It's October and Fall is Happening

Fall is in the air and summer is now officially a memory. For those of you still in mourning about the transition, deal with it. For those of you that love the sights, sounds and smells of autumn, it’s your time. The Twin Cities right now is about football and homecoming celebrations. Food blogs are featuring soups, stews, and slow cooker recipes. Desserts are apple and pumpkin everything!

Temperatures are definitely cooler. The pools are closed down for the season, the trees are turning beautiful shades of gold and orange, and flip flops and shorts have been abandoned for jeans and sweaters. The sun seems to leave a bronze glow on everything it touches and the chill in the morning air lingers through the afternoon and gets downright cold by sundown. 

I'm sure you have planned some of your leisure hours, but in case you have some openings on your calendar for this month, let’s take a look at what is noteworthy in the Twin Cities Metro for October.

For a Spooktacular Halloween

Scarecrows in the Garden at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska through Oct. 31st

See one of a kind scarecrows designed by the Arboretum staff, beautiful fall displays created by the experts from Bachman’s, and the Pumpkin House decorated for this beautiful season.  

Pumpkin Nights Twin Cities

This is a brand new event launched Oct. 14th and ongoing through Oct. 31st at the Minnesota State Fair Grounds in Falcon Heights.  Walk the one-mile path lined with 3,000 hand carved pumpkins. Enjoy a multi-sensory Halloween experience while you engage in the worlds of Pumpkin Galaxy, Witches Brew, The Great Pumpkin and much more! There are 12 interactive worlds to explore, Halloween music and fall treats! You are encouraged to come in costume! 

Trail of Terror in Shakopee

For some, Halloween would not be complete without a visit to this event which runs weekends through Oct. 30th Get scared silly in the Howling Pines Wood Walk, at Hotel 666 or the Crystal Caverns and more. Additions attractions include Zombie Paintball, The Running Dead, a 5k race on the 22nd, and Ghost Hunting at the Phantom Feast. 

Live On Stage in the Twin Cities

The Guthrie

Sense and Sensibility on the Wurtele Trust Stage. Enjoy a modern adaptation of the Jane Austin classic novel. Performances through October 29th.

The Parchman Hour on the McGuire Proscenium Stage through November 1st. This is a musical which explores the battle against segregation at the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement in the Deep South.

Hold These Truths in the Dowling Studio through October23rd. This is about the journey of Gordon Hirabayashi, a 24-year-old college student who defies the government order of relocation of all Japanese-Americans on the west coast during WW II.

For more information on these and upcoming events at the Guthrie website

Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts

The Bakers Wife opens on October 22nd and continues through November 12th at the Schneider Theater. This romantic musical comedy set in a rural French town will pull at your heartstrings as the town’s people conspire to bring the baker’s wandering wife back to him so he can be happy and resume baking his bread. Wonderful music by Stephen Schwartz of Godspell, Pippin and Wicked fame.

If you are looking for a less traditional theater experience, MinnPost offers a great Twin Cities Theater calendar.

Twin Cities October Events in Art

The Walker Art Center

October 15th through December 31st the Walker celebrates 75 years of art with a history of its exhibits throughout the years. Galleries 4, 5 and 6. Visit the Walker website for more information on this and other ongoing events for the month and beyond.

The Minneapolis Institute of Art

There is always so much going on at MIA that I never know where to begin. What’s going? I will say that the pop star photo exhibit Who’s Who: Seeing Back to Front looks intriguing and is over on the 23rd. What's coming? Martin Luther: Art and the Reformation opening October 30th.

The Museum of Russian Art

Submerge yourself in the art and culture of Russia with a visit to the Museum of Russian Art. This is the only museum of its kind in North America and if you have never visited, you owe it to yourself to go. Although this is one of the most underrated museums in the Twin Cities, they continue to surprise us with one outstanding exhibit after another. For a complete listing of current events and exhibits, check their website.

Twin Cities October Music Scene

Annual Zombie Pub Crawl – Minneapolis, various locations Oct 15^th

A Prairie Home Companion at the Fitzgerald in St. Paul Oct. 15^th

An Evening with Gordan Lightfoot at the State Theater in Minneapolis Oct. 16^th

The McCoy Tyner Quartet with Gary Bartz at the Dakota Jazz Club in Minneapolis Oct 20^th

Cornbread Harris at the Loring Pasta Bar in Minneapolis on Oct. 21^st (City Pages Recommend)

Purple Philanthropy Sheila E. Benefit Concert at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis on Oct. 23^rd

Classical at Minnesota Orchestra in Minneapolis, Bolling, Ravel, and Brahms on Oct 23^rd 

 

Here in the Twin Cities apple picking, leaf peeping and pumpkin carving are also high on the activity list. Let's not overlook biking and hiking, golf and tennis, and walks around your favorite lake because fall weather is perfect for those types of activities. Then there are those who enjoy spending Sunday’s watching their favorite football team score a touchdown unless they are lucky enough to have Vikings tickets for home games at the new US Bank stadium. 

Have a great month!