Everyone’s favorite month is back! With spooky happenings and fall favorites taking over the ATL, there’s so much to do in and around the city this October. It’s time for all of the pumpkin treats, apple picking, hot ciders, and Halloween festivities your heart desires, so we thought we’d help you out with our monthly roundup of the best things to do in Atlanta throughout the month!
Here are fifty fabulous things to do in and around Atlanta this October.
1. Get drinks in the most haunted location in Atlanta at The Haunted Tavern: A Dark Pop-Up Cocktail Experience
No October is complete without a good ghost story! Check out The Haunted Tavern: A Dark Pop-Up Cocktail Experience to learn all about one of Atlanta’s most notoriously haunted locations, the Pigalle Theater and Speakeasy! During this experience, you’ll be led through a 4-part cocktail journey by the spooky tavern keeper, all while he’s telling you the stories of the ghost that still haunts the theatre. And sometimes… the ghost might even be in the room with you!
Grab tickets before they sell out!2. Dinner With Dracula: A Virtual Murder Mystery Clue Chase
Do you love solving mysteries? How about vampires and Dracula-lore? If this is speaking your language, you’ve got to grab tickets to Dinner with Dracula: A Virtual Murder Mystery Clue Chase!
For this event, you can either play as a character, or grab a voyeur ticket and watch the mystery unfold! Characters will play as one of the descendants of Dracula’s destroyers, 100 years after his demise, during at a celebratory dinner party… until the night’s events take a turn for the worse when someone starts showing signs of turning into a vampire! Work together with your fellow dinner party guests to find the vampire and either help them regain humanity or seal their fate… all before dessert!
For more information and tickets to the event, check out Fever’s website!
3. Learn about King Tut at Tutankhamun: His Tomb and His Treasures
October is the perfect time to learn the history behind some of the most iconic Halloween caricatures! Mummies might be a spooky decoration to put on your front lawn for the trick-or-treaters, but they were also real people too!
Learn all about Ancient Egypt and mummies at the King Tut exhibit in Atlanta now! By walking through the beautifully recreated exhibit, you’ll get to experience some of the life of the young pharaoh, and see all the wonders of the ancient world! The exhibit has over 1000 recreated artifacts to explore. You’ll definitely leave with an appreciation for the famous young Pharaoh’s life.
For more information and to get tickets, check out Fever’s website!
4. Create A Masterpiece At This Dynamic BYOB Street Art Workshop In Atlanta
Spray Paint and Sip by Studio W.I.P. is offering an amazingly unique way to showcase your inner artist! This interactive workshop at an iconic venue in Atlanta give you step by step instructions on how to create your very own masterpiece. Learn the ins and outs of working with spray paint and other elements of graffiti and street art, and really let your creativity flow!
For more information or to grab tickets, check out Fever’s website!
5. Celebrate and honor Atlanta Pride
It’s time to get loud and get PROUD! October means Pride for Atlanta, and this year, the lineup is back and better than ever before! So grab your rainbows, your flags, and your Docs, and get ready to celebrate! This year, we’ll have our iconic parade, of course, along with lots of other pride events!
For more information on Atlanta Pride, check out our article specifically about all the cool proud happenings!
6. Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience
If you’ve ever dreamed of stepping into a painting, this experience is for you. Explore the life, work and secrets of Vincent Van Gogh as you’re literally living inside one of his famously beautiful works of art. This brand new experience features cutting-edge 360-degree digital projections, a one-of-a-kind VR experience, and a uniquely atmospheric light and sound show.
Don’t delay! Get your tickets on Fever’s website before they’re gone!
7. Take in those autumnal colors at fall foliage hotspots
It must be the season of the witch when the trees start to change color. Watch our green city transform into an explosion of orange and brown, at our city’s favorite spots to check out the fall foliage.
8-10. Witness these stunning Candlelight concerts
The magnificent Candlelight concerts have been taking over iconic Atlantan venues for quite some time now, transforming them into intimate spaces where your favorite music comes to life in a glistening way. With the incredible ambiance of thousands of flickering lights, listen to your favorite scores and music in an absolutely romantic way.
Check out this month’s recommendations below or see the full line-up here.
- Candlelight Halloween: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics
- Friday the 13th Special – Favorite Halloween Movie Themes
- Favorite Anime Themes
11. Drink around A-Town at this Halloween bar crawl
Get your costume ready for this boozy bar crawl around Atlanta. Hit up some of the best spots in A-Town and explore its vibrant nightlife, with a Halloween bar crawl to remember, offering free entry to bars, drink specials, and more!
12. Take brunch to the next level at Brunch Xperience
Selfie spots and brunch staples collide at this unique dining experience that’s not to be missed. Take as many fun photos as your heart desires, all while you enjoy a delicious brunch and spend quality time with friends, family, or both!
13-16. Enjoy Atlanta’s awesome selection of unique bars & restaurants
Speaking of unique eats, there’s plenty more opportunity to dine in the plethora of wild and wonderful bars and eateries scattered across the ATL. From fun foodie picnics to dining in a garden-wonderland, there’s something for everyone in and around Atlanta.
If you want our recommendations, check out one of the awesome spots below!
17-19. Grab your perfect pumpkin at an adorable Atlanta Pumpkin Patch!
One of our favorite fall traditions is heading to the pumpkin patch to make sure there’s enough pumpkins for all our jack-o-lantern needs throughout the season. Luckily, there are so many awesome pumpkin patches in and around the city where you can get a unique collection of pumpkins to make your house stand out amongst the rest.
- Ponce City Market, Old Fourth Ward
- Oakland Cemetery, Oakland
- Mitcham Farms, Oxford
20. Walk with Little Amal in solidarity with refugees!
On October 10th, the world famous 12-foot tall puppet of a Syrian refugee girl is headed to Decatur, where she’ll be greeted with art, love and a march. Walk with her to show your solidarity with refugees all over the world. And bring your favorite stuffed animal to participate in a one-of-a-kind show, hosted by the Center For Puppetry Arts in Atlanta.
For more information, check out this article all about Amal!
21. Witness the spooktacular return of Little Five Points’ Halloween Festival & Parade!
Another fun and spooky offering to check out this October is the return of the Little Five Points Halloween Parade & Festival. Art installations and ghoulish monsters will take over ATL’s quirkiest neighborhood for one weekend only. For more information, check this out!
22. Get nostalgic with a trip into Jurassic World: The Exhibition
Come face-to-face with enormous dinosaurs in Jurassic World: The Exhibition! Based on one of the biggest blockbusters in cinema history, the exhibition immerses audiences of all ages in scenes inspired by the beloved movies.
Watch the famous film park come to life right before your very eyes! Walk through the iconic gates of Jurassic World into a land of Dinos and the science that brought them there!
But remember, if something chases you… run! Get your tickets for Jurassic World: The Exhibition in Atlanta!
23-26. Support Latine-owned restaurants this Hispanic Heritage Month
Hispanic Heritage Month is annually celebrated from September 15 to October 15, and one of the best ways to honor this special month is by supporting the local Latino-owned businesses in and around the city. Check out some recommendations below.
- Casi Cielo, Sandy Springs
- Calle Latina, Decatur
- El Super Pan Latino Kitchen & Bar, PCM and The Battery
- Arepa Mia, Avondale Estates
27. Check out Scarecrows in the Garden
Scarecrows will completely transform the Atlanta Botanical Garden into a love-letter to the spooky farming practice. Local artists, companies, and more have created the pieces that will be on display throughout the enchanting grounds. Don’t miss Scarecrows in the Garden at The Atlanta Botanical Garden this October!
28. Check out the biggest fair in Georgia at The Georgia National Fair
You definitely don’t want to miss out on all the delicious fried fair food and super fun rides at The Georgia National Fair!
The fair is located in Perry, Georgia, about an hour and a half from the heart of the city! There’s so much to experience and do at the fair! We think no October is complete without at least one trip!
The fair will be in town from October 5th-15th!
For more info, check out our full fair run down!
29. Check out the coolest Oktoberfest in the area in Helen, GA!
Get your laderhosen and beer steins at the ready, as Oktoberfest celebrations are popping up in and around the city throughout October. Our favorite festival is the month long Oktoberfest celebration that happens every year in Helen, GA!
The small German village does the holiday right with so much beer, German food, dancing and activities and more! You don’t want to miss Oktoberfest in Helen!
30. Go on a spooky hike through Atlanta’s unique Doll’s Head Trail
If you’re looking for a nice way to enjoy art, nature, and a very spooky premise, look no further! The Doll’s Head trail in Atlanta is a great way to see the beautiful fall leaves changing, look out on a magical man-made lake… and see a rotting doll’s head at your feet!
This art project-turned spooky hike is perfect for your October plans!
For more info, check out our article on The Doll’s Head Trail!
31-34. Get lost in these enchanting corn mazes near Atlanta
One of Atlanta’s favorite fall pastimes is hitting up one of the local corn mazes in and around the city. From epic designs to terrifying haunts at night, check out our corn maze recommendations below.
- Uncle Shuck’s Corn Maze, Dawsonville
- Buford Corn Maze, Buford
- Mitcham Farm, near Covington
- Jaemor Farms, Alto
35-39. Enjoy a month of fish feasts to celebrate National Seafood Month
I bet you didn’t know that October is National Seafood Month! There’s nothing fishy about it… and it’s only right we celebrate accordingly. Check out our recent round-up honoring this delicious month, or check out some recommendations below.
- Atlanta Fish Market, Buckhead
- The Optimist, West Midtown
- The Boiler Seafood, Lindbergh
- Six Feet Under Pub & Fish House, Westside
- Southern Seafood, Decatur
40-43. Enjoy all the pumpkin spice lattes you can get your hands on!
October is the perfect time to enjoy a pumpkin spice latte during all of your fall activities! Going pumpkin patch-ing? PSL in hand. Going to a corn maze? PSL in hand. Headed to the Botanical Gardens to see the Scarecrows… do I even need to say it!?
Check out our full round up of the best pumpkin spice lattes in town, or head to one of the recommendations below!
- Hodgepodge Coffeehouse, Ormewood
- Dancing Goats Coffee, Buckhead, Midtown, Decatur, and more!
- Waller’s Coffee Shop, Decatur
- FiNCA to FiLTER, West End, Old Fourth Ward
44. Take the kids to Boo at the Zoo!
Every year, Zoo Atlanta hosts a trick-or-treating experience that’s fun for the whole family! This year, the event will take place from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.! Bring the kids for trick or treating, photo ops, costumed characters, and themed activities!
This is not a scary event at all! It’s made for kids to enjoy the holiday safely! There will be candy, of course, but the aim of Boo at the Zoo is less about the candy, and more about the fun experience!
Come see the animals and enjoy Boo at the Zoo!
For more info, check out Zoo Atlanta’s website!
45. See The Rocky Horror Picture Show like you’ve never seen it before!
One of the best cult classics of all time is The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and Atlanta has an awesome tradition of performing and playing it at the historic Plaza Theatre!
A performance group called LDOD, was “founded to perform screen accurate productions of The Rocky Horror Picture Show every Friday night as an alternative entertainment source for the metro Atlanta area,” according to the Plaza Theatre’s website.
Dress up and get in on all the fun at this insanely entertaining, audience interactive (and I mean, lots of audience interaction) performance of The Rocky Horror Picture Show!
For more information, check out their website!
46-50. Have a terrifying night at Atlanta’s scariest haunted houses & experiences
Of course we’re going out with a bang with some haunted houses hitting up A-Town this month, and they’ll give you the fright of your life! From the scariest in the Southeast to a boozy journey through Sleepy Hollow, Atlanta offers a frightful Halloween every year and we’re here to break it down for you. Check out our recommendations below.
- Netherworld, Stone Mountain
- Trail of Terror, Buford
- Nightmare’s Gate, Douglasville
- Buford Corn Maze, Buford