Things to Do in Central Minnesota This Weekend: Oct. 16-18, 2026

by CentralMNBuzz.com | Oct 15, 2026 | Buzz Originals, Events | 0 comments

CentralMNBuzz.com

From a free family festival in St. Cloud to haunted trails in Sauk Rapids and St. Augusta, a corn maze near Foley, tribute concerts downtown and a Sunday breakfast in Little Falls, here are things to do in central Minnesota this weekend, Friday, Oct. 16, through Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. Every listing below was checked against at least two sources.

Friday, Oct. 16

Parktober Fest — 4–7 p.m., Wilson Park, 625 Riverside Drive NE, St. Cloud. Free. St. Cloud Parks and Recreation invites families to come in costume for games, a petting zoo, a pumpkin patch and pumpkin painting.
Mark Stuart (Granite City Folk Society) — 7–9 p.m., Bo Diddley’s Pub & Deli, 129 25th Ave. S., St. Cloud.
China Rider: A Grateful Dead Experience — 7:30 p.m., Red Carpet Nightclub main stage, 11 Fifth Ave. S., St. Cloud. The show celebrates Bob Weir’s birthday.
Big Love Little Lies: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac — 7:30 p.m., Pioneer Place on Fifth, 22 Fifth Ave. S., St. Cloud.
“Les Misérables” — GREAT Theatre opens its run at the Paramount Center for the Arts at 7 p.m. Friday, with 2 p.m. shows Saturday and Sunday. See our Les Misérables preview.

Saturday, Oct. 17

St. Cloud Area Farmers Market — 8 a.m.–noon, Lady Slipper Lot, 198 Seventh Ave. S., downtown St. Cloud. The market runs Saturdays through October.
Fall Bag of Books Sale — St. Cloud Friends of the Library, Mississippi Room, St. Cloud Public Library, 1300 W. St. Germain St. Hours are 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Saturday.
Granite City Bizarre Bazaar October Market — 10 a.m.–4 p.m., River’s Edge Convention Center, 10 Fourth Ave. S., St. Cloud. Free admission. The market features local makers, artists and oddity vendors.
Horse-drawn carriage rides at Stoney Brook Farms — Noon–3 p.m. through the pumpkin patch, $5 per person (not included in admission). See the corn maze listing below.
CSB+SJU Homecoming — Saint John’s hosts Concordia at 1 p.m. at Clemens Stadium in Collegeville, with more events across both campuses. See our Homecoming schedule.
7 Wonders of Rock: Vocal Legends of the ’70s and ’80s — 7:30 p.m., Pioneer Place on Fifth, 22 Fifth Ave. S., St. Cloud. Seating was limited as of this week.

Friday and Saturday nights: haunted attractions

Molitor’s Haunted Acres — 6:45–11 p.m. Friday and Saturday (ticket booth hours), 3571 Fifth Ave. NE, Sauk Rapids. Tickets online or at the door.
Harvest of Horror — 7–11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 4108 200th St., St. Augusta. Open rain or shine.

All weekend: corn maze near Foley

Stoney Brook Farms Harvest Fun Days — 989 115th Ave. NE, Foley. Open 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; admission is $12, and kids 2 and under get in free. Friday, Oct. 16, is Grandparents Day. The farm lists special MEA-break hours for Oct. 15–18, so check its website for Friday times.

Sunday, Oct. 18

Little Falls Senior Center 42nd anniversary breakfast — 8 a.m.–noon, 510 NE Seventh St., Little Falls. Pancakes, sausage and eggs, with a raffle drawing at noon.
Artaria String Quartet — 3 p.m., Church of the Holy Spirit, 2405 Walden Way, St. Cloud. Presented by the Chamber Music Society of St. Cloud. The program, “From Darkness to Gratitude,” includes works by Clarice Assad, William Byrd, Osvaldo Golijov and Beethoven.

Sources: City of St. Cloud calendar; Visit St. Cloud events calendar; Mark Stuart (Eventbrite); Red Carpet Nightclub; Pioneer Place on Fifth; WJON; GREAT Theatre; St. Cloud Area Farmers Market; St. Cloud Friends of the Library; Minnesota Parent (Bizarre Bazaar); Stoney Brook Farms; KNSI; Molitor’s Haunted Acres; Harvest of Horror; Little Falls Senior Center; Chamber Music Society of St. Cloud. Checked Oct. 15, 2026.