The 7 Best Fall Festivals in Minnesota for 2025 Will Put You in the Autumnal Spirit

Is there any better way to get yourself in the mood for the autumn shoulder season in the Land of 10,000 Lakes than a celebration of colorful foliage, pumpkins, fall, harvest, apples… or basically anything and everything that has to do with the change of seasons? If you were to ask me, I’d say absolutely not! So, here are seven of the best fall festivals in Minnesota to help you celebrate autumn in The Bold North.

1. SeptOberfest - Wabasha, September 27–28 and October 4–5, 2025

Wabasha's annual SeptOberfest Celebration is one of the most delightful community celebrations of autumn in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. The festival takes place over two weekends—the last weekend in September and the first weekend in October—and offers several community events, live music, activities, shopping, and happenings in Wabasha over the course of the festival. While in town, be sure to stop in at the National Eagle Center, which played an instrumental role in Wabasha becoming the "Bald Eagle Capital of America."

2. Applefest USA - La Crescent, Sept. 19–21, 2025

If apples are a linchpin of your autumn, then head down the Mississippi to La Crescent, because Applefest USA is the place to be. Celebrate everything that has to do with apples at this weekend-long event, and bring home some apple-y goodies when you leave. Over the weekend, you'll enjoy live music, competitions, parades, a carnival, and even the coronation of Miss La Crescent.

3. Chester Bowl Fall Fest - Duluth, Sept. 20, 2025

Every year, the Chester Bowl Improvement Club hosts its Chester Bowl Fall Fest to raise funds for the maintenance of Duluth’s favorite community ski area. This is the best fall festival near Duluth, and it’s been going strong for more than three decades.

4. Stillwater Harvest Fest - Stillwater, Oct. 11–12, 2025

My favorite fall festival near St. Paul is the Stillwater Harvest Fest, which is a massive celebration of giant pumpkins. Over the two days of Harvest Fest, you'll witness a giant pumpkin weigh-in, a pumpkin regatta (race) on the St. Croix River, and a giant pumpkin smash. There are also live music, kids' activities, and many other events scheduled throughout the weekend.

5. Wykoff Fall Fest - Wykoff, Sept. 26–28, 2025

The Wykoff Fall Fest is one of the best fall festivals near Rochester. This small town festival has been going strong for decades, and it's everything you would expect from a fall celebration in a rural Minnesota town, including a parade, a tractor pull, and an egg drop from a helicopter.

6. Twin Cities Harvest Festival and Maze - Brooklyn Park, Open Weekends, October 4–26, 2025

If you're looking for a fall festival near Minneapolis, the Twin Cities Harvest Festival and Maze in Brooklyn Park is a great option. With inflatables, a corn maze, vendors, pumpkin carving, and all sorts of other activities, it's an ideal destination for a family outing on a fall weekend day. The festival also open on Thursday and Friday of M.E.A. weekend.

7. Moose Madness Family Festival - Grand Marais, Oct. 16–18, 2025

Those looking for a fall celebration with a particularly Up North flavor will love the Moose Madness Family Festival in Grand Marais. A celebration of fall (the time of year when moose develop romantic inclinations toward one another) and everything North Shore, Moose Madness makes for a fun family getaway in the fall. It does tend to coincide with M.E.A., so be sure to book your accommodations well in advance.

With so many awesome Minnesota fall festivals, you could pack up the car and make a fall festival road trip out of a few of them! Have you attended any of these fall festivals in Minnesota? Let me know if I missed any and what festivals you plan to attend this year.

Feeling inspired? Try planning your own fall festivals road trip in Minnesota using Only In Your State’s itinerary planner.