Fall in Love with Little Falls, MN

Hello Autumn

It’s officially fall! With the leaves changing and the sweater weather setting in, it’s time to break out the pumpkin spice flavors, shrug on our flannels, and get into the fall spirit! Little Falls is a great location to visit in the fall with our beautiful fall colors, our fun seasonal treats and decor, and our many spooky events for both kids and adults.

Don’t Stop Be-Leafing!

One of the best parts about fall is the stunning red, oranges, and yellows that brighten the outdoors. Little Falls has lots of wonderful lookouts to spot the best color changes this fall.

Charles A. Lindbergh State Park has several miles of hiking trails with towering trees and a bubbling river to boot. Walk the paved trail back to the campgrounds or follow the 8 miles of hiking trails as they wind about the park and cross the Platte River. You can also bring your bike and travel along a segment of the Camp Ripley Veteran’s State Trail from Mill Park into the state park.

Another great place to see the leaves change is at Maple Island Park. Not only will you get a stunning view of the Mississippi River and the 1888 Little Falls Dam, but you’ll also be able to see the many vibrant colors of the maple trees as they change. Stroll the walking paths, settle down for a picnic, and take in the beauty of the season at this lovely park.

Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge is another scenic location where you can enjoy the fall colors. The refuge has a few walking paths of varying lengths. Take a quick stroll along the Platte River or soak in the serene sounds of nature along a longer stretch of path. With a lovely look out over the river and a wide range of wildlife, you won’t want to miss this amazing stop this fall.

Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice

Fall is also known for its assortments of seasonal drinks and delicious dishes. Starry Eyed Brewing Company is a favorite with its unique drinks and handcrafted brews. They have over 40 handcrafted beers, seltzers, and ciders to sample. They also have non-alcoholic options. Grab a pint of your favorite beverage or try a few different flavors with a flight. They also have pizza, popcorn, and other snacks to pair with your drinks. Enjoy indoor seating on a cold night or play a game of cornhole and keep warm by the fire outside. Pets are welcome!

The Little Falls Bakery and Deli never disappoints with their assortment of fun, themed cookies. Choose from a wide variety of witches, pumpkins, ghouls, and more! They have lots of baked goods and drink options to choose from. Stop in at lunchtime to enjoy a hot meal, with seasonal, daily specials!

Gourd-geous

And what’s fall without the pumpkins? Many local farmers and gardeners have pumpkins for sale around Little Falls, some right in their yard and others stationed around town. On Wednesdays and Saturdays in October, the Little Falls Farmer’s Market will be open for business with pumpkins as well as some fresh vegetables, handmade crafts, and more! You can find them in the parking lot at the Boys & Girls Club from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Ten miles south of Little Falls is a wonderful pumpkin patch in Royalton, MN. Make the drive out to Triple S Pumpkins for all kinds of fall fun. This incredible pumpkin patch has tons of pumpkins to pick from! You can go out in the field and find the perfect one or sort through the many already hand-picked for people to purchase. Not only do they have pumpkins, but they also have a playground and petting zoo for kids to enjoy as well as lovely spots for photo ops, a corn maze with a scavenger hunt, and giant pumpkins! It’s the perfect place for a day out to enjoy the wonderful fall season.

Another great pumpkin patch is the Maus Fall Festival in Pierz, MN. This amazing location has a wide selection of fun things to do! You can pick your pumpkins in their patch or browse the selection of hand-picked pumpkins. They also have a petting zoo, corn maze, bounce house, pumpkin games, and more! The Maus Fall Festival is open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Family-Friendly Events

With fall comes a wide selection of spooky and seasonal events! A familiar, favorite is Pine Grove Zoo’s BooFest! On Saturday, October 12th, 2024, Pine Grove Zoo will be having its annual Smash Bash. Visitors can watch the animals smash, stomp, and dig into pumpkins with the purchase of regular admission. And don’t forget the zoo’s annual BooFest the following weekend on Saturday, October 19th, 2024. All ages are welcome to dress up in their best Halloween costumes to enjoy the many fun activities and special Halloween surprises, collect candy from local businesses, and say one final farewell to the animals for the season during this spooktacular event!

On Thursday, October 24th, 2024, visitors can enjoy Great River Arts‘ October Painting Class. Get festive this Halloween and create a friendly owl to add to your seasonal decor. The doors open at 5:00 p.m. with class starting at 5:30 p.m. Pre-registration is required, and you can sign up here.

And, of course, we can’t forget trick-or-treating on Halloween! The Little Falls Chamber of Commerce and Tourism will be having its annual Business Trick-or-Treat on Thursday, October 31st, 2024. Kids and their guardians are welcome to walk around downtown Little Falls to collect candy from local, participating businesses. Show off your Halloween costumes and enjoy exploring our beautiful, historic downtown!

Just 10 miles south of Little Falls is Wicked Woods in Royalton. On Saturdays and Sundays from October 5th – November 2nd, kids can wear their costumes and walk the trails at Wicked Woods with little to no scare. They can also explore on an inflatable obstacle course or play on the playground!

Events for Adults

While we have lots of family-friendly events throughout October, we also have events for adults.

Although the Charles Lindbergh House and Museum is closed for the season, they decided to open up for two more evenings this October to bring Lindbergh After Dark! On Saturdays, October 19th and 26th, 2024, the house and museum will guide visitors on a flashlight tour! This event starts at 6:30 p.m. with tours happening every 30 minutes until the last tour at 9:00 p.m. Please note that this event is open to all ages, but little ones might be frightened by the dark.

Another new spooky event is Linden Hill Historic Estate’s Victorian Candlelight Tour & Theatrical Reading on Friday, October 25th, 2024 from 5 – 9 p.m.! Select your time and take a guided, candlelight tour of the Weyerhaeuser (green) mansion. After, make your way to the Musser (white) mansion for theatrical readings by costumed actors inspired by Edgar Allan Poe. Guests can also enjoy food and beverages on the main floor and outdoor spaces at the Musser mansion. This is a 21+ event, and tickets can be purchased here.

Looking for a good scare? Head to Wicked Woods in Royalton, MN. Follow the haunted trail with friends and shake with fright as howling creatures follow you through the forest. Keep an eye out for Dr. Woods who has walk-in appointments available at the new insane asylum. Wicked Woods is open Fridays and Saturdays throughout October 2024.

Exploring Little Falls

Start planning your visit today with the 2024 Travel Guide.

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