10 Things to Do in Seattle in October

October is one of the best times to visit Seattle. The weather is cool, but without reaching extreme temperatures, the summer crowds are gone and you will experience a city preparing for Halloween, which, by the way, has a lot to tell.

Seattle is a charming city in the north of the United States. Nature is very present and, everyone who lives here is used to the cloudy days and constant breeze in the face that keep the color of the Emerald City. No matter how many clouds, rain or mud puddles you encounter in the day, this city is still awake and offers a wealth of things to see and do in Seattle.

In the month of October, few things are as traditional in the United States as pumpkins. Pumpkins are harvested this month, delicious pies are prepared and scary faces are sculpted thanks to a tradition that goes back a long way. Nowadays, these fruits are also the subject of events and festivals, such as the Great Pumpkin beer festival.

This festival is held for two days at the Seattle Center and is organized by Elysian Brewing, a brewery in this city that produces classic and experimental beers such as pumpkin beers, which are the focus of this festival.

Generally, during the event, you will find up to 80 types of beers produced both by Elysian and other breweries.

Also, there are costume contests (by the way, there will be many orange ones) and live DJ music, although the star of the night is a huge pumpkin that, after being punctured and filled with several liters of beer, is served to event attendees.

Practical Info

• Where: The festival takes place at the Seattle Center. 305 Harrison St, Seattle, WA 98109
• Price: average price €30 for one-day pass and €50 for both days. Also, designated driver option with an average price of 5 euros.
• When: early October (check dates on the festival's official website).

If you want to immerse yourself in the culture of a place, visit a market. Here in Seattle, you have a fabulous option, the Pike Place Market. In October, apple, grape and pumpkin picking will be the stars of the grounds, and since October is National Seafood Month, get ready for the delicacies that await you.

This place is recognized as Seattle' s most visited tourist attraction.

So... What makes it so special? First, its history. Opened in 1907, this market is the oldest public food market in the United States.

The variety and freshness of the products, as well as the delicious preparations offered here is another plus to its appeal.

Not only will you find Pacific Northwest classics, such as clam chowder with sourdough bread or raw oysters on the half shell, but the international options are plentiful, from French pastries, Russian piroshki, Thai curry, Turkish baklava... you'll want to try it all!

But what really gets all the attention is, watching the fish fly. Yes, you read that right. This place is world famous for fish throwing. Here, the vendors simply couldn't find any other way to be more effective...and fun.

The energy is carried to all corners and surroundings of the market. Busy and noisy sidewalks mingle with musicians and vendors selling handicrafts and other businesses, such as bakeries, butchers, restaurants and, ah, the first establishment of a famous coffee shop.

You can see the stores in detail and plan your visit in this link. The main entrance to this huge market is located at the corner of 1st Avenue and Pike Street. Its famous illuminated sign will point you to it.

If you feel like visiting the market to try the culinary options and don't know where to start, I recommend taking a food tour. For an entrance fee starting at 55 euros you will taste exquisite preparations of this popular space.

In the month of October, the Halloween season has arrived. Horror stories are heard, the night gains prominence and many children, teenagers and adults wander the streets hiding under original costumes, showing their originality, asking for candy or even scaring some distracted passerby.

Some run as part of these pranks, while others run in a competition, the Run Scared!

On Halloween weekend this fun race takes place where you can attend as a spectator or why not? also as a participant and run with all the terror you can.

You can sign up for the event at the following link and you can choose between two circuits, 5 or 10 kilometers. Normally the prize categories include speed and best costume. It is an occasion to have fun and you will also contribute to a charitable effort.

Practical Info

• Where: The race is held at Seward Park.

• Price: variable. Depends on the circuit (5k or 10k) and the date of registration. The approximate price is between 20 and 50 euros.

• When: last weekend of October (around Halloween)

If you're a jazzophile, I have to tell you that this month in Seattle features the most recognized jazz event in the entire state of Washington: the Earshot Jazz Festival.

This festival, which usually runs for 33 days in the month of October and part of November, brings together various figures of this fascinating genre from around the world as well as artists from the Seattle metropolitan area.

Showcasing the diversity of jazz, from classical to experimental, this event offers repertoires for the most demanding ears of all ages. Don't miss the tributes to Duke Ellington and Jim Knapp, which are often on the program.

A large number of concerts are offered in different venues throughout the city. I suggest you check the festival's website where the program is published and you can buy tickets, which have an average price of between 10 and 50 euros. Also, they offer packages of two or more events to save money and obviously, enjoy more of this music.

In 1889, the city of Seattle was hit by a major fire that consumed Pioneer Square, a neighborhood known for attracting pioneers and entrepreneurs to the city.

After the tragedy, reconstruction took place on one and even two levels above the wreckage, leaving a system of labyrinths and passageways beneath the renovated neighborhood.

Today, the remains of old Seattle are a tourist attraction. There are guided tours that will take you through some of these dark spaces, while listening to historical accounts of the Emerald City's beginnings.

A highly recommended visit that, if you do it this Halloween month, has an added dose of excitement.

Olympic National Park is a protected natural area with an area of more than 373,000 hectares. It is located in western Seattle, also in the state of Washington.

With its name inspired by Mount Olympus, this place truly seems to be the home of the gods.

Here, you will find three well-defined ecosystems, including: rugged glacier-covered mountains , an extensive wild Pacific coastline and ancient temperate rainforests.

With easy access from Seattle and Victoria (Canada), it is a very busy place. October is a good month to visit if you want to avoid the crowds.

In addition, this month is suitable if you are looking to observe transitional landscapes between the dry and wet season and, with a moderately cool temperature. The rains will be present and, with luck, the mountain tops will begin to turn white.

Climbing, hiking, fishing, kayaking...there are many ways to enjoy this paradise. There are also guided tours, an option that I highly recommend if you are looking for a less physically demanding visit, and, at the same time, learn about culture and nature directly from the experts.

There are options from 281 euros that depart from Seattle to the park. These last all day, allowing you to discover the must-see sites such as Lake Crescent or Hurricane Ridge.

October is the national month of seafood and, being visiting this area of the North Pacific with all it offers in culinary terms is an option not to be missed...of course! provided you have a special taste for these dishes. And to continue tasting, I suggest a visit to the Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival.

From dishes handed down by the Native Americans, to the cuisine of the Olympic Coast (with Dungeness crab as a special ingredient), this event assures you a day of fun and good food, live music, shows and environmental education about the natural resources in this area of the world.

This festival is held in early October in Port Angeles, northwest of Seattle, very close to Olympic National Park.

Practical info

• Where: The festival is held on the waterfront of the city of Port Angeles, WA.
• Price: free (with additional events for a fee)
• When: October (more details can be found on the festival's website.

Seattle is home to a bar that has been recognized as "one of the most haunted" in the world, the Kells Irish Pub. If you are interested in paranormal themes, a visit like this will be very convenient to make in the month of October, on the eve of Halloween.

The pub is located inside the Butterworth building, a space that was built and used for funeral purposes in the early 1900s and that, to this day, retains much of its originalstructure and decoration.

Customers and workers have reported the presence of strange activity for years. Mirrors popping, stairs creaking, sudden cooling of the air and many, many shadows and figures.

This has become so normalized that at least two frequent spirits (or customers) are now recognized, a mischievous girl and a gentleman who enjoys live music. Pleasant companions for the evening, don't you think?

This bar is located at 1921 First Avenue. The menu and the good atmosphere you'll find here is such that both the living and, it seems, the "non-living" enjoy it quite a bit. I recommend you go!

Continuing with the attractions for lovers of fear and mystery, in Seattle you will find other famous spaces where the activity "beyond" is not so...there.

The Moore theatre, the Market theatre and even a very famous and exclusive hotel, are some of the places that have dark stories that will put your soul on edge.

Fortunately, there are group tours with well-documented guides for different ghostly tours. One of these, with a cost from 29 euros, will be one of the best ways to experience Halloween in this city.

The Emerald City changes colors in the last months of the year and is just as beautiful. In October, this change of tonalities reaches its maximum splendor.

The rooted protagonists will offer you colorful scenes where yellow, orange and red will jump out at you. Be prepared with a lot of photographic storage because, taking a tour at this time, will give you excellent scenes to remember the city.

If you don't want to go too far, you can take a tour of attractions such as Waterfall Garden Park, Kerry Park and, of course, the shores of Lake Washington.

There are tours available that take you to these and other sites in and around the city, which I recommend especially if you don't have much time available and want to cover as many sites to visit as possible without exposing yourself to so much rain.

October is one of the best months to visit Seattle. The city has already said goodbye to the summer season crowds and tourist services, lodging and restaurants become more affordable.

As for the weather, it always depends on the tastes of visitors and the attractions they wish to visit. However, there are some points to consider:

• With nearly half the days of the year being wet, Seattle is known as one of the rainiest cities in the country. But, don't be alarmed, most of the precipitation falls as light, breeze-like drops.
• The heaviest rains occur in the fall and winter. In October, they are not yet heavy, although it is good to go out prepared. A light raincoat will suffice.
• The average temperature in the month of October is between 8 and 15 degrees, cool temperatures that are normally expected at these latitudes and that will require you to wear a (regular) coat in this season, especially if you make a visit to the mountains.