It’s always bittersweet to say goodbye to summer in Minnesota, but the abundance of fall activities to look forward to makes up for it. From leaf-peeping across the state to pumpkin patches, apple-picking, and craft brews, fall in Minnesota is truly magical.
To help you make the most of Minnesota’s brief yet beautiful autumn season, local festivals are a great place to start. With quintessential fall activities, delicious refreshments, and stunning scenery all in one locale, what’s not to love?
Here’s a peek at some must-visit festivals to add to your calendar in the coming weeks:
Minnesota Renaissance Festival (Weekends through Sept. 28)
Step back in time to 16th-century Europe at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival. This beloved annual event in Shakopee draws over 300,000 visitors annually for seven weekends of tradition and merriment. Don your best medieval attire and browse unique wares at the artisan marketplace, watch jousting and other live entertainment as you roam the Festival grounds, and enjoy food and beverages fit for royalty.
Courtesy of Minnesota Renaissance Festival
Carlos Creek Winery’s Grape Stomp Festival (Sept. 12-14)
Head to Alexandria to celebrate Carlos Creek Winery’s 25th annual Grape Stomp Festival. This three-day event is packed with live music, craft beverages, and of course, lots of stomping. Sip award-winning Minnesota wines and check out 22 Northmen Brewing Co.’s beer garden, enjoy local art and marketplace shopping, catch 12 bands across four stages all weekend, and partake in daily grape-stomping competitions for a chance to win fun prizes.
Sever’s Fall Festival (Weekends Sept. 13-Oct. 26; plus Thursday, Oct. 16 and Friday, Oct. 17)
No Minnesota autumn is complete without a trip to Sever’s Fall Festival, a local favorite since 1997. The original fall festival in the Midwest, Sever’s offers more than 30 family-friendly attractions and activities to keep you busy—including the famous corn maze, a corn pit, obstacle course, petting zoo, live music, hay rides, a pumpkin patch, and the brand-new BMX Mega Jump event on opening weekend, plus food and beverage options.
“We’re focused on making sure families and guests at Sever’s Fall Festival get the most jam-packed experience to laugh harder, play longer, and walk away with more stories to tell and more memories made,” says Nicola Peterson of Sever’s.
Photo by Hunt Adkins
Minnesota Monthly‘s Rhythm & Brews (Sept. 27)
Kick off the fall season with outdoor live music, craft brews, and good vibes at Minnesota Monthly‘s fourth annual Rhythm & Brews. Taking place Sept. 27 at the Hilde Performance Center in Plymouth, the event will offer unlimited sampling of beers, seltzers, and ready-to-drink cocktails, plus lawn games and an artisan marketplace. At the amphitheater, catch sets from local musicians LAAMAR, Molly Brandt, and Dez & Taylor throughout the day.
Photo by Darin Kamnetz
Twin Cities Oktoberfest (Oct. 3-4)
Prost! Raise your stein to 15 years of Twin Cities Oktoberfest at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Enjoy more than 20 beers and ciders on tap from Utepils Brewing, Pryes Brewing Co., Brühaven Craft Co., Lift Bridge Brewing Co., and Minneapolis Cider Co., plus traditional German fare from Gerhard’s Brats, Aki’s Pretzels, and Bavarian Kitchen. Test your strength at the Stein Holding Competition for charity of grab your partner for a polka dance.
Courtesy of Twin Cities Oktoberfest
New Ulm Oktoberfest (Oct. 3-4, 10-11)
Modeled after the traditional celebration in Munich, Germany, New Ulm’s Oktoberfest is ranked as one of the best in the nation. Taking place during the first two weekends of October, the festival takes over the city with keg-tapping; a parade; Sauerkraut Eating, Yodeling, and Stein-Holding Competitions; kids’ activities; and of course, lots of brews. Sample autumnal offerings from Schell’s Beer, Grain Belt Beer & Seltzers, Tall Grass Ciders, Morgan Creek Vineyards Wines, 1919 Root Beer, and Buddy’s Soda—all produced locally.
Courtesy of New Ulm Area Chamber of Commerce
Fall St. Paul Art Crawl (Oct. 10-12)
Celebrate art, culture, and community on a beautiful fall weekend in the Capital City. The Fall St. Paul Art Crawl, produced by St. Paul Art Collective, will bring artists and the community together through galleries, music venues, artist lofts, and other shared creative spaces.
Courtesy of Visit Saint Paul
Red Wing Arts Fall Festival (Oct. 11-12)
Enjoy a few days of fine art and fall foliage in downtown Red Wing. The Fall Festival is one of Red Wing Art’s core programming events, designed to feature 120-plus regional artists working in ceramics, fiber, glass, jewelry, painting, photography, and other mediums. Listen to concerts in the bandshell and enjoy tasty bites while looking for a unique treasure to take home.
Stillwater Harvest Fest (Oct. 11-12)
Held annually on the second week of October, Stillwater Harvest Fest is the Midwest’s premier giant pumpkin festival—ranked several times as the No. 1 giant pumpkin weigh-off in the world. Head to the riverside community to watch the weigh-off, plus a giant pumpkin drop, vendor market, beer garden, the Pumpkin Regatta, and more.
Owámni Falling Water Festival (Oct. 18)
This celebration of Indigenous cultures in Minnesota will be held at Mill Ruins Park, Water Works Park, and Father Hennepin Park in Minneapolis. “Owámni” is the Dakota word for whirling or falling water, and is what the Dakota people called the area at St. Anthony Falls—a perfect name for a riverside celebration. Enjoy music, food, art, and more at this free, all-ages event.
Fall Colors Celebration at Lakewood Cemetery (Oct. 19)
Take in the beauty of fall at Lakewood Cemetery’s Fall Colors Celebration. This open house-style event invites the community to enjoy live music, warm apple cider, and nature-inspired art activities as you stroll the cemetery grounds.
