atlanta things to do tagged interest

POSTED BY

Hilda

Updated for 2024!

Welcome to October! Fall is here and the weather is mild. It’s time for apple orchards, corn mazes, woodland walks, county and state fairs, and plenty of weekend festivals!

Are you looking for things to do this October around metro Atlanta?

Below, you’ll find an overview of October events, plus activities that are free, cheap, or discounted. Sometimes we throw in a splurge alert item that we think is especially notable.

Please remember to verify every event before you head out! That’s why we provide so many links. We try to keep up with weather cancellations, but we don’t catch every one.

Double-Check Before You Head Out!

We strive for 100% accuracy on Atlanta on the Cheap.

However, sometimes things change without notice, and it's also possible that we can make a mistake.

Please verify all deals and events with the venue or organizer before you go.

October in Atlanta: best things to do this month

Below the spotlighted events, you’ll find a day-by-day calendar listing of October events, in chronological order. This list is updated for 2024.

Catch some thrills at the fair!

Who doesn’t love a day at the fair?

You can enjoy everything from thrilling carnival rides, to midway games, animal displays, great entertainment, and your favorite indulgences — whether it’s cotton candy, fried oreos, corn dogs, kettle corn, or whatever.

Click thru not just for the details, but for all the DISCOUNTS andamp; FREE admission days we have dug up for each fair.

Georgia State Fair at Atlanta Motor Speedway

Atlanta Fair at Turner Field

Cumming Country Fair andamp; Festival

Don’t miss the Pumpkin Festival “Glow by Night” attraction

All month long

Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only

Stone Mountain Park

Hours are 2 p.m. to 9 p.m., with the glow attractions lighting up at dusk. Daytime activities include most regular park attractions (some are still closed). But the immersive Glow By Night experience is where it’s at! This year’s glow display is even bigger and brighter, with plenty of nighttime experiences that are perfect for date night as well as for families.

More festival details

You can come to Stone Mountain to play by day, glow by night with a special deal on Groupon. Thanks to Groupon, the pass is just $24.99 per pass (discounted from $34.95).

Enjoy FREE museum days in October

• The Georgia Aquarium offers you FREE admission on your birthday — so all of you October babies are in luck!

Details on the Aquarium offer

Can’t go for free? Check out this Groupon deal!

• The High Museum of Art hosts its Second Sundays FREE day on October 13, 2024.

Details on Second Sundays at the High

• The High Museum also hosts its FREE Access For All program on Wednesday, October 16, 2024 — you need to register in advance for this one.

• The Museums On Us program offers FREE admission to Bank of America cardholders at four metro-area museums on October 5th and 6th. This includes the High Museum, Tellus Museum, Atlanta History Center, and Center for Civil andamp; Human Rights.

Details on Museums On Us

• The Marietta History Center hosts its FREE monthly Family Fun Day on Saturday, October 19, 2024.

Save the date for Atlanta Streets Alive

Sunday, October 20, 2024

During Streets Alive, for four glorious hours, miles of Atlanta roads are closed to cars — and open for people to stroll, roll, bike, and play!

This fall, the route will stretch from Atlanta’s West End to Grant Park — connecting seven southwest neighborhoods via Ralph David Abernathy Blvd. and Georgia Ave.

Can’t make it? No worries!

Streets Alive will repeat in November.

More info on Streets Alive

Head to these FREE outdoor concerts andamp; movies

The summer concert series and outdoor movie series are winding down, but there are still a few happening — including some Halloween-inspired movies on the lawn.

Browse our special calendars for:

◊ FREE outdoor concerts

◊ FREE outdoor movies on the lawn

These events cover the extended metro area, including the suburbs.

Have some frightful Halloween fun

As usual, we’re compiling a list of Halloween events for grownups, as well as safe events for kids — including trick-or-treat, trunk-or-treat, festivals, parties, spooky movies under the stars, and more.

Note that the list might seem sparse if you check it early in October — but we’ll be busy adding events all month long, so please check back as Halloween draws closer.

You could also subscribe to our newsletter to be notified when new activities are added.

View the day-by-day list of spooky fun

Visit a scarecrow display for great photo opps

You’ll find scarecrows galore, all month long! Many communities around the region set up these fall displays, often as a competition for prizes.

Want to get great fall-themed family photos?

These displays offer the perfect backdrop.

Check out list of the best scarecrow displays, from McDonough to Alpharetta to Woodstock.

Wander through a pumpkin patch

It’s time to start thinking about Halloween decor, because the pumpkins are ready in the fields and calling to you, Come take us home!

Find a pumpkin patch to visit

Experience the magic of a Candlelight Concert

Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations around metro Atlanta.

These are live performances in intimate venues, lit by flickering candles. The concerts range from iconic classical music to tributes to pop artists like Adele and Queen.

More info and tickets

Titanic: An Immersive Voyage

This NEW immersive exhibit just landed at the Exhibition Hub Art Center, on Buford Highway at I-285. It allows you to virtually hop aboard the Titanic and walk through life-sized recreations of parts of the infamous ship.

You can also:

Discover an impressive collection of artifacts related to the Titanic’s short life

Relive the ship’s final dramatic moments from a lifeboat in an immersive room

Dive into the depths of the ocean aboard a virtual submersible and discover the RMS Titanic’s wreck site

Learn about the story of the Titanic—from its creation to the crash and aftermath

Get more info + get tickets

Take a ghost tour or visit a haunted house

Content coming soon! Please check back, or subscribe to our newsletter for updates.

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month — with food!

Hispanic Heritage Month is observed from September 15th to October 15th. What better way to celebrate it than through Latin food? And what better place than Buford Highway?

The BuHi corridor is considered to be Atlanta’s international food mecca. There is said to be over 150 international restaurants in a 10-mile section of road that stretches through Brookhaven, Chamblee, and Doraville — including many that feature Latin cuisine.

Get lost in a corn maze

The Buford Corn Maze was named one of the top 25 corn mazes in America by Country Living — so it’s highly recommended. The Scream Zone, a haunted attraction, opens there in October.

But that’s not all!

We have a huge list of corn mazes all over metro Atlanta, so you can find one in your neck of the woods. Some of them also feature farm markets, hayrides, haunted attractions, and more.

Find a corn maze or farm fun attraction

Go apple picking in north Georgia

Weekends and some weekdays in October

Many of the North Georgia orchards open for apple-picking and fun farm days in October, or until the apples are gone.

Take a look at our handy guide to apple festivals and u-pick orchards.

Hang out with alpacas

Every Saturday andamp; Sunday in October

Creekwater Alpaca Farm

2812 Centerville Rosebud Rd SW

Snellville, GA 30039

This Gwinnett County farm is open to the public on weekends. The admission fee for the barn tours includes one bag of feed, so you can give the friendly alpacas a healthy snack when you visit them in their pens. According to the farm’s website, tour groups are limited to around 10 people and happen at an easy pace.

Get more details

Celebrate Oktoberfest at a local brewery

Head to a local brewery for a local Oktoberfest experience!

There are roughly 50 breweries in the extended metro Atlanta area — and many of them mark the season with new beer releases, German food on site, special merchandise, activities, festivals, or other themed events.

View our list of Oktoberfest celebrations

Horizon of Kufu: Take a virtual reality trip thru ancient Egypt

Horizon of Khufu has landed in Atlanta, completely reshaping the immersive experience. Step back into the golden age of ancient Egypt, where you can relive the reign of King Khufu and explore the iconic pyramids from 4500 years ago.

The 45-minute virtual reality experience costs $27 for adults, and $24 for kids, seniors, military, and students.

It’s located in the same building as the Illuminarium, at 550 Somerset Terrace NE, Atlanta 30306.

More info and get tickets

View the Super Hunter’s Moon

On Thursday, October 17th, the full moon will shine brightly in the Atlanta skies. It will be a Super Moon, which is perfect for amateur sky-gazers to enjoy — because you simply can’t miss it. The moon will appear full to your eyes a day before and a day after peak fullness, so you’ll have three days to view this celestial event.

The October full moon is also known as the Hunter’s Moon.

When andamp; where to view the Super Hunter’s Moon

Get outside for some woodland walks and easy hikes

Enjoy the cooler, less humid days on one of these easy trails — you’re likely to see some fall wildflowers like asters and wild ageratum, as well as some colorful foliage.

• Cobb County Trail of the Month program will meet at Kemp Park (Marietta), on October 12, 2024. Register in advance.

• Wednesday morning group walks at Mason Mill Park are lead by a guide, starting at 10 a.m. each Wednesday. No reservation needed!

• Here’s a short list of some of our favorite shaded walks to do on your own:

Stroll around the lake and thru the woods at Murphey-Candler Park

Visit old homestead ruins on the nature trail at Mary Scott Nature Park

Walk the paved trail at the Peachtree Creek Greenway

Take a scenic drive

Get away from the bustle of the city without going far from home. The South Fulton Scenic Byway has been called the loneliest road in metro Atlanta — and it is so gorgeous, you won’t believe you’re still in Fulton County. You can view some colorful fall foliage without going to the mountains!

Get the route details

Buy local at fall farmers markets

There is a farmers market happening somewhere on nearly every day of the week in October Check out our full schedule of markets, organized by day of the week and location. We also let you know which markets double EBT dollars.

Find a farmers market near you

Day-by-day guide to October events:

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