The first week of October turns Seattle and its surrounding areas into a vast autumn stage: sailing excursions cruise Elliott Bay, arenas fill with music and hockey action, and theaters, galleries, and festivals offer something for every taste. Jazz fans can enjoy the Earshot Jazz and Bellevue Jazz & Blues festivals; food lovers can sample treats at Pike Place Market, join wine walks, and attend culinary festivals; and those drawn to the supernatural can choose from haunted houses, ghost walks, immersive shows, and a Halloween train.
Outdoors, visitors can explore a state park for free, follow a 10-mile route through North Seattle, cycle across the Kitsap Peninsula, or choose from numerous festivals—from TurkFest and Japan Week to Oktoberfest Northwest, a Greek celebration in Tacoma, and a crab festival in Port Angeles. The full schedule and additional details are available at Events12 Seattle: https://www.events12.com/seattle/
Seattle-Area Events: October 5–11, 2026
| Dates | Location | Description | Resources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 5–31 | Seattle Waterfront | Two-hour sailing excursion aboard the Bay Lady schooner on Elliott Bay. Daytime and sunset cruises are available. | Map, video |
| Oct. 5–31 | Various regional cities | Halloween haunted houses and forests in Arlington, Buckley, Seattle, Tacoma, Snohomish, and other cities. | Seattle video, Tacoma video |
| Oct. 5–Dec. 26 | Seattle | Food-focused walking tours with tastings: Pike Place Market, downtown chocolate, Capitol Hill coffee, and wine with cheese and chocolate. | — |
| Oct. 5–Dec. 31 | Pioneer Square, Seattle | Tour the historic level of the city beneath modern Seattle streets, buried after the 1889 fire. | Tickets and information, map, photo, video |
| Oct. 5–11 | Seattle | Seattle Kraken home games at Climate Pledge Arena: Vegas Golden Knights on October 6 and Detroit Red Wings on October 9. | Schedule, tickets, map |
| Oct. 6 | Downtown Seattle | A charitable food tour of Pike Place Market restaurants with tastings. | Feast at the Market, map, photo |
| Oct. 6–11 | Various regional theaters | Theater productions including Conscience, Hamlet, Eureka Day, Ragtime, Smoke on the Mountain, The Chinese Lady, Running in Place Alone, Noises Off, and others. | — |
| Oct. 7–11 | Bellevue | Bellevue Jazz & Blues Music Series, featuring national and regional musicians. Most performances are free. | Festival website, map, photo |
| Oct. 7–11 | Seattle | Earshot Jazz Festival—dozens of concerts by local and international performers. Closed on Mondays. | Festival website, schedule, photo |
| Oct. 7–11 | Various regional locations | Free events including the Bellevue Botanical Garden, classical concerts, the Frye and Gold Rush museums, Henry Art Gallery, Kubota Garden, Olympic Sculpture Park, and walking routes. | — |
| Oct. 8 | Bellevue | Latin American and Spanish chamber music festival performed by the Ballard Civic Orchestra. | Festival program, photo |
| Oct. 8 | Tacoma | Taking Back Sunday concert at the outdoor Dune Peninsula venue overlooking Puget Sound, with food trucks, beer, and wine. | Venue website, tickets, map, video |
| Oct. 8–10 | Capitol Hill, Seattle | Experimental dance festival Out There, featuring new works at 12th Avenue Arts. | Festival website, map, photo, video |
| Oct. 8–11 | Seattle and Woodinville | Candlelight concerts featuring the music of Pink Floyd, Queen, Hans Zimmer, Taylor Swift, 1990s songs, and hip-hop hits performed by a string quartet. | Tickets and schedule, video |
| Oct. 8–11 | Seattle | Walking art tours through Capitol Hill, West Seattle, Belltown, Ballard, and Georgetown. | Art walk schedule |
| Oct. 8–11 | Downtown Seattle | Haunted pub walk featuring ghost stories at four bars; drinks are not included, and guests must be 21 or older. | Tickets and information, map, video |
| Oct. 9 | Ballard, Seattle | Hope on the Horizon Gala, a benefit evening with cocktails, a three-course dinner, and a silent auction supporting homeless youth. | Tickets and information, map |
| Oct. 9–10 | Tukwila | Free Seattle Philatelic Exhibition stamp show with 15 dealers. | Exhibition website, map |
| Oct. 9–11 | Rainier Beach, Seattle | Cascadia poetry festival with writing workshops, discussions, and readings. | Festival website, map, photo |
| Oct. 9–11 | Tacoma | Greek Festival with traditional dancing, music, souvenirs, and Greek cuisine. | Festival website, map, photo |
| Oct. 9–11 | Puyallup | Oktoberfest Northwest with beer, pretzels, music, games, children’s activities, and dachshund races. | Festival website, music, map, photo, video |
| Oct. 9–11 | Port Angeles | Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival with music, a marketplace, crab dinners, a beer garden, and a 5K run. | Festival website, dinners, schedule, map |
| Oct. 9–11 | Leavenworth | Bavarian Oktoberfest with three music stages, dancing, contests, German food, beer gardens, and a parade. | Festival website, transportation, map |
| Oct. 9–11 | Downtown Seattle | Friday and Saturday performances of Poe Unexpected, an improvised comedy show based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe. | Tickets, map, photo |
| Oct. 9–11 | Capitol Hill, Seattle | Immersive show Haunted Soiree: Hauntoberfest—a Bavarian beer hall with music, theatrical performances, and fantastical characters. Ages 21 and older. | Tickets, map, video |
| Oct. 9–11 | Federal Way | Halloween at Wild Waves: daytime Booville activities for children and an evening Fright Fest with rides, monsters, and haunted houses. | Event website, map, photo, video |
| Oct. 9–11 | University District, Seattle | University of Washington Huskies home football game against Iowa on October 9 at Husky Stadium. | Schedule, tickets, map, video |
| Oct. 10 | Capitol Hill, Seattle | One Shot Seattle, an urban quest with fantasy-style challenges for teams of two to six people. | Registration and tickets, map, photo |
| Oct. 10 | Mount Baker, Seattle | Tasting of dozens of wines with appetizers and live music. Ages 21 and older. | Tickets and information, map |
| Oct. 10 | Bellevue | Japan Week: music, games, lectures, martial arts, vendors, and films about Hiroshima. | Schedule, map, parking, photo, video |
| Oct. 10 | Burien | Wine walk through Burien shops with 14 tastings. Ages 21 and older. | Event website, tickets, map |
| Oct. 10 | Washington State Parks | Free admission to all Washington State Parks; parking is also free. | Free days information, dog restrictions |
| Oct. 10 | Sumner | Sunset Festival of Bands, a competition for high school marching bands. | Festival website, tickets, map, photo |
| Oct. 10–11 | Seattle Center | TurkFest with Turkish food, dancing, music, games, a marketplace, and a children’s area. | Festival website, map, photo |
| Oct. 10–11 | Westlake, Seattle | Dance party aboard the floating ferry The Hiyu, with music, food trucks, and bars. Ages 21 and older. | Event website, map, photo, video |
| Oct. 10–11 | Capitol Hill, Seattle | Northwest Orchid Society fall orchid show and sale. | Show website, map, photo |
| Oct. 10–11 | Grayland and Long Beach | Two cranberry festivals with markets, food, and tours of cranberry bogs. | Grayland map, Long Beach map |
| Oct. 10–11 | Concrete | Concrete Ghost Walk, a historical ghost tour devoted to miners, loggers, and cement-plant workers. | Walk website, tickets, map, photo |
| Oct. 10–11 | Belltown, Seattle | Hot Stove Society cooking classes: Mexican quesadillas, Vietnamese crepes, and other dishes. | Schedule and tickets, map, video |
| Oct. 10–11 | Fremont, Seattle | Fall pumpkin-carving workshop in the company of cats. Ages 8 and older. | Tickets and information, map, photo |
| Oct. 10–11 | Snoqualmie | Halloween train with apple cider, seasonal activities, and a ride aboard a historic train. | Event website, map, photo |
| Oct. 10–11 | Skykomish | Free miniature-train rides on Saturdays. | Great Northern & Cascade Railway website, Kitsap Live Steamers schedule, map, photo, video |
| Oct. 11 | Phinney Ridge, Seattle | Free 10-mile walk through North Seattle, with stops in Fremont and Ballard. | Walk website, route, photo |
| Oct. 11 | Edmonds and the Kitsap Peninsula | Kitsap Color Classic cycling event with 26-, 34-, and 52-mile routes. | Ride website, map, photo, video |
| Oct. 11 | Pioneer Square, Seattle | Seattle Seahawks home game against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field. | Team website, tickets, map, photo |