October brings plenty of reasons to get out around Seattle: changing maples at the Japanese Garden, glass artists opening their studios, neighborhood fall festivals, and Halloween performances in some unusual settings. This month’s picks include free community events, a farm outing in Carnation, and a few good reasons to make weekday plans.
If you arrived here from my October postcard, you’ll find the full event dates, planning details, and organizer links below. Some activities run beyond the day featured on the printed calendar.
Details checked October 4, 2026. Check organizer websites for current schedules and ticket availability before heading out.
JAPANESE GARDEN MAPLE FESTIVAL
When & Where: Hatsumomiji runs October 1–12, Seattle Japanese Garden, Washington Park Arboretum.
What to Expect: Take a slower walk through the garden as its maples begin changing color. Pick up a self-guided maple brochure or a scavenger hunt for the kids at the gatehouse. October 10 also brings an origami activity as part of Family Saturday.
Plan Your Visit: Regular October hours are Tuesday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., with last admission at 4:15 p.m. Although the festival lists October 12 as its end date, the garden’s published schedule says Mondays are closed, so plan your visit for an open day through October 11. Adult admission is $10, with reduced and free admission categories available.
More Info: Seattle Japanese Garden
SEATTLE GREEK FESTIVAL
When & Where: October 2–4, Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, Montlake.
What to Expect: Greek food, pastries, music, and traditional dancing fill the festival grounds on Boyer Avenue East. Come hungry for souvlaki or spanakopita, leave room for baklava, and make time for the dance performances or a docent-led church tour.
Plan Your Visit: Friday noon–9 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.–9 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
More Info: Seattle Greek Festival
HALLOWEEN PET PARADE
When & Where: Sunday, October 4, 11 a.m.–2 p.m., Volunteer Park.
What to Expect: Halloween arrives early at Volunteer Park with costumed pets and people, music, food trucks, vendor booths, and prizes. Bring your dog’s costume or simply stop by to watch the parade and appreciate the effort people put into dressing their four-legged companions.
More Info: Volunteer Park Trust
HERNAN DIAZ AT TOWN HALL
When & Where: Tuesday, October 6, 7:30 p.m., Town Hall Seattle’s Wyncote NW Forum.
What to Expect: Pulitzer Prize-winning author Hernan Diaz joins Nick Hilden to discuss Ply, his new novel exploring technology, identity, and human connection in a transformed future. It’s a chance to hear the author talk through the ideas behind the book and spend a weekday evening with fellow readers.
Plan Your Visit: Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $10–$35, with an optional book add-on and possible additional fees.
More Info: Town Hall Seattle
QUEEN ANNE FARMERS MARKET FINALE
When & Where: Thursday, October 8, 3–7 p.m., West Crockett Street and Queen Anne Avenue North.
What to Expect: Make one last Thursday market stop for Washington-grown produce and food from local makers before the regular season wraps up. Browse the stalls, pick up ingredients for dinner, and enjoy an afternoon in the neighborhood.
Plan Your Visit: The finale is October 8, correcting its placement on October 7 in the printed postcard. There’s also a separate Halloween Harvest Market on October 31, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
More Info: Queen Anne Farmers Market
OLD GROWTH OLDTIME
When & Where: October 9–11, Seattle Latvian Center and Pinehurst Shelterhouse.
What to Expect: Seattle’s old-time music gathering brings together concerts, workshops, informal jams, and square dancing. You can come to listen or take part. Friday and Saturday activities happen at the Latvian Center, followed by a Sunday potluck brunch and jam at Pinehurst Shelterhouse.
Plan Your Visit: Friday concerts begin at 5:30 p.m. Saturday includes workshops, a 5:30 p.m. concert, and a 7:30 p.m. dance. Registration is by donation at the door, with no advance tickets.
More Info: Old Growth Oldtime
PUMPKINS & PONIES
When & Where: Saturdays, October 3 and 10, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., Seattle Farm, 4506 South Bond Street.
What to Expect: A pumpkin outing within Seattle city limits, with pony rides and a lunch stand at a family farm. It’s an option for families who want a fall farm experience without heading out into the valley.
Plan Your Visit: Published admission starts at $30 per person and includes parking and a fire-roasted hot dog. Prices increase close to the event. Pony rides run until 1 p.m. and cost an additional $18. Dogs and outside food are not permitted.
More Info: Seattle Farm
TURKFEST
When & Where: October 10–11, Seattle Center Armory.
What to Expect: Explore Turkish and Turkic cultures through music, dance, food, and a marketplace at this Seattle Center Festál celebration. The indoor setting makes it an easy option for an October afternoon, with performances and vendors providing plenty to explore.
Plan Your Visit: Admission is free. Food and shopping purchases are extra.
More Info: Turkfest at Seattle Center
EARSHOT JAZZ: CAROLINE DAVIS
When & Where: Monday, October 12, 7:30 p.m., Chapel Performance Space at Good Shepherd Center, Wallingford.
What to Expect: Saxophonist Caroline Davis combines solo playing with interactive electronics in a performance shaped by the room and audience. Drawing from her 2026 album Fallows, the concert offers an intimate introduction to the more experimental side of this year’s Earshot Jazz Festival.
Plan Your Visit: Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Adult tickets are $33 including fees, with discounts available.
More Info: Earshot Jazz
TACO TUESDAY AT TACOS CHUKIS
When & Where: Suggested outing: Tuesday, October 13, Tacos Chukis on Capitol Hill.
What to Expect: Keep a weeknight simple with tacos at the Broadway Alley location. Pair dinner with a neighborhood walk or meet a friend for a casual catch-up. This calendar pick is a suggestion to get out for dinner, rather than a scheduled festival or advertised Tuesday special.
Plan Your Visit: Order from the regular menu and check current hours before visiting.
More Info: Tacos Chukis
GLASS IN MOTION AT PRATT
When & Where: Thursday, October 15, 2–5 p.m., Pratt Fine Arts Center, Central District.
What to Expect: Watch artists work with hot glass as Pratt opens its studios for Refract. Thursday’s demonstrations feature Karen Willenbrink-Johnsen and Jasen Johnsen with Hilltop Artists in the Hot Shop, plus Hilltop Artists alumni in the Flame Shop. It’s a chance to see the skill and teamwork behind the finished pieces.
Plan Your Visit: Free and open to all ages. Pratt also hosts additional Refract activities on October 16 and 17.
More Info: Refract at Pratt
REFRACT: THE SEATTLE GLASS EXPERIENCE
When & Where: October 15–18, studios and venues across Seattle and the surrounding region.
What to Expect: Build an afternoon around Seattle’s glass community, with open studios, exhibitions, demonstrations, and special events. Refract connects opportunities to meet artists and see their work across multiple neighborhoods, so you can choose a single stop or plan a longer route.
Plan Your Visit: Admission and registration vary by event. The festival schedule includes free options alongside ticketed experiences.
More Info: Refract Seattle
OXTOBER AT OXBOW
When & Where: October 17–18 and 24–25, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Oxbow Farm & Conservation Center, Carnation.
What to Expect: Head to the Snoqualmie Valley for pumpkins, tractor hayrides, nature crafts, farm tours, and outdoor play. Oxtober combines seasonal activities with opportunities to learn about the farm and its conservation work, making this a good choice for a longer weekend outing.
Plan Your Visit: Admission is $6 in advance or $7 at the door; children ages 0–3 enter free. Parking, core activities, and tours are included. Pumpkins, food, and workshops cost extra.
More Info: Oxtober
FAUNTLEROY FALL FESTIVAL
When & Where: Sunday, October 18, 1–4 p.m., Fauntleroy Church and YMCA, West Seattle.
What to Expect: This neighborhood celebration brings together pumpkin decorating, birdhouse building, live entertainment, and other fall activities. It’s a relaxed, community-focused afternoon with plenty for families to do, and admission is free.
Plan Your Visit: This year’s gathering centers on the church and YMCA at 9140 California Avenue SW. Parking is limited, and the schoolhouse parking lot will not be available. The festival runs rain or shine.
More Info: Fauntleroy Fall Festival
REAR WINDOW AT THE BATHHOUSE
When & Where: Tuesday, October 20, 7 p.m., Seattle Public Theater at the Bathhouse, Green Lake.
What to Expect: Watch Hitchcock’s Rear Window in the Bathhouse theater as part of Seattle Public Theater’s movie-night collaboration with Magic Theater. The story of a photographer who begins to suspect a neighbor of murder makes a fitting October screening without requiring a full haunted-house evening.
Plan Your Visit: Tickets use a sliding scale from $10–$100, with a published standard price of $42.
More Info: Seattle Public Theater
SEATTLE RESTAURANT WEEK
When & Where: October 18–31, participating restaurants throughout greater Seattle.
What to Expect: Make plans with a friend, revisit a neighborhood restaurant, or try somewhere you’ve been meaning to go. Participating businesses offer curated menus at several price points, making it worth browsing both the menus and the neighborhoods before deciding where to book.
Plan Your Visit: Menu price points are $20, $35, $50, and $65. Participating days, meal periods, and reservation policies vary by restaurant. The postcard highlights October 21, but the promotion runs for two weeks.
More Info: Seattle Restaurant Week
CIRCUS OF STEAM & SHADOWS
When & Where: Select performances October 16–25, Georgetown Steam Plant.
What to Expect: Oroki Productions brings circus artists and shadow projection into the industrial setting of the Georgetown Steam Plant for Paranormal Archives. Audience members follow a guide through the experience, taking on the role of observers investigating strange appearances of light and shadow.
Plan Your Visit: The performance runs approximately 30 minutes. Published tickets range from $10–$40, and the organizer lists it as all ages. Choose an available date and time through the ticket page.
More Info: Oroki Productions
SEATTLE COFFEE FESTIVAL
When & Where: October 24–25, Hangar 30 at Magnuson Park.
What to Expect: Sample coffee from specialty roasters, talk with exhibitors, and listen to live music inside Hangar 30. Coffee tastings are included with admission, so this is an opportunity to compare beans and brewing styles before deciding what you’d like to bring home.
Plan Your Visit: Tickets are tied to a specific date and session. Food costs extra. Check the ticket page for current prices and session availability.
More Info: Seattle Coffee Festival
COZY LITTLE MURDERS
When & Where: Sunday, October 25, 7:30 p.m., Seattle Public Theater, Green Lake.
What to Expect: Settle in for an evening of murder-themed short stories performed by Seattle actors. Curated by Caitlin Frances, the program draws on Macbeth, Hitchcock, and a new story by Erin Stewart for a Halloween-season outing built around live storytelling.
Plan Your Visit: The performance runs approximately 90 minutes, including an intermission. Sliding-scale tickets range from $10–$100, with a standard ticket of $42.
More Info: Cozy Little Murders tickets
BLACK FUTURES BOOK CLUB
When & Where: Monday, October 26, 6–7:30 p.m., LANGSTON, Central District.
What to Expect: October’s selection is The Black Girl Survives This One, an anthology that fits the season’s interest in suspense and horror. Facilitated by Brooke Bosely, PhD, the monthly book club centers Black speculative writing and conversations about imagined futures, history, and the present.
Plan Your Visit: Free. Follow the registration link on LANGSTON’s program page and pick up the book ahead of the discussion.
More Info: Black Futures Book Club
NATIONAL PARKS FREE ENTRANCE DAY
When & Where: Tuesday, October 27, participating National Park Service sites.
What to Expect: Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday is a designated entrance-fee-free day in 2026. If you’re planning an autumn park visit, it can be a useful date to keep in mind, particularly at parks that normally charge admission.
Plan Your Visit: The 2026 entrance-fee waiver applies to U.S. citizens and residents. Reservation, camping, and other charges may still apply. Check your destination’s road conditions, seasonal closures, and entry requirements before leaving.
More Info: National Park Service
NIGHTFALL CHARITY HAUNT
When & Where: October 9–10, 16–17, 23–24, and 30–31, West Seattle.
What to Expect: This neighborhood home haunt combines an elaborate Halloween attraction with fundraising for local causes. Choose the earlier Little Frights hour for a gentler experience without jump scares, or visit later for the full haunt. The organizer recommends the regular experience for ages 10 and older.
Plan Your Visit: Little Frights runs 5:30–6:30 p.m.; regular admission runs 6:30–9:30 p.m., extending to 10 p.m. on Halloween. Tickets are $25, or $20 with a qualifying food donation, plus taxes and fees. Follow the organizer’s neighborhood parking instructions.
More Info: Nightfall Charity Haunt
HALLOWEEN AT THE SEATTLE AQUARIUM
When & Where: Saturday, October 31, Seattle Aquarium, downtown waterfront.
What to Expect: Put on a costume and spend Halloween among the Aquarium’s habitats. The celebration includes trick-or-treating, story time, a scavenger hunt, and underwater pumpkin carving by divers. Look for pumpkin carver Russ Leno at work, too.
Plan Your Visit: Event activities are included with Aquarium admission, which also covers its three buildings, including the Ocean Pavilion. Book admission online and check the activity schedule when planning your visit.
More Info: Halloween at the Aquarium
Found a plan for October? Send this guide to the person you’d like to go with. And if there’s a neighborhood event you think belongs on a future calendar, I’d love to hear about it.
