atlanta things to do tagged interest

Everyone’s favorite month is back! With spooky happenings and fall favorites taking over the ATL, there’s so much to do around the city this October. It’s time for all the pumpkin treats, apple picking, hot ciders, and Halloween festivities your heart desires! With so much going on, it might be hard to even know where to start! So we thought we’d help you out with a complete list of all the best things to do in Atlanta throughout October!

Without further ado, here are 27 incredible things to do in Atlanta this October!

1. Check out this iconic Apple Festival, just an hour and a half from Atlanta!

If apple picking is one of the best parts of the fall season to you, then you’re gonna love the annual Georgia Apple Festival in Ellijay, GA! With over 300 local vendors, tons of musicians, local food and drink vendors, and of course, crates and crates of apples… there’s so much fun to be had! Make sure to come hungry and with an appetite for apple treats!

Get all the details for the amazing Georgia Apple Festival this October here!

2. October is Atlanta’s Pride Festival Weekend

We love celebrating Pride in June with the rest of the country of course, but in Atlanta, we also celebrate Pride for a weekend in October! This year, Pride is October 12th – 13th!

Complete with amazing marches and the iconic Atlanta Pride Parade, there are so many ways to be loud and proud! Celebrate the LGBTQ+ community this October by showing your PRIDE! See all the Pride events happening here!

3. Check out Horizon of Khufu: An Immersive VR Expedition to Ancient Egypt

Have you ever wanted to explore the incredible ruins of pyramids in Ancient Egypt? This is your chance to explore the truly breathtaking Pyramid of Giza, up close and personal! Put on your VR headset and set off of an expedition that feels so real! You’ll be guided by a snarky Goddess cat and a hilariously clumsy human tour guide.

See Ancient Egypt from a bird’s eye view, watch an ancient burial and mummification ritual, and so much more at Horizon of Khufu! Get all the dates, deets, and snag your ticket here!

4. Set sail on the emotional journey, Titanic: An Immersive Voyage

Learn about the history of this tragic event like you never have before. You’ll be able to see recreated artifacts, REAL artifacts from the actual Titanic and Olympia, and also see movie props from the famous Leo DiCaprio film, Titanic. This immersive voyage puts you in the shoes of the passengers, and lets you empathize with them, as you watch the tragic history unfold right before your eyes.

Get your tickets and learn more here!

5. Marvel at hundreds of thousands of sunflowers

October is the perfect time to take stunning photos in a sunflower field, and we’ve got just the spot for you! Check out Fausett Farms, a massive sunflower farm just outside of Atlanta! Open from September 14th – October 26th, you’ll be in awe of the beauty and expansiveness of these gorgeous flowers.

For more details, check out Fausett Farms’ website here!

6. October is Halloween central, and there’s so much to do!

If you’re looking for Halloween events and activities, don’t worry, we’ve got a WHOLE separate list for that! Enjoy spooky season happenings all month long–from haunted houses to family-friendly pumpkin shows and more! Check out the full list here!

7. Take in those autumnal colors at fall foliage hotspots

We’re so lucky to live in the city in a forest, especially when the leaves start to change! Watch our green city transform into an explosion of beautiful oranges and browns, at our city’s favorite spots to check out the fall foliage.

8. Check out a stunning Candlelight Concert

If you’re looking for a magical way to spend your evening in Atlanta, you’ve gotta check out our luminous Candlelight Concerts. Listen to your favorite music, all while surrounded by thousands of twinkling LED candles. Perfect for a cozy date, a family outing or a one-of-a-kind GNO, you’ll love Candlelight Concerts! See our October recommendations below!

Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics

Candlelight: The Best of Joe Hisaishi

Candlelight: Hip Hop on Strings

Or you can check out all the amazing Candlelight Concert options here!

9. Enjoy Atlanta’s awesome selection of unique bars andamp; restaurants

Atlanta is home to some of the most beautiful and unique restaurants in the entire country. We’re so proud of all our amazing eateries, and the ambiance is only part of the fun! Grab some delicious dishes for your next date night or dinner out with friends or family! Check out our full list of all the coolest, most unique restaurants in Atlanta right here!

10. Grab your perfect pumpkin at an adorable Atlanta Pumpkin Patch!

One of our favorite fall traditions is picking out the perfect pumpkin! Lucky for us, there are so many awesome pumpkin patches in and around the city where you can get a unique collection of pumpkins for all your fall decor needs! Whether you’re adorning your desk with a little orange pumpkin or carving a massive gourd into a scary Jack-O-Lantern, there’s nothing quite like heading to a pumpkin patch in October!

See our full list of great Georgia pumpkin patches here!

11. Check out the wonderfully weird ‘Where the Weird Things Are: An Upside Down Parade’

Enjoy massive puppet creatures, tons of fun community, and tales of all the folklore creatures you’ll meet at this incredible reverse parade! You don’t want to miss out on the wild stories, the spooky, fun sights and more! Learn all about the reverse parade (and what a reverse/upside down parade even is!) here!

12. Enjoy the spooktacular return of Little Five Points’ Halloween Festival andamp; Parade!

Another fun and spooky offering to check out this October is the return of the Little Five Points Halloween Parade andamp; Festival. Incredible art installations and ghoulish monsters will take over ATL’s quirkiest neighborhood for one weekend only. For more information, check out the Little 5 Points Halloween Parade and Festival!

13. Check out the coolest Halloween pop-up, The Wicked Pig

Beginning in late September and lasting all spooky-season long, the Blind Pig Parlour will completely transform into a haunted paradise: The Wicked Pig! With ghoulishly good drinks, over the top Halloween decor, and delicious bites that are more treat than trick, you’ll have a blast at this amazing pop-up bar!

Where: 128 E Andrews Dr NW, Atlanta, GA 30305 | located behind a hidden, unmarked black door at the back entrance of Chido andamp; Padre’s!

Get all the details here!

14. Support Latine-owned restaurants this Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated annually from September 15th to October 15th, and one of the best ways to honor this special month is by supporting the local Latine-owned businesses in and around the city. Check out some recommendations below!

Casi Cielo, Sandy Springs

Calle Latina, Decatur

El Super Pan Latino Kitchen andamp; Bar, PCM and The Battery

Arepa Mia, Avondale Estates

15. 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!

16. 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 3rd-13th!

For more info, check out our full fair run down!

17. Check out the coolest Oktoberfest celebration in the area in Georgia’s Alpine town, Helen!

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!

18. 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!

19. 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, get in on the corn maze craze! See all our amazing recommendations here!

20. Enjoy a month of fish feasts to celebrate National Seafood Month

We 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 round-up of all the best seafood spots to enjoy this month!

21. Enjoy all the pumpkin spice lattes you can get your hands on!

October is the perfect time to enjoy a pumpkin spice latte while you do 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… Pumpkin. Spice. Latte. In. Hand.

Check out our full round up of the best pumpkin spice lattes in town, or head to one of the recommendations below!

Dancing Goats Coffee, Buckhead, Midtown, Decatur, and more!

Waller’s Coffee Shop, Decatur

FiNCA to FiLTER, West End, Old Fourth Ward

22. 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 October 19th, 20th, 26th, and 27th, 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!

23. 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!

24. Have a terrifying night at Atlanta’s scariest haunted houses andamp; experiences

Of course no list of fun things to do in October would be complete without mentioning of all the terrifying haunted houses popping up around town! From the scariest haunted house in the Southeast to a spooky corn mazes and beyond, there’s a horrifyingly fun event for everyone to enjoy!

25. Snag tickets to see Sabrina Carpenter at State Farm Arena

Sabrina Carpenter is coming to Atlanta’s State Farm Arena for her Short n Sweet tour on October 22nd, and you don’t want to miss out! Don your best sparkly pink ‘fits and chunky heels (or comfy dancing shoes) and enjoy the pop superstar’s quirky, fun songs!

Learn all about it here!

26. Step into a painting at Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience

Have you ever wanted to step out of the real world and into the beautiful brushstrokes of a Van Gogh painting? Well, now’s your chance! This gorgeous immersive experience uses state-of-the-art 360º digital art projections and virtual reality to bring you into the world of the Dutch painter’s imagination. And throughout the month, they even do Van Gogh yoga sessions! So you can relax while the gorgeous art dazzles around you.

Learn more and grab your tickets here!

27. Take a hike around the beautiful woods of Atlanta

Speaking of the changing leaves, the fall just might be the BEST time to take a hike in Atlanta! As it finally cools off, you’ll be able to enjoy a wonderful hike through our beautiful nature. Whether you’re looking for a short, easy hike with a great view or a longer, more difficult climb, there’s a little something for everyone!

Check out our full list of great Atlanta hikes here!