Fall is almost here!
With the start of football season comes the start of fall, and we’re looking forward to corn mazes, apple picking, and pumpkin patches! Read on for our comprehensive guide to autumnal activities close to Minneapolis.
Corn mazes
Minnesota’s largest corn maze, the Twin Cities Harvest Festival and Maze in Brooklyn Park, opens on Saturday, September 18! Admission is $6 on weekdays and $10 on weekends, and the maze is open weekdays between noon and 6pm and weekends between 10am and 6pm. Admission to the Marketplace, pumpkin patch, and food truck area is included in the ticket price.
Other nearby corn mazes include the maze at Pine Tree Apple Orchard, which boasts a 20-30 minute duration (weekends 11am to 4pm, opening Saturday, September 25); the 2-phase maze at Waldoch Farm with a shorter route for younger kids ($12, opening Saturday, October 2); and the impressive 15-acre maze at Afton Apple Orchard ($10-12, opening Saturday, September 18).
Apple picking
In addition to most of the aforementioned corn maze spots, there are a wealth of places to pick apples and other autumnal fruit near the Twin Cities. Aamodt’s Apple Farm in Stillwater, MN offers a unique twist by offering visitors a selection of wines from the nearby Saint Croix Vineyards and Thor’s Hard Cider to sip while wandering the orchard. Aamodt’s is open every day from 10am to 6pm.
Afton Apple Orchard in Hastings also deserves a second mention for its impressive roster of pickable fall fruit: from apples to raspberries, strawberries, and pumpkins, you’re sure to bring home a tasty haul. Afton’s orchards are open now, every day from 10am to 6pm.
Pumpkin patches
Our Lady of Peace Pumpkin Patch, open from October 12 to 31 from 11am to 7pm daily, is conveniently located right in South Minneapolis in association with the Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church. Admission is free, with pumpkins priced onsite. Warm cider, lawn games, a scavenger hunt, and family-oriented photo ops round out the autumnal experience.
Several other pumpkin patches are located a short distance outside of Minneapolis. To the north, Everland Family Farm in Andover offers pumpkin and squash picking starting Saturday, September 25. To the west, Marshall’s Farm Market in Eden Prairie offers an impressive variety of pumpkins along with a pumpkin bounce house.
Of course, many of the aforementioned corn maze and apple picking spots also offer pumpkin picking for an all-encompassing fall experience!