October is nearly here, Seattle, and that means fall has arrived. Now that being said, it’s prime time to enjoy all the beauty of fall without breaking the bank. Here are 12 of the best free & cheap things to do in Seattle this October.
Head to your local farmer’s market
Fall is prime time for making all sorts of cozy meals. There aren’t many places better than your local farmers market to pick up fresh produce, dairy, meat, and other locally made products.
When: Weekly and on weekends
Where: Locations across the city
Cost: Varies
Free Public Tours of Washington Park Arboretum
The Arboretum is one of Seattle’s best spots for getting outdoors, especially in the summer. While you can walk it by yourself at any time, you can also enjoy free tours on the first Thursday of each month from 11:30 AM-1 PM.
When: First Thursday of every month
Where: 2300 Arboretum Drive E
Cost: Free
Visit a state park for free
October 10th is World Mental Health Day and a Washington State Park Free Entrance Day. That means you can visit any state park of your choosing for free! Keep in mind this does not apply to overnight stays.
When: Tuesday, October 10th
Where: Washington State Parks
Cost: Free
Capitol Hill Art Walk
A digital map allows you to pick and choose where you stop on the Capitol Hill Art Walk. Stop by small galleries, local businesses, and more on this monthly art walk.
When: Second Thursday of every month
Where: Capitol Hill
Cost: Free
Seattle Antiquarian Book Fair
The Seattle Antiquarian Book Fair has dealers from the US and the United Kingdom this year. Visitors will find thousands of “collectible books, prints, maps, autographs, photographs, posters, postcards, ephemera, manuscripts, broadsides, fine bindings” and more for sale.
When: Saturday, October 14th, from 10 AM-6 PM, Sunday, October 15th, from 11 AM-4 PM
Where: Seattle Center Exhibition Hall, 301 Mercer St
Cost: $10+
Visit one of the nation’s largest public telescopes
If you’re into stargazing then get excited because one of the nation’s largest public telescopes is right here in Washington. Goldendale Observatory is worth the trip to the Columbia River Gorge, and it just so happens to be free to visit. Just make sure you make your reservations in advance.
Where: 1602 Observatory Drive, Goldendale, WA
Hours: October-March Friday-Sunday 2 PM-4 PM & 7 PM-10 PM
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Hike to a spooky abandoned tunnel
Washington has all sorts of great fall hikes and even some with spooky history! Adventure seekers can hike to the site of the deadliest avalanche in the country’s history. Today, there are remnants of the disasters past like abandoned tunnels, snow sheds, and even parts of trains.
When: Until first snowfall or until Martin Creek road becomes impassable
Where: Iron Goat Trail, Stevens Pass
Cost: Free
Head to a local garden
Seattle is lucky to have tons of beautiful gardens located across the city that you can visit for free or very affordably. Whether you’re looking to see rare plants, native plant displays, or fall colors, these gardens have something for you.
Silent Reading Party: In-Person
The beloved Silent Reading Party is back in person if you’d like to have the experience of reading amongst strangers inside the beautiful Hotel Sorrento. Keep in mind there is a $20 food and drink minimum on top of your ticket price.
When: First Wednesday of each month
Where: 900 Madison St
Cost: $8-$40
Check out Washington State Parks
You can literally check Washington State Parks out of the Seattle Public Library. Well almost, you can check out a Discover Pass which allows you to visit Washington State Parks for free. Keep in mind, if you plan on camping you will still have to pay for your spot.
Visit a museum for free
You may or may not know but Seattle actually has 5 museums that you can always visit for free. We’ve listed them out and given you some details so you can take yourself on the perfect adventure. What’s more, many local museums offer free entrance on the first Thursday of the month.
Fremont Sunday Market
The Fremont Market is truly a classic Seattle shopping experience and it happens year-round, rain or shine. It’s a great place to find antiques, vintage clothing, and much more. It’s definitely one of the best free things to do in Seattle each weekend.
When: Every Sunday
Where: Evanston Ave N & 34th St
Enjoy all of that beautiful fall weather and have fun with all of these free and cheap things to do in Seattle!
