Photo: @will-wright-4
Top Things to Do in Saint Paul this Fall
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.
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 Siteseeing cruise aboard the Padelford Riverboat. Mississippi River cruises are offered through Oct.
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 10-11
- Saint Paul Brewing Oktoberfest | Sept 24
- Waldmann Brewery Oktoberfest | Sept 24-26
- Chip's Clubhouse Oktoberfest - all you can eat & drink | Oct 2-3
- Twin Cities Oktoberfest | Oct 8-9
Get off to a running start with Twin Cities Marathon Weekend
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.
- 5K, 10K and Family events on Saturday, Oct 2 at State Capitol Grounds
- 10 Mile and Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon on Sunday, Oct 3

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.
Get Tickets for an Upcoming Performance
Theatre
There are few things like live theatre and Saint Paul stages are ready to welcome you back. From the Ordway to Park Square Theatre and History Theatre to The Fitz, get ready for those standing ovations.
- Wits Reunion Show with Maria Bamford at The Fitzgerald Theatre Oct 1
- Not in our Neighborhood! at History Theatre Oct 14-24
- Theatre of the Macabre at Park Square Theatre Oct 29-30
- The Second City at The Ordway Nov 5
- The Empathy Project at Park Square Theatre Nov 12-21
- Shaamya - of Equality at Park Square Theatre Nov 19-21
- TwentyPho Hour PlayFest from Theater Mu (Online) Nov 19-20
- Fiddler on the Roof at The Ordway Nov 30 - Dec 12
Concerts
The song goes "you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone", and the cancellation of concerts during the pandemic sure proved that. Well, tour dates are coming back, and there are plenty of indoor and outdoor opportunities to get your live music fix. Check out these venues for upcoming shows:
Be the First to See New Museum Exhibits
Arts, science, history, trains, music - take your pick from one of many local museums and leave with a deeper understanding of the world around us. New exhibits opening this fall provide the perfect way to truly immerse yourself.
- Ultimate Dinosaurs, opening Oct 21 at Science Museum of Minnesota will introduce you to dinosaurs unlike any others through exhibits, experiences and omnitheater.
- Get a new view of fish at X-Ray Vision: Fish Inside Out opening Oct 15 at Bell Museum
- Take a trip through Storyland in the Minnesota Children's Museum’s newest exhibit
- The Schubert Club Music Museum’s newly designed galleries include the interactive Music Makers Zone and historical Keyboard Journey.

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 Bootstrap 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 a Schottky Pumpkin Ale from Tin Whiskers, 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.
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. Check out our Halloween events.
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 Tour of Summit Avenue from CynCity Tours
- Gangster Ghost Tour at Landmark Center
- All Hallow’s Eve Tour with Sister Celeste
Watch a scary movie in the park
Saint Paul Parks and Rec has a full lineup of movies in the park set for the season. Grab your blanket, some snacks and get ready for big-screen frights.
- Sept 25: Blair Witch Project at Hidden Falls Park
- Oct 1: Hocus Pocus at Como Pavilion
- Oct 8: IT at Lake Phalen
- Oct 15: The Shining at Mears Park

Honor Dias de los Muertos
Saint Paul’s West Side is the place to go for events celebrating the Mexican holiday of Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. Celebrate loved ones who have died and honor traditions through creative workshops on Oct 26 and a special ceremony on Oct 31, hosted by the West Side Community Organization.
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:
- Celebrate 30 years of the Saint Paul Art Crawl with events Sept through Dec
- Solidarity Street Gallery Art + Cultural Festival Sept 23-25
- Night Light Projection Mapping Sept 24-25
- More than 15 new murals were created as part of the 2021 Chroma Zone Mural & Art Festival - take a tour
- Transformation: Art from the Inside, an exhibition featuring artwork by incarcerated artists that reflects their personal transformation and restoration through visual expression, opens Oct 30 for view at The M’s window galleries

Get in the action at a sporting event
Now more than ever, we welcome reasons to cheer, and our hometown teams are bringing it! Baseball, soccer and hockey are on - get tickets to a game and get into the action.
- St. Paul Saints wrap up their season on Sept 26
- Minnesota United matches go well into the fall
- Minnesota Wild preseason games start Oct 4 and the home opener is Oct 19 vs Winnipeg
- Minnesota Whitecaps play their first home series Nov 20-21
Rediscover Downtown
In partnership with businesses, artists, and musicians, the Saint Paul Downtown Alliance has been hosting a calendar of events and activities to safely welcome you back to downtown. From outdoor trivia and art installations to pop-up events and concerts, don’t miss this invitation to rediscover downtown.
What's on your must-do list in Saint Paul this fall? Let us know on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter with #MYSAINTPAUL.
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