Halloween in Woodbury carries a special kind of energy. Front yards glow with pumpkins, families fill the sidewalks in costume and haunted houses draw thrill-seekers ready for a good scare. Starting to plan your Halloween activities for this year? This guide pulls everything together: the top haunted attractions, Halloween weekend events, family-friendly activities and neighborhoods for trick-or-treating.
Halloween Hoopla and Community Events
Photo Credit: Woodbury Parks and Recreation
Start with the city’s own Halloween Hoopla community event on Saturday, October 11 from 3 PM - 5 PM at Ojibway Park. This family celebration features trunk-or-treating stations, a pumpkin hunt, crafts and Halloween-themed carnival games. Costumes are encouraged, and prizes often go out to the most creative looks. It’s a festive kickoff that brings neighbors together in a safe, walkable space.
Best Neighborhoods for Trick-or-Treating: Haunted Oaks
Photo Credit: Tammy Johnson Stobbie
Woodbury shines in creative neighborhood displays, and the Royal Oaks neighborhood is the showstopper. Located on the corner of Courtly Road and Lamplight Drive and beginning on October 1, this Woodbury neighborhood draws large crowds of excited trick-or-treaters with its all-out Halloween mayhem. Haunted Oaks, as locals affectionately call it, features houses with large-scale, themed front-yard setups, complete with animatronics, sound systems and wacky props—one year, a neighbor brought his 1970s Cadillac hearse! Pro-tip: Many maps are shared online, so you can find the best route for Haunted Oaks. The best place to view updates is on their Facebook page.
Family-Friendly Halloween Things to Do
Photo by Destination: Woodbury
Head over to Woodbury Lakes for Harvest Hop, a festive celebration featuring a pick-a-pumpkin station, live music and seasonal surprises and more! The event takes place from 11 AM - 2 PM on Saturday, Oct. 11 (before Halloween Hoopla). Check our events page for updates on spooky activities this year. If you’re willing to travel just a bit outside of Woodbury, the Twin Cities area has some of the Midwest’s best haunted houses and attractions.
The Haunting Experience is a terrifying hayride experience sure to delight in neighboring Cottage Grove. Scream Town in Chaska operates multiple themed houses and outdoor scares that suit teens and adults who want a high-intensity night. ValleySCARE at Valleyfair in Shakopee mixes haunted mazes with thrill rides and a midway full of characters. For a mix of spooky and scenic, Pinehaven Farm in Wyoming runs Dead End Hayride, an immersive experience through woods and fields. Each of these venues posts age recommendations, and many schedule low-scare sessions for younger guests.
Plan a Weekend in Woodbury and the Twin Cities
In Woodbury, it’s easy to plan a whole weekend of activities without stress by utilizing resources like the new visitor guide. Make it a weekend with a hotel stay to maximize the fun. Halloween in Woodbury blends community spirit with regional attractions that rival any big-city celebration. Begin at Halloween Hoopla in Ojibway Park, then walk to Royal Oaks to see the most creative decorations. Older kids and teens can cap the night with a trip to one of the region’s haunted houses or a hayride experience.
