10 Great October Events in Pennsylvania

10 great October events in Pennsylvania.

If you’re looking for some of the best October events in Pennsylvania, you’re in the right place!

The train station in downtown Jim Thorpe also serves as the Visitor Center.
The Fall Foliage Festival in Jim Thorpe happens the first four weekends in October.

October may be my favorite month for exploring Pennsylvania, with fall foliage festivals, haunted attractions, and gorgeous scenery on display in seemingly every corner of the state!

Walters Mill Covered Bridge on the grounds of Mountain Craft Days in Somerset Pennsylvania.
October is a fantastic month for exploring Pennsylvania!

Scroll down to view some of my picks for the best October events in Pennsylvania, then make plans to hit the road and experience some of them for yourself!

Historical reenactors marching in the Fort Ligonier Days parade.
Historical reenactors marching in the Fort Ligonier Days parade.

1. Doors Open Pittsburgh – October 1

Doors Open Pittsburgh gives you the opportunity to explore a large collection of buildings that are usually inaccessible to the general public – check out the event’s OFFICIAL WEBSITE for full details.

Doors Open Pittsburgh gives you the opportunity to explore a large collection of buildings that are usually inaccessible to the general public.
Doors Open Pittsburgh gives you the opportunity to explore a large collection of buildings that are usually inaccessible to the general public.

2. Bedford Fall Foliage Festival – October 1-2, 8-9

This annual festival in downtown Bedford happens the first two weekends in October and features more than 400 vendors, live entertainment, and lots of great food – check out the event’s OFFICIAL WEBSITE for full details.

Fort Bedford Museum in downtown Bedford Pennsylvania.
The Bedford Fall Foliage Festival happens throughout downtown Bedford.

3. The Jim Thorpe Fall Foliage Festival October 1-2, 8-9, 17-18, 22-23

The annual Jim Thorpe Fall Foliage Festival takes place the first four weekends of October, featuring scenic train rides, live music, children’s activities, ghost tours, and seasonal specials at local restaurants, shops and galleries – check out the event’s OFFICIAL WEBSITE for details.

Fall foliage around the train station in Jim Thorpe, PA.
The Jim Thorpe Fall Foliage Festival takes place the first 4 weekends in October.

4. Bellefonte Outdoor Adventure Expo – October 2

This free-admission event at Talleyrand Park features vendors and workshops highlighting nature-based tourism in and around Bellefonte, with an emphasis on kayaking, fly fishing, backpacking, and camping – check out the event’s OFFICIAL WEBSITE for full details.

Geese are a common sight at Talleyrand Park in Bellefonte Pennsylvania.
Talleyrand Park is the location for Bellefonte Outdoor Adventure Expo.

5. Covered Bridge and Arts Festival in Elysburg – October 6-9

This event features more that 350 craft and food vendors set up on the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds, along with live music, wagon rides, and guided bus tours to some of the beautiful covered bridges in the region – check out the festival’s OFFICIAL WEBSITE for full details.

Covered bridge connecting the campground at Knoebels to the amusement park.
Covered bridge at Knoebels amusement park near Elysburg.

6. Ghosts and Goblins at Lincoln Caverns in Huntingdon – October 7-8, 14-15, 21-22, 28-29

If a haunted cave tour sounds like fun to you, check out Lincoln Caverns near Huntingdon the last 4 weekends in October – full details available on Lincoln Cavern’s OFFICIAL WEBSITE.

Lincoln Caverns entrance sign along Route 22 near Huntingdon PA.
Take a haunted cave tour at Lincoln Caverns the last 4 weekends in October.

7. Fort Ligonier Days in Westmoreland County – October 14-16

Fort Ligonier Days commemorates a key battle of the French & Indian War with historic battle reenactments, arts and craft vendors, musical entertainment, and a massive parade through historic downtown Ligonier – check out the event’s OFFICIAL WEBSITE for complete details.

A battle reenactment during Fort Ligonier Days.
A battle reenactment during Fort Ligonier Days.

8. The Haunted Mine at the Tour-Ed Coal MineWeekends in October

Billed as “the most frightening haunted attraction near Pittsburgh”, this haunted coal mine tour takes place on Fridays and Saturdays in October – check out the OFFICIAL WEBSITE for complete details.

The Haunted Coal Mine happens weekends in October at the Tour Ed Coal Mine near Pittsburgh.
The Haunted Mine happens weekends in October at the Tour Ed Coal Mine near Pittsburgh.


9. Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia – All Month

Halloween Nights is consistently ranked as one of the best October events in Pennsylvania and features 5 different haunted house settings, all within the walls of a real, abandoned 10-acre prison – check out all the details on the event’s OFFICIAL WEBSITE.

Entrance to Cellblock 5 at Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia.
Halloween Nights takes place inside the abandoned Eastern State Penitentiary.

10. Guided Tours of Buffalo Bill’s House – October 28-30

Just in time for Halloween, tour the Fayette County house made famous as the lair of fictional serial killer Buffalo Bill in the 1991 psychological thriller “The Silence of the Lambs” – check out Buffalo Bill’s OFFICIAL WEBSITE for details.

The foyer of Buffalo Bill's House in Perryopolis Pennsylvania.
The foyer of Buffalo Bill’s House.

So there you have it – 10 great October events in Pennsylvania!

A view of downtown Jim Thorpe from the Asa Packer Mansion.
A view of downtown Jim Thorpe during the annual Fall Foliage Festival.

And if one of your favorite October events in PA isn’t listed here, feel free to suggest it in the comments below.

Uncle Sam in the Fort Ligonier Days parade.
Uncle Sam in the Fort Ligonier Days parade.

Related Attractions

Check out my 2022 Pennsylvania Fairs and Festivals Guide for even more great October events to attend in Pennsylvania!

A guide to the best fairs festivals and special events in Pennsylvania
2022 PA Fairs and Festivals Guide.

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Rusty Glessner is a professional photographer, lifelong Pennsylvanian, and creator of the PA Bucket List travel blog.