There are dozens of family-friendly Halloween events going on in the Twin Cities over the next few weeks. We have compiled a list of 23 non-scary, kid-friendly activities for families to check out. But just because you have little ones doesn’t mean that you can’t seek out a good scare around this time of year too.
Whether you get your thrills from haunted houses, zombie paintball, or scary hayrides, we’ve got you covered (sort of). You never know what’s lurking in the dark corners of haunted houses and cornfields. So after a day of non-spooky Halloween fun with the kiddos, take your partner on a date or bring your older kids on a frightening night-time adventure to one of these haunts in the Twin Cities:
Zywiec’s Haunting Experience – Cottage Grove
Zywiec’s Haunting Experience has become a premier haunt destination in the Twin Cities. Visitors come to experience a creepy hayride, the claustrophobic tunnels, and corridors of The Manor House. Lastly, the frightening funhouse belonging to Tinkles the Clown. That’s right. Clowns are involved. Are the hairs on the back of your neck standing up?
In addition to these bone-chilling experiences, visitors may also choose to play Big Zombie Hunter Paintball. Catch a trailer and get ready to protect yourself from an invasion of zombies.
For the younger crowd and those who want to be able to sleep at night, Zywiec’s does offer low scare movies as well as a fun corn maze experience on Saturdays and Sundays.
Haunt Information
Admission for the Haunting Experience is $20, Big Zombie Hunter Paintball is $15, and a combo pass including the Haunting Experience and Big Zombie Hunter Paintball is $31 per person. Tickets are cheaper when they are purchased in advance online
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Open now through Halloween on Thursdays, 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM; Fridays and Saturdays, 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM.
https://hauntingexperience.com/
10900 E. Pt. Douglas Road (off of Highway 61), Cottage Grove, MN 55016
(651) 459-3001
Trail of Terror – Shakopee
The Trail of Terror is celebrating 22 years of scares and screams this Halloween season. With more than 2.5 miles of frightening scenes, the Trail of Terror is one of the most popular haunt destinations in the Twin Cities.
New this year is the Escape Room. Visitors are given only 20 minutes to figure out how they will escape a locked room with their group. Visitors also have the option of playing Zombie Paintball for additional thrills.
Haunt Information
Admission is $16.95 per person for the Trail of Terror. Entry for the Escape Room is $14.95 per person. Admission for the Trail of Terror and Zombie Paintball is $40 per person.
Open now through Halloween on Fridays and Saturdays, 7:00 PM – 12:30 AM; Sundays, 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM, rain or shine.
https://www.trailofterrormn.com/
3525 145th Street West, Shakopee, MN 55379
(952) 445-7361
Halloween Haunt at ValleySCARE – Shakopee
ValleySCARE is full of terrifying scare zones and mazes located throughout the amusement park. Abnormal Alley, Carnevil: Ringmaster’s Revenge, Trails End, Mangler Asylum, and Mr. Cleaver’s Bloodshed are just a few of the haunts that will frighten visitors. In addition, parents should note that children under the age of 13 should steer clear of Halloween Haunt attractions.
Haunt Information
Admission starts at $33.99 per person. Parking is $15 per vehicle.
Open now through Halloween on Fridays and Saturdays, 7:00 PM – 12:00 AM.
https://www.valleyfair.com/haunt/
1 Valleyfair Drive, Shakopee, MN 55379
(952) 445-7600
The Olson Haunted House – Chanhassen
Dress for the elements and be prepared to find your way to safety through the woods after surviving the horrors inside the Olson garage.
This haunted house uses realistic props, power tools, uneven flooring, strobe lights, and tight spaces to bring out the screams in visitors, so be sure you are daring enough to enter.
Haunt Information
Admission is FREE with a donation of a non-perishable food item. Cash donations are also accepted. Proceeds from donations will go to the ICA Food Shelf.
Open Halloween, 6:30 PM – 11:00 PM.
https://olsonhauntedhouse.weebly.com
2432 Lake Lucy Road, Chanhassen, MN 55317
Scream Town – Chaska
Scream Town is one haunt you will not want to miss if you are looking for a good scare, especially since Haunted Attraction Magazine selected Scream Town as a “Must See Haunt.” With regular admission, visitors have the option of exploring six haunting attractions including Meltdown at Sector 666, Crop Spawn, Circus Asylum, Ludicrous Labyrinth, Oak Blood Forest, and Redneck Resort. Furthermore, two other frightening attractions are available for visitors who purchase VIP tickets in advance.
Children under the age of 10 are not encouraged to visit Scream Town. Be sure to dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes because visitors will be in a cornfield that may have rough or muddy paths.
Haunt Information
Admission starts at $25 when purchased online or $30 per person at the door. If you are looking for a deal, make sure you pick up coupons at select Spirit Halloween stores and save on your admission during special coupon nights.
Open now through Halloween, Fridays and Saturdays, 6:30 PM – 11:00 PM; Sundays, 6:30 PM – 10:00 PM.
7410 Highway 212, Chaska, MN 55318
(612) 562-6409
Molitor’s Haunted Acres – Sauk Rapids
If you don’t mind traveling a bit out of the Twin Cities for a thrill this Halloween season, consider getting your scare on at Molitor’s Haunted Acres. This haunt is about five miles from St. Cloud, and it is supposed to be one of the scariest plots of land in Central Minnesota.
Visitors will take a hayride through the Woods of Darkness and have a chance to warm up by the fire at The Rest Stop. From there, visitors will continue on foot to experience five different terrifying haunt scenes. Zombie Paintball will also be available for those looking for some additional fun after a night of terror. Lastly, children under the age of 8 will probably find this experience too scary, and an adult must accompany children under the age of 13.
Haunt Information
General admission is $22 per person. Zombie Paintball starts at $7 per person. Please note that the ticket booth only accepts cash.
Open now through Halloween, Thursdays, 6:30 PM – 10:00 PM; Fridays and Saturdays, 6:30 PM – 11:00 PM.
https://molitorshauntedacres.com/
3571 5th Avenue NE, Sauk Rapids, MN 56679
(320) 253-1672, extension 1
Shafer Corn Maze – Shafer
Enter “Dead Raven’s Trail” at your own risk and try to find your way through the haunted maze in the dark. Younger children should avoid this maze, and an adult must accompany children under the age of 12.
Haunt Information
Admission is $10 per person.
Open October 16th and 17th from dark to 10:00 PM; October 23rd and 24th from dark to 10:00 PM.
https://www.shafercornmaze.com/www.shafercornmaze.com/Halloween_Haunt.html
Quinlan Ln & US Highway 8 E, Shafer, MN 55074
(651) 353-0675
The Dead End Hayride – Wyoming
This haunt begins with the Dead End Hayride, which takes visitors deep into the farm. Visitors are then dropped off at the Sunny Vale Asylum where they will encounter horrifying scenes and creatures. After surviving these harrowing experiences, visitors will then have the option of exploring a haunted cornfield full of many things that go bump in the night.
Haunt Information
Admission starts at $19 on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. Entry starts at $24 on Fridays and Saturdays. Tickets are cheaper when purchased in advance online.
Open now through November 1st, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM; Fridays and Saturdays, 7:00 PM – 12:00 AM.
https://www.thedeadendhayride.com/
28186 Kettle River Boulevard, Wyoming, MN 55092
(651) 462-4848
Fright Farm – Maplewood
Fright Farm is the place to go if you are looking for an affordable, yet bone-chilling haunt in the Twin Cities. It is a large-scale haunted house that donates all proceeds to the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Foundation, which supports D.A.R.E., K-9 programs, and other community programs.
Children under the age of 12 should avoid this scary farm. However, Fright Farm will have a kid-friendly, low-scare matinee on Sunday, October 25th from 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM. The low-scare matinee is only $5 per person. Rides and other activities will also be going on during the matinee event.
Haunt Information
Admission is $10 per person. Parking is FREE at Aldrich Arena.
Open now through Halloween, Fridays and Saturdays, 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM.
2020 White Bear Avenue North, Maplewood, MN 55109
The Soap Factory’s Haunted Basement – Minneapolis
We saved the scariest haunt of all for last. The Soap Factory’s Haunted Basement is so terrifying that no one under the age of 18 is allowed to enter. So parents, be sure to get a babysitter lined up and head out on the town for dinner and a scare.
This year’s haunted experience at the Soap Factory includes a frightening walk through the 13,000 square foot basement. You’ll encounter dozens of creatures and horrific scenes, custom smells will turn your stomach, and you may even get lost or trapped until the Basement Creeps decide to release you and your friends.
Haunt Information
Admission starts at $25 per person.
Open now through November 1st. Please check the schedule here to reserve your tickets before they sell out.
https://www.soapfactory.org/exhibit.php?content_id=743
514 Second Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414
(612) 623-9176
Whether you’re easily scared or not, we hope you enjoy a night out at one of these haunts in the Twin Cities! Be sure to stop by our membership page and Join the Club. These discounts and deals are only available through Twin Cities Kids Club.
-by Aimee Farley, Owner, WhyILeftMyJob.com and Twin Cities Kids Club Co-Owner