Haunted Places in the Twin Cities for Curious Kids
Some kids collect rocks. Others collect ghosts. If yours falls into the latter category, the Twin Cities have plenty of spooky events and haunted experiences for families this year. Each one promises to be a gholishly good time!
To help you plan your Halloween calendar, we’ve rounded up haunted restaurants, tours, and seasonal events for all ages. All while remaining age-appropriate for your little ghosts and goblins (we’ve included information on age restrictions). Let the goosebumps begin! Here are our favorite family-friendly haunted activities in Minneapolis and Saint Paul.
Lost Souls Cave Tour at the Wabasha Street Caves, Saint Paul (10+)
215 Wabasha St. S, Saint Paul, MN 55107
Ready to go a little deeper into the Twin Cities’ haunted history? Head underground for the Lost Souls Cave Tour. This tour lasts about an hour and explores the unsolved gangster murders and ghostly happenings tied to the Wabasha Street Caves.
The tour isn’t designed to be frightening, but with decades of spooky stories and a slideshow of ghost photos to finish, it’s definitely for curious kids who can handle a little mystery. This popular tour often sells out, so we recommend booking ahead. Children must be 10 or older.
Dine at a haunted restaurant: the Black Forest Inn, Minneapolis
1 E 26th St, Minneapolis, MN 55404
Dinner with a possible paranormal visit? Yes, please. Black Forest Inn is a German restaurant and beer garden with a spine-tingling secret. This historic spot is rumored to be haunted! Staff have reported hearing unexplained stomping from the basement, where legend says a former proprietor named Nellie met an unfortunate end after falling down the stairs. The restaurant even invited the Twin Cities Paranormal Society to investigate the eerie happenings.
No special tour or meal is required. The restaurant doesn’t lean into its haunted past, per se, but telling your kids it might be haunted adds a seasonal twist to your next visit! Let your little ghost hunters see if they notice anything unusual while they munch on brats and apple strudel. They can also ask the server if they have seen anything! Black Forest Inn offers an extensive menu of German-inspired favorites, alongside a great kids’ menu.
Union Depot Ghost Tours, Saint Paul
380 St Peter St, Saint Paul, MN 55102
All aboard for a little haunting! Union Depot Ghost Tours takes families behind the scenes of Saint Paul’s most iconic railway station. Managed by CynCity Tours, the tour features the lore surrounding Lowertown and Union Depot.
This 90-minute, fully accessible tour covers some of Union Depot’s most fascinating history with tales of ghosts (who may still be making their presence known!). Amateur ghost hunters will get plenty of history and stories of the reported hauntings. You may even see one yourself! It’s a fun way to explore one of Saint Paul’s most historic landmarks with an eerie upgrade.
Haunted History Trolley Tour, Stillwater (10+)
400 Nelson St E, Stillwater, MN 55082
Stillwater’s historic streets are charming by day. But after dark? Well, let’s just say the ghosts come out to play. The Haunted History Trolley Tour turns Stillwater’s haunted past into a 60-minute theatrical adventure. You’ll quickly learn that Stillwater has a few skeletons in its closet!
The experience starts at River Siren Brewing. Arrive early to do the scavenger hunt together. Keep an eye out for wandering characters before the ride, too. Curious kids may even be able to ask them a question or two while you wait. Onboard, expect ghostly tales, live characters, and plenty of surprises along the way. There’s more lurking in Stillwater than meets the eye! It’s more theatrical than a traditional ghost tour, making it a fun pick for brave kids and teens. Children must be 10 or older.
Twin Cities Horror Festival, Minneapolis
October 16th-31st, 2026 at The Crane Theater in Minneapolis | 2303 Kennedy St NE Unit 120, Minneapolis, MN 55413
For kids who like their Halloween with a little more theater (and a lot more weird!), this one’s for you. Twin Cities Horror Festival returns to Minneapolis for its 15th year, bringing two weeks of horror-inspired performances to the Crane Theater.
Not every show is designed for young audiences, but the festival embraces horror in all its wonderfully strange forms. Many performances are suited to all ages. The festival includes wickedly entertaining kids’ programming, puppetry, dance, cabaret, short films, and theater. It’s a fun pick for families with older or especially curious kids who want to see the creative side of spooky season. Consider it a gateway to on-stage horror for your young thespian!
St. Paul Ghost Tours: Sinister Sins & Shadows, Saint Paul
302 Summit Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55102 (departing from Forepaugh’s 2nd Mansion)
Fancy a peek behind the curtains of Saint Paul’s grand Victorian mansions? Sinister Sins & Shadows takes you on a one-mile walking tour through the city’s most haunted history! Along the route, learn about everything from high-society scandals to tragic love stories. But it’s the restless spirits whose legends steal the spotlight!
Led by local guides, the year-round tour visits six or more historic and allegedly haunted locations. The tour includes Forepaugh’s Mansion and the Stuart House. As darkness settles over Summit Avenue, even the most beautiful historic homes take on a delightfully eerie vibe. It’s a frightfully fun way for kids and history buffs to explore Saint Paul’s past after dark. This tour is open to all ages.
Candlelight Ghost Trolley Tour, Minneapolis
100 E 22nd St, Minneapolis, MN 55404 (departing from the Pillsbury Club/Mansion)
Grab your budding paranormal investigators and follow the flicker of candlelight into Minneapolis’s haunted past. The Candlelight Ghost Trolley Tour takes you to reportedly haunted locations around the city. All aboard the Minneapolis Trolley! A spirited adventure awaits.
Starting at the historic Pillsbury Club, this after-dark adventure features several tales, dark and grim. Meet a mysterious lady in white. Hear the woeful story of a young child said to haunt a mansion ballroom. After you hear about these unexplained happenings, there’s no going back. You’ll even get ghost glasses to help spot the supernatural! Not suitable for children under 10.
Graveyard Ghost Stories with Como-Harriet Streetcar Line, Minneapolis
2330 W 42nd St, Minneapolis, MN 55410
Three ghost stories. One century-old streetcar. A cemetery after dark. What could possibly go bump in the night? The Minnesota Streetcar Museum’s Graveyard Ghost Stories pairs a ride aboard the historic Como-Harriet Streetcar Line with classic supernatural tales read by local storytellers.
After your trolley ride, settle in near Lakewood Cemetery as Twin Cities personalities bring three spooky stories to life. No costumed ghouls or haunted-house jump scares. This tour focuses on good old-fashioned storytelling. It’s a delightfully different Halloween outing for families who love a good ghost story.
