Minneapolis-Saint Paul is bursting with autumn energy this week, inviting listeners to step into a festival of colors, creativity, and fun. Today kicks off with the iconic Schmidt Fall Art Crawl at the historic Schmidt Artist Lofts, where more than 80 local artists open their studios to the public for a weekend of painting, pottery, jewelry, and live art demonstrations, all with a rooftop view of the Saint Paul skyline. Art lovers can also explore the St. Paul Art Crawl, running today at Union Depot and Tilsner Lofts, featuring unique masterpieces from over two dozen local artists, pop-up markets, interactive workshops, and vibrant live performances, perfect for finding that one-of-a-kind fall treasure. For a lively community experience, head to the Springboard for the Arts Fall Fest—this creative party includes artist-led workshops, a pop-up kitten adoption with Pet Haven, face painting, DJ sets, and hands-on art activities, part of the citywide celebration of the St. Paul Art Crawl.

Families can make memories at the Fall is Fun Festival at CHS Field, running daily from noon to 4 pm all month. Kids will love the hay bale maze, pumpkin painting, themed crafts, and mascot meet-and-greet, while older kids and brave adults can return after dark for Lowertown Terror, a haunted stadium tour through hidden tunnels and spooky corners. Tickets are five dollars for kids and ten for adults during the day, with evening haunted tours beginning at twenty-two dollars.

Autumn’s glow is on full display across the metro, with the Highland Water Tower in Saint Paul open to the public for panoramic views of peak foliage. The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum brings six miles of trails bursting with color, while Caponi Art Park in Eagan blends artistic installations with scenic wooded strolls. Those craving adventure can book a Mississippi River paddleboat tour with Padelford Riverboats or venture to Taylors Falls for kayaking and vivid fall vistas.

Today at the Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts, the Glass Pumpkin Patch returns, showcasing hundreds of handblown pumpkins, free glassblowing demonstrations, and autumn-themed activities. Over at Pinehaven Farm, The Great Pumpkin Trail dazzles with 10,000 intricately carved jack-o’-lanterns lighting up a magical half-mile path.

Cultural events round out the week—Mia hosts free screenings for the Cine Latino Film Festival, the legendary Sweeney Todd whirls audiences through a dark musical tale at Theatre 55, and University of St. Thomas faces off against North Dakota in men’s hockey at Xcel Energy Center tonight. As the weekend rolls on, listeners can look forward to Harvest Fest in Stillwater, complete with giant pumpkin weigh-offs and pumpkin drops.

Wherever you go, there’s a spark of fall and creative spirit in the Twin Cities this week. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe for more local adventures. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI