Saturday · south
ParkTober
Free, 8 am to 8 pm. Get ready for a fall adventure with the Parktober hiking program!
Twin Cities families · October 30 to November 1, 2026
30 free or cheap family outings across the Twin Cities, sorted by area so you can stay close to home. Forecast: Saturday 57° with a 20% chance of rain; Sunday 66° with a 10% chance of rain.
Short version
Three free picks in different corners of the metro. Everything else is below, by area.
Saturday · south
Free, 8 am to 8 pm. Get ready for a fall adventure with the Parktober hiking program!
Sunday · north
Free, 1 to 3 pm. Drop in at any time to meet a few of our live animals up close and discover what makes these critters unique!
Sunday · St. Paul & east
Free, 12:30 to 1:15 pm. Join a Landmark Center volunteer tour guide for a free building tour.
Lake Minnetonka, Chanhassen, Plymouth, Chaska, Waconia
Library programs fill out each area.
It’s Halloween at Everly Farms! 👻🎃 Join us in the large event tent for our Halloween Boo Bash, packed with trick-or-treating, a bouncy house, a live DJ, kids’ dancing, Halloween crafts, games, prizes, and spooky fun!
Know: Cost: Price From $0.00 to $15.00. Sign up ahead.
Everly Farms, MinnetristaAges 5 and up. We’ve got the supplies you bring your imagination to this self-guided building time with LEGOs, building bricks or Picasso tiles.
Victoria Library, VictoriaAll ages with a focus on children age 2+. Children and their caregivers are invited to enjoy some Not So Spooky stories. Costumes encouraged but not required.
Chaska Library, ChaskaCome get cozy and comfortable around the campfire while making things that that people crave.
Know: Cost: $14 ages 16+; $10 ages 3-15; children under 3 free. Sign up ahead.
Baker Outdoor Learning Center, Maple PlainGrades 3-12. Put your game face on. Board games, card games, puzzles, and Nintendo Switch provided by the library or bring your own games! Bring your friends and come make new ones for an afternoon of gaming together!
Hopkins Library, HopkinsGrades 2-8. Come hang out and play Pokémon with like-minded friends at the library! Participants may bring their own cards or use cards provided by the library. All skill levels welcome.
St. Louis Park Library, St. Louis ParkBloomington, Edina, Burnsville, Eagan, Shakopee
Library programs fill out each area.
Get ready for a fall adventure with the Parktober hiking program!
Cleary Lake Regional Park, Prior LakeCelebrate Halloween by getting to know the sometimes feared, often misunderstood, always fascinating spiders of Minnesota.
Know: Cost: $6/person. Sign up ahead.
Richardson Nature Center, BloomingtonJoin us for a not-too-spooky Halloween Storytime. Enjoy stories and participate in activities to develop early literacy skills. For youth ages 2 and older with their caregivers. Siblings welcome.
Farmington Library, FarmingtonTry out your costume and move to great music played by our own DJ Jenni. Have fun, try out your costume, enjoy everyone else in costume and practice your trick-or-treat skills. Feel free to use our instruments and scarves.
Wescott Library, EaganWear your costume and join us for a lively parade around the library. You can try out trick or treating with the library staff along the way. For youth ages 2–6. Siblings welcome.
Farmington Library, FarmingtonLearn about nature at your own pace through hands-on experiences.
Richardson Nature Center, BloomingtonMaple Grove, Brooklyn Park, Coon Rapids, Anoka
Library programs fill out each area.
Warm up your imagination by creating fantastical creatures out of natural materials.
Know: Cost: $12/person. Sign up ahead.
Mississippi Gateway Regional Park, Brooklyn ParkExplore the plants and animals around Eastman Nature Center with Derek and participate in an activity related to Indigenous food.
Know: Cost: $6/person. Sign up ahead.
Eastman Nature Center, DaytonEnjoy a family-friendly outdoor Halloween program.
Know: Cost: $7/person. Sign up ahead.
Mississippi Gateway Regional Park, Brooklyn ParkDrop in at any time to meet a few of our live animals up close and discover what makes these critters unique!
Mississippi Gateway Regional Park, Brooklyn ParkEnjoy a fire to warm up by as we explore the tiny things around Eastman with microscopes.
Eastman Nature Center, DaytonParks, museums and libraries across the city
Library programs fill out each area.
Join North Regional Library’s STEAM Squad and explore STEAM activities! You are encouraged to drop in and participate in a different project every session led by our STEAM Squad.
North Regional Library, MinneapolisFor children ages birth to 5 years old and their caregivers. Sing, dance, and explore musical instruments together in this program designed to help build your child's early music skills. Siblings welcome.
North Regional Library, MinneapolisFor children of all ages and their caregivers. Talk, sing, read, write and play together. Share books, stories, rhymes, music and movement.
Hosmer Library, MinneapolisSt. Paul, Roseville, Washington County, Dakota County
Library programs fill out each area.
Join us in Polar Bear Odyssey to learn more about Como’s 4 polar bears, and perhaps observe special enrichment or training!
Know: Como Zoo and Conservatory admission is free.
Polar Bear Odyssey, St. PaulJoin Us at George Latimer Central Library for a special Halloween Stamp Rally! Come in costume (optional) to gather stamps and stickers by visiting all six rooms of the library.
George Latimer Central Library, St. PaulDrop in to hang out and make cool stuff at FunLab! Featuring crafts, science experiments, engineering projects, video games, and more. This program is designed for ages 7-11.
Arlington Hills Library, St. PaulJoin a Landmark Center volunteer tour guide for a free building tour.
Landmark Center, St. PaulOpen every day
Always-good places, so they repeat from week to week. Hours are from each place's own page.
Hike the trails, see seasonal exhibits and meet a live animal at the nature center in Carver Park Reserve.
Know: Open Monday to Saturday 9 to 5, Sunday noon to 5. Three Rivers parks are free to park and free to enter.
Lowry Nature Center, VictoriaHike the trails, see seasonal exhibits and meet resident raptors, reptiles and amphibians up close in Hyland Lake Park Reserve.
Know: Open Monday to Saturday 9 to 5, Sunday noon to 5. Three Rivers parks are free to park and free to enter.
Richardson Nature Center, BloomingtonHike the trails, see seasonal exhibits and meet a live animal at the nature center in Elm Creek Park Reserve.
Know: Open Monday to Saturday 9 to 5, Sunday noon to 5. Three Rivers parks are free to park and free to enter.
Eastman Nature Center, DaytonWalk among the outdoor sculptures beside the Walker Art Center. No tickets needed.
Know: Free and open daily from 6 am to midnight, all year.
Minneapolis Sculpture GardenA free art museum on the University of Minnesota's East Bank campus.
Know: Open 10 to 5 on weekdays, 11 to 5 on Saturday and Sunday. Garage parking is $3 an hour, $13 at most.
Weisman Art MuseumA free zoo, open daily, and the indoor Marjorie McNeely Conservatory, open Tuesday to Sunday.
Know: Free. A voluntary donation of $8 per adult and $5 per child is appreciated.
Como Park Zoo & ConservatoryNational Weather Service
The National Weather Service forecast for the Minnetonka area, checked Saturday, October 31 at 1:34 pm.
A slight chance of rain showers before 5pm. Cloudy, with a high near 57. Southeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
A slight chance of rain between 2am and 5am. Cloudy, with a low around 54. South southeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Mostly cloudy. High near 66, with temperatures falling to around 63 in the afternoon. South southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
A chance of rain after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Before you go
A few things that change the plan.