Philly’s Best Fall Fests, Oktoberfests and Halloween Haunts

The days are getting shorter, the nights are getting cooler, but Philly’s getting busier. Throughout the fall season, we’ll direct you to Philly’s best autumnal events from pop-up bars to fall markets, harvest festivals to spooky tours. Keep returning to this page as we update it with more events.

Craftsman Row Saloon Halloween Pop-Up

⏰ When: Now through Oct. 31

Craftsman Row Saloon has made a name for itself with its seasonally themed pop-ups. The laidback bar is back with a new theme inspired by spooky movie classics like the “Nightmare Before Christmas,” “The Addams Family,” and "Beetlejuice."

Nightmare on Main Street Halloween Pop-Up Bar

⏰ When: Now through Oct. 31

Manayunk’s Taqueria Amor promises “blood-curdling cocktails” and “scream-worthy bites” at its Halloween pop-up.

Lincoln Mill Haunted House

⏰ When: Nov. 2

Visit the historic mill in Manayunk and face the restless spirits haunting its halls.

Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary

⏰ When: Now through Nov. 8

Eastern State Penitentiary will once again be home to its Halloween Nights experience. Explore haunted houses (if you dare), hang out at a speakeasy in Al Capone’s cell, and dance with the Boogie Monsters.

Frankford Fall Fest

⏰ When: Sept. 20

Celebrate the fall season with a carnival, live music, and games at the Frankford Pause Park from noon to 5 p.m.

Oktoberfest & Family Fun Day

⏰ When: Sept. 20

Explore local businesses, listen to live performances, and get your face painted at this family-friendly fall event. Oktoberfest will take over Frankford Avenue between Thompson and Master Streets from noon to 6 p.m.

South Street Oktoberfest

⏰ When: Sept. 27

If you missed Maifest, join Brauhaus Schmitz on South Street for its annual Oktoberfest. Enjoy live oompah music, German beer, and a stein-holding contest. The event is pay-as-you go, but a VIP ticket gets you extra perks.

Oktoberfest at Yards

⏰ When: Sept. 27

Over in Northern Liberties, Yards Brewing will have live music from Polkadelphia, a costume contest, and Bavarian-inspired brews.

Ciderfest

⏰ When: Oct. 4

Chestnut Hill’s Cider Belly is hosting its second annual Ciderfest in collaboration with Downtime Bakery from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Evil Genius Oktoberfest

⏰ When: Oct. 4

Try some limited edition German beers, party on the dancefloor, and witness the qualifying round for the U.S. Steinholding Association competition.

Mid-Autumn Festival

⏰ When: Oct. 4

Asian Americans United is celebrating its 30th Mid-Autumn Festival in Chinatown. The celebration commemorates the end of the harvest season with a feast. From noon to 7:30 p.m., attendees can enjoy Chinese opera, lion dances, and a mooncake eating contest.

Roxtoberfest

⏰ When: Oct. 4

Roxborough is celebrating the fall season by taking over Ridge Avenue with its annual street festival from noon to 5 p.m.

Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy

⏰ When: Oct. 9-11

Listen to the beat of “The Tell-Tale Heart” as you sip on some chilling cocktails at this three-night experience.

Boo at the Zoo

⏰ When: Saturdays, Sundays, & Mondays beginning Oct. 11

Lions, tigers, and bears are already scary, but it’s about to get spookier at the Philadelphia Zoo. On select days at the zoo, come in costume and take advantage of fall photo opportunities. Trick-or-treating at the zoo will be Oct. 13.

North Philly Peach Park Festival

⏰ When: Oct. 11

Party in North Philly with morning karaoke, a moonbounce, and instrument making at this daylong celebration of music, food, and community.

Scrapple & Apple Festival

⏰ When: Oct. 11

If you’re feeling hungry, head over to the Reading Terminal Market. Taste scrapple and apple dishes from the market’s vendors and vote on your favorite scrapple sculpture.

Tricks & Treats

⏰ When: Oct. 11

Humans aren’t the only ones that can get in on the Halloween fun! Bring your pup in costume to Evil Genius for the chance to win a $100 gift card. Proceeds from the day will benefit Palmer Doggie Depot.

Northern Liberties Fall Festival

⏰ When: Oct. 12

Explore the family-fun zone at Liberty Lands, mellow down at the wine garden, and decorate pumpkins at this fall fest along 3rd Street between Brown and Wildey Streets.

“Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors”

⏰ When: Oct. 15-Nov. 1

If you’re in need of a laugh, watch this twist on Bram Stoker’s gothic classic at the Curio Theatre in West Philly.

Maze Days

⏰ When: Oct. 15-31

Have an a-maze-ing day in Center City when you stop by Dilworth Park for Maze Days. Get that farmlike experience without leaving the city. On Oct. 18, stick around for fresh apple cider making and a movie screening.

East Falls Fest

⏰ When: Oct. 18

Swing by Ridge and Midvale Avenues for a day of brews, tunes, and your neighbors!

GOATober Fest

⏰ When: Oct. 18

The Philly Goat Project is grazing through West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd for GOAToberfest. Pet goats, tour the hallowed grounds, roast marshmallows, and compete for the best costume.

Lighthouse Octoberfest

⏰ When: Oct. 18, 24, 30, & 31

Halloween is taking over Lighthouse Field! Come by for a pumpkin bake off, a zombie apocalypse, a haunted hay ride, and a trunk-or-treat.

Manayunk Fall Fest

⏰ When: Oct. 18

Manayunk is debuting a new event in its jampacked year-long lineup. Stroll Main Street and support local vendors by buying art and treats. This also falls on the same day as Manayunk’s Mac ‘n Cheese Crawl.

Parktoberfest

⏰ When: Oct. 18

Celebrate fall and our parks! Friends of Clark Park is hosting a fundraiser to support the space with performances from live bands, craft beers, and a silent auction.

Southwest Philly Harvest Fest

⏰ When: Oct. 19

Join the Sankofa Community Farm at Bartram’s Garden for a harvest festival. Plant garlic, ride bikes along the trails, press cider, and take a tour around the orchards!

Candlelight: An Evening of Halloween Classics

⏰ When: Oct. 23

Nothing sets the tone in a scary movie like its score. Join Candlelight Concerts for an experience with the music from your favorite spooky movies, from John Carpenter’s Halloween to the “Time Warp” from Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Soul Crawl

⏰ When: Oct. 24 & 25

Venture East Laurel Hill Cemetery after dark and learn about the lives of the spirits from the 19th and 20th centuries who have been laid to rest there.

East Passyunk Fall Fest

⏰ When: Oct. 25

Carve pumpkins, enter your pup in a costume contest, and trick-or-treat along the avenue. Come back on the 29th for the Witch Craft Crawl and enjoy deals from over 30 restaurants, bars, and shops.

Kensington Kinetic Derby & Arts Festival

⏰ When: Oct. 25

Who said decorations and funky costumes were just for Halloween? Derby teams build human-powered vehicles and parade through the neighborhood to get splashed in the mud pit. The rest of the day is filled with live performances, a vendors market, and Awful Wrestling (yes, that’s the actual name).

Trick or Treat Trail and Harvest Festival

⏰ When: Oct. 25

The Cobbs Creek Environmental Center is bringing together artisans, crafters, and other vendors for a Halloween bash in West Philly from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Harvest Fest

⏰ When: Oct. 26

Awbury Arboretum will be transformed for fall fun with hayrides, seasonal crafts, and a marketplace.

Spooky Speakeasy

⏰ When: Oct. 30

Be transported to the Roaring Twenties with flappers and gangsters at this soiree benefitting the Hill-Physick House.

Philly Flannel Fest

⏰ When: Nov. 2

Come on, lumber jacks! Put on your best flannel at this event at the Braid Mill in Germantown. Enjoy local wines, crafts, and music. By attending, you could also help Philly break a world record for the largest flannel-wearing gathering.