We have your Seattle fall bucket list ready to go!
Looking for fun things to do in Seattle this fall? See if you can check off every item on this Seattle fall bucket list. We have something for everyone, whether you love spooky experiences, crave epic adventures, or just want to eat some good food. The best part is that many of these activities are cheap or even free!
Read on for ideas for the perfect Seattle fall bucket list!
1. Go on a romantic fall date
It’s cuffing season! There’s nothing like a fall date night to make this chilly season a little cozier. See our guide to romantic date ideas in Seattle.
2. Go to a candlelight concert of Halloween classics
A candlelight concert makes for a romantic date night, and if your partner loves Halloween then they’ll absolutely love this concert’s spooky soundtrack. Save your seat here.
3. Visit the spookiest towns in Washington
Want to go on a day trip or weekend getaway this fall that’s a little out of the ordinary? Check out one of these spooky towns in Washington state.
4. Brave Seattle’s most thrilling haunted experiences
If you love haunted houses and all things creepy, you have to try one of these scary experiences around Seattle.
5. Go on a hike to see the golden larches
If you think fall is more about the beauty of nature and you’re not into jump scares, an autumnal hike might be more up your alley. We suggest going to the eastern side of the Cascades from September through October to see the fiery-gold color of the larches.
6. Attend a witches tea at a haunted hotel
The historic (and allegedly haunted) Sorrento Hotel is hosting a witches tea on multiple dates this October. Witches of all ages are welcome and costumes are highly encouraged. Get tickets here.
7. Get dressed up for Oktoberfest
Fall brings not one but several Oktoberfest celebrations to Seattle and the surrounding area. One of them is the biggest beer festival in Seattle! Check out our guide to this year’s Oktoberfests.
8. Attend the Dia de Muertos Festival at Seattle Center
Celebrate the Day of the Dead at this free festival that takes place at Seattle Center on November 1-2 this year. See more about the festival here.
9. Stock your kitchen for fall baking at a U-pick apple orchard
We love a good U-pick orchard and luckily there are several orchards around Seattle that you can visit this fall.
10. Get your fall decor at a local pumpkin patch
If pumpkin patches are more your speed, here’s our list of adorable pumpkin patches around Seattle that you can visit. Many of them have harvest festivals with additional fun activities, and many are free to visit!
11. Go on a scenic fall train ride to Vancouver, BC
This train will take you from Seattle to Vancouver, BC for an exciting fall getaway. Read more about the train ride here.
12. Try seasonal brews at the Great Pumpkin Beer Festival
The Great Pumpkin Beer Festival takes place every fall! This year it takes place in Capitol Hill during the first weekend of October. See more info about attending the festival here.
13. Visit the Bavarian mountain village of Leavenworth
This Bavarian-style village two hours from Seattle is made even more beautiful by misty mountains and fiery leaves every fall, and there’s lots to do even when Oktoberfest isn’t happening, such as ride an alpine rollercoaster at the new Leavenworth Adventure Park.
14. Get fresh fall produce at your neighborhood farmers market
In addition to the famous Pike Place Market, Seattle has several farmers markets scattered throughout the different neighborhoods. Some are year-round while others are seasonal; to see which markets are open this fall, check out our Seattle farmers markets guide.
15. Race your friends through a corn maze
Who doesn’t love the wholesome fall fun of a corn maze? We love making the trip to Bob’s Corn and Pumpkin Farm in Snohomish for the maze and more activities.
16. See the fall leaves on the University of Washington campus
One fun fall activity is to stroll through the University of Washington campus. You can take in the beautiful fall foliage and the stunning architecture, and visit the epic Suzzallo Library (this library looks like it’s straight out of Harry Potter!). Then you can walk over to the nearby University Village for some fall shopping and lunch.
17. Eat your fill at Seattle Restaurant Week
Seattle Restaurant Week takes place twice a year: in the spring and in the fall. The fall dates this year are October 26 through November 8. See the participating restaurants here
18. See the fall foliage at Kubota Garden
Kubota Garden is a gorgeous Japanese garden in Rainier Beach, and it’s free to visit. Fall is a great time to go and see the changing hues.
19. Go on a scenic fall bike ride
There are so many options for a scenic fall bike ride in Seattle! Choose your favorite city park or just follow the 27-mile Burke Gilman trail.
20. Take your sweet tooth to the Northwest Chocolate Festival
Two full days of all things chocolate: that’s the Northwest Chocolate Festival. It takes place on October 4-5 in Bellevue this year and tickets are already on sale.
21. See stunning fall colors at the Seattle Japanese Garden
We love visiting the Washington Park Arboretum year-round, but fall is hands-down the best time to go there because of the foliage that you’ll find at the Japanese garden. The first Thursday of every month offers free admission to the garden (but the arboretum is free every day).
22. Get a book and a coffee at a cozy Seattle bookstore
There’s nothing like curling up with a good book and some coffee on a rainy fall day. See our guide to the best independent bookstores in Seattle.
23. Catch the view at Kerry Park
If you want to see an incredible view of Seattle, go to Kerry Park in Queen Anne. Fall is a great time to go, since the summer crowd will be gone (or at least thinned out) and you’ll see some pretty fall foliage.
24. Take a spooky underground tour
Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour is a can’t-miss Seattle activity year-round. That said, if you go in the fall you may get a real kick out of their Underground Paranormal Experience.
25. Warm up with delicious pho at a speakeasy
A great fall dining experience in Seattle is Phởcific Standard Time (also called PST), located downtown in a hidden speakeasy. The cozy vibes and comfort food are ideal for chilly nights. Read all about it here.
26. Take a ferry to a nearby island
Seattle is surrounded by charming islands that you can easily get to via ferry for a fall weekend getaway during the off-season (fewer tourists!). See our guide to Bainbridge Island, Vashon Island, and more here.
27. Visit the town from Twin Peaks
Did you know that the setting of Twin Peaks is actually incredibly close to Seattle? You can visit Snoqualmie Falls (the waterfalls you see in the opening credits), eat at the famous diner, and even stay at the Salish Lodge. See our guide to the perfect Twin Peaks day trip.
28. Warm up in a hot tub boat on Lake Union
Feeling the chill? You can take a hot tub boat out on Lake Union, where you get to enjoy a scenic city view and stay toasty no matter what the weather.
29. Take your pick of local fall festivals
There are so many fall festivals that happen in Seattle and the surrounding area every year from September through November. There’s the aforementioned Oktoberfests and Great Pumpkin Beer Festival, but there’s also the Autumn Leaf Festival in Leavenworth, a medieval village’s fall festival, and more that we include in every week’s roundup of things to do in Seattle.
30. Shop and eat at a weekend market
We love Seattle’s weekend markets—especially in the fall, when there’s tons of autumnal produce, seasonal treats, and fall shopping to be had. Check out our guide to Seattle’s weekend markets, which gets updated every week!
31. Visit the town where Practical Magic was filmed
Did you know you can easily get to the Practical Magic town from Seattle? The movie was filmed on nearby Whidbey Island! Read all about visiting the Practical Magic town.
32. Hike the haunted Iron Goat trail
Go on a fall hike—but make it spooky. The Iron Goat trail isn’t far from Seattle and has a chilling railway tunnel. Before you go, read about the trail’s creepy history.
33. Visit a famous grave at a Seattle cemetery
There’s nothing like a walk through a cemetery in the fall. If you go to Seattle’s Lake View Cemetery, you’ll be able to visit the grave of Bruce Lee.
34. Get espresso at a haunted coffee shop at Pike Place Market
There’s a coffee shop below Pike Place Market called Ghost Espresso, and it’s appropriately named. If you go, you can ask to hear stories about the cafe’s creepy history and resident ghost. Read all about Ghost Alley Espresso.
35. Get wild at Freakout Festival
This annual fall music festival will take place in Ballard during November 6-9 this year. Described as “a musician’s festival,” it’s truly a unique experience. See their website here.
36. Encounter animals close-up at OktoBEARfest
OktoBEARfest is an annual event that we love attending every fall. Leave the kids at home and go enjoy beer and cider tastings at Woodland Park Zoo on October 4. Get your ticket now, as they’re going fast.
37. Shop at these witchy stores in Seattle
Whether you’re shopping for crystals, tarot cards, herbs, or even just fall decor, Seattle has a decent amount of witchy stores for all your spooky season needs. See our guide to the best metaphysical supply stores in Seattle.
38. Visit Seattle’s haunted morgue
If you really want to get scared this fall, crossing this experience off your bucket list will earn you some serious bragging rights. Read all about the Georgetown Morgue, which was named one of the scariest haunted places in the country.
39. Visit the most haunted places in Seattle
If fall is all about spooky fun for you, then you need to go on a self-guided tour of the most haunted places in Seattle. Good luck!
40. See the most exciting exhibitions in Seattle this fall
Our guide to this fall’s temporary exhibitions in Seattle includes some exhibitions that are free to visit, such as the new Northwest Trolls scattered around Seattle. Plus, if you’re on a budget you can see our guide to free museum days in Seattle.