the same actors and props, minus the screaming.
The haunt runs select Thursdays through Saturdays through Halloween, plus MEA Wednesday, October 14, at 301 Harbor Drive.
Most nights run from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 for general admission, $35 for a Fast Pass, and $75 for VIP, with $20 discount nights sprinkled throughout the month.
Here's the haunted hayride just north of the Twin Cities that everyone talks about.
Located at Pinehaven Farm in Wyoming, this is no apple orchard tractor ride. It's known for fire-breathing performers and bloody scenes across 160 acres of dark woods, and a national travel site once named it the scariest hayride in America. One Google reviewer said it felt like "walking through a horror movie set."
It runs through November 1 at 28186 Kettle River Blvd. N in Wyoming, with the first wagon leaving 30 minutes after sunset.
General admission includes the hayride, a walkthrough, and a cornfield, and Fast Pass and Immediate Access upgrades cut the wait. It's not recommended for kids 13 and under.
Freak Fest at Two Creeks Campground
Remember that something for those who want to be naked? Here it is. Two Creeks Campground near Sandstone is a 21+ clothing-optional campground, and it wraps up its season with Freak Fest: Night of the Living Campers.
The weekend includes a meet-and-greet dance, a community potluck, and a zombie-themed Halloween party with a prize for best zombie costume. Whether the costume covers much is up to you.
Freak Fest runs October 9 to 11 near Sandstone. You must be a member to attend, and 30-day and lifetime memberships are available on the campground's website.
Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular at the Minnesota Zoo
If your crew prefers "ooh" over "AAAH," this is your spot. More than 5,000 artistically carved, glowing pumpkins line a woodsy trail at the zoo in Apple Valley, and this year's theme is trivia: the pumpkins themselves are the answers to questions along the path.
The zoo warns that tickets sell out every year. Grown-ups can also grab tickets for 18+ nights on October 7 and Halloween night.
It runs nightly through November 1 at 13000 Zoo Blvd. in Apple Valley, starting at 5:30 or 6:30 p.m. depending on the date. Tickets run $23 to $30 for adults and $19 to $26 for kids, plus $10 parking for non-members. Adult nights are $45.
Anoka Halloween: The Halloween Capital of the World
No Minnesota Halloween list is complete without Anoka. Back in 1920, residents got tired of finding cows roaming Main Street and outhouses tipped over, so they organized one of the first Halloween celebrations in the country to keep kids out of trouble.
In 1937, a 12-year-old carried a proclamation to Washington, D.C., naming Anoka the Halloween Capital of the World, and the title stuck.
Highlights this year include the Big Parade of Little People on October 23 and the Grande Day Parade on October 24. The free house decorating contest viewing runs October 23 and 24, then again October 30 and 31, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Scream Town calls itself "America's Largest Haunted Town," and it backs up the bravado with 13 attractions spread across acres of land in Chaska.
Regulars will find plenty that's new in 2026: nearly half of Oak Blood Forest has been redesigned, and the Abandoned Hayride adds two new attractions called Mirehollow and Stonehell. Not into getting chased? The heated Halloween market, food, and drinks don't require an attraction ticket.
It runs select nights through October 31 at 7410 Highway 212 in Chaska. Ticket options include Regular, VIP Fast Pass, and Ultimate VIP, which adds the hayride.
Billed as the Twin Cities' largest Halloween event, ValleyScare turns the amusement park in Shakopee into a fog-filled nightmare.
There are five haunted mazes, including a Viking zombie maze and the slaughterhouse of Mr. Cleaver's Bloodshed, along with scare zones and rides in the dark. Families with little ones can visit during the day for the kid-friendly Tricks and Treats event instead.
ValleyScare runs Friday and Saturday nights through October 31 at 1 Valleyfair Drive in Shakopee. It's a separately ticketed event, and haunted mazes are included with admission. One heads-up: costumes, masks, and face paint aren't allowed.
Celebrating 40 years of screams, this family-owned haunt in Cottage Grove is home to Minnesota's longest-running haunted hayride.
Guests regularly rave about the haunted house's disorienting spinning tunnel. There's also a daytime Fall Fun Fest with pumpkin painting, goat petting, and non-scary hayrides for the kids.
It runs select days through October 31 at 10900 E Point Douglas Road in Cottage Grove.
This one is the real deal: you're walking through an actual forest in the dark. Guests warm up by a fire before a tractor-trailer hauls them to the start of the trail. It's open October 9 to 11, 16 to 18, 25, 30, and 31 at 7187 Saginaw Road.
Admission is $22 for ages 13 and up and $12 for kids 12 and under, with $1 off when you bring a non-perishable food item. There's also a kids' trick-or-treat event on October 24 from 2 to 5 p.m.
Haunted Shack: The Final Chapter
Get there while you can. After more than three decades, the Haunted Shack in Carlton, which is just south of Duluth, is holding its final season.
Owner Pat Stojevich says the all-volunteer event takes eight months of planning and more than 70 volunteers each night, and it has raised a lot of money for local organizations over the years. Unless a buyer steps in, this is your last chance.
The final season runs October 9 to 11, 15 to 17, and 22 to 24 at 1781 County Road 1 in Carlton. The last haunt ever is Saturday, October 24.
Twin Cities Fear Fest at Mall of America
Who knew holiday shopping could be this terrifying? Fear Fest has taken over the Mall of America's haunt, and this year it's built around Jason Voorhees of "Friday the 13th" fame.
You'll try to escape the hockey-masked maniac in Jason Universe: Survive the Night, then survive a zombie outbreak in Dead City Uprising. It runs through November 1 at Mall of America, 60 E Broadway in Bloomington.
Haunted History Trolley Tour in Stillwater
For those who like their Halloween with a side of history, this ride through one of Minnesota's oldest towns is a perfect fit.
The Zephyr Theatre's tour has merged with Stillwater Trolley's Rivertown Terror Tour, so you'll learn about local myths and legends while interacting with ghosts from the past.
Tours run October 9 and 10, 15 to 17, 22 to 24, and 29 and 30, departing from 400 East Nelson St. in Stillwater.
First Avenue's Halloween Party and Costume Contest
If you spent all of September building the perfect costume, this is where you show it off. The downtown Minneapolis landmark's annual Halloween bash is an institution, known for wild, creative costumes and a raucous dance floor, with The Current's Diane hosting.
The party is Saturday, October 31, at First Avenue, 701 N 1st Ave. in Minneapolis.
Dinner and a scare? Travail Kitchen and Amusements in Robbinsdale transforms its Basement Bar into a haunted dining experience every fall.
This year's version, called the Annual Harvest Supper, pairs Halloween-themed antics with a multi-course tasting menu. It usually sells out, so the restaurant has already added dates.
It runs through November 7 at 4134 Hubbard Ave. N in Robbinsdale.
Phantom's Feast at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival
The Renaissance Festival may have closed for the season, but the grounds in Shakopee are coming back to life, or something like it.
Phantom's Feast brings a darker, spookier twist to the festival grounds just in time for Halloween, and it's a fun pick for anyone who loves a good turkey leg with their frights.
It runs October 16 to 18, 22 to 25, and 28 to 31, plus November 1, at the festival grounds in Shakopee.
Make Your Halloween Plans Now
Whether you're carrying a toddler dressed as a pumpkin or sprinting from a guy with a chainsaw, Minnesota has a Halloween tradition with your name on it. Just don't wait too long.
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With Halloween falling on a Saturday this year, the final weekend of October is going to be packed, and many of these events are already selling out.
Pick your scare level, grab your tickets, and make a memory or two this October. And if your favorite Halloween spot didn't make the list, let us know. We're always looking for new places to get spooked.
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