30th Birthday Celebration

Gifts, Prizes + Deals. All For You!

In 1992, the first McDonald’s opened in China, Euro Disney opened outside of Paris, and in Minnesota, the Mall of America® first invited guests into its 72-degrees-and-sunny space! And thirty years later, we’re putting on a 30th party for the ages, with surprises, events, and best of all: So. Many. Giveaways. Watch here to catch every exciting celebration!

Supporting Our Community

Mall of America has the privilege of working with the Twin Cities non-profit community. We're sharing our 30th birthday celebration with local non-profits and inviting you to join the party!

Save Lives with Be the Match® and Mall of America

It's time to celebrate! In honor of Mall of America's 30th birthday, Be the Match is teaming up with MOA and inviting 30,000 people to help blood cancer patients.

The cure for blood cancer is you. All it takes is one person like you to help save a life. Help us get one step closer to 30,000 lifesavers.



Support the Cause

30 Years of MOA Memories

  1. Minnesota Twins and Baseball Hall of Fame legend Harmon Killebrew hit a 520-foot home run to left center field in Metropolitan Stadium – the longest home run in the stadium’s history. A red chair remains in place on the east wall of Nickelodeon Universe, commemorating the landing spot and elevation of the home run.
  2. Minnesota Twins, who first moved to Bloomington in 1961, played their final game at Metropolitan Stadium.
  3. Minnesota Vikings played their final game at Metropolitan Stadium after 21 seasons.
  4. Bloomington Port Authority signs agreement with the Ghermezian family, which cleared the way for development to begin on MOA.
  5. A groundbreaking celebration was held to commemorate the start of construction of Mall of America.
  6. Mall of America opens to guests for the first time.
  7. Rainforest Café opens on Level 1, South – the iconic restaurant chain’s first location.
  8. First wedding in MOA’s history is held at Chapel of Love.
  9. D2: The Mighty Ducks debuts in theaters. The film featured an opening sequence shot on-location at Mall of America.
  10. Met Center, the former home of the Minnesota North Stars, was demolished – less than two years after closing on April 13 , 1993. This site is now shared as part of Mall of America’s north parking lot and IKEA.
  11. Mall of America celebrates 1,000th day in operation with a celebration in the Rotunda.
  12. WCW Monday Night Nitro debuts in the Rotunda, featuring a main event match-up between Hulk Hogan and Big Bubba Rogers.
  13. Underwater World, now known as SEA LIFE Minnesota, opens - a 70,000 square-foot aquarium located below Mall of America’s main east level.
  14. Jingle All the Way, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sinbad, debuted in theaters. The film featured several scenes shot throughout Mall of America, including the LEGO store and Rotunda. The stars of Jingle All the Way made an appearance at MOA in November for a special premiere screening of the holiday cult classic.
  15. Filming takes place for “You’re Invited to Mary-Kate and Ashley’s Mall Party,’ staring Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. The popular children’s series episode would debut on VHS in Feb. 1999.
  16. N’Sync makes the first of two appearances at MOA, with the second coming a year later in May 1999.
  17. Pop group 98 Degrees holds exclusive performance from the south overlook in Camp Snoopy.
  18. Rock n’ Roll Hall of Famers Def Leppard appeared at MOA for an special meet and greet. They would return in 2002.
  19. Christina Aguilera performance and meet and greet.
  20. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson meet and greet held in the Rotunda.
  21. Pop star Pink makes appearance in the Rotunda shortly after the release of her debut multi-platinum record "Can’t Take Me Home."
  22. Legendary skater Tony Hawk goes vertical on a giant vert ramp in the Rotunda.
  23. General Mills’ Cereal Adventure celebrates its grand opening. The 16,000 square-foot family attraction exploring the colorful world of General Mills’ cereal characters was located on Level 3, South. It went on to close in late October 2003.
  24. Country artist Kenny Chesney performs in the Rotunda. He would return for another performance on Dec. 5, 2003.
  25. On the one-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks, a dedication ceremony is held to commemorate the Sep. 11 memorial that now sits in Nordstrom Court, recognizing Minnesota native Thomas Burnett Jr. and the passengers of United Fight 93.
  26. Mariah Carey holiday performance in the Rotunda.
  27. Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. opens on Level 3, South.
  28. The Timberland Twister spinning roller coaster, which would become the Fairly Odd Coaster at Nickelodeon Universe, opens.
  29. IKEA celebrates its grand opening on a portion of the former site of the Met Center, which is located adjacent to MOA’s north parking lot.
  30. Metro Transit’s Blue Line light rail station opens.
  31. Camp Snoopy, MOA’s indoor theme park closes, and is renamed the Park at MOA.
  32. Triple Five Group gains full control of Mall of America.
  33. Taylor Swift performs in Rotunda.
  34. The Jonas Brothers perform to huge crowd from stage overlooking Nickelodeon Universe.
  35. After announcing a partnership in Aug. 2007, Nickelodeon Universe officially opens – formerly Camp Snoopy and the Park at MOA. All-new roller coasters SpongeBob’s Rock Bottom Plunge and Avatar Airbender open as part of the new park celebration.
  36. Zac Efron makes appearance in the Rotunda in promotion of his movie “Charlie St. Cloud.”
  37. Original anchor store Bloomingdale’s announces plans to close. Portions of the space would go on to be home to Crayola Experience, L.L. Bean and Forever 21.
  38. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Shell Shock opens in Nickelodeon Universe.
  39. One Direction appearance in Rotunda.
  40. Grand opening celebration held for Radisson Blu, attended by Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar.
  41. KS95’s “Clouds” Choir for a Cause held for the first time. This has become an annual event to support childhood cancer research, held in honor of Zach Sobiech, who passed away in May 2013 from osteosarcoma shortly after releasing his popular song “Clouds.”
  42. Shawn Mendes performs in the Rotunda following release of his debut album “Handwritten.”
  43. Bubble Guppies Guppy Bubbler opens in Nickelodeon Universe on former site of the Balloon Race – a Camp Snoopy original attraction.
  44. Danny Phantom Ghost Zone, formerly known as the Screaming Yellow Eagle – a Camp Snoopy original attraction – closes at Nickelodeon Universe. The ride would go on to be replaced later that year by Shredder’s Mutant Masher.
  45. Jason Segal attends special screening of “The End of the Tour,” which featured several scenes filmed on-location at MOA.
  46. Shredder’s Mutant Masher attraction opens at Nickelodeon Universe.
  47. New north entrance opens as part of MOA’s Phase II expansion. The new entrance featured the iconic MOA star sculpture and a new shuttle, tour bus and ride share drop-off area.
  48. JW Marriott opens.
  49. Cedar + Stone opens at JW Marriott.
  50. Cantina Laredo opens on Level 3, West.
  51. Ice Cube and Kevin Hart make appearance in Rotunda in promotion of Ride Along 2.
  52. Rainforest Café opens in new location on Level 3, South, moving from its original location on Level 1, South.
  53. FlyOver America opens in SE corner of Nickelodeon Universe.
  54. Fabletics grand opening.
  55. Crayola Experience hosts grand opening celebration for the 60,000 square-foot attraction.
  56. Shake Shack grand opening on Level 3 as part of Culinary on North.
  57. Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville opens on Level 3, East.
  58. First Curated Style Fashion show held in the Rotunda.
  59. Altar’d State grand opening.
  60. Nearly 700 musicians gathered in the Rotunda with the Salvation Army to help set the Guinness World Record for the largest handbell ensemble.
  61. JoJo Siwa makes first of several MOA appearances at Claire’s on Level 2, East.
  62. BoxLunch grand opening on Level 1, North.
  63. JoJo Siwa tapes Nickelodeon live concert special in the Rotunda.
  64. The Escape Game opens on Level 3, East.
  65. Harley Davidson flat track racing held in MOA’s east surface lot as part of the Summer X Games in Minneapolis.
  66. Bethy + Dave Weinlick renew their vows in the Rotunda, 19 years after being married in the same spot.
  67. Buddy Valastro celebrates grand opening of Carlo’s Bake Shop on Level 3, North. Thousands of people show up to meet Buddy Valastro.
  68. Super Bowl LII media celebration held throughout MOA. #BoldNorthMOA
  69. Jimmy Neutron’s Atomic Collider, formerly the Treetop Tumbler – a Camp Snoopy original attraction – closes. Attraction was removed to make way for PAW Patrol Adventure Bay play area.
  70. Mark, Donnie and Paul Wahlberg make appearance in the Rotunda as part of the grand opening of Wahlburgers at MOA.
  71. Morphe open on Level 2, West.
  72. PAW Patrol Adventure Bay play area opens.
  73. Skate the Star, an ice rink around the iconic MOA star sculpture, opens at the North entrance.
  74. 3x3U Hoops National Championship held on a giant hardwood basketball half court in the Rotunda.
  75. Ribbon-cutting celebration held for opening of Metro Transit’s renovated Mall of America station.
  76. Sugar Factory opens on Level 3, South.

Our Birthday Party VIPs

An epic birthday party is best shared with friends, and MOA has plenty of pals to celebrate with! Thanks to these extra-special tenants that have been at Mall of America since day one.