Sample St. Paul
Events & Entertainment Guide:
October 2026

Ticket giveaway!

• Jonas Brothers, 7:30 p.m., Mon. Nov. 2 at Grand Casino Arena (2 tickets)
• Simply sign up for our free monthly Hot off the Press e-newsletter below for a chance to win!
• Winners notified by email Oct. 26
  (see our Facebook page for past winners)

Related news: Fall Event Guide 2026

“Monsters on Vacation,” through Jan. 10, 2027. Join a batch of friendly monsters for a beach day, featuring a monster obstacle course, underwater disco, lifeguard station and more.

Tickets are $17 on weekdays and $19 on weekends. Admission is free the first Sunday of each month; reservations are required and tickets are limited. The next free date is Oct. 4.

Journey, 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 4. From $66.

Zach Top, 8 p.m., Sat., Oct. 10. From $50.

The Smashing Pumpkins, 8 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 13. From $55.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum Bailey The Greatest Show on Earth, Oct. 23-25. From $24.

“Reframing our Stories” features photographs of Native community members, organizations, activities and events.

“Our Home: Native Minnesota” features historic and contemporary photographs, maps and artifacts that show how Minnesota’s native communities have retained cultural practices, teachings and values.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and college students, and $8 for children ages five to 17. Admission and parking are free on Thursdays, 4-8 p.m.

“Fancy Dancer,” through Oct. 4. Growing up in South Dakota, Lara/Larissa is half Lakota and half white but feels like an outsider everywhere she goes. When a problem with her legs lands her in a beginner ballet class for physical therapy, she hates it – until the story of Osage prima ballerina Maria Tallchief inspires her to pursue a professional dance career. From $25.

“Smooth Criminals: The True Story of a 1920s Fraud Scandal that Rocked Minnesota,” Oct. 1-3 in the F.K. Weyerhaeuser Auditorium. This play uncovers the shocking story of a massive fraud that targeted a despised and misunderstood minority group in Minnesota. German immigrants were caught on both sides of the scandal, with some falling victim to the scheme and others helping perpetrate it. Thousands of people across the Midwest lost millions of dollars, while corrupt government officials took bribes, issued threats, and helped fuel the deception. The devastating scheme left hundreds of families in financial ruin. $11.55.

Public Building Tour, 12:30 p.m.-1:15 p.m., each Sunday in October. Learn about the building’s history, gangster connections and restoration. Free.

Landmark Live concert – David Huckfelt will perform at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 16 in the F.K. Weyerhaeuser Auditorium. Cocktail hour begins at 6:45 p.m. Tickets are $27.32 in advance; $30 at the door.

Woodturning demonstration in the AAW Gallery of Wood Art, 1-4 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 18. Free.

St. Paul Symphony concert, 1 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 18. Free.

Ballet Tuesdays: Coppelia, noon, Tuesday, Oct. 20. Ballet Co.Laboratory will perform excerpts from Arthur Saint Léon’s “Coppelia.” Free.

Great Halloween Pumpkin Festival, 1-3 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 25. Festivities include a costume parade, face painting, crafts, a DJ spinning dance tunes, carnival games and plenty of candy.

The Parables Tour with Father Mike Schmitz, 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 30. From $59.

“Nature All Around Us” – Discover the hidden worlds and rich ecosystems within familiar places, from quiet spaces in backyards to busy cities. Learn how trees cool our neighborhoods, how streams carry storm water away from our homes, and how spending time in nature keeps us healthy. 

Virtual Reality Transporter, through December. Use the VRT to hurtle through the cosmos at fantastic speeds, scuba dive into prehistoric seas, and join the astronauts of Apollo 11 as they moonwalk for the first time. $9.95.

Museum Nights, 5-8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Explore museum galleries, check out special Science Live performances, enjoy food and drink, then catch an Omnitheater show. Tickets are $34.95 for adults and $24.95 for ages 4-17.

Omnitheater shows are “Pandas” and “Lost in Space: A Stellar Tours Adventure.”

Tickets are $34.95 for adults and $24.95 for ages 4-17 and include an Omnitheatre show.

Yoga classes, offered 5:30-6:30 p.m., Mondays and Wednesdays, and 9-10 a.m., Saturdays. Free.

American Red Cross blood drive, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 15.

Public tours, 1-2 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 7 and 21.

St. Paul Art Crawl, Oct. 16-18.  Shop from local artists, including painters, photographers, mixed media artists, jewelry designers and more.

Artability Art Show & Sale, 4-8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 23. Artability provides free creative arts opportunities for adults experiencing mental health challenges. Free.

BOOnion Depot, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 25. This free event features crafts, a DJ and dance zone with prizes and Halloween-themed entertainment. Halloween costumes encouraged.