(Courtesy of Stillwater Harvest Fest website)
Schiltgen Farms Pumpkin Patch Thursdays through Sunday, 12800 15th St. S., Afton. Over 75 pumpkin varieties, as well as a corn maze, mums and even homemade pickles.
The Haunted Experience on Highway 61 Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in October, 10900 E. Point Douglas Rd., Cottage Grove. Scary Haunted House, Haunted Hayride, and Haunted Cornfield with live actors. Tickets available in advance or at gate.
Country Sun Farm Daily through October, 11211 60th Street N., Lake Elmo. Come for the pumpkins, stay for fun, including a corn pit, hay rides, corn maze, Silly String Zone and a petting zoo. Admission is free, but many of the attractions charge a fee.
Teen Career Conversations Wednesday, October 1, from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., R.H. Stafford Library. Join Washington County Library and CareerForce for an evening of career exploration for teens. Meet professionals in a variety of fields and ask questions about their career paths.
Everyday Engineering: Making it Go Thursday, October 2, 6:15 p.m. to 7:45 p.m., R.H. Stafford Library. Students in grades 5-8 can explore how energy is transferred between objects and how to distribute energy and force throughout parts of a system. Practice using this knowledge to build and race rubber band-powered cars. Registration required.
Real Haunted Tours Friday and Saturday evenings in October, The Historic Mounds Theatre,1029 Hudson Rd., St. Paul. Tour a dark theater reported to be paranormally active. Most evenings reserved for those 18+, but there is one tour set aside for children. Advance tickets required.
Windfall Equestrian Center Open House and Benefit Saturday, October 4, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., 3842 Oakgreen Ave N., Stillwater, with pony rides, pet adoption, horse demos, games and food to benefit equine therapy at the center.
Lake Elmo Corn Maze Saturday, October 4, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Rockpoint Church, 5825 Kelvin Ave. N. Go through the corn maze, ride pedal cars, shoot the corn cannon, take a barrel train ride, and go on a wagon ride. Free.
WHS “Mean Girls: Theatre Workshop Saturday, October 4, 1:30-3:45 p.m., Woodbury High School. Students in 4th-8th grade join the WHS theatre students to experience a high school production, from backstage to onstage, all through the world of the play Mean Girls. Expect behind-the-scenes tours, singing and dancing, and explore the musical’s key themes, such as kindness, standing up for yourself, inclusion, and empathy through fun, small-group activities. Free.
Rivertown Fall Arts Festival Saturday, October 4, and Sunday, October 5, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Lowell Park, 201 Water St. N., Stillwater. 100+ artists, beer, wine, music, and food with free trolley shuttles to the park.
Children’s Concert and Carnival Sunday, October 5, 2-4 p.m., Woodbury High School. The Woodbury High School Orchestra plays a short concert of favorites including Encanto and Coco, followed by a fun carnival in the cafeteria. Character costumes encouraged.
Accessible Corn Maze Sunday, October 5, 2-5 p.m., Rockpoint Church, 5825 Kelvin Ave N. Go through the corn maze, enjoy hot dogs, games, crafts and a track chair for wheelchair users to go through the maze. Free, but advanced registration requested.
Free Entry to all Washington County Parks Tuesday, October 7.
Prenatal and Post Partum Class Tuesday, October 7, 4-5:30 p.m., Casa de Corazon, 7805 Hudson Rd. Doula offers suggestions for new and expectant parents on breathing techniques, breastfeeding, stress management and siblings. Children welcome. Free, but registration required.
Teens Can Paint: Introduction to Painting Wednesday, October 8, 4:30-6:30 p.m., R.H. Stafford Library, COMPAS teaching artist Andrew Young will be leading this introduction to painting class at R.H. Stafford Library. Students aged 11-18 will explore using watercolors and acrylic paints while building off of basic drawing skills to create artwork with color and depth. Registration required.
Pit Stop Thursday, October 9, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Cottage Grove Armory, 8180 Belden Blvd. Free community resources for those in need, including warm meals, clothing, gas cards and more.
Everyday Engineering: Earthquake Simulation Thursday, October 9, 6:15-7:45 p.m., R.H. Stafford Library. Students in grades 5-8 will learn more about how to explore current real-world issues to practice identifying solutions. Participants will build structures with LEGO bricks to test in an earthquake simulation activity. Registration required.
Fall Night Hike Thursday, October 9, 7-10 p.m., Lake Elmo Park Reserve. Meet at the Nordic Center for a walk in the crisp autumn air.
Stillwater Trolley Co.’s Historic Haunted Rivertown Terror Tour Thursdays through Saturdays, October 9-25. Tours start on the half hour from 7-8:30 p.m., beginning at Charlie’s Irish Pub, 436 Chestnut St., Stillwater. Guests aged 13+ can join this Interactive Halloween ghost tour and explore historic Stillwater landmarks, share local legends while bringing the stories of the spirits themselves to life and even solve a crime. $48 with some discounts available.
A Beach House Concert “A Tale of Two” Live from the St Croix River Friday, October 10, 1045 Quentin Ave S., Lakeland, with 4 p.m. boat cruises, 5 p.m. happy hour, 6 p.m. potluck dinner, 7 p.m. blues storytellers, and outdoor concert by Musicians Corner Concerts. Suggested donation $20-25.
4-H Open House, Friday, October 10, 5-7 p.m., Hooley Hall, Washington County Fairgrounds, 12300 40th St N., Stillwater. Pet a llama, play games, learn about 4-H.
Vintage Thrills Film Night Friday, October 10, 5-7 p.m., Washington County Historic Courthouse,101 West Pine St., Stillwater. Watch two vintage spooky films. Free.
Dracula Friday, October 10-Sunday, October 12, 5:30-6:45 p.m., Locally Grown Theatre at Shepherd Farm, 8946 70th St, Cottage Grove. Dracula is a timeless thriller that will keep audiences age 13 and over on the edge of their seats and blankets they bring from home to this outdoor performance. Free.
Fire Station Open House Saturday, October 11, 9-11 a.m., Radio Drive Fire Station, 2100 Radio Dr., Celebrate National Fire Prevention Week by climbing on fire trucks, meeting firefighters, trying on firefighters’ gear, handling the heavy fire hoses, checking out the life-saving ambulance equipment.
Harvest Hop Saturday, October 11, noon, Woodbury Lakes, 9020 Hudson Rd. Family fall event with a pick-a-pumpkin station, live music and more.
Fall Giveaway Saturday, October 11, 1-2 p.m., All Saints Lutheran Church, Cottage Grove, 8100 Belden Blvd. Free garage sale.
Pumpkin Pop-up Saturday, October 11, 2-5 p.m., The Grove, 8600 90th St, Cottage Grove. Featuring free pumpkins (while they last), train rides, local vendors, games, live performances — and much more.
Halloween Hoopla Saturday, October 11, 3-5 p.m., Ojibway Park. Kids from 3 to 12 with an adult can search for a mini pumpkin to decorate, trick-or-treat at various stations, make a craft, and play Halloween carnival games.Costumes welcome. Pre-registration encouraged. Fee $15.
Stillwater Harvest Fest Saturday and Sunday October 10-11, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Downtown is filled with pumpkins weighing in, dropping, paddling in the river and folks celebrating the harvest with a beer garden, bounce houses, a kiddie parade, music, and food trucks.
Spooky Stories Saturday, October 11, 6:30 to 8 p.m., Lake Elmo Park Reserve Nordic Center. Listen to a collection of family-friendly spooky stories told by a skilled storyteller. Attendees can enjoy apple cider, roast marshmallows (while supplies last), and take part in children’s crafts. For those feeling adventurous, the park’s lit trails will stay open until 9:30 p.m. for self-guided hikes under the autumn night sky. Free but vehicle permit required.
Clay Creations: Let’s Make Monsters with eHolt Arts Sunday, October 12, 1:30-3 p.m., R.H. Stafford Library. Children from ages 6 to 11 will learn to work with clay and build their own dragons, sea monsters, etc., with claws and feathers. Registration required.
Woodbury Heritage Society Presents: A Trip through the Heritage Society Archives Monday, October 13, 1 p.m to 3 p.m., Eagle Valley Golf Course, 2600 Eagle Valley Lane. Join Tom Bielenberg and Wayne Schilling to see photographs and objects from Woodbury’s past and people. Call Jennifer at the city (651) 714-3583 to register for this free trip in time.
Memory Café hosted by Family Means Tuesday, October 14, 1-2 p.m., R.H. Stafford Library. A welcoming place for those with memory loss caused by Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, and their caregivers. Provides support and opportunities to connect with others facing similar challenges. Registration recommended.
Halloween Costume Swap Wednesday, October 15, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Washington County Environmental Center, 4039 Cottage Grove Dr. Free swap of costumes and accessories for spooky times ahead. Costume donations to be recycled can be dropped off until October 11.
Courthouse by Candlelight Thursday, October 16, 7 p.m., Washington County Historic Courthouse, 101 West Pine St., Stillwater. Spooky — but not-too-scary — Halloween tours through hidden areas with some spooky stories and creaky stairs. $10 with registration required.
Stay Safe Online Friday, October 17, 1-2:30 p.m., R.H. Stafford Library. This class offers a basic introduction to safe browsing tools and techniques, password management, social media privacy, and device maintenance. Learn what you need to protect your online information. Registration required.
Hilltop Pumpkin Party and Rotary Halloween Parade Saturday, October 18, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Camp St. Croix, 345 Riverview Dr., Hudson, Wis. Costume contests with cash prizes, horse-drawn wagon rides, pumpkin decorating, petting zoo. Games, activities, food and treats, sponsored by the Rotary Club. Free.
No Kings Stillwater Saturday, October 18, 12-2 p.m., Oak Park Crossing Park, 15125 60th St N., Stillwater, March with signs and friends to the bridge over Highway 36.
Intro to Improv for Adults Saturday, October 18, 2-4 p.m., R.H. Stafford Library. An introduction to the idea of Yes And, Active Listening, Group Play, and Creating Characters on the spot for the improv curious. Don’t worry about being clever or funny, bring yourself and be ready to laugh. Registration required.
Welcome to Woodbury Event Thursday,October 23, 4:30-7 p.m., M Health Fairview Sports Center, 4125 Radio Drive. A chance for new residents to get acquainted with their city. The event features Meet & Greet with Woodbury’s City Council, non-profit resource booths,
kids activities including bounces, and visits with city staff from Parks & Recreation, Public Safety, Community Developmen ,and Community Relations.
Everyday Engineering: Introduction to CAD Thursday, October 23, 6:15-7:45 p.m., R.H. Stafford Library. CAD (Computer-Aided Design) is the use of computer software to create, modify, analyze and/or optimize 2D and 3D digital models of physical objects. Students in grades 5-8 will be introduced to CAD software, designing for engineering, and testing out tools on tinkerCAD. Registration required.
Bingo at Brookview Friday, October 24, 6-7 p.m., Brookview Elementary, 11099 Brookview Dr. Halloween Bingo for kids and their grown-ups. Free.
Monster Bash Parade Saturday, October 25, 10 a.m., East Point Douglas Road, Cottage Grove. Halloween parade features floats with spooky themes and treats.
Pumpkin Carving and Decorating Event Saturday, October 25, 10 a.m. to noon, Casa de Corazon, 7805 Hudson Rd. Decorate pumpkins, join in activities, and enjoy the playground. Free, but registration required.
Halloween Masquerade Saturday, October 25, 1:30-3:30 p.m. (1:30-2 p.m. sensory friendly), The Grove, 7465 Steepleview Dr. Kids of all ages in non-scary costumes can join in games and crafts, a dance party with both live and recorded music, and a tasty “munch and roast” where guests can roast their own free hot dog and s’mores over the fire. Free.
Trick or Treat on Mainstreet Stillwater Sunday, October 26, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Over 50 downtown businesses have treats for kids. Teal pumpkins indicate allergy-friendly options. Free.
Teens Make Stuff: Introduction to Oil Paints Tuesday, October 28, 4:30-6:30 p.m., R.H. Stafford Library. Join this introductory workshop for 11-18-year-olds led by a professional artist from eHolt Art to learn more about and practice using oil paints to paint a landscape, learn to build layers, push contrasts, create dynamic texture and more. Registration required.
The Great Ice Skating Spooktacular Wednesday, October 29. Sessions at 5:30 p.m. and 6:45 p.m., Cottage Grove Ice Arena. Put on your skates and your costume for time in a spooky, foggy rink. Advance tickets required. $10 per skater.
Everyday Engineering: STEM Exploration Thursday, October 30, 6:15-7:45 p.m., R.H. Stafford Library. CAD (Computer-Aided Design) is the use of computer software to create, modify, analyze, and/or optimize 2D and 3D digital models of physical objects. Students in grades 5-8 will experiment and test out engineering approaches to solve everyday needs using an assortment of STEM-focused kits. Registration required.
Spooky Skate Friday, October 31, Noon to 2 p.m., presented by The Freight House at St Croix Valley Recreation Center Market, 1675 Market Dr., Stillwater, Skate in costumes.Skate rental available. $8