If you’re looking for some of the best October events in Pennsylvania, you’re in the right place!
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!
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!
1. Covered Bridge and Arts Festival | Oct. 5-8
The Covered Bridge and Arts Festival at the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds is one of the largest arts and craft festivals on the East Coast, with the four-day annual attendance typically approaching 150,000 visitors.
2. Bedford Fall Foliage Festival | October 7-8, 14-15
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.
3. The Jim Thorpe Fall Foliage Festival | October 7-8, 14-15, 21-22, 28-29
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.
4. National Apple Harvest Festival | Oct. 7-8, 14-15
The National Apple Harvest Festival in Adams County celebrates the fall season with beautiful handmade crafts, delicious food, and entertainment including steam engine displays, live music, antique cars, orchard tours, pony rides, tastings, craftsman demonstrations and more.
5. Field of Screams | Thursdays-Sundays in October
Field of Screams in Lancaster County, consistently ranked among the top haunted attractions in the world, features a Haunted Hayride, a Den of Darkness, a Frightmare Asylum, and a Nocturnal Wasteland!
6. Ghosts and Goblins at Lincoln Caverns in Huntingdon | October 6-7, 13-14, 20-21, 27-28
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.
7. Fort Ligonier Days in Westmoreland County | October 13-15
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.
8. The Haunted Mine at the Tour-Ed Coal Mine | Weekends 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.
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.
10. Guided Tours of Buffalo Bill’s House | October 27-29
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.
So there you have it – 10 great October events in Pennsylvania!
Related Attractions
Check out my 2023 Pennsylvania Fairs and Festivals Guide for even more great October events to attend in Pennsylvania!
If you want to know WHEN and WHERE to catch the best fall foliage views in PA, check out my Fall Foliage Guide.
60 Fabulous Fall Foliage Destinations in PA gives you specific information about “the best of the best” fall foliage destinations in PA!
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