Twin Cities Halloween guide: Costumed paddleboard, pumpkin smash, pet parade
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Friday is Halloween, and if you're overwhelmed by all the things to do this weekend, have no fear — here are the events you really need to know about.
🎭 Out-of-the-box: BareBones Puppetry's Halloween show with larger-than-life puppets, stilt walkers, dancers and fire arts will take over Powderhorn Park every night from Thursday-Sunday. Pay what you can, $20 suggested
- Grab your paddleboard Saturday morning for the annual Nokomis Costume Paddle, where paddlers take a spin around the lake wearing Halloween costumes. Spectators are welcome! Free
💕 Family friendly: Bring the kids and a furry, scaly or feathered friend to the St. Paul Halloween Pet Parade, a costumed march around Mears Park Friday night. (Pets must be vaccinated, leashed and well-behaved.) Free
- If your jack-o'-lantern is already on its last legs, roll it down Neill Park Hill in Burnsville Saturday morning at the annual Pumpkin Smash — with baseball bats and recycling provided. Free
🪩 Parties: Dance the night away at First Avenue's popular Halloween bash and costume contest Friday night, with over $1,000 in cash prizes for those with the best outfits. $24.93
- The Uptown VFW will turn into a '90s-themed "GooseBump 'N' Grind" for the occasion ($17+), while Turf Club in St. Paul hosts throwback ska bands at "Skalloween." ($20.62)
In non-Halloween things to do ...
🤔 Got a passion for vintage troll dolls, antique marbles or "daguerreotypes"? Check out Saturday's Collectors Day, the Bell Museum's annual showcase of Minnesotans' unique personal collections. Included with cost of admission, which ranges from $12-$15
🧠 Get in your head at Brain Day, a family-friendly event this Saturday that celebrates brain-related research at the University of Minnesota. Activities include scientist meet-and-greets, hands-on experiments and complimentary snacks. Free
🎲 Grab yet another set of dice at the bi-yearly Minnesota Tabletop Market Saturday afternoon in Minneapolis. Expect around two dozen vendors with a wide variety of used board games, accessories and easy impulse purchases.
🧩 Create a "mega puzzle" at the Super Sized Community Puzzle Build in Edina. Nine groups will be assembling sections of a 13,500-piece puzzle starting Saturday in hopes of completing it by Sunday; ages 10 and up welcome. Starting at $13.64
⛪️ Watch the Basilica of St. Mary light up at Luminescence, a Saturday night "immersive experience" that will cast 360-degree projections inside the sanctuary while accompanied by a live orchestra. $48.99+