October in Seattle invites crisp air, glowing foliage, and nights filled with art, music, food, and Halloween spirit. The city comes alive with pop-ups, festivals, haunted walks, and community gatherings that highlight Seattle’s diversity, creative energy, and warmth. For newcomers, locals, or curious homebuyers exploring neighborhoods, this month is a perfect sampler of what makes Seattle unique.
1. Guided Harbor Cruise
When & Where: All Month Long | Departs from Pike Place Market
More Info: Seattle Sailing Cruise
What to Expect: A narrated cruise along Elliott Bay offering spectacular views of the skyline, waterfront piers, Mount Rainier (weather permitting), and maritime history. Expect commentary about local landmarks and relaxing deck time to enjoy Seattle from the water.
2. Pike Place Chef-Guided Food Tour
When & Where: All Month Long | Pike Place Market
More Info: Tour Info
What to Expect: A walking tasting expedition through Pike Place Market led by a local chef. Guests visit 8–10 artisan vendors, sample seasonal bites (seafood, baked goods, local produce), and hear stories behind the stalls. Great for food lovers and newcomers getting to know Seattle’s foodie culture.
3. Tall Sailboat Sunset Harbor Cruise
When & Where: All Month | Seattle Harbor (departure near downtown)
More Info: Seattle Sailing Cruise
What to Expect: Sail Seattle’s waterfront aboard a classic schooner at golden hour. Watch sails fill, feel the breeze, and see the city skyline as daylight softens. Expect a gentle, scenic ride—romantic or relaxing.
4. 3-Hour City Tour by Bus
When & Where: Thursday through Sunday | departs downtown
More Info: Show Me Seattle
What to Expect: A curated overview of Seattle’s neighborhoods, landmarks, and hidden gems. Expect stops at viewpoints, neighborhoods like Fremont or Capitol Hill, and guided context about architecture, culture, and local stories.
5. Can Can’s Hitchcock Hotel
When & Where: Wednesday through Sunday most weeks in October | Can Can Culinary Cabaret
More Info: Can Can Website
What to Expect: A blend of dinner and theatrical spectacle in a haunted grand-hotel setting. Expect vintage décor, mood lighting, suspenseful musical numbers, aerial performances, and immersive twists that pull you deeper into the show’s narrative.
6. 425 Women to Watch
When & Where: Oct 2 | Venue as in document
More Info: Event Info
What to Expect: A professional evening celebrating women leaders across the region. Expect keynote stories, awards, networking opportunities, and an elegant setting with hors d’oeuvres and connection-building.
7. Great Pumpkin Beer Fest
When & Where: Oct 3-4 | Elysian / location per doc
More Info: Beer Fest
What to Expect: Sample 50+ pumpkin or fall-spiced beers from local and regional breweries. The highlight: tapping a giant beer-filled pumpkin on site. Add live music, a costume contest, food trucks, and a festive party scene.
8. U District Chow Down & Street Party
When & Where: Oct 4th | University District
More Info: Chow Down
What to Expect: A walking street-party with food vendors, music, dance pop-ups, and local shops opening their doors to the crowd. Expect block closures, lively foot traffic, and a neighborhood’s flavor on display.
9. Halloween Pet Parade
When & Where: Oct 5th | Volunteer Park
More Info: Spooky Pet Walk
What to Expect: Costumed pets march along a route led by a brass band. Judges pick winners for creativity, funniest, and cutest. Enjoy vendor booths, treat stations, and community mingling in the leafy park.
10. Ballard Locks & Salmon Viewing Tour
When & Where: Ongoing in October | Hiram M. Chittenden Locks
More Info: Salmon Ladder
What to Expect: Watch boats pass through lock chambers, observe salmon navigating the fish ladder, and learn about Puget Sound’s aquatic ecology. Expect walking paths, interpretive signage, and occasional tour guides.
11. Stereophonic (Play)
When & Where: Oct 7-12 | The Paramount Theatre
More Info: The Paramount
What to Expect: Onstage, a rock band fights inertia in a 1970s studio session. Expect live rock music, emotionally charged staging, and a play that blurs musical concert with drama. The intensity unfolds song by song.
12. Seattle Center Sculpture Walk
When & Where: All month | Seattle Center
More Info: Seattle Center
What to Expect: Discover temporary and rotating public art installations across the Center grounds. Sculptures range from interactive pieces, light-based works, to large-scale metal or fiber art. A self-guided stroll turning open space into museum stroll.
13. Latino Chamber Music Festival
When & Where: Oct 9 | Good Shepherd Chapel
More Info: Orquesta
What to Expect: Intimate classical chamber performances featuring Latin composers, blending Western classical with Latin rhythms. Expect small ensemble settings in elegant acoustic space, focusing on nuance over volume.
14. Seattle Latino Film Festival (SLFF)
When & Where: Oct 10-18 | Multiple venues
More Info: SLFF
What to Expect: Screenings of Latinx, Spanish, Portuguese, and Romance-language films—including documentaries, shorts, features—with panels, reception nights, and community conversations.
15. Seattle Night Market
When & Where: Oct 11th | Hangar 30, Magnuson Park
More Info: Seattle Night Market
What to Expect: Nighttime vendor marketplace. Expect 100+ local artisans, food trucks, DJs, bars, live performances, and craft cocktails—designed for a 21+ evening crowd.
16. Water Lantern Festival
When & Where: Oct 11-12 | Green Lake
More Info: Water Lantern Festival
What to Expect: Arrive early for food, music, games. At dusk, decorate lanterns, then launch onto the lake’s calm surface in a glowing symphony of light. A serene, reflective gathering with communal warmth.
17. Artusi Pasta & Wine Night
When & Where: Monday Nights - Artusi, Capitol Hill
What to Expect: A set menu pairing handmade pasta with curated wines. Expect cozy ambiance, seasonal ingredients, friendly service, and the kind of lineup locals look forward to monthly.
18. Earshot Jazz Festival
When & Where: Oct 10 – Nov 2 | Multiple Seattle venues
More Info: earshot.org
What to Expect: A multi-week jazz showcase featuring local and international artists, concerts in small clubs and larger halls, listening sessions, late-night sets, and experimental jazz programs. A pillar of Seattle’s live music scene.
19. Fancy Dancer (Ballet)
When & Where: October Wed-Sun | Seattle Repertory
More Info: Ballet
What to Expect: A lyrical ballet show with emotional narrative arcs, elegant costuming, and precise movement. Expect a blend of storytelling and dance that resonates across audiences.
20. SIFF DocFest
When & Where: Oct (range) | SIFF Cinema locations
More Info: SIFF Website
What to Expect: Thought-provoking documentaries on pressing global issues, art, culture, and human stories. Expect Q&A sessions, filmmaker discussions, and a curated mix of dramatic and observational films.
21. Pilchuck Glass School Block Party
When & Where: Oct (date) | Pioneer Square / Pilchuck event
More Info: Refract Seattle
What to Expect: Live glass-blowing demos, local artists’ booths, music, small bites, and mingling. A chance to see molten glass, tools in action, and craft community up close.
22. Ballard Wine Walk
When & Where: Oct (date) | Ballard neighborhood
More Info: Visit Ballard
What to Expect: Stroll Ballard’s shops and galleries, stopping into pop-up wine stations. Expect 8–10 pours, small bites, and the chance to discover local businesses and wines in a casual, social walk.
23. Northwest Records Show
When & Where: Oct 19th | Seattle Center Armory
More Info: Event Page
What to Expect: Booths stacked with vinyl, vintage gear, record jacket art, listening stations, and vendor conversations. Expect crate-digging joy for collectors and casual browsing for music lovers.
24. Seahawks vs. Houston Texans
When & Where: Oct (date) | Lumen Field
More Info: Schedule Page
What to Expect: Game-day energy with tailgates, cheering fans, stadium food, halftime show, and matchup excitement. Great for sports fans or those wanting a quintessential Seattle experience.
25. Nordic Innovation Summit
When & Where: Oct (dates) | National Nordic Museum
More Info: Museum Website
What to Expect: Panels, keynote talks, design showcases, and networking between Nordic region thought-leaders and Seattle’s innovation scene. Expect emphasis on sustainability, design, and tech.
26. THREADS by Acrobatic Conundrum
When & Where: Oct 16 – Nov 8 | 12th Avenue Arts, Capitol Hill
More Info: Acrobatic Conundrum
What to Expect: A gravity-defying performance combining aerial dance, theatrical narrative, and live music. Expect tension, poetry, emotional arcs, and physical spectacle as performers scale rope walls.
27. Tacoma Holiday Food & Gift Festival
When & Where: Oct (dates) | Tacoma Dome
More Info: Tacoma Dome
What to Expect: Hundreds of vendors, cooking demos, food tastings, seasonal gifts, holiday décor, and a festive shopping experience early for holiday planning.
28. Nile Nightmares Haunted House
When & Where: Oct (range) | Nile Shrine, Mountlake Terrace
More Info: Tickets
What to Expect: Indoor haunted mazes, escape-room mini-games, a food court, live actor scares, and a 21+ “Fear Garden.” Daytime “Family Funfest” offers tamer spookiness for all ages.
29. Proof WA Distillers Festival
When & Where: Oct (date) | Ederer Hall, SoDo
More Info: Eventbrite Page
What to Expect: Tasting tokens for WA-made spirits (gin, whiskey, vodka), food trucks, maker meetups, cocktail demonstrations. Expect a festive adult-oriented tasting night.
30. West Seattle Harvest Festival & Trick-or-Treat
When & Where: Oct 30th | Alaska Junction, West Seattle
More Info: The Junction
What to Expect: Community parade, local shops giving out treats, live music, kids’ crafts, costume contests, and neighborhood pride — a great family-friendly Halloween kickoff.
31. Halloween & After-Dark Events
When & Where: Oct 31 | Across Seattle
What to Expect:
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SAM Remix at Seattle Art Museum: DJs, art activations, costume-friendly crowd, late-night museum experience.
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Haunted W Seattle Halloween Party: Two dance floors, themed cocktails, DJ sets, décor, and party vibes.
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Terrors & Tonics at Smith Tower: Cocktail reception, skyline views, DJ/lounge ambiance in historic observatory.
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Additional parties: Gothic Afterlife in Bellevue, costume shows at Club Comedy, Collide-O-Scope screenings, Trolloween procession, and neighborhood trick-or-treat paths.
October 2025 in Seattle is more than just fall leaves—it’s a vivid mixture of artistry, food, music, immersive experiences, and spooky fun. These 31 events mirror Seattle’s soul: imaginative, inclusive, neighborhood-rooted, and full of surprises.
Thinking about making Seattle home or exploring a neighborhood close to the scenes you love? Contact Zac Lee to discover where your lifestyle fits best, find walkable districts, and unlock the neighborhoods behind these events.
