The Emerald Palate

Seattle food tours & retreats

Seasonal Activities, Things to Do ·

32 Best Things to Do in Seattle in October (2026)

woman sitting among fall leaves, one of the best things to do in Seattle in October

Narrowing down my list of the best things to do in Seattle in October was surprisingly tricky. That’s because there’s more to do than most people realize. The leaves are changing and the weather is cooling off, but it rarely gets below 50°F, and the sun still sets at a reasonable hour so you can make the most of your day.

With fall in full swing, the city’s iconic fall events are at their peak, be it beer festivals, pumpkin patches, or Halloween festivities. Whether you’re a local or a first-time visitor, here’s a list of all the best things to do in October in Seattle.

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Best Things to Do in Seattle in October

Save this list to Pinterest for later, as I’ll update it every year with all the best Seattle October activities! For more October events, check out my Seattle events calendar.

Cheers to Oktoberfest

One of the best things to do in Seattle in October is to celebrate the changing season with some beers. Most Oktoberfests in Washington happen in September and October. Here are the ones happening this month:

person holding beer cup at a festival, one of the best things to do in Seattle in October

Grab a bite at a food & drink event

Why experience a mere one or two restaurants in a day when you can sample from dozens in a few hours? Here are some of the best food and drink festivals happening this month.

Food events

Many of these also have drinks, but food is the main focus.

Drink events

Many of these have food too, but drinks are the star of the show.

fried chicken and cocktails

Partake in Seattle Restaurant Week

From October 18-31, diners are invited to experience Seattle Restaurant Week. Participating restaurants, bars, food trucks, and pop-ups will feature curated menus for $20, $35, $50, and $65 for both lunch and dinner.

Go on a food crawl

One of the most quintessential things to do in Seattle is to embark on a food crawl. My self-guided food tours feature my favorite restaurants across foodie neighborhoods. Each tour is updated and includes tips on when to visit and what to order, along with a few honorable mentions.

Or, take advantage of one of these in-person guided tours:

Experience an art festival or shopping event

Being an art-centric city, there’s always an arts festival around the corner. Here are some happening in Seattle in October:

See a theatrical performance

Come spooky season, Seattle’s theater scene is alive and well. Here are some options for performances going on around the area this October:

burlesque performance, one of the best Halloween fun in Seattle

Get tickets to a Halloween burlesque show

Want to see a Halloween-themed performance? This is Halloween, is a burlesque parody adaptation of Jack Skellington’s misadventures told via orchestra, vocal performance, and video projections. It’s running Thursdays through Saturdays from October 15-31 for ~$35+ pp. Note that all 9 PM shows are 21+.

Another option is Can Can Cabaret’s Zombie Cheerleaders from Hell playing September 17 to November 1 for ~$95+ pp. You can expect 80s cheese and music, so don your best school-themed garb. Given the sultry music, dance, and costumes, this show is 21+ evenings, all ages during matinee times.

Jam to some tunes at a jazz festival

Seattle has a thriving jazz scene and big-name performers often make their way through the Emerald City. Earshot Jazz Festival (Oct 7-25, ~$5-$40 pp/per performer) has been called “Seattle’s most important annual jazz event” by DownBeat Magazine and will feature local and national jazz legends.

Bellevue Jazz Fest (Oct 7-11, ~$22+ pp/per performer) brings together top national and regional talent to celebrate jazz’s history and its rising stars.

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

Nationally observed from September 15 to October 15, Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the history, culture, and impact of individuals with ancestry from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. It’s the perfect excuse to explore the Seattle’s best Mexican restaurants and street tacos.

Or dive in deeper and celebrate at these events happening throughout October:

Cultural street performance, one of the best things to do in Seattle in August
Image courtesy of Alabastro Photography

Attend a cultural festival

Every month the Seattle Center hosts festivals to celebrate the different cultures across the city. They’re free to the public and great for families looking to enjoy unique entertainment, food, and culture. In October, there’s Croatiafest (Oct 4), Turkfest (Oct 10-11), and Día de Muertos (Oct 31 – Nov 1).

Indigenous Peoples’ Day is Oct 12, and there are a few different celebrations. For example, Hummingbird’s Indigenous Family Services will host a celebration at Pier 58 downtown and Magnolia’s Daybreak Star Center will host a dinner celebration with dancing and performances.

Here are other cultural festivals happening around Seattle in October, all of which are free to attend:

Relax at an orchestra concert by candlelight

Combine a romantic evening with the chance to catch a cover band of the greats at a candlelight concert. In October, there’s a tribute to neo-Soul greats like Pink Floyd (Oct 8), 90s Unplugged (Oct 10-11), 90s Hip Hop on Strings (Oct 11), Queen vs. ABBA (Oct 18), Bach to Beatles (Oct 22), and haunted Halloween classics (Oct 23 & 30).

Want to enjoy Halloween music by orchestra? Check out the Halloween Spooktacular! at Benaroya Hall Oct 31.

pianist surrounded by candles on a stage
Image courtesy of Fever

Catch your favorite band

If you’ve got your eye on a specific band, you’ll be pleased to know many are making their way through Seattle in October. Here’s a shortlist of some that caught my eye:

Go leaf peeping

One of my favorite things to do during fall in Seattle is to go leaf hunting. Check out my guide to find the best fall foliage in Seattle, and if you’re up for a road trip, embark on one of Washington’s many larch hikes.

fall colors in a park that has some of the best fall foliage in Seattle

Watch a live sports game

If you’re a sports fan, you won’t let a little cold weather get in the way of catching your favorite game. In October, you can catch a game with the Sounders, Reign, Seahawks, Huskies, or the Kraken hockey league.

Hike for free at a state park

In honor of World Mental Health Day (Oct 10), all state parks will offer free admission. Now’s your chance to explore some of the best hiking spots near Seattle, free of charge!

woman walking through Grand Forest on Bainbridge Island, one of the best things to do in Seattle in October

Have fun wine or beer tasting

Seattle has more than its fair share of urban wineries, breweries, and craft beer bars. For a bunch of breweries in walking distance of each other, I suggest exploring the Ballard neighborhood. For wine tasting, nothing beats a day trip to Woodinville.

Want to play a girl’s trip? Head to Oregon for Women’s Harvest Weekend October 22-25. It’s the perfect excuse to check out all the best wineries in Willamette Valley!

Go apple and pumpkin picking

Every October, I look forward to taking my niece to apple and pumpkin picking at one of the many farms near Seattle. Here are a few of my favorites:

When time allows, I love driving to Skagit Valley and exploring the local farms, like Gordon Skagit Farms and Schuh Farms, for their u-pick apples, pumpkin patches, and hot cider. It’s the perfect excuse to visit all the restaurants and fun things to do in Skagit Valley.

woman picking a pumpkin at a path, , one of the best things to do in Seattle in October

Visit a museum on their free days

If you’re looking for free things to do in Seattle, museums across Seattle offer free admission at least once monthly on their off-days. These museums offer free admission on the first Thursday of every month (October 1):

These free museums in Seattle charge no admission every day:

skeleton scarecrow at a farm, one of the best things to do in Seattle in October

Get spooked at a haunted house 

October is my favorite month of the year for one reason: Halloween. Of course, one of the best parts about Halloween is the haunted houses and general spooky activities. Here’s a list of some of my favorite haunted houses:

  • Stonehouse Brunch of Horrors (Oct 4, Rainier Valley, a la carte) – Enjoy ghoulish fun and a DJ at The Stonehouse Cafe
  • Nightfall Orphanage (Every Fri-Sat Oct 9-31, ~$25pp or $20 with food donation) – Neighborhood haunted house
  • Georgetown Morgue (Daily Sept 25-Nov 7, ~$38+ pp) – Historic morgue turned haunted house and a pitch-black maze
  • Stalker Farms (Fri-Sun Oct 2-Nov 1, ~$39+pp) – Get dropped into the middle of a horror movie and navigate your way through haunted corn mazes

Another option is to take the Georgetown Haunted History Walk Oct 8-10. You’ll be guided around Seattle’s oldest neighborhood and learn about all the haunted sites.

For more spooky goings on, check out my guide to the best Halloween fun in Seattle.

Head out for a night of trick-or-treating

Many of Seattle’s neighborhood businesses host events for kids to go trick-or-treating the day of and leading up to Halloween. Here are some options happening on Halloween unless noted, or you can check your local neighborhood’s website:

Have a ghoulish good time at Halloween parties

Put on your favorite Halloween costume and celebrate with a Halloween-centric celebration. Here are some parties happening this month:

person dressed up at one of the events that's some of the best Halloween fun in Seattle
Photo courtesy of Fever

Attend a fall festival 

Fall festivals are a chance to take advantage of the still somewhat sunny days before the winter gloom officially hits. Here are some happening around the Seattle area this October:

Laugh at a spooky comedy show

website | neighborhood: Downtown (get directions) | dates: Fridays – Sundays thru Oct | price: ~$15 pp | best for: improv

Experience some spooky laughs from Unexpected Production’s improvisers. They’re running two Halloween shows this year: Rocky Horror Improv Show and Night of the Living Theater: An Improvised Zombie Apocalypse.

Board the Halloween train

website | neighborhood: Snoqualmie (get directions) & North Bend (get directions) | dates: Sat & Sun Oct 10-31 | price: ~$16-32pp | best for: picturesque train ride

I love train rides, but I rarely have an excuse to take one—that is unless it’s a scenic ride that takes you back to where you departed. The Northwest Railway Museum runs a Halloween Train and takes guests on a fall-decorated ride through the gorgeous upper Snoqualmie Valley, including Snoqualmie Falls. Bring the kids, wear costumes, and get ready for a festive experience!

woman overlooking Snoqualmie Falls

Peruse the Antiquated Book Festival

website | neighborhood: Lower Queen Anne (get directions) | dates: Oct 24-25 | price: ~$10pp | best for: antique books

Each year dealers from across North America and beyond descend upon Seattle to sell thousands of collectible books, prints, photographs, and posters. There are world-renowned specialists, historical artifacts, and something for every budget.

Make a wish at Lantern Fest

website | neighborhood: Seward Park (get directions) | dates: Oct 17 | price: ~$31pp | best for: water lantern lighting

Water lantern festivals are a popular event where participants can celebrate, reflect, make a wish, or find strength in a shared experience. Each ticket gets you a floating lantern kit, an LED candle, and a marker to write what you wish.

Learn how to forage at the Wild Mushroom Show

website | neighborhood: Greenwood (get directions) | dates: Oct 24-25 | price: ~$10pp | best for: learning about wild mushrooms

The Puget Sound Mycological Society hosts one of the largest exhibits of mushrooms in the United States. More than 200 varieties of wild mushrooms will be displayed and identified, along with exhibits and guest speakers. Visitors can bring mushrooms from their gardens and talk with experts to identify them.

If you’d rather get your hands dirty, the PSMS offers field trips 4-5 times per year, where you can learn how to collect and identify your mushrooms.

Pro tip: The Snohomish County Mycological Society also hosts a free show on October 18. It’s the perfect excuse to explore all the fun things to do in Snohomish.

person holding a truffle they foraged in spring in Seattle

Catch a flick

There always seems to be a film festival going on in the Seattle area. Here are ones happening in October:

Embrace your inner poet at the Cascadia Poetry Fest

website | neighborhood: Rainier Beach (get directions) | dates: Oct 9-11 | price: ~$40+ pp | best for: poetry centered around environmental awareness

The Cascadia Poetry Festival is a gathering of poets and like-minded creatives to celebrate poetry that explores environmental and socio-political pursuits. In addition to live poetry readings, there will be workshops for poets to share and learn from one another.

Listen to untold stories at Ignite

website | neighborhood: Downtown (get directions) | dates: Oct 1 | price: ~$21.50pp | best for: storytelling

Ignite Seattle is the largest open submission public speaking event in the Pacific Northwest. Each speaker gets 20 slides and 5 minutes to share their passion, promising an evening of curated discovery.

Get started on your holiday shopping

Everyone knows fall is when most holiday shopping starts (or at least, should be starting), so save yourself the hassle of last-minute shopping by attending the Tacoma Holiday Fest happening Oct 15-18. There will be unique gift ideas, handmade arts and crafts, a cooking stage, and Santa Claus! Or by yourself a bit more time and head to the Nordic Market Oct 24-25 at the Leif Erikson Lodge in Ballard.

If you’re looking for more Seattle Christmas markets worth checking out, read my guide (I’ll update it for this year in mid-October!)

woman walking on a trail surrounded by larches

More fall activities around Seattle

After you check off all the activities on the list of the best things to do in Seattle in October, check out my other guides to fall fun.

Join the club

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