Fall is in the air and we can certainly feel it. You might be wanting to hermit now that the weather is getting colder but trust us, there are plenty of things to be done this month. Between music, shows, festivals, and the outdoors, you’ll definitely want to check out at least a few things. Here are 35 of the absolute best things to do in & around Seattle this October.
Outdoors
Celebrate the community and change of seasons through color, light, food, and music. View an installation of hand-painted lanterns, created during the summer in Freeway Park by community members. Oh and be sure to bring donations like winter clothing, underwear, socks, closed-toed shoes, feminine hygiene products, etc…
When: October 1st
Where: Freeway Park, Sixth Ave and Seneca St
Cost: Free/Bring donations
Corn mazes are cute and all but why not experience a scary one? Stalker Farms has Washington’s favorite haunted corn mazer and this year they have 8 different experiences for you to enjoy. Get seriously spooked or slightly less spooked as you try to survive a night in the corn, the choice is up to you.
When: October 2nd-17th
Where: 8705 Marsh Rd Snohomish, WA
Cost: Double Dare $17.95 or $26.95, Double Dare VIP $37.95 or $48.95, No Scare Night $17.95 or $26.95
Or three, whatever floats your boat. October is officially here and that means it’s time to get in the spooky season mood by picking yourself some pumpkins. Washington has tons of great u-pick farms with all sorts of pumpkin varieties for you to choose from.
Where: Click above to see our picks
If you’ve been wanting to take a trip up north to Canada now is the time. The Victoria Clipper is running once again this September and it’s a great way to see Washington’s scenic waters and also get a quick ride up to British Columbia. Be sure to buy those tickets in advance though!
When: Sailings Friday-Monday
Where: Seattle to Victoria
Cost: $145+ each
Want to get out of the city? Take a road trip to a weird destination! Unsurprisingly Washington has a lot of them and we made a list of spots that you can check out within 4 hours of Seattle. So get in the car, grab some water and snacks, and hit the road.
Where: Click above to see our picks
What’s a better way to celebrate fall than with a stunning autumn hike? Luckily for you, there are tons to do around the state and most of them are pretty close to Seattle. So get on those hiking boots and get ready to explore the great outdoors.
Where: Click above to see our picks
Love the classic TV show? Why not take a little drive and check out some of the most iconic filming locations across the state. Best of all, most of them are only about 40 minutes from the city. So get in the car and enjoy a trip to Twin Peaks.
Where: Click above to see local locations
If you just want to get out for a walk this weekend then we recommend checking out one of our city’s stunning botanical gardens. It actually turns out that there are a ton and we’ve gone ahead and created a list for you so that you don’t have to look too hard. Trust us, you won’t be disappointed.
Where: Click above to see our picks
Not all of us can be pro golfers but no one can say no to a game of put put. So why not enjoy the last of Seattle’s sunny days while playing a round of mini-golf or put put with your friends? As always we made a list of some of our top spots to help you out.
Where: Click above to see our picks
At home
October is chock full of new film and tv show additions to a Netflix account near you. Check out what’s coming so that you can plan ahead and have the best month of streaming yet. We can almost guarantee you’ll find a new or even old fave on the list.
Where: Click above to see our picks
One of the best parts about fall in our books is getting ready for cozy season. What’s a better way to do that than by watching a fall movie? We made a list of some of our faves, both classics and some original additions for you to start fall, the right way.
Where: Click above to see our picks
Arts
Jim Hodges at Greg Kucera Gallery
Hodges’ work is all about playing with light, reflection, and perception. He has been exhibited widely since 1986 and this show is a great chance to see some of his more recent works. Who knows, you might just be able to take a piece home.
When: Until October 9th
Where: 212 3rd Ave S
Cost: Free
This year’s festival has 17 feature documentary and fictional films, and over 150 short fictional works by filmmakers from over 20 countries. You’ll be able to see 44 PNW titles, including five features, and short film packages including documentary, fiction, comedy, and late-night films, during this festival. Don’t miss it!
When: October 7th-14th
Where: 606 South Fawcett Ave Tacoma, WA
Cost: $9-$150
If you need some pick-me-up music this month why not check out Princess Nokia. The experimental rapper will perform her tunes at the Showbox and it’s going to be a great time. Just make sure you can provide proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 48 hours.
When: October 10th
Where: 1700 1st Avenue S
Cost: $35-$40
Alden Mason: Fly Your Own Thing
This show is a unique one for PNW art as it’s showcasing prolific painter Alden Mason’s work. Mason’s artworks helped shape the future of Northwest art through his work and also through his teaching. So if you’ve been curious about local masters, this is a great show to check out.
When: Until October 10th
Where: 510 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue, WA
Cost: $15
Seattle Art Museum is coming back with a bang! We’ve already seen several great shows this year and if you happen to be a fan of impressionism then you’ll want to see this. You can see SAM’s very own Monet and some work by Monet’s contemporaries.
When: Until October 17th
Where: 1300 First Ave
Cost: $29.99
Among Forests and Lakes: Landscape Masterpieces from the Finnish National Gallery
The National Nordic Museum might not be on your top list of local museums to visit but it should be. Right now you can check out a visual history of how “Finnish artists have depicted the landscape of their native country from the 1850s to the present day”. You can view 50 paintings and prints borrowed from the Ateneum Art Museum and we highly recommend checking it out.
When: Until October 17th
Where: 2655 NW Market St
Cost: $20
The Kinsey African American Art & History Collection
This art collection celebrates the achievements and contributions of Black Americans from 1595 to the present. You can see masterful paintings, sculptures, photographs, rare books, letters, manuscripts, and more that offer a well-rounded look at the African American experience.
When: Until November 28th
Where: 1701 Pacific Ave Tacoma, Washington
Cost: $18
Bodies of Discovery – Naomi Fisher: Thermodynamic Flower
This unique outdoor sculpture piece has a lot of components. It’s a part of a series of works exploring the (re)activation of the physical body in our again-accessible public space. Fisher’s specific piece “drives at the tensions between nature and capitalist dynamics via feminist theories and strategies based on surrealist art.” Don’t miss it!
When: Until November 30th
Where: Occidental Square, Occidental Ave S, and S Main St
Cost: Free
Da Vinci – Inventions at MOHAI
Chances are that most of us know all about Da Vinci’s crazy creations. However, it’s just as likely that you’ve never seen those inventions brought to life in a true scale. Grande Experiences has created an exhibit that will offer you a look at the creativity of the ultimate Renaissance man.
When: Until January 3rd
Where: 860 Terry Ave N
Cost: $17-$22
Recent Acquisitions in Contemporary Art
Love the Frye? Well, their collection is growing! You can check out 7 recent artworks by Juventino Aranda, Rokni Haerizadeh, Rose Nestler, Mary Ann Peters, Cauleen Smith, Anthony White, and Ko Kirk Yamahira. All of these works were acquired by the museum in 2019 and are being shown together now.
When: Until January 11th
Where: 704 Terry Ave
Cost: Free
Culture
World War Bonsai: Remembrance & Resilience
This exhibition from the Pacific Bonsai Museum “traces the cultural practice of bonsai in location and time”. It looks at the art form in both Japan and the US, ranging from pre-war WWII to incarceration, and the time after. It’s an amazing look into the people who continued to care for bonsai “despite overwhelming hardships”.
When: Until October 1st
Where: 2515 S 336th St Federal Way
Cost: By donation
Crossing Boundaries: Portraits of a Transgender West
It’s Pride Month and a brand new and amazing exhibition is opening at The Washington State History Museum. This new exhibition “highlights historical narratives of transgender people in the West”. You’ll hear stories from the 1860s until the 1940s. These stories tell the history of individuals who defied gender norms and communicate the show’s themes of visibility, identity, acceptance, and history.
When: Until December 12th
Where: 1911 Pacific Avenue
Cost: $14
Food & Drink
The Great Pumpkin Beer Festival
Love beer and pumpkins? Well, Elysian has the perfect festival for you. You’ll get to enjoy a giant, several-hundred-pound pumpkin that is scooped, scorched, filled with pumpkin beer, sealed, conditioned, and then tapped at the fest for all to taste. You can also sip on over 80 pumpkin beers, including around 20 from Elysian. And all proceeds benefit the Vera Project.
When: October 1st & 2nd
Where: 305 Harrison St
Cost: $5 – $50
Each week on Tuesday you can attend a drag happy hour at Chop Suey. You’ll be able to watch drag icon Jane Don’t and three of Seattle’s other premiere drag beauties do their thing. It’s sure to be the most fun you’ve had at a happy hour in a while.
When: Tuesdays
Where: 1325 E Madison St
Cost: Varies
A new Seattle coffee company is shaking things up a bit with their coffee. Want to know why? It’s because their coffee blends are full of adaptogenic mushrooms chosen specifically to help you be your best. Best of all, they have a pop-up where you can test the coffee!
When: Wednesday-Friday 9 am-4 pm
Where: 1424 11th Ave
Cost: Varies
Live Music at Fox Ridge Studio
Fox Ridge Studio is a local wine bar with a mission of establishing a community in an atmosphere of fun and fearless creation. Part of that is their live music series featuring local musicians which they host each weekend. So if you want to enjoy live music with your drinks, this is the spot to go.
When: Every Friday & Saturday
Where: 4116 1/2 E Madison St
Cost: Varies
Misc.
Lovers and Friends – A Dance Party of Early 2000s
Dance the night away to your favorite early 2000’s hits at the ultimate Neumos dance party. Keep in mind that if you want to attend you’ll need to provide proof of vaccination or a negative test result within 48 hours of the event date. So get out there and dance!
When: October 2nd
Where: 925 E Pike St
Cost: $5
Visit Seattle’s best haunted house
The Georgetown Morgue is back with another year of terrifying haunts for you to experience. Try to survive a walk through the morgue as Dr. Simons and his goons come for you. Or opt for a slightly less scary option sans actors and survive the jump scares from animatronics.
When: Weekends and select additional days until November 6th
Where: 5000 East Marginal Way South
Cost: $30 GA, $30 Self Guided Tour
If you’ve ever wanted to lay on the floor and listen to choral music, this is your chance to do just that. The Compline Choir at Saint Mark’s happens every Sunday and has been a Seattle tradition since 1956. So if you haven’t been before, consider checking it out.
When: Every Sunday
Where: 1245 10th Ave E
Cost: Free
Looking to grab a new jacket or maybe some boots? Instead of heading to your closest big box store, consider checking out a local vintage shop. Seattle has a ton of them and they all have stunning pieces perfect for colder and cozier weather.
Where: Click above to see our picks
Join GKIDS and Fathom Events for the annual Studio Ghibli Fest to experience the wonder of some of the world’s most beloved animated films. You’ll be able to watch Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, Castle in the Sky, and My Neighbor Totoro. Don’t miss out!
When: Multiple dates October 3rd-December 9th
Where: Participating theaters around Seattle
Cost: $13.13
Enter a documentary film festival
The Stranger has a brand new documentary film festival this year called SCOOP! They want you to tell your story, your truth, whatever fits into a documentary that’s 15 minutes or less. You can win cold hard cash as well as a few categories.
When: Submit by October 8th
Where: Online
Cost: Free
We can always get down with a good trivia night. You can have groups of up to six people to enjoy four rounds of trivia questions at The George & Dragon Pub. You can either win big or just score some drink specials, either one is great if you ask us.
When: Every other Thursday
Where: 206 N 36th St
Cost: $2
We just did a re-up on our list of Seattle’s most relaxing spas. So if you need some R&R it might just be time to treat yourself to a spa day or spa treatment. There are tons of amazing local spots you can check out. So treat yourself this week.
Where: Click above to see our picks
We hope that you enjoy our picks for the best things to do in Seattle this October. Please stay safe out there and keep in mind that you need either proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 48 hours to do most of the indoor events on this list. With that enjoy and we’ll see you back here in November.
