Free Parktoberfest Returns to St. Cloud’s Wilson Park Friday

(KNSI) – St. Cloud Parks and Recreation is getting ready for one of its biggest crowds of the year when Parktoberfest returns to Wilson Park this Friday.

The free family festival runs from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, October 16th, and is held over MEA weekend while kids are out of school. Program Coordinator Cassie Woischke says the event has grown every year. “We typically average about 5,000 people for this event. So definitely encourage people to come early and kind of figure out their parking situation.”

Visitors can park in Wilson Park’s main lot, but once it fills up, they’ll need to find street parking in the surrounding neighborhood and walk down to the park.

Everything at the event is free except food, which will be available for purchase from food trucks. Families can expect a pumpkin patch and pumpkin painting (while supplies last), a petting zoo, hayrides, inflatables, face painting and trick-or-treating with games from local youth organizations and event sponsors. The St. Cloud Fire Department is bringing a truck, and police will set up their popular caution tape maze.

Magic shows are scheduled for 4:00, 5:00 and 6:00 p.m. New this year are bubble shows at 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. featuring Greg the Bubbler.

Costumes are encouraged for kids and adults alike, though there’s no costume contest. With a chilly forecast, organizers recommend dressing for the weather.

Sensory kits will also be available. Woischke told KNSI the goal is “to provide those opportunities for kids that may need a little extra support, just trying to make more families feel welcome.”

The event was known as Pumpkinfest before COVID and staffing and budget issues put it on hold. This is the fourth year for Parktoberfest, which spent its first two years at Riverside Park before moving to Wilson Park last year.

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