Along the Rum River, trails and wildlife observation offer a different focus for a visit than theater, exhibits, and Anoka’s Halloween history. The Anoka Nature Preserve covers around 200 acres within the city; there is also the Lyric Arts Main Street Stage in the historic downtown area and cultural offerings with changing schedules. Visitors to Anoka can consider nature and culture as different focuses for their stay: river and trail landscapes, live theater, or local history.
Trails, River, and Wildlife Observation
The Anoka Nature Preserve is an area covering around 200 acres in the city of Anoka, Minnesota. Its extensive public trails have access points to the Rum River; birdwatching is one of the low-impact activities currently enjoyed by the public there. Visitors looking to spend time in the preserve can find both trails and birdwatching as different ways to explore: the trails provide an area to discover, while birdwatching focuses attention on wildlife.
The Anoka section of the Rum River Regional Trail begins at the boat landing at the southern end of Akin Riverside Park and follows the riverbank north. The preserve has extensive trails with access to the river and opportunities for birdwatching; the trail’s starting point and northbound route are specified. This makes it possible to distinguish between an area with trails and wildlife observation and a specifically defined riverside route. Trail conditions may vary; check them before your visit.
Theater and Live Music
The Lyric Arts Main Street Stage is located in the heart of historic downtown Anoka. It presents a full season of live theater, including musicals, dramas, comedies, and children’s productions. The range includes different forms of theater within one cultural offering. As individual productions change, check the schedule for the performance you want to see when planning your visit.
The Lyric Arts Main Street Stage also hosts intimate live music events as part of its “Music in the ‘Burbs” concert series. This is distinct from the two concert series that the City of Anoka holds in parks during the summer months. Lyric Arts live music and the city’s seasonal park concerts are therefore separate concert offerings. If music is a focus of your trip, check the dates for your desired travel period.
Halloween Tradition and History
Anoka is considered the first city in the United States to hold a Halloween celebration. Halloween celebrations have been held there every year since 1920, except in 1942 and 1943, when they were canceled because of World War II. This tradition explains Anoka’s historic connection to Halloween. If you are planning a trip around Halloween, check the specific dates for the year you want to visit.
At the Anoka County History Center, exhibits featuring objects, photographs, and documents from the collection tell the story of Anoka County and its people. The exhibit hall changes throughout the year. If you want to see a particular exhibit, check what is currently on display before your visit. Exploring the history of the county and its people adds another historical focus to the city’s Halloween tradition.
Guided tours of Anoka begin at the Anoka History Center. Costumed guides lead tours through historic neighborhoods. Together with the exhibits, these offer different ways to explore history: a tour through neighborhoods or a look at the objects, photographs, and documents at the History Center.
Discover more destinations: Fridley, Columbia Heights, Ramsey, Ham Lake, Coon Rapids, Oak Grove, Blaine, Columbus
For the broader trip overview: Anoka.
