Halloween at Nickelodeon Universe: What to Know About Boo-niverse at Mall of America

If your kids love Halloween but aren’t quite ready to have someone with a chainsaw chase them through a haunted house, Mall of America has a much friendlier way to celebrate.

Every fall, Nickelodeon Universe gets a Halloween makeover.

Instead of turning the indoor amusement park into something genuinely terrifying, Nickelodeon Boo-niverse has traditionally focused on pumpkins, lights, characters, rides and family-friendly Halloween fun.

Think less:

Someone is hiding behind that corner waiting to scare me.

And more:

SpongeBob is dressed for Halloween and there’s a gigantic pumpkin in the middle of an amusement park.

If you’re looking for Halloween activities around Minneapolis and St. Paul that work especially well for families, Nickelodeon Universe at Mall of America is definitely one to watch this fall.

Here’s what you should know before you go.

What Is Nickelodeon Boo-niverse?

Nickelodeon Boo-niverse is the Halloween celebration inside Nickelodeon Universe at Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota.

Nickelodeon Universe is already a pretty unique place.

It’s a seven-acre indoor theme park sitting right in the middle of Mall of America, complete with roller coasters, family rides, children’s attractions and Nickelodeon characters.

During the Halloween season, the park gets a spooky—but still family-friendly—transformation.

Previous Boo-niverse celebrations have included Halloween decorations, special lighting, character appearances, seasonal entertainment and other Halloween activities throughout the park.

The big difference between this and some other Minnesota Halloween attractions is the scare level.

This isn’t intended to be a terrifying haunted attraction.

It’s Halloween fun that younger kids can enjoy too.

Look for the Giant Pumpkin

One of the coolest Boo-niverse traditions is pretty hard to miss.

A gigantic pumpkin.

And when I say gigantic, I don’t mean the biggest pumpkin you found at the local pumpkin patch.

Mall of America’s recent Boo-niverse celebration featured a pumpkin weighing around 1,000 pounds.

That’s the kind of pumpkin you stop and take a picture with even if your kids insist they’re way too old for pumpkin pictures.

It’s also one of those fun little seasonal touches that makes a regular trip to Nickelodeon Universe feel different during the fall.

See Nickelodeon Characters in Their Halloween Costumes

For younger kids, this may be the highlight.

Nickelodeon Universe regularly features character appearances, and Halloween gives those meet-and-greets a seasonal twist.

During previous Boo-niverse celebrations, guests could encounter Nickelodeon characters dressed for Halloween.

Depending on the event schedule, character experiences may feature favorites from the Nickelodeon universe.

If your child is hoping to see a particular character, check the current day’s schedule before making promises.

Character appearances can vary.

Because nothing ruins Mom’s carefully planned magical Halloween outing quite like discovering the character your child has been talking about for three weeks isn’t appearing that afternoon.

Ride the Fog Chute

The Log Chute is already one of those classic Mall of America rides.

During Halloween, it gets a spooky upgrade.

For Boo-niverse, the attraction has transformed into the Fog Chute, adding Halloween atmosphere to the familiar ride.

This is exactly the kind of Halloween attraction I like for kids who want something spooky without actually being terrified.

You still get the familiar ride.

You just get a little more Halloween atmosphere along the way.

And yes, you may still get wet.

Halloween does not protect you from the splash zone.

Watch the Fright Lights Show

Another Halloween tradition to look for is Fright Lights.

Nickelodeon Universe has used special lighting, music and effects to transform the park during its Halloween celebration.

Because the park is indoors, lighting can make a surprisingly dramatic difference.

The entire space can shift from its normal bright amusement-park atmosphere into something that feels much more Halloween-y.

This is also an easy activity to enjoy if you have family members who don’t necessarily want to spend the entire visit riding rides.

Ride Roller Coasters With a Halloween Atmosphere

You don’t have to be a little kid to enjoy Boo-niverse.

Nickelodeon Universe has rides for several different thrill levels.

For bigger kids and teens, there are attractions such as SpongeBob SquarePants Rock Bottom Plunge and other thrill rides.

For younger children, there are plenty of gentler options.

And then there are family rides that everyone can enjoy together.

During the Halloween season, the decorations and atmosphere give your normal Nickelodeon Universe visit a seasonal twist.

It’s not ValleyScare.

Nobody needs to prepare themselves to be chased by monsters.

But you still get rides mixed with Halloween fun.

Watch for Special Halloween Nights

This is something I’d keep an eye on when Mall of America releases its full Halloween calendar.

In addition to the regular Boo-niverse experience, Nickelodeon Universe has offered special Halloween nights with additional activities.

Recent Halloween events have included things such as:

• Glow-in-the-dark decorations
• Live DJs
• Slime-making
• Interactive activities
• Character experiences
• Seasonal entertainment

These special nights can be a fun choice for older kids and tweens who might have outgrown some little-kid Halloween activities but aren’t interested in—or ready for—a genuinely scary haunted attraction.

Check the current event calendar because special-event dates and what’s included can change from year to year.

Check for Live Pumpkin Carving

Another fun event Mall of America has incorporated into its Halloween season is live pumpkin carving.

And we’re not talking about Dad sitting at the kitchen table trying to carve a triangle into a pumpkin while insisting he doesn’t need the stencil.

Professional artists have created elaborate Nickelodeon-themed pumpkins right inside Nickelodeon Universe.

It’s a fun activity to stop and watch between rides, especially if you’re already spending several hours in the park.

Keep an eye on the current Halloween calendar to see whether live carving returns this year.

Halloween at MOA Isn’t Limited to Nickelodeon Universe

One reason Mall of America works so well for a Halloween outing is that you don’t necessarily have to spend the entire day inside the amusement park.

Mall of America often schedules additional Halloween events throughout the building.

Depending on the year’s calendar, those can include things like:

• Mall-wide trick-or-treating
• Halloween photo opportunities
• Kids’ activities
• Seasonal pop-ups
• Halloween crafts
• Toddler events
• Other attraction-specific Halloween celebrations

That makes it easy to build an entire Halloween day at MOA.

Ride a few rides.

Get lunch.

Do a Halloween activity.

Shop.

Get a seasonal treat.

Then head back to Nickelodeon Universe.

It’s also indoors, which becomes increasingly appealing when Minnesota decides our beautiful 65-degree October afternoon should suddenly become 38 degrees and raining.

Look for Mall-O-Ween on Halloween

Mall of America has traditionally celebrated Halloween itself with Mall-O-Ween, a mall-wide Halloween event.

Recent versions have included trick-or-treating, festive music and themed photo opportunities throughout the mall.

This can be a great alternative if the weather on Halloween is terrible.

And because this is Minnesota, that is not exactly an unlikely scenario.

We’ve had beautiful Halloween nights.

We’ve also had Halloween nights where every parent silently questioned why we live here while attempting to fit a winter coat underneath a child’s costume.

Indoor trick-or-treating suddenly sounds pretty fantastic.

Don’t Forget Toddler Tuesdays

If you have younger children, keep an eye on Mall of America’s Toddler Tuesdays schedule during October.

Mall of America frequently incorporates seasonal activities into these events, and Halloween has traditionally been one of the highlights.

Previous Halloween programming has included treat trails and other activities designed specifically for younger children.

These events can be especially helpful if you have toddlers or preschoolers who aren’t going to last through a huge nighttime Halloween event.

Go during the day.

Let them wear their costume.

Do some activities.

Ride a couple of little-kid rides.

Get lunch.

Then get out of there before the 3 p.m. meltdown.

That’s what I call successful parenting.

Is Nickelodeon Boo-niverse Scary?

Generally, Boo-niverse is designed to be family-friendly Halloween fun rather than a true haunted attraction.

That’s one of the biggest reasons families may prefer it.

There may be:

• Darker lighting
• Fog
• Halloween decorations
• Seasonal sounds
• Spooky-looking displays
• Costumed characters
• Halloween-themed ride experiences

But the overall goal is fun, not terror.

Of course, every child is different.

A preschooler who thinks a smiling jack-o’-lantern is terrifying may have a very different experience than a 10-year-old begging you to take them to a haunted house.

If your child is sensitive to darkness, loud sounds, flashing lights or fog effects, check the current attraction information before visiting.

Is Boo-niverse Good for Teenagers?

It depends on your teenager.

If you’re bringing a teen who loves rides, Mall of America can still be a really fun fall outing.

They can ride the bigger attractions, walk around MOA, get food, shop and enjoy the Halloween atmosphere.

It can also work well if you have kids of different ages.

Your younger child can enjoy the family-friendly Halloween activities while your older kids still have roller coasters and the rest of Mall of America.

That’s a huge advantage compared with Halloween events designed entirely for little kids.

How Much Does Nickelodeon Universe Cost?

Nickelodeon Universe offers different ways to ride.

You can purchase an unlimited ride wristband or use Point Passes if you’re only planning to ride a handful of attractions.

Before automatically buying unlimited wristbands for everyone, think about how much each person will actually ride.

If Grandma is coming along exclusively to hold everyone’s jackets and take pictures, she probably doesn’t need unlimited rides.

If your kids intend to ride until Nickelodeon Universe physically closes, the wristband makes considerably more sense.

Pricing and ticket options can change, so check the current Nickelodeon Universe ticket page before visiting.

Also look for seasonal promotions and special-event ticket requirements.

Some Halloween activities may be included with normal park access, while special Halloween parties or experiences may require separate admission.

What Should You Know Before You Go?

A little planning can make your visit much easier.

Check the Halloween Schedule

This is the biggest one.

Halloween programming can vary by day.

Don’t assume every activity happens every day throughout September and October.

Check the official Mall of America event calendar before leaving home.

Check Character Times

If meeting characters is important, find out when they’re scheduled.

Check Ride Height Requirements

Measure younger kids before you promise them a particular ride.

Nickelodeon Universe has attractions for different ages and heights, but not every child can ride everything.

Wear Comfortable Shoes

You’re at Mall of America.

You will walk.

And walk.

And somehow walk some more.

Even if you swear you’re only going to Nickelodeon Universe, someone will inevitably want to go to a store located approximately three zip codes away on the opposite side of the mall.

Consider Going on a Weekday

If your schedule allows it, weekday visits can sometimes be easier than busy fall weekends.

Plan Your Food

There are plenty of places to eat throughout Mall of America, so you don’t necessarily need to stay inside the amusement park for meals.

This can also give everyone a break from the noise and stimulation.

Boo-niverse vs. ValleyScare: Which One Should You Choose?

These are two very different Minnesota Halloween experiences.

Choose Nickelodeon Boo-niverse if you want:

• Family-friendly Halloween fun
• Younger-kid activities
• Nickelodeon characters
• Indoor rides
• Halloween decorations
• A less-scary experience
• Something that works despite bad weather

Choose ValleyScare if you want:

• Haunted mazes
• Monsters
• Scare zones
• Jump scares
• A nighttime Halloween atmosphere
• Thrill rides in the dark
• An experience geared toward teens and adults who actually want to be scared

And if you have kids in different age groups?

Do both.

That’s what October weekends are for.

Make a Halloween Day Out of Mall of America

One of the biggest advantages of celebrating Halloween at Mall of America is how easy it is to turn it into a full day.

You could start with Nickelodeon Universe.

Grab lunch.

Do a little shopping.

Check out another Halloween event.

Get a treat.

Ride a few more rides.

Take Halloween pictures.

And finish the evening with dinner.

You don’t have to worry about rain.

You don’t have to worry about wind.

And you don’t have to drag freezing children through a pumpkin patch while pretending everyone is still having fun.

Sometimes indoor fall activities are exactly what a Minnesota family needs.

Celebrate Halloween at Nickelodeon Universe

Minnesota has no shortage of fall activities.

We have apple orchards.

Pumpkin patches.

Corn mazes.

Haunted houses.

Fall festivals.

And plenty of places to see gorgeous fall colors.

Nickelodeon Boo-niverse gives families another option—especially when you want Halloween fun without the scares.

Ride a roller coaster.

Meet a character.

Check out the giant pumpkin.

Experience the Fog Chute.

Watch the lights.

And enjoy Halloween without having to wonder what’s hiding around the next corner.

Unless your kids drag you into one of the stores afterward.

Then your wallet should probably be scared.