Photo: @will-wright-4

Top Things to Do this Fall in Saint Paul

Make sure you don’t miss out on any of the fun with this list of things to do throughout Saint Paul this fall.

Whether you want to admire the fall colors, explore the art scene, cheer on the home team or discover new parts of the city, this list is your start to a fantastic fall in Saint Paul.

Credit: @birkography

1. Check Out the Fall Colors

Saint Paul is beautiful in the fall! The change of colors provides many breathtaking views throughout the city, but they don’t stick around long - catch those vibrant hues before they’re gone:

Take a walk along historic Summit Avenue and see the fall colors of this tree-lined road known for its Victorian architecture.
Saint Paul is home to one of the country's top parks systems (ranked #2), and these amazing parks are great for leaf-peeping (as well as hiking, biking, paddling and more). Fort Snelling State Park, Hidden Falls Regional Park, Swede Hollow Park and the Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary are just a few, offering paved trails and a nature escape without leaving the city.
If you’re more into taking in the scenery at a faster pace, we’ve got 189 miles of bikeway for you to explore routes along the Mississippi River, the Gateway State Trail, downtown Capital City Bikeway and more.
Enjoy the riverview with a Fall Sightseeing cruise aboard the Padelford Riverboat. Mississippi River cruises are offered through Oct.

2. Experience Oktoberfest

Break out your lederhosen and get ready for your fill of brats and beer. There is no shortage of Oktoberfest-ivities in Saint Paul - your biggest problem might be which one to choose.

St. Paul Oktoberfest | Sept 8-9

Waldmann Brewery Oktoberfest | Sept 29-Oct 1

Beer Here | Sept 17 & 24 + Oct 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29

3. Get off to a running start with Twin Cities Marathon Weekend

Sept 30 - Oct 1 | One of the most scenic urban marathons around, the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon attracts great runners and offers stunning scenery for spectators.

Starting in Minneapolis, the route makes its way along Saint Paul’s Summit Avenue to the finish line on the State Capitol Grounds.

Whether you’re running, volunteering or cheering, there’s a whole weekend of activities to participate in. Learn more

4. Dine al fresco

Extend your patio season into the fall. Take advantage of the beautiful fall weather and find a restaurant or brewery patio to enjoy. See some of our favorites.

Discover more: Saint Paul's Hottest New Restaurants and Dine Saint Paul Restaurant Guide.

Credit: @aschmidtphoto

5. Get tickets to see a show

There are few things like live theatre and Saint Paul stages are ready for you.

6. Savor Fall Flavors

It's pumpkin spice and cider time

Get your pumpkin spice and cider fix. From the caffeinated to a chaider, we have you covered. May we suggest the East Cider from Caydence Records & Coffee or a classic PSL from Backstory Coffee.

Shop the season's bounty at the Saint Paul Farmers Market

Enjoy shopping outdoors at the one and only Saint Paul Farmers' Market, open Saturday and Sundays in Lowertown. Find the freshest of seasonal veggies, fruits and flowers straight from local farmers.

Visit a local taproom to try their seasonal beer

Our local breweries feature seasonal flavors as well - how about an Oktoberfest from Summit, a Mummy Train Ale from Saint Paul Brewing or a Raspberry Anomaly from Bad Weather. Saint Paul has no shortage of great craft beer or seasonal brews.

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7. Get in the Halloween Spirit

Halloween events

Looking for ways to get the most wear out of your costume? From music, movies, museums and more, there are all kinds of Halloween-themed events taking place throughout October.

Take a haunted tour

Saint Paul has a long history and some of it… lives on. The ghost stories about sinners, saints, and some of the city’s creepiest sites are sure to come out in these haunted tours.

Haunted Walking Tours from CynCity Tours
Gangster Ghost Tour at Landmark Center

Watch a scary movie in the park

Saint Paul Parks and Rec has a full lineup of frightful flicks set for their 2023 Scary Movie Series. Grab your blanket, some snacks and get ready for big-screen frights. Fridays, Sept 29 to October 20.

8. Explore the Art Scene

From open studios to mural exploration, the beauty and creativity of local artists are on display throughout the city this season. Here are a few ways to dive into the art scene and find a new perspective:

Solidarity Street Gallery Festival Sept 9
Chroma Zone Mural & Art Festival Sept 14-Oct 16
Visit open studios during the Saint Paul Art Crawl in October

Credit: @mylesdesigns

9. Get in the action at a sporting event

We always love a reason to cheer, and our hometown teams deliver! Baseball, soccer and hockey are on - get tickets to a game and get into the action.

St. Paul Saints wrap up their regular season at CHS Field on Sept 24
Minnesota United compete in their final regular season match at Allianz Field on Oct 7
Minnesota Wild exhibition games start Sept 24 and the home opener is Oct 12 vs Fla Panthers

10. Rediscover Downtown

Downtown storefronts are being reactivated through art installations and pop-ups from local businesses, all part of the Grow Downtown initiative. A full calendar of events and activities welcomes you back to downtown - don’t miss this invitation to rediscover beautiful downtown Saint Paul.