Visit Anoka

WHAT

In 1920, a group of civic leaders from the city of Anoka, Minnesota, decided to deter the over-abundance of pranks committed by masked youth throughout the town by holding a city-wide Halloween celebration!

Teachers, parents, and students worked hand in hand with local businesses and developed a celebration that has been held annually for over 95 years.

Though carnivals, bonfires, and contests have all been a part of the celebration, it all centers around the Grand Day Parade.

With Anoka being “The Halloween Capital of the World,” celebrating Halloween there would be the relative equivalent of celebrating Christmas in Santa’s Workshop.

But even if Halloween isn’t your bag, Anoka has a ton of sites and activities to keep you busy for a weekend, including a number of history tours.

WHEN

Most events occur during the month of October.

 Keep an eye on the calendar below for a list of events as they become available.

HOW

Anoka is located about 20 miles northwest of Minneapolis. Since specific driving directions may vary depending on location of origin, it is recommended to get directions specific to your location from the GPS or map site of your choice