The Vikings brought all treats and no tricks to local children's hospital patients and their families for Halloween.

Earlier this week, Vikings players, Legends, cheerleaders and — of course — Viktor the Viking helped host Halloween festivities at three hospital locations.

At Children's Minnesota – Minneapolis Hospital, young people and their families were able to visit the lobby for a Halloween party with Vikings Legend Leo Lewis, where they enjoyed crafts and desserts.

Below are recaps of the events hosted at Children's Minnesota – St. Paul and at Fairview Masonic Children's University Hospital.

Vikings & SCHEELS team up to host Halloween party | By Rob Kleifield

ST. PAUL, Minn. — "He's such a natural at this."

Levi Drake Rodriguez was more than an hour into his visit to Children's Minnesota Hospital in St. Paul Tuesday when a nurse guiding him in and out of rooms stood back and admired the way the 26-year-old Vikings defensive lineman uplifted the spirits of every person he met.

"Football is what I do; it's not who I am," Rodriguez beamed afterward.

Clearly, he's so much more than an ascending player amidst a breakout third NFL season. He's 6-foot-2 and 307 pounds of energy and optimism. At the end of the hospital visit, he pulled off his No. 50 Vikings jersey, revealing streaks of perspiration bisecting his shirt in reflection of his servant work.

"It's hard for them. If we could brighten up their day, why not [spend time with them]?" Rodriguez said. "What else am I doing on Tuesdays? Besides getting the body right in the mornings. Man, go impact the community. Have fun. You know, go put smiles on people's faces. And just let the fans know that, you know, we're out in the community and loving them, too, as much as they love us."

In a Vikings partnership event with SCHEELS, Rodriguez and fellow defensive linemen Jahvaree Ritzie and Elijah Williams spent an hour and a half on the players' day off making an impact beyond football. They started their visit in Halloween spirit, gleefully taking part in different activities alongside youth and parents in the Child Life Zone, which was full of candy, people in costumes and beloved medical therapy dogs Riggs and Luna, who looked like the toy pups given out by SCHEELS.

The gathering is a tradition former Vikings fullback C.J. Ham participated in for years before retiring. It grew into more of a party this fall, and Rodriguez shared he wants to carry the torch now.

"Halloween is always such a fun holiday to celebrate at the hospital," Senior Community Engagement Officer Ashley Lawson said. "Kids aren't always able to leave to celebrate at home, so we want to bring Halloween here for our patients and families. So as much as we can decorate and celebrate with the Vikings and SCHEELS — that's what we wanted to do. We're so grateful."

While Rodriguez and Williams roamed about "The Zone," Ritzie happily took on rookie duties and sat beside several rotating patients, chatting and smiling with them, in front of a caricature artist.

"He might be stuck there as one of our models," Lawson quipped.

In time, the players exited the area to go to a few different floors of the hospital for room pop-ins. Williams accompanied Viktor the Viking, who was dressed as a lumberjack, while Rodriguez and Ritzie paired together. This writer stuck with the latter duo and watched them interact with patients ranging in age from newborns to teenagers — some of them Vikings fans and all excited for visitors.

One chat with a young girl named Riley, who had a tube in her chest, was extra special to Rodriguez. Her smile radiated, and he decided to visit her a second time and gift her his jersey with a message.

"She was still being a girl, you know, she had her nails done, her hair done, lashes done, and I loved to see that. I loved to see that fight and that intentionality of, 'Yes, I am where I am, but that doesn't have to affect my mindset," Rodriguez said earnestly. "She still took charge of her beauty, and that was awesome, you know, just that fight to see that. It was cool, man, just to go give that love back."

Rodriguez shared his parting gift: "I wrote 'Keep up the good fight. Jesus loves you,' and 'SKOL Vikes.' "

Vikings walk the runway with Fairview Masonic Hospital patients | By Lindsey Young

MINNEAPOLIS — Fairview Masonic Children's University Hospital holds a special place in Blake Cashman's heart.

He has fond memories of visiting young patients and their families during his time with the Golden Gophers, including in 2016 when University of Minnesota athletes helped host a Valentine’s party — so when he had the opportunity to visit as a Viking, Cashman quickly accepted the invite.

The Vikings hosted their annual Halloween Fashion Show, led by Brian O'Neill and the team's offensive line. Cashman and outside linebacker Bo Richter joined this year's festivities.

"It's great to see the smiles and bring some joy to the kids there, but it really opens up your perspective," Cashman said. "The kids there, they're so strong and brave, and it's really a motivating, humbling experience."

Vikings teammates strutted the runway (the center aisle of the Wilf Family Center auditorium) in a variety of costumes that paired with each patient.

Cashman's personal favorite? Dressing up as an NFL-linebacker-sized Olaf and parading with a 4-year-old Elsa, who happily "froze" Cashman at the end of the walkway.

O'Neill, Christian Darrisaw, Donovan Jackson, Will Fries, Ryan Van Demark, Henry Byrd and Michael Jurgens represented the Vikings o-line and looked particularly amusing in costumes that often didn't quite fit their large frames.

Darrisaw dressing as Flounder to accompany Ariel from The Little Mermaid, O'Neill and 11-year-old SriRam walking as racecar driver and pit member, and Van Demark as a moon (paired with a 5-year-old astronaut) were among some of the goofy getups.

"Michael Jurgens wearing Mickey Mouse was pretty special," Fries quipped. "It was a good costume for him."

Fries' favorite was dressing as a horse and accompanying O'Neill, 2-year-old Cairo and her dad — all clad as cows.

"I felt a little out of place with the cow family, but the horse was great," Fries laughed.

Tuesday marked Fries' first time participating in the fashion show, and the event left a positive impact on him.

"This was awesome," he said. "Anytime you can get outside the facility and do something good for the community with your buddies, it's great.

"B.O. (O'Neill) always does a great job of getting guys together for it," Fries added. "For these kids to get this experience, it's special. It means a lot for all of us to be able to do this for some kids who maybe won't get the opportunity [to go trick-or-treating]."

In addition to the fashion show, attendees could stop by a Halloween party in the hospital lobby to participate in crafts and enjoy treats donated by Hy-Vee. Several Vikings teammates also visited individual patient rooms to connect with young people unable to attend the festivities in-person.

As a new dad this year to 5-month-old Crew, Cashman's gratitude for opportunities to impact youth has grown even more.

"It would be so tough as a parent to have your child in the hospital," he said. "I will say, though, it's really cool to see all the positivity and the support these families and their kids get and that they give each other, as well. I think that's really special, and it's just super cool how strong they all are."

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