The cackling of witches and the crinkling of candy bars mark the beginning of Halloween. Bloomington, Saint Paul, and Minneapolis are some of the best places to celebrate the creepiest holiday.
Stay central to all the Halloween fun in Bloomington, MN, home of Mall of America® and over 40 unique hotels. Mall of America celebrates Halloween with Nickelodeon “Boo”niverse at Nickelodeon Universe® and Twin Cities Fear Fest, a new haunted experience. Check rates and availability for your Halloween getaway!
The number of events and activities the Twin Cities have to offer make visiting for the holiday well worth the trip. And since Bloomington is central to both Minneapolis and Saint Paul, you’ll get the best of what both cities offer.
Family-Friendly Activities
If you’re looking for ways to celebrate Halloween for the whole family, look no further.
Jack-o-Lantern Spectacular
Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular at Minnesota Zoo
At this special experience, you’ll walk through an enchanted forest decorated with thousands of illuminated pumpkins. Special effects and music, along with creative displays of all different sizes of pumpkins, make the zoo a perfect location for a family-friendly outing or date night with special adults-only evenings. Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular is open September 25 – November 1. Tickets sold online only.
Pumpkin Picking
Pick out your own pumpkin from numerous patches near the metro area. Afton Apple Orchard in Hastings, Luceline Orchard in Watertown, and Sever’s Fall Festival in Shakopee are just a few of the local favorite spots to pick a pumpkin. Some patches and farms offer pumpkin-carving opportunities, too. Visit our Fall Outdoor Family Fun Guide for a full packed list of pumpkin patches and fall festivals you can visit this season.
Mall of America
While Mall of America is fun year-round, during Halloween a bit of spook is added in. During the month of October, Nickelodeon Universe is transformed into Nickelodeon “Boo”niverse, a spooky version of the amusement park. Rides and Nickelodeon characters will be given a spooky twist, dance parties take place each weekend night at close, and pumpkin carvers will make an appearance on select days. Check out all the events planned September 14 – October 31.
This haunted attraction at Mall of America will add in a bit of a spook to your shopping experience. Twin Cities Fear Fest is a limited-time-only haunted house located on Level 2, East at MOA. Open select nights from September 25-November 1, Twin Cities Fear Fest offers two different haunted houses for thrill seekers to explore. Guests ages 21 and over can also enjoy an alcoholic beverage at the Sanctum Secret Bar before or after they experience the haunt! New this year is a family-friendly attraction open during daytime and evening hours, Magic of Halloween. This new option offers families a playful, scare-free way to celebrate Halloween and features elaborate pumpkin displays, interactive games, and photo opportunities.
Twin Cities Fear Fest
Haunted Houses For All
For scary fun throughout fall and during the Halloween season, there are a number of haunted houses and frightening attractions across the Twin Cities and in surrounding suburbs that are waiting to scare your socks off—or come close to it.
Held on the grounds of the Minnesota Renaissance Festival, Phantom’s Feast is held Thursdays-Sundays in October and is hosted by Jim Cunningham. Enjoy an evening of delicious food and drinks plus ghost stories in a spooky atmosphere. Also in the west metro, Chaska’s Scream Town is a collection of seven different haunted houses plus a haunted hayride through the forest.
Valleyfair amusement park’s ValleyScare is back on select nights September 19-October 31. Enjoy terrifying haunted mazes, sinister scare zones, exhilarating live shows, and specialty food & drink. Valley Scare is an intense nighttime Halloween event and may not be suitable for younger ages. For a family-friendly experience, check out their Tricks and Treats event that welcomes the whole family. Spend the day exploring a world of Halloween-themed activities, interactive experiences, and family-friendly entertainment designed to delight guests of all ages. Valleyfair is just a short jaunt from Bloomington and a must-see during the Halloween season.
As the home of Mall of America®, Bloomington offers over 520 stores and attractions like Nickelodeon Universe® and SEA LIFE® at Mall of America. With over 40 hotels, family-friendly options and a light rail, you’re always near the Halloween action.
