Stillwater Harvest Fest

Fall festival · Stillwater · Minnesota

A free weekend on the St. Croix River built entirely around pumpkins: a giant pumpkin weigh off, a pumpkin dropped from a hundred foot crane, and a regatta of hollowed out pumpkin boats racing on the river. A beer and wine garden and a chili cook off round out downtown Stillwater's riverfront park.

Best for: A quirky pumpkin weekend in a river town near the Twin Cities

Don’t miss

  • Giant pumpkin weigh off and hundred foot pumpkin drop
  • Pumpkin boat regatta on the St. Croix
  • Free entry, with a paid chili cook off

Plan your visit

2026 season: Oct 10 – Oct 11.

Free two-day event in downtown Stillwater; live music 10am-8pm Sat, 10am-5pm Sun

Website ↗

Dates from the official announcement, checked August 20, 2026. Always confirm before you go.

2026 Forecast

Color nearby peaks: October 3–October 7

Color builds from September 25 · mostly bare by October 25

Color starts: September 25Peak: October 5Bare: October 25AugustDecember

Sampled at Stillwater Harvest Fest’s own coordinates and elevation (211 m) rather than a regional average.

48 weather points cover Minnesota, and the model shifts their answer 9 days earlier, which is what it takes to match 2 published peak dates from smokymountains.com. Minnesota is running 4 days earlier than its own average this year. How the forecast works

When to go to Stillwater Harvest Fest

Good color holds through about October 14, giving you roughly 19 days from the first turn to past peak. That runs roughly 6 days later than the rest of Minnesota.

It is roughly 23 mi out of Minneapolis.

Stillwater Harvest Fest on the map

Drag the date slider to see when color reaches this corner of Minnesota, or tap a pin for that stop’s own peak window.

More things to do in Minnesota

See all things to do in Minnesota →

Plan from a city

Minneapolis · 23 mi · day trip

Frequently asked

When is Stillwater Harvest Fest open in 2026?
The 2026 season runs Oct 10 – Oct 11. Free two-day event in downtown Stillwater; live music 10am-8pm Sat, 10am-5pm Sun. Dates can shift, so check the official site before you go.
When does Stillwater Harvest Fest peak in 2026?
Peak color is predicted for October 3–October 7 (best estimate October 5). Color starts around September 25 and is mostly bare by October 25.
How do I get to Stillwater Harvest Fest?
Stillwater Harvest Fest is in Stillwater. The closest city is Minneapolis, about 23 mi away. It's part of Minnesota's fall lineup.
See it on the map

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