You’ve made it to October and those rare wind-free weeks when the weather is neither too hot or cold. It’s a great month to cheer on the Golden Knights, tolerate the Raiders, and check out all the other cool stuff happening around the valley.
🎃 Pumpkin Pickin’
Gilcrease Orchard is open year-round, but draws its biggest crowds of the year for its Fall Harvest. Roam the grounds, pick out pumpkins, snip sunflowers, and nosh on apple cider doughnuts. It’s so busy, a seasonal ticket system is in place. Find time to also visit the nearby Las Vegas Farm, an animal sanctuary and weekend market with its own selection of seasonal treats.
🎨 Experiential Art and Culture
It's a great month to experience art and culture in a variety of formats. Begin with the Summerlin Festival of Arts on The Lawn at Downtown Summerlin Oct. 10-12. Then, head Downtown to Historic Fifth Street School for the annual gathering of panels, readings, workshops, and more at the Las Vegas Book Festival on Oct. 18. The Las Vegas Museum of Art won’t be here for a few years, but is offering a preview of things to come with its first exhibit, Family Album, at the Las Vegas Civic Center Art Gallery, debuting Oct. 14.
👻 Historic Ghost Tours
We’re bummed that Whiskey Pete’s closed last year, but the Primm casino is back from the dead — more or less — with Investigation Experience Ghost Tours on four weekends in October. The Pioneer Saloon is also getting in on the fun with a Goodscreams Festival, featuring paranormal tours on Oct. 11 and Spirits with Spirits throughout the month. Even Circus Circus has spooks. Take a Haunted Mob Tour and find out. Prefer to go at your own pace? Commercial Center just introduced self-guided “Mob, Murder, Mystery” tours — map included.
- Don’t fear our detailed list of Halloween festivals, bars, and haunted houses. [Hey Las Vegas ✍️]
🎉 Fall Festivals
There’s a festival for everyone — and anyone — this month in Las Vegas.
- 🇯🇲 Reggae Rise Up at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center Oct. 3-5
- 🔥 Rise Festival at the Jean Dry Lake Bed Oct. 3-5
- ⛰️ Lee Canyon Fall Fest on Mt. Charleston Oct. 5
- 🇱🇧 Lebanese American Festival at the St. Sharbel Maronite Catholic Church in Silverado Ranch Oct. 10-12
- ⚔️ Age of Chivalry Renaissance Festival at Sunset Park Oct. 10-12
- 🎶 Best Friends Forever at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center Oct. 10-12
- 🏮 Asian Lantern Festival at CSN Charleston Campus Oct. 11
- 🇯🇵 Aki Matsuri Japanese Festival at Water Street Plaza in Henderson Oct. 11
- 🎸 When We Were Young at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds Oct. 18-19
- 🍺 Downtown Brew Festival at the Clark County Government Center Amphitheater in Downtown Oct. 25
- 🤣 Laugh After Dark Standup & Comedy Film Festival in the Downtown Arts District Oct. 27-29
- 🥃 Big Smoke at the Horseshoe Oct. 31 - Nov. 1
🍂 Gorgeous Hiking Trails
The Lake Mead National Recreation Area is reopening a series of hiking trails that were closed during summer due to the heat. It’s also a great time of year to visit Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire, Spring Mountain Ranch, and other parks.
- Visit your local library to check out a park pass and skip the entrance fees. [Hey Las Vegas ✍️]
Need more ideas? No problem! City Cast Las Vegas has a full episode of suggestions to stay busy throughout October. [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]
