What to do in Atlanta this Halloween Season / October
Because I love spooky events, I have to be very selective about what I commit to during the month of October, especially because, in my opinion, Atlanta really does Halloween Season right! Here are my favorite events for autumn of 2026. (No one is paying me to tell you this… I just feel like the people deserve to know!)
If you want to see this list IN CALENDAR FORMAT, I tried a new thing that you can access here.
Porches & Pies
3 October, 12 – 5PM
Adair Park
$16.30/Tasting Pass
Adair Park has the right idea with this fundraiser: it’s essentially trick-or-treating, for pie, for adults. It’s a family-friendly event, but I mean that adults get to do the trick-or-treating, too. You buy a Tasting Pass to sample ten different pies, and the entertainment in the park itself is free! It’s definitely a favorite of my Atlanta autumn traditions.
Tip: arrive a little early… it’s possible that the best pies will run out if you don’t get there on time!
Circus Vasquez
Now through 12 October
Plaza Fiesta, Brookhaven
From $20—check Groupon!
This Mexico-City based circus is another Atlanta autumn tradition. I’ve seen it… four years in a row? And it always delivers! It’s full of novelty acts like trapeze, gymnastics, strongman, clowning, and contortion, among others! This one is family-friendly, as well, and don’t miss the concessions, which include churros and candy apples coated with tajin.
Tip: plan to have a meal before or after at the counter-service restaurants in Tapa Supermercado! Or, just bring your grocery list. It has the most beautiful, organized produce section I’ve ever seen.
Ghastly Dreadfuls
7 – 31 October
Center for Puppetry Arts, Midtown
From $29/ticket
This adults-only, puppet variety show features spooky vignettes backed by a live band. If you’ve never seen this show, you have a macabre sense of humor, and you live in Atlanta, I truly do not understand what you are doing during October. You must go!
Spookhouse Annie
14 October – 1 November
Center for Puppetry Arts, Midtown
$16 for members, $20 for non-members
This is the Center for Puppetry Arts’ family-friendly Halloween show. When Dave gets invited over for a playdate by Spookhouse Annie, it’s a labyrinth of adventure, and even though it’s meant for children, I am an adult, and I absolutely adored it. Most of these showings are matinees, but not all of them!
Highland Games
16 – 18 October
Stone Mountain
From $15+
Before you go saying that the Highland Games are not Halloween-specific, let me remind you that Samhain originated in Scotland and Ireland. The Highland Games at Stone Mountain have a whole litany of activities, but some of the highlights are the Saturday Evening Ceilidh ($15/ticket), the Highland Dancing, Athletic, and Piping Competitions. Plus there’s a Falconry Exhibition, a Sheepdog Herding Demonstration, and, of course, Burnsian Recitations. You can see the full schedules for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday here.
Little Five Points Halloween Festival & Parade
17 – 18 October, Parade at 1PM
Little Five Points
Free!
It’s the best Halloween Parade. Surrounded by other events. You don’t want to miss this Atlanta autumn season staple!
Outlander in Concert
18 October, 4PM
Fox Theatre, Midtown
From $65/ticket
Like I said above, Samhain started in Scotland and Ireland. If you’re missing the show Outlander after its finale earlier this year, even with its prequel—well, would it be a prequel, with all this time travel?—come screen it with a live orchestra!
Atlanta Streets Alive
18 October, 2 – 6PM
West End to Grant Park route
Free!
It’s not every day that Atlanta streets shut down for cars and open for bikes, skates, skateboards, pedestrians, and everything else! Be sure you witness Atlanta’s streets “transform into living public spaces.” It’s a really good, family-friendly time—and the next one is on 8 November!
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Family Concert - Disney's Hocus Pocus in Concert
31 October – 1 November
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
From $55/ticket
I love screening a film with the score performed live, and there’s no better place to do it than at the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Hocus Pocus isn’t my favorite Halloween film, but I have seen the orchestra perform Nightmare Before Christmas and Coco, so I definitely recommend the experience!
Where the Weird Things Are: Upside Down Parade
24 October, 7:30 – 9PM
Historic Fourth Ward Park Amphitheater
Free!
How to say this… Where the Weird Things Are is a lot like the Lantern Parade, or the Lantern Walk, but it’s even better. The amphitheater is essentially a sunken track, so YOU walk around to the lanterns, and the LANTERNS stay still. You can spend the full 90 minutes marveling at some of these creations—plus it’s free and family-friendly. It’s my favorite new Atlanta Halloween tradition.
Georgia Renaissance Festival Fall Fling
Multiple Saturdays, starting 31 October, 1 – 9PM
Fairburn
From $34.88/ticket
You know I’m reluctant to recommend activities Outside the Perimeter, but the GARF is one worth the travel. Take your whole family back in time to the Renaissance and experience interactive theater and period-authentic food and vendors… it’s such a great time.
Six Themed Saturdays:
31 October – Hallowtide
7 November – Harvest of the Old Gods
14 November – Feast of Fools
21 November – Tournament of Champions
27-28 November (Friday & Saturday) – Royal Market Days
5 December – Yuletide Revel
Georgia Ren Fest After Dark
Multiple Fridays+, starting October 30, 7PM – midnight
Fairburn
From $52.53/ticket
I am so excited for this adults-only Renaissance Festival. I mean, if the family-friendly one is that much fun, how dope is the grown-folks gonna be?
Four Themed Fridays (And the Wednesday before Thanksgiving)
Friday, 30 October – Masquerade
Friday, 6 November – Fae Revel
Friday, 13 November – Feast of Fools
Friday, 20 November – Guildhall
Wednesday, 25 November – Grand Revel
Which one are you most excited for? DM me on IG and let me know if I forgot anything!
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