This Weekend in Stillwater: Hot Air Balloons, Oktoberfest, Football & Art

It's fall in the valley.

This weekend is all about homecoming, art festivals, apple picking, Oktoberfest and autumn races.

Here's a rundown of events happening in the Stillwater area this weekend including a hot air balloon festival, a homecoming after-party, the Take Me to the River Festival of Festivals, and of course, Oktoberfest at the Gasthaus.  

If we missed anything, feel free to add it to the comments, and as always, add your events to our calendar.

Friday

Apron Chicks ‘Barn Sale' at Bergmann’s

Multi-Family Garage Sale in Fields of St. Croix II

Homecoming: The Ponies take on Forest Lake at Stillwater Area High School. Kickoff is 7 p.m.

OVERTIME Post-Homecoming Game Gathering: Alumni, parents, and fans will gather after the homecoming game for an OVERTIME party at Lift Bridge Brewery sponsored by the Ponies Touchdown Club.

Oktoberfest at Gasthaus Bavarian Hunter: Gates open at 5 p.m. admission for Oktoberfest is $5 and features a huge festival tent chalked full of German food, beer and Ompha music. The Artie Schaefer Band performs from 6-11 p.m. Must be 21 years old.

Aamodt’s Apple Farm Peak Season Activities: Hay Wagon Rides and Honeycrisp Express from noon to 4 p.m.; and hay bale maze and John Deere Tractor Trikes from 10 a.m. to close.

Saturday

Hot Air Balloon Festival at Aamodt's Apple Farm: Come see the hot air balloons launch at about 7 a.m. and about 5 p.m., weather permitting.  

Spirit of the St. Croix Art Festival

Stillwater Farmers Market: Drop in for an assortment of organic food, vegetables, crafts, fruits and local specialties. 7:30 a.m.-noon.

Afton Art in the Park: Afton Town Square (10 a.m.-5 p.m.) will host 75 vendors showcasing fine arts, pottery, woodwork, jewelry, photography, sculpture, fiber and more. The event is free.

Jon Francis Half Marathon and 8K: The Jon Francis Half-Marathon returns under the management of the Jon Francis Foundation and UpTempo Race Management. Start times will be 9 a.m. and will begin and end at Square Lake Park, just north of Stillwater, The half-marathon will follow a beautiful and somewhat challenging route chosen because these are the roads that Jon Francis ran for 10 years while training for high school and college cross country competition. The mission of The Jon Francis Foundation (JFF) is to reduce incidents of loss through wilderness safety education and to improve the public response to missing adults.

1K PowerUp Fun Run

Stillwater Junior High School Walk For Water

DutchTown: Art Studio Tour

Foodies On Foot Culinary Walking Tour

16th Annual Art and Artists Celebration at Franconia Sculpture Park: Check out new sculpture installations at this annual day-long arts festival. Live performances, sculpture tours and more. The event is free.

Oktoberfest at Gasthaus Bavarian Hunter: Gates open at 5 p.m. admission for Oktoberfest is $5 and offers a huge festival tent chalked full of German food, beer and Ompha music. The Artie Schaefer Band performs from 6-11 p.m. Must be 21 years old.

Aamodt’s Apple Farm Peak Season Activities: Hay Wagon Rides and Honeycrisp Express from 10 to 5 p.m.; and hay bale maze and John Deere Tractor Trikes from 10 a.m. to close.

Sunday

Hot Air Balloon Festival at Aamodt's Apple Farm: Come see the hot air balloons launch at about 7 a.m. and about 5 p.m., weather permitting.  

Spirit of the St. Croix Art Festival

Afton Art in the Park: Afton Town Square (11 a.m.-4 p.m.) will host 75 vendors showcasing fine arts, pottery, woodwork, jewelry, photography, sculpture, fiber and more. The event is free.

DutchTown: Art Studio Tour

Oktoberfest at Gasthaus Bavarian Hunter: from noon to 6 p.m. is family day with free face painting, glitter tattoos, ballons and live music.

Aamodt’s Apple Farm Peak Season Activities: Hay Wagon Rides and Honeycrisp Express from 10 to 5 p.m.; and hay bale maze and John Deere Tractor Trikes from 10 a.m. to close.