Where the Mississippi and Rum Rivers converge there’s bound to be beautiful scenery and a ton of fun things to do in Anoka, Minnesota, the city where it all happens. From scenic helicopter rides, antiquing and the arts to craft breweries, golfing, skiing, spooktacular October events, and more, you can discover a great variety of awesome things to do in Anoka.
Visit the Town During October
If you’re a Halloween fan, you’ll love Anoka. In the early 1920s, the town hosted a giant Halloween party to try to prevent pranksters from harming people or damaging property. The party worked, and the townspeople had created a tradition. Over the next few years, the party gained popularity and attention. In 1937, the United States Congress officially declared Anoka as the Halloween Capital of the World.
Now, the town celebrates Halloween during the entire month of October. If you’re visiting then, be sure to catch their many fun events, including the Grande Day Parade and the Light Up the Night Parade.
They also host a House Decorating Contest that allows for tours that are open to the general public.
Anoka, Minnesota, is also known for their Gray Ghost Run, a 5K and one-mile fitness walk to kick off their Grand Day Parade. During this run, a costume contest ensues, and participants are judged on their Halloween costumes.
Take a Ride on the Minnesota Helicopter Tours
Minnesota Helicopters allows you to escape to the sky with gorgeous 260-degree views of Minnesota’s best cities, lakes, and countrysides.
This fun business offers tours, charter flights, flight school, corporate outings, special events, aerial photography, and epic date nights for you and your lover.
You can find their airfield at 644 Bayfield Street, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55107, or call them at (651) 450-0521.
Grab a Brewski at Invictus Brewing Co
Next on our list of fun things to do in Anoka, Minnesota is a trip to Invictus Brewing Co. Invictus Brewing Company’s mission is “to produce high-quality beers for adults to enjoy while also being good stewards of our earth and resources.”
Invictus Brewing Co has a gorgeous, clean, and modern-industrial taproom that can seat up to two-hundred people. Watch the six fermenters in action, and enjoy the complimentary wifi, laptop-friendly outlets, and USP ports at the high-tops designed for those who want to get some work done.
While Invictus Brewing Co focuses solely on drinks, The Tipsy Steer is on-site. He offers up some delicious brick-oven-made pizza, locally sourced beef hamburgers, salads, street tacos, and house-smoked sausages.
You can find Invictus Brewing Co at 2025 105th Ave NE, Blaine, Minnesota 55449. You can call them at (763) 208-3063.
Enjoy the Nightlife of the Uniquely Named Anoka Hardware Store
Anoka Hardware Store is a 21+ speakeasy, craft cocktail, and jazz lounge in Anoka, Minnesota.
Find the red light; if it’s on, Anoka Hardware Store is open. Tell the attendant that you’re there to buy a hammer.
Reservations are strongly recommended but not required.
While the lounge usually features jazz, rockabilly, guitar, saxophones, swing, and prohibition, swing music is also played.
You can find the Anoka Hardware Store at 210 Jackson Street, Red Light Alley, Anoka, Minnesota 55303. You can also call them at (763) 316-6118.
Go Antiquing at Antiques on Main
Antiques on Main is an Antique Shop that operates out of an 1884 downtown Anoka building.
This store offers coffee, cookies, and other sweets. Their antiques consist of antique furniture, vintage upholstery, period clothing, antique dishware, vintage and costume jewelry, collectibles, and more.
You can find Antiques on Main at 212 E Main St, Anoka, Minnesota 55303. Their business phone number is (763) 323-3990.
Take in the Scenery of Rum River
Rum River originates at Mille Lacs Lake in Central Minnesota and ends at the mighty Mississippi in Anoka; it’s approximately 155 miles long. Mistaken French explorers gave this river this name. The native local Dakota tribesmen tried to explain that the river is a ‘spirit’ river; unfortunately, the explorers didn’t understand and only knew of was the ‘spirit’ Rum, and that is how French explorers gave the river its current name.
This medium-sized river has several fish species present, including walleye, smallmouth bass, bluegill, crappie, and Northern Pike.
You can find boat access at Rum River North Park, St. Francis City Parks, Rum River Central Park, Rivers Bend Park in Ramsey, At the County 7 Bridge, and at the Anoka County Fairgrounds.
Visit the White Buffalo Spiritual Healing and Gift Shop
The White Buffalo Gift Shop offers souvenirs and spiritual healing. While visiting, explore some of their specialties.
They offer shamanic services, tarot card readings, psychic readings, oracle card readings, palmistry, reiki, crystal readings, stone readings, polarity work, angel card readings, yoga, and so much more.
This shop also has art from local Anoka artists, as well as crystals, stones, oils, services, readings, classes, and more.
You can find White Buffalo at 104 E Main Street, Anoka, Minnesota 55303. You can contact Deborah Martin-Krona at (763) 370-5501.
Pick Fresh, Delicious Berries at Berry Hill Farm
For over thirty years, Berry Hill Farm has been in business and owned by farmers Cliff and Amy since 1991. Nestled in the wooded countryside of Anoka, Minnesota, Berry Hill Farm is the perfect family-friendly outing.
Berry Hill Farm is over one hundred acres large and produces delicious strawberries, raspberries, pumpkins, and rhubarb.
You can find the farm at 6510 185th Ave NW, Anoka, Minnesota 55303. You may also call the farmers Cliff and Amy Rowe at (763) 753-5891.
Catch a Play or Movie at the Lyric Arts Main Street Stage
Lyric Arts Main Street Stage has a mission “to enrich lives by creating meaningful performing arts experiences that ignite the imagination, inspire the spirit, and engage the community.
We are a growing, non-union professional theater, deeply rooted in the communities we serve, producing inclusive work that entertains, educates, stimulates, and is reflective of the diversity of our audiences and artists.”
This is a full-time, year-round, non-profit theatre that offers movies, concert series, theater art workshops, educational outreach programs, and so much more.
Play a Round of Golf on the Green Haven Golf Course
Green Haven Golf and Banquet Center offer eighteen championship holes in a park-like setting with gorgeous golf greens, towering old-growth trees, and beautiful views. The course is playable for high handicap players and still provides a solid test for single-digit handicap players as well.
On the same property sits the First Class Banquet Hall with a full-service bar and restaurant.
Green Haven Golf course also offers two state-of-the-art HD golf simulators in a 2,800 square foot room, conveniently over the Tavern.
This stunning Golf Course and Banquet Hall can be found at 2800 Greenhaven Rd, Anoka, Minnesota 55303. Their phone number is (763) 576-2970.
Go for a Hike or Cross Country Ski at the Anoka Nature Preserve
The Anoka Nature Preserve offers over two hundred acres of protected under easement forests. These forests consist of oak savanna, meadows, grasslands, prairie restoration, wetlands, and nearly a mile of the Rum River (see above for more information).
The City of Anoka maintains the trails throughout this park year-round, making it accessible for hikers and skiers alike.
You can find the Anoka Nature Preserve at 4301 Parkview Lane, Anoka, Minnesota 55303.
Check Out Heart of the City Music Factory
This Victorian-style concert venue that sits atop the Old Milk Factory in Anoka offers unforgettable experiences.
This venue feels like you’re in someone’s vintage, victorian home. It is adorned with unique, period-piece wallpaper, with a grand fireplace on the stage, a balcony, and intimate seating that is limited to 137 people. Every visit here is guaranteed to be memorable and very special.
The Heart of the City Music Factory frequently features an assortment of genres, including Rock, Gospel, Classical, Jazz, Reggae, Singer and Songwriter style, and more.
Though the building is vintage, the equipment is not. You can enjoy some of the highest quality lighting and speakers. The Music Factory also doubles as a five-star rentable venue that is available for birthdays, weddings, receptions, photography settings, receptions, anniversaries, events, and more.
You can find the Heart of the City Music Factory at 2665 4th Avenue, Anoka, Minnesota 55303. You can also contact Dan Adler of Heart of the City Music Factory at (612) 990-6192.
Grab A Cold Brew at 10K Brewing
This family-built, family-owned, and family-operated brewery has created more than one-thousand batches of beer since its opening day. This is one of the smallest taphouses in the state of Minnesota.
They are happy to offer tours of their brewery for up to groups of fifteen people.
10K Brewing’s slogan is “Nice Beer, Nice People,” which becomes increasingly evident the longer you hang out here. This brewery is family-friendly and offers board games and craft soda for those under the age of 21. After 10 pm every evening, people under the age of 21 are no longer allowed inside the taproom.
10K Brewing shares a facility with MaGillycuddy’s, and food trucks are frequent visitors to the property as well.
They also run the “Nice Beer Club” and several events throughout the year, such as live music, trivia nights, and more.
You can find 10K Brewing at 2005 2nd Street, Anoka, Minnesota 55303. You can also call them at (763) 393-4753.
The List of Fun Things to Do in Anoka Goes On and On
From the great outdoors to great activities in and around the town, the variety of fun things to do in Anoka, Minnesota goes on and on. After touring Anoka by air in a helicopter or touring the city by foot, let us know which of these fun things to do in Anoka was your favorite? We’d love to hear about your discoveries and any other great activities that Anoka has to offer.