White Bear Lake Events

White Bear Lake has one of the most active community calendars in the eastern metro, and Halloween week is nearly here. The MEA weekend is behind us: Run For The Apples raced through Pine Tree on Saturday, the Dream of Wild Health Corn Fest filled the farm in Hugo, and the pumpkin patch and corn maze are into their final week. Now the calendar is all about costumes: the Halloween Candy Crawl takes over downtown White Bear Lake on Saturday, the Scare in White Bear 5K lights up Lake Avenue that evening, the Flashlight Pumpkin Hunt turns out at Tom Ryan Park on Friday, and Apple Ford hosts a free trunk-or-treat the same afternoon. The farmers market has just two Fridays left, the lake stays open for boating with the ramps quieter than they have been all summer, and the fall color is settling into its amber stage on the bluffs. Here is what is on the calendar now and through the fall.

This Week: October 19 - 25

Halloween Week Starts Now

Farmers Market -- Fridays, 8 AM-noon, on Clark Avenue between 2nd and 3rd Streets, with two Fridays left: October 23 and the season finale on October 30. 50+ vendors, and the last of the fall apples, squash, pumpkins, and late tomatoes is still worth the trip.
Apple Ford White Bear Lake Trunk or Treat -- Friday, October 23, 3-6:30 PM at Apple Ford (1493 County Road E East). Free and open to all: decorated trunks, games, face painting, balloon artists, and food trucks. Family Fun Twin Cities
Flashlight Pumpkin Hunt -- Friday, October 23, 7-8:30 PM at Tom Ryan Park. A free Halloween twist on the classic pumpkin hunt for kids 10 and under, run after dark. A newer White Bear area tradition that books up fast. Details
Ladies of the Lake Quilting Show -- Thursday-Friday, October 22-23, 12-4 PM at Pine Tree Apple Orchard. Local quilters showcase their work.
Halloween Candy Crawl -- Saturday, October 24, 10 AM-1 PM in downtown White Bear Lake. Trick-or-treating at participating downtown businesses, costumes encouraged, and some spots even hand out puppy treats. Free to attend. White Bear Lake Magazine
Scare in White Bear Halloween 5K -- Saturday, October 24, 6-8 PM along Lake Avenue at Memorial Beach (4958 Lake Ave). A costumed, torch-lit Halloween run for all ages with trick-or-treating and a photo booth, organized by Midwest Multisport Races. Midwest Multisport Races
Pine Tree Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch, final week -- The corn maze closes Sunday, October 25, and the pick-your-own pumpkin patch ends the same day; wagon rides and pony rides run on weekends while they last. A White Bear Lake fall tradition, and this is the last week of 2026 for it. pinetreeappleorchard.com
Fall colors -- The metro's peak window landed in mid-October per the DNR's forecast, and the show is now settling. The oaks and the lake-facing bluffs keep their amber into the month's end, so a lakeshore walk is still worth it this week.
Boating note -- Swimming beaches are closed for the season, but boating carries on until freeze-up. The county launch on Lake Avenue stays open, and the water has never been quieter. The DNR's low-water warning from September is still the operative guidance with the drought continuing, so scout the launch before you back in.

October Events

Flashlight Pumpkin Hunt -- Friday, October 23, 7-8:30 PM at Tom Ryan Park. A free Halloween twist on the classic pumpkin hunt for kids 10 and under, run after dark. A newer White Bear area tradition that books up fast. Details
Apple Ford Trunk or Treat -- Friday, October 23, 3-6:30 PM at Apple Ford (1493 County Road E East). Free: decorated trunks, games, face painting, balloon artists, and food trucks. Family Fun Twin Cities
Halloween Candy Crawl -- Saturday, October 24, 10 AM-1 PM in downtown White Bear Lake. Trick-or-treating at participating downtown businesses with costumes encouraged; some shops pass out puppy treats too. White Bear Lake Magazine
Ladies of the Lake Quilting Show -- October 22-23 & 29-30 at Pine Tree Apple Orchard. Local quilters showcase their work.
Scare in White Bear Halloween 5K -- Saturday, October 24, 6-8 PM along Lake Avenue at Memorial Beach (4958 Lake Ave). A costumed, torch-lit Halloween run for all ages with trick-or-treating and a photo booth, organized by Midwest Multisport Races. Midwest Multisport Races
Kellerman's Halloween Costume Party -- Saturday, October 31, doors 7:30 PM at Kellerman's Event Center (2222 4th St). The 15th annual costume party with live music 8-11 PM. Kellerman's
White Bear Lake Winterfest -- Downtown White Bear Lake typically runs its annual Winterfest on the first three Saturdays of December, with an ice rink, holiday shopping, and family activities along the lakefront. The 2026 dates had not been officially posted as of late October; watch Downtown White Bear Lake for them.

Recently Completed

What Just Passed

Run For The Apples 5-Mile (October 17) -- The White Bear Rotary's annual 5-mile race and kids' fun run wound through Pine Tree Apple Orchard at the height of the color.
Dream of Wild Health Corn Fest (October 17) -- Corn-themed food demos and farming activities celebrated Indigenous foodways at the intertribal farm in Hugo.
Stillwater Fall Craft & Gift Show (October 17) -- Local crafters filled Stillwater Area High School for early holiday shopping, a short drive away.
Community & Coffee with Mayor Nicklawske (October 10) -- The mayor's visit to Podvin Park poured coffee and fielded questions and ideas from residents.
Stillwater Harvest Fest (October 10-11) -- The giant pumpkin weigh-off, pumpkin drop, kids' costume parade, and pumpkin regatta filled Lowell Park a short drive away.
Mahtomedi PunkinMania (October 10) -- The annual family fall festival at Veterans Memorial Park sold pumpkins and ran games, crafts, and the petting zoo.
Elizabethan Syngers (October 8-9) -- Renaissance choral performances wrapped their two-day run in the orchard at Pine Tree Apple Orchard.
Fall Cleanup Day (October 3) -- City-sponsored disposal of unwanted items at reduced rates helped residents clear out garages before winter.
Rivertown Fall Art Festival (October 3-4) -- The 49th annual juried festival filled Lowell Park in Stillwater with up to 200 artist booths and live music, a short drive from White Bear Lake.
Homecoming Week (October 4-10) -- White Bear Lake Area Schools' homecoming week wrapped with the parade, the Bears' football game at Forest Lake, and the homecoming dance.
Fall Fest (September 24-26) -- The Scarecrow Stroll, Ladies Night shopping, live music, and pumpkin painting filled downtown, closing with Polka & Pumpkins in the Park at Railroad Park on Saturday.
Trash to Treasure Day (September 26) -- The citywide reuse tradition passed usable household goods to new homes before the bulk-trash season.
Spirit of the St. Croix Art Festival (September 26-27) -- The free juried art festival with 80+ regional artists drew big crowds to Hudson's Lakefront Park, just across the river.
Unlimited Fall Makers Market (September 26) -- Local makers sold seasonal goods at The Mermaid Entertainment and Event Center.
White Bear Township Day (September 19) -- The free festival at Polar Lakes Park featured live music, a vendor market, the 9th Annual Car/Bike Show, BINGO, the VFW Beer Garden, food trucks, and fireworks around 8 PM.
One Last Tri (September 20) -- The season's final olympic and sprint triathlon wrapped up on White Bear Lake.
Taste of White Bear Lake (September 12) -- The Rotary Club fundraiser at Pine Tree Apple Orchard drew big crowds for food and drink samples from local restaurants, breweries, and distilleries, plus a silent auction, cork pull, and live music.
Bald Eagle Lake Art Crawl (September 12) -- The 3rd annual self-guided tour of local artists' studios and pop-up galleries around the lake.
Bear Water Run (September 12) -- The White Bear Lake Lions Club's 10-mile and 20-mile races around the lake, a USATF-certified course with proceeds returned to the community.
Art in the Park at Spruce Park (through September 7) -- Free daily art classes for ages 3-12 wrapped up its final sessions over the holiday weekend.
White Bear Lake Senior Carnival (August 19) -- Live music, petting zoo, summer fun, and activities for seniors and families.
Lakeside Guitar Festival (August 14-15) -- A weekend of guitar performances from classical to blues at venues around White Bear Lake.

Marketfest - Wrapped Up

Thursdays June 11 – July 30, 2026 - Completed

The 36th season of Marketfest concluded on July 30 with the Environmental Resource Expo. Over 130 food and merchandise vendors, live music on two stages, and a celebration of green living in downtown White Bear Lake. See you in 2027 for the 37th season.

Manitou Days - Wrapped Up

June 18 – July 4, 2026 - Completed

Manitou Days - White Bear Lake's signature summer festival - wrapped up on the 4th with a spectacular fireworks show from West Park and Memorial Beach, plus the patriotic boat parade on the lake. Over three weeks of community events including the Grande Parade, beach dances, the medallion hunt, and 50+ events in all.

Weekly & Recurring Events

Farmers Market - Fridays, 8 AM-noon, on Clark Avenue between 2nd and 3rd Streets downtown. More than 50 vendors. Two Fridays left: October 23 and the season finale October 30.
Pine Tree Apple Orchard - 425 White Bear Ave N. Apple picking with the corn maze and pick-your-own pumpkin patch in their final week, open through October 25, wagon rides and pony rides on weekends while they last. A White Bear Lake fall tradition. pinetreeappleorchard.com
Fall Fest - September 24-26, downtown. Scarecrow Stroll, live music, pumpkin painting, and the Polka & Pumpkins in the Park finale. Completed for 2026; see you next September.

Annual Highlights & Fall Events

White Bear Township Day - September 19, 2-8 PM at Polar Lakes Park. Free community festival with live music, car show, food vendors, and fireworks. Completed for 2026.
Trash to Treasure Day - September 26, citywide. Reuse focused, ahead of the bulk-trash season. Completed for 2026. City of White Bear Lake
Fall Cleanup Day - October 3, 7 AM-1 PM. City-sponsored disposal of unwanted items. Completed for 2026.
Ladies of the Lake Quilting Show - October 22-23 & 29-30, 12-4 PM at Pine Tree Apple Orchard. Local quilters showcase their work.
White Bear Lake Boat Parade - The July 4th boat parade during Manitou Days is White Bear Lake's only annual boat parade. Decorated boats cruise along the shorelines of Dellwood, Birchwood, and Mahtomedi. See you in 2027.

A note on the lake itself: the latest Washington County water quality report grades White Bear Lake an A, rating it excellent (mesotrophic) with about 14.4 feet of clarity, and ice out in 2026 came on March 31, about 12 days ahead of the long-term median. For a broader view of regional events, visit our events guide.

White Bear Lake Events