Minnesota Bat Festival at Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge

Looking for a fun (and free!) way to spend Halloween with your family? Head to the Minnesota Bat Festival at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center in Bloomington on Saturday, October 31!

Held during International Bat Week, the festival is a chance to celebrate and learn about the unique role bats play in Minnesota and around the world. It’s packed with fun activities for all ages, from meeting a real bat to exploring a replica bat cave.

Minnesota Bat Festival Details

• Date: Saturday, October 31, 2026
• Time: 10 am–4 pm
• Location: Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, 3815 American Blvd. E, Bloomington
• Cost: FREE
• Ages: All ages

Bat Festival Activities

These activities run throughout the day:

• Visit Eugene, the big brown bat
• Explore a replica bat cave
• Become a Jr. Bat Scientist
• Play bat trivia (winners get a prize!)
• Make batty crafts
• Get bat house info and enter the bat house giveaway
• Learn about gardening for bats and pick up free native seeds

Bat Costume Parade and Contest

It’s Halloween, so bring your costumes! A costume parade and contest takes place from 12:45–1 pm.

Presentation Schedule

• 11–11:30 am – Minnesota Bat Basics and News! Learn about the eight bat species found in Minnesota with Melissa Boman from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
• 12–12:30 pm – Injured Bats: Brittany Turner from the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota shares what to do when you find an injured bat and how wildlife rehabilitators care for them.
• 1:30–2 pm – Facts vs. Fiction on Bats and Rabies: Carrie Klumb from the Minnesota Department of Health covers rabies basics, what counts as an exposure and what to do after one.
• 2:30–3 pm – Time to Get Techy! Mary Mallinger from the Minnesota Zoo explains how MOTUS towers and technology are used to study bat migration.

Food Trucks

Grab lunch or a treat from the food trucks on site:

• Potter’s Pasties
• Amazing Momo
• Thai Thai Street Food
• Brew & Barre

Parking and Getting There

You can park anywhere in the visitor center parking lot. Overflow parking is available at the Hilton Hotel parking lot across the street, marked “Overflow Parking,” and parking lot monitors will help direct you. (Driving directions)

Taking the light rail? Ride the Metro Transit Blue Line to American Blvd Station, cross 34th Avenue to the east, then walk east on American Blvd East. Follow the sidewalk about ¼ mile around the bend and up a small rise. The entrance is on the right.

Accessibility

To request sign language interpreting, closed captioning or other accommodations, contact Jill Utrup at jill_utrup@fws.gov at least ten business days before the event.

Find more details on the Minnesota Bat Festival event page.