24 free & cheap things to do in and around Seattle this October

Spooky season has arrived! From haunted attractions that will make your skin crawl, to local festivals with music, culture, and dance, here are the best free and cheap things to do in Seattle this October.

Free Museum Days

Did you know that plenty of museums around Seattle have FREE admission on the first Thursday of the month? Enjoy a day of culture and learning at places like Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, Museum of History & Industry, Museum of Flight, Nordic Museum, Seattle Japanese Garden, and the Tacoma Art Museum. Just make sure to reserve your free timeslot online!

When: Thursday, October 3rd, 2024
Where: Multiple locations in Seattle
Cost: Free

A Taste of Iceland

Learn and experience the best of Iclanic culture here in Seattle! The Taste of Iceland cultural festival will feature the best of Icelandic cuisine, beverages, music, comedy, nature, design, and wellness. There will be multiple events throughout the city, so look at the schedule to see which ones you’re most interested in!

When: Thursday to Saturday, October 3rd – 5th, 2024
Where: Multiple locations in Seattle
Cost: Free

Tacoma Greek Festival

Get it to the Greek! Enjoy a traditional Greek cultural festival less than one hour out of the city. The St. Nicholas Dancers will be back with live performances that you can watch while enjoying hand-made Greek pastries along with foods like gyros, calamari, Greek fries, souvlaki (sausage), and loukomathes. Wear stretchy pants!

When: Friday to Saturday, October 4th – 6th, 2024
Where: 1523 Yakima Pk Ave S, Tacoma
Cost: Free

Japan Day

Japan week ends with a final day that’s open to the public! Stop by for a free festival with games, music, workshops, activities, and a film at Bellevue College.

When: Saturday, October 5th, 2024
Where: 3000 Landerholm Circle SE, Bellevue
Cost: Free

Fife Harvest Festival

Mark your calendar and head on over to Dacca Park for a day of harvest fun! There will be over 75 vendors including local artisans, small businesses, and food trucks for lots to do – and eat!

When: Saturday, October 5th, 2024
Where: 2820 54th Ave E, Fife
Cost: Free

Oktoberfest in Burien

Get a little taste of Oktoberfest on THIS side of the world. Burien’s Oktoberfest event will feature local breweries, food vendors, live music, competitions, kids’ activities, root beer (for those under 21), and a 5K/1K race at Town Square Park. Bring running shoes.

When: Saturday, October 5th, 2024
Where: 15100 6th Avenue Southwest Burien
Cost: $25

Pet Parade

Spooky fun for the whole family – especially the 4-legged variety! Bring your pet to the Halloween Pet Parade in Volunteer Park where there will be pets in costume, prizes in five categories, a parade, food trucks, vendor booths, and live music.

When: Sunday, October 6th, 2024
Where: Volunteer Park, 1247 15th Ave E, Seattle
Cost: Free

Croatian Festival

Enjoy a dazzling display of Croatian culture through music and dance. There will be live performances by the finest Croatian musicians, singers, and dance ensembles from the Pacific Northwest.

When: Sunday, October 6th, 2024
Where: 305 Harrison St, Seattle
Cost: Free

Latino Film Festival

Gear up for the 16th annual edition of The Seattle Latino Film Festival. They will be screening two dozen films at 10 different venues around the city that celebrate daily experiences, culture, and art through a variety of cinematographic genres.

When: Friday October 4th until Saturday, October 12th, 2024
Where: Multiple venues in Seattle
Cost: $15+

Autumn Moon Night Market

Wander, shop, and eat your way through the historic Magnuson Park Hangar 30 as you explore the over 30,000 sq ft indoor/outdoor marketplace. There will be over 100 booths, food trucks, and cocktail bars along with a photo booth and live entertainment. This is a 21+ event, and it’s a lot to take in under one roof!

When: Saturday, October 12th, 2024
Where: 6310 Northeast 74th Street, Seattle
Cost: $19+

Robot Expo

Calling all sci-fi nerds! Mingle with your fellow amateur robot enthusiasts as you explore new technologies, share ideas, show off robotic creations, and compete during Robothon. How cool!

When: Saturday, October 12th, 2024
Where: 24629 42nd Ave. S, Kent
Cost: Free

Turkish Festival

Come down and experience the free and fantastic Turkfest! You’ll get to try traditional Turkish food while you watch live dance, music, and games. There will also be a marketplace to shop and a kids’ corner to keep the little ones busy.

When: Saturday and Sunday, October 12th – 13th, 2024
Where: Armory, 305 Harrison St, Seattle
Cost: Free

Tacoma Haunted House

It’s not October without a bunch of spooky attractions! Get your tickets to Tacoma’s Ultimate Haunted House. Explore a dark and frightful underground lair and try not to scream! This haunted house is extremely detailed and story-driven, so be sure to reserve your tickets in advance if you want to go!

When: Thursday, October 3rd until Sunday, November 2nd, 2024
Where: 626 E. 25th Street, Tacoma
Cost: $19+

Spooky Improv Night

This one is for the gothic-lit fans! Poe Unexpected: Edgar Allan Poe Improvised will be a fun and spooky night of improv comedy based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe.

When: Friday, October 4th until Saturday, October 26th, 2024
Where: 1428 Post Alley, Seattle
Cost: $12+

Haunted Chocolate Factory

A haunted chocolate factory? yes, please! This family-friendly experience has you solve puzzles in a dark factory to earn chocolate treats. Recommended for ages 8+.

When: Thursday to Sunday, October 17th – 20th & October 24th – 27th, 2024
Where: 1180 Andover Park West, Tukwila
Cost: $20

Oddities & Curiosities Expo

It’s the weirdest expo you’ve ever attended, and what better season? You’ll find booths featuring things like taxidermy, preserved specimens, original artwork, horror/Halloween-inspired pieces, antiques, handcrafted oddities, quack medical devices, creepy clothing, odd jewelry, skulls/bones, funeral collectibles, and more!

When: Saturday & Sunday, October 19th, – 20th, 2024
Where: Washington State Convention Center, 705 Pike St, Seattle
Cost: $12 early bird | $15 day-of ticket

Classical Concert

The Seattle Symphony will be hosting a free classical concert at the Renton IKEA Performing Arts Center. Doors open 1 hour before the performance begins which runs for 1 hour without intermission.

When: October 23rd, 2024
Where: Renton IKEA Performing Arts Center, 400 S 2nd St, Renton.
Cost: Free with RSVP

Seattle Antiquarian Book Fair

This recurring event has to be a local favorite. Browse thousands of collectible books, prints, maps, autographs, photographs, posters, postcards, ephemera, manuscripts, broadsides, and unique finds for sale.

When: Saturday and Sunday, October 26th – 27th, 2024
Where: Seattle Center Exhibition Hall, 301 Mercer St
Cost: $10+

My Morbid Mind Haunted House

If you don’t mind the 1-hour drive, the My Morbid Mind Haunted House is inside an old barn at 4548 Marvin Road SE in Lacey filled with spooky rooms, props, animatronics and pneumatics, and special effects.

When: Friday, October 4th until Thursday, October 31st, 2024
Where: 4548 Marvin Rd SE, Lacey
Cost: $22+

Haunted History Ghost Tours

Rumoured to be one of Seattle’s best ghost tours, explore historical locations around Seattle, and examine unexplained and mysterious phenomena. Rather than actors, all the tour guides on this tour are real Paranormal Investigators or Psychics.

When: All October
Where: Multiple locations in Seattle
Cost: $15

Capital Hill Ghost Tour

This is the 18th year of the Capital Hill Ghost Tour, a fun and relaxed guided walking historical tour of the Pike, Pine, and Broadway areas. Explore Seattle’s most historically haunted locations and see if you spot any famous ghosts as you listen to local scary stories – like Seattle’s first serial killer!

When: Every Saturday up to Halloween on Thursday, October 31st, 2024
Where: Begins in front of Elliott Bay Bookstore, 1521 10th Ave, Seattle
Cost: $5 suggested donation

Trolloween

Enjoy live music and a pageant at the site of the Fremont Troll under the Aurora Bridge followed by a procession of the ghosts of artists, past and present.

When: Thursday, October 31st, 2024
Where: Aurora Ave N, Seattle
Cost: Free

Capitol Hill Art Walk

Browse a digital map and choose where you want to go. This self-guided tour will take you through small galleries, and local businesses along Capitol Hill Art Walk.

When: Second Thursday of every month
Where: Capitol Hill
Cost: Free

Silent Reading Party

Try this beloved Seattle tradition for yourself! Read amongst strangers inside the beautiful Hotel Sorrento, just keep in mind that there is a $25 food and drink minimum on top of your ticket price, and the event is restricted to 21+ and over.

When: First Wednesday of each month
Where: 900 Madison St
Cost: $12+

There are 24 free and cheap things to do in October in Seattle! Have a fantastical and spooky time!

Recent Posts:
15 of the biggest concerts coming to Seattle this October
14 romantic fall date ideas in and around Seattle