Whether you’re looking for some spooky but family-friendly entertainment, or you want to fully lean into Halloween horror, October has so many different types of fun events. From annual favorites like The Great Baltimore Lantern Parade and Dia de Los Muerto Festival at Patterson Park, to the f irst-ever Edgar Allan Row paddle event at the Inner Harbor, there’s a little treat for everyone. Check it all out in our October events roundup: Week of Oct. 1 through Oct. 4 Jerrell Gibbs: Come home with me, ongoing through May 7, 2027, Baltimore Museum of Art. This solo exhibition from Baltimore-based Jerrell Gibbs features about 30 paintings inspired by Gibbs’ childhood, family, friends, and the idea of home. Read more in this Baltimore Fishbowl article. Thursday Night Fright, Thursdays, Oct. 1 through Oct. 15, doors at 6 p.m., movie at 8:05 p.m., Maryland Science Center. Three Thursdays. Three John Carpenter film classics. Celebrate the Halloween season with classic horror films on the largest indoor screen in Maryland. New/Next Film Festival, Thursday, Oct. 1 through Sunday, Oct. 4, The Charles Theatre. Presented by Baltimore Public Media, the fourth annual New/Next Film Festival will feature more than 160 films on five screens over four days. Read more in this Baltimore Fishbowl article. ZooBoo, Friday, Oct. 2, through Saturday, Oct. 31, Maryland Zoo. Throughout the month of October, enjoy Halloween-themed activities at the zoo. There will be an inflatable corn maze, pumpkin patch, sack races, costume contests, trick-or-treating through the zoo, and more. 9th Annual International Edgar Allan Poe Festival Awards, Friday, Oct. 2 through Sunday, Oct. 4, Lexington Market. Due to due to demolition occurring near Poe House, Poe Fest is moving Lexington Market this year. This year’s festival will feature Victoria Price, the world premiere of her father Vincent Price’s documentary, an outdoor stage with live performances and dramatic readings, the annual Black Cat Ball, and more. See the full list of festivities in this Baltimore Fishbowl article. Mama I’m a Big Girl Now, Friday, Oct. 2 through Sunday, Oct. 4, Baltimore Center Stage. Join Kerry Butler, Laura Bell Bundy, and Marissa Jaret Winokur as they revisit the show that helped launch their careers and friendship, while singing hits from the shows that made you fall in love with them. Maritime Magic, Friday, Oct. 2, 6.p.m, Douglass-Myers Maritime Park. Join Living Classrooms Foundation for the 38th annual Maritime Magic, benefiting Living Classrooms’ hands-on education, workforce development and community programs. Enjoy food and drinks from 50 restaurants and caterers and live music by Super Sonic Shorties with opening act The Fitzkee Brothers with Peter Levin. Stravinsky Prokofiev with Heyward, Friday, Oct. 2 through Sunday, Oct. 4, Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall and Music Center at Strathmore. Join conductor Jonathon Heyaward and the BSO for a season opener driven by rhythm, color, and modern energy. Power to the People, Saturday, Oct. 3, Merriweather Post Pavilion. Tom Morello presents a day of peace, love, justice, and music, featuring special guest Bruce Springsteen and live performances from Foo Fighters, Dave Matthews, Tom Morello, Joan Baez, Public Enemy, Stephen Stills, Jack Black, Dropkick Murphys, Cypress Hill, and more. Read more in this Baltimore Fishbowl article. See Beyond Festival, Saturday, Oct. 3, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., The Maryland School for the Blind. In its fifth year, this free community event features live music, local food trucks and vendors, and hands-on activities that encourage people of all ages and abilities to “see beyond” through adapted activities that help everyone learn about and embrace accessibility. The Curious Life of Edgar Allan Poe, Saturday, Oct. 3, 5 p.m., Hippodrome Theatre. Combining neo-classical ballet and African Diaspora movement traditions, “The Curious Life of Edgar Allan Poe” explores the inner world of the writer behind some of America’s foundational horror stories. The Smashing Pumpkins, Saturday, Oct. 3, doors open at 7 p.m., event begins at 8 p.m., CFG Bank Arena. Pumpkin season is in session, and what better way to celebrate than with The Smashing Pumpkins’ “The Rats In A Cage Tour.” The band will perform two sets: one commemorating the 1995 album, “Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness,” which recently marked its 30th anniversary, and another exploring the group’s career over four decades of hits, deep cuts, and fan favorites. Outlander in Concert, Saturday, Oct. 3, 7:30 p.m., Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. This officially licensed concert celebrates the global phenomenon Outlander as a live orchestra performs the score against scenes from the series. Chelsea Handler, Saturday, Oct. 3, doors open at 7 p.m., event starts at 8 p.m., Lyric Baltimore. Comedian, television host, and author Chelsea Handler is coming to Baltimore on The High and Mighty Tour. Handler has written seven New York Times best-selling books, including “I’ll Have What She’s Having,” which she published in February 2025. MJ Night, Saturday, Oct. 3, 9 p.m., Baltimore Soundstage. Presented by Club 90s, this celebration of the King of Pop will feature Michael Jackson’s biggest hits, remixes, deep cuts, and dance floor classics. Market on Main, Sunday, Oct. 4, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Hunt Valley Towne Centre. This festive fall edition of Market on Main features local makers, unique finds, good eats + sips, and autumn fun. Week of Oct. 5 through Oct. 11 Modest Mouse, Friday, Oct. 9, 8 p.m., Pier Six Pavilion. American indie rock band Modest Band will perform at Baltimore’s Pier Six Pavilion. They released their eighth studio album, “An Eraser and a Maze,” in June 2026. Disco Inferno: A 70’s Celebration, Friday, Oct. 9 through Sunday, Oct. 11, Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall and Music Center at Strathmore. Black Celebration, Friday, Oct. 9, 9 p.m., Ottobar. Get ready to Dance with the Devil as DJs Hell O’Kitty, Jerrod Bronson and DJ Mills spin Goth, Industrial, New Wave, Soul/RB and more. Red and black attire devil costumes highly encouraged! Derrick Stroup, Friday, Oct. 9, doors open at 6 p.m., event starts at 7 p.m., Lyric Baltimore. Alabama native stand-up comedian Derrick Stroup had his debut Netflix special “Nostalgic” premiere globally on March 10. Now, he’s coming to Baltimore to spread some laughter on his Running Hot Tour. Top of the Morning, Saturday, Oct. 10, 9 a.m., MT Bank Exchange. Enjoy food, drinks, vendors, and Afro Caribbean, RB, and hip hop music. Edgar Allan Row, Saturday, Oct. 10, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Baltimore Blueway. Launch from anywhere along the Baltimore Blueway and row your way to Fells Point, where paddlers will gather on the water before setting out on a spooky journey through Baltimore Harbor. Read more in this Baltimore Fishbowl article. Recital Evensong for Indigenous Peoples Day, Saturday, Oct. 10, 4:30 p.m., St. David’s Church. Presented by Music at St. David’s, this event features a recital by New York-based tenor and clarinetist Dylan Aguayo (Taíno), followed by choral music offered by the Choir of St. David’s, including works of Kirsten Kunkle (Mvskoke), Andrew Balfour (Cree), and Charles Shadle (Choctaw). Free with suggested donation. The Second Saturday S#!T Show feat. Ryan Neser, Saturday, Oct. 10, doors and happy hour at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m., Ottobar. Join host Mike Quindlen as he welcomes comedians Ryan Neser, Chris “O-Dubb” Pierce, Sandy Bernstein, Earl Elliot, and Kreg Paul to the stage. Lewis Black, Saturday, Oct. 10, 7 p.m., Hippodrome Theatre. Grammy award-winning comedian, actor, and writer Lewis Black can be heard as the voice of “Anger” in Disney/Pixar’s “Inside Out” and “Inside Out 2.” His final comedy tour, “Goodbye Yeller Brick Road,” recently ended but he will still be performing a live show in Baltimore. Week of Oct. 12 through Oct. 18 Great Talk – The Data Center Outrage: Can AI Survive without Data Centers? Wednesday, Oct. 14, 7 p.m., University of Baltimore. As data centers multiply across the country — consuming electricity, water, and land — Great Talk invites a panel of experts to take on the question directly: what does AI actually cost us, and can it survive without this build-out? Alsop Conducts Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique, Thursday, Oct. 15 through Sun. Oct 18, Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall and Music Center at Strathmore. In recognition of the 25th anniversary of September 11, Marin Alsop leads a program that opens what composer John Adams called a “memory space,” in his Pulitzer Prize-winning On the Transmigration of Souls.  Disney on Ice, Thursday, Oct. 15, through Sunday, Oct. 18, CFG Bank Arena. Watch the magic of Disney come to life on the ice. Enjoy stories from “Zootopia 2,” “Tangled,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Toy Story,” and “Monsters, Inc.” Movies on Main: Hocus Pocus: Thursday, Oct. 15, 6 p.m., Hunt Valley Towne Centre. Bring your crew and lawn chairs, grab a spot, and enjoy a free family-friendly film under the open sky. Walk a Mile in My SHADES, Thursday, Oct. 15, 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., Blind Industries and Services of Maryland. Join BISM and community partners for a celebration in recognition of White Cane Safety Day. Enjoy food trucks, hands-on activities and demonstrations, community resources, networking, a community walk, and more while learning about blindness, independence and the important role of the white cane. For King + Country, Thursday, Oct. 15, doors open at 6 p.m., event starts at 7 p.m., Lyric Baltimore. The Grammy-award winning duo “for KING + COUNTRY” will bring new music from their forthcoming album, “The Most Beautiful Colours,” as their tour makes a stop in Baltimore. OktoBEARfest, Friday, Oct. 16 and Saturday, Oct. 17, Maryland Zoo. Kick off the weekend with an exclusive 21+ event featuring seasonal brews, festive vibes, and wild encounters, or stop by Saturday for the beloved OktoBEARfest tradition, with unlimited sampling of 60+ seasonal brews, plus wine, seltzer, and cider. Enjoy live music, local vendors, and all-day admission to the Zoo. Maryland Fall Home Garden + Craft Show, Friday, Oct. 16 through Sunday, Oct. 18, Maryland State Fairgrounds. This three-day celebration of home and garden will feature hundreds of exhibitors, local makers, home improvement experts, family-friendly experiences and celebrity guests. Read more in this Baltimore Fishbowl article. Baltimore Running Festival, Saturday, Oct. 17, McKeldin Plaza at Inner Harbor. Explore Baltimore as you race fellow runners through the city’s streets. Whether participating in the marathon, 98 ROCK’s .05K, or an event length somewhere in between, lace up your running shoes and get going! Different Words for Happiness, Sunday, Oct. 18 through Sunday, Nov. 15, Everyman Theatre. Written by Everyman Theatre Resident Company Member Katie Kleiger, this “stirring and intimate exploration of the human heart” makes its world premiere. Punk Rock Flea Market, Sunday, Oct. 18, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., Ottobar. Bring your best ghoulfriend for an afternoon of food, drinks, vendors, weird treasures, creepy goodies, punk-rock treats, and more. The Dillinger Escape Plan, Sunday, Oct. 18, doors at 6 p.m., show at 7 p.m., Nevermore Hall. The Dillinger Escape Plan returns to Baltimore with special guests Johnny Booth, Godeyes, and Burial Waves. Moms Unhinged, Sunday, Oct. 18, 7 p.m., MT Bank Exchange. Are you a mother? Do your friends and family describe you as a little (or a lot) unhinged? That’s okay! You’ll be in good company at the “Moms Unhinged” standup comedy show, featuring headliner Janae Burris as well as comedians Avril Granato and Magen King. Week of Oct. 19 through Oct. 25 UMB Presents: Broadway in Baltimore, Monday, Oct. 19, 6:30 p.m., MT Bank Exchange. Broadway actors Norm Lewis (“The Phantom of the Opera” and “Les Misérables”) and Felicia Curry (“Into the Woods”) will perform favorites from the Great American Broadway Songbook. Curry is also a resident company member at Everyman Theatre in Baltimore. This concert will benefit scholarships and the CURE Scholars Program at the Unviersity of Maryland, Baltimore. Cradle of Filth, Monday, Oct. 19, doors at 6 p.m., show at 7 p.m., Baltimore Soundstage. On the Majestic In Death II tour, Cradle of Filth will make a stop in Baltimore with Blackbraid, Worm, and Black Satellite. Grateful Dead ‘Reckoning’ Tribute, Monday, Oct. 19, doors open at 6:30 p.m., event starts at 7:30 p.m., Lyric Baltimore. Gillian Welch and David Rawlings will perform music from the Grateful Dead’s acoustic live album “Reckoning,” which marks its 45th anniversary this year. They will also play other Grateful Dead classics. Mozart Meets Latin Masters, Friday, Oct. 23 through Sunday, Oct. 25, Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall and Music Center at Strathmore. Six-time GRAMMY® Award-winner Giancarlo Guerrero offers a journey driven by the rhythm and lyricism of Latin and Classical masters. Trio Sirènes, Friday, Oct. 23, 7:30 p.m., St. David’s Church. St. David’s 2026-2027 Ensemble-in-Residence Trio Sirènes, made up of members of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, present a program for Debussy Trio (flute, viola, and harp). Free with suggested donation. Shrek Rave Swamp-O-Ween, Friday, Oct. 23, 9 p.m., Baltimore Soundstage. “Cool Is Dead, Just Come Have Fun!” 18+. Blade Rave, Friday, Oct. 23, 9 p.m., Nevermore Hall. Step into the vampire underworld with DJS playing a mix of goth/techno/house, themed cocktails and limited blood bags, GoGo Dancers, cosplayers, a midnight bloodbath, and more. 18+. Get The Led Out, Friday, Oct. 23, doors open at 7 p.m., event starts at 8 p.m., Lyric Baltimore. Philadelphia-based band Get The Led Out will pay tribute to Led Zeppelin. This “American Led Zeppelin” showcases the English rock band’s early years as well as some deeper cuts. Mushroom City Arts Festival, Saturday, Oct. 24, 12 p.m., Carrie Murray Nature Center. Are you a fun guy? Learn about mushrooms, watch crankie performances, use air-dry clay and paper mache to make mushroom art, and enjoy other activities at the Mushroom City Art Festival. The Great Baltimore Lantern Parade The Dia de Los Muertos Festival, Saturday, Oct. 24, festival at 4 p.m., parade at 7 p.m., Patterson Park. With over 20 years of monumental lantern making and spectacle-creating under their belts, the diverse communities of Baltimore will gather for this annual tradition. Journey, Saturday, Oct. 24, doors open at 6 p.m., event starts at 7:30 p.m., CFG Bank Arena. If you’ve always wanted to see the band Journey perform live, don’t stop believin’ now! Your chance is here as Journey brings its Final Frontier Tour to Baltimore. Halloween Baltimore, Saturday, Oct. 24, 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., Maryland Science Center. Explore multiple floors of music, dancing, costumes, immersive experiences, rooftop views, and surprises as the Maryland Science Center transforms into Baltimore’s biggest Halloween party. 21+. Sing Along Broadway, Saturday, Oct. 24, and Sunday, Oct. 25, MT Bank Exchange. Sing along to Broadway’s biggest hits during this musical theater party, with selections like “Defying Gravity,” Seasons of Love,” “One Day More,” and “You Can’t Stop the Beat.” The event will feature medleys, solos, Broadway-themed games, comedy, and plenty of opportunities for audience participation. 7th Annual Halloween Market, Sunday, Oct. 25, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., Ottobar. Something wicked this way comes…30+ vendors all ready to bargain your immortal soul for cursed artifacts, handmade oddities, vintage finds, art and more! Coco Live-to-Film Concert, Sunday, Oct. 25, 3 p.m., Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. Experience Disney and Pixar’s Coco on the big screen while the Orquesta Folclórica Nacional de México performs the complete score live. Six The Musical, Sunday, Oct. 25, through Sunday, Nov. 1, Hippodrome Theatre. Hear the six wives of Henry VIII tell their stories in this sensational musical. Week of Oct. 26 through Oct. 31 The Haunted House, Wednesday, Oct. 28, doors open at 5 p.m., talk starts at 6:30 p.m., Guilford Hall Brewery. In this installment of the Profs and Pints lecture series, hear from Brittany Warman, a former instructor at Ohio State University and co-founder of The Carterhaugh School of Folklore and the Fantastic. From gingerbread houses to Bly Manor, Warman will give a talk about the history of the haunted house in folklore, literature and real life. Halloween Rally: Glow Edition, Thursday, Oct. 29, 10 p.m., Power Plant Live. Party monsters, unite! The 45th installment of this after-dark outdoor festival will be full of costumes, blacklights, inflatables, drinks, and dance music. Attendees must be age 21 or older. The Rocky Horror Picture Show Movie Screening, Thursday, Oct. 29, through Saturday, Oct. 31, MT Bank Exchange. Watch a new 4K restoration of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” movie, complete with a live shadow cast, audience participation, costume contest, and more. Billy Strings, Friday, Oct. 30, and Saturday, Oct. 31, CFG Bank Arena. Grammy-winning American guitarist, singer, and bluegrass musician Billy Strings is coming to Baltimore. The Michigan-raised — and now Nashville-based — musician released his most recent album, “So Much for Goodbyes,” in August 2026. Marvin: The Marvin Gaye Musical, Friday, Oct. 30, doors open at 7 p.m., event starts at 8 p.m., Lyric Baltimore. Je’Caryous Johnson presents “Marvin: The Marvin Gaye Musical,” using Motown’s greatest hits to tell the story of Gaye’s life and artistic journey. Psycho in Concert, Friday, Oct. 30 and Sunday, Nov. 1, Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. Experience the iconic thriller Psycho as the BSO performs the legendary, strings-only score live. Pete the Cat, Saturday, Oct. 31 and Sunday, Nov. 1, Baltimore Center Stage. Join Pete the Cat and second-grader Jimmy on an adventure that leads them all the way to Paris and back in a VW Bus. ...read more read less