10 Things to Do in Seattle in October

October is one of the best times to visit Seattle. The weather is cool but not extreme, the summer crowds are gone and you'll experience a city getting ready for Halloween, which, by the way, has a lot to live up to.

Seattle is a charming city in the north of the United States. Nature is very present and everyone who lives here is accustomed to the cloudy days and constant breeze in the face that keep the Emerald City in colour. No matter how many clouds, rain or mud puddles you encounter during the day, this city stays 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 baked, and scary faces are sculpted thanks to a long-standing tradition. Nowadays, these fruits are also the subject of events and festivals, such as the Great Pumpkin beer festival.

This festival takes place over two days at the Seattle Center and is organised by Elysian Brewing, a Seattle brewery that produces both classic and experimental beers such as the pumpkin beers that are the focus of the festival.

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

There are also costume contests (there will be plenty of orange ones, by the way) and live DJ music, but the star of the night is a huge pumpkin which, after being punctured and filled with several litres of beer, is served to those attending the event.

Practical information

• Where: The festival takes place at the Seattle Center. 305 Harrison St, Seattle, WA 98109
• Price: average price of 30 euros for a one-day pass and 50 euros for a two-day pass. Also, designated driver option for 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 star of the show and, as October is National Seafood Month, get ready for the delicacies that await you.

This place is recognised 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 like 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 steals the show 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 pavements mingle with musicians and vendors selling handicrafts and other trades, such as bakeries, butchers, restaurants and ah, the first establishment of a famous coffee shop.

You can see the shops in detail and plan your visit here. The main entrance to this huge market is located on 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 sample 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'll be able to sample the 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, young people and adults wander the streets hiding under original costumes, showing their originality, asking for sweets or even scaring some distracted passer-by.

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

On the weekend of Halloween this fun run takes place where you can attend as a spectator or, why not, as a participant and run as scary as you can.

You can register for the event at the following link and you can choose between two circuits, 5 or 10 kilometres. Normally the prize categories include speed and best costume. It's a chance to have fun and you'll also be contributing to a charitable effort.

Practical info

• Where: The race takes place in Seward Park.

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

• When: Last weekend in October (around Halloween).

If you're a jazzophile, I have to tell you that this month Seattle is hosting the most renowned 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 all over 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 discerning ears of all ages. Don't miss the tributes to Duke Ellington and Jim Knapp, which are often on the programme.

A large number of concerts are offered in different venues around the city. I suggest you check the festival's website where the programme is published and you can buy tickets, which have an average price of between 10 and 50 euros. They also 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 neighbourhood known for attracting pioneers and entrepreneurs to the city.

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

Today, the remains of old Seattle are a tourist attraction. Guided tours 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 over 373,000 hectares. It is located west of 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'll find three distinct ecosystems, including rugged glacier-covered mountains , an extensive wild Pacific coastline and ancient temperate rainforests.

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

It is also a good month to visit if you are looking for transitional landscapes between the dry and wet seasons, with a moderately cool temperature. The rains will be present and, with luck, the mountaintops will start 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 starting at 281 euros that depart from Seattle to the park. These last all day, allowing you to discover must-see sites such as Lake Crescent and Hurricane Ridge.

October is National Seafood Month, and visiting this part of the North Pacific with all it has to offer 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 Native American heritage dishes to Olympic Coast cuisine (with Dungeness crab as a special ingredient), this event ensures a day of fun and good food, live music, shows and environmental education about the natural resources in this part of the world.

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

Practical info

• Where: The festival takes place on the waterfront in 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 recognised as "one of the most haunted" in the world, the Kells Irish Pub. If you're interested in paranormal themes, a visit like this would be a good idea in 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 which, to this day, retains much of its originalstructure and decoration.

Customers and workers have reported strange activity for years. Bursting mirrors, creaking staircases, sudden cooling of the air and many, many shadows and figures.

This has become so normalised that at least two frequent spirits (or customers) are now recognised, a naughty little girl and a gentleman who enjoys live music. Pleasant evening companions indeed, 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 very much. I recommend you to go!

Continuing with the attractions for lovers of fear and mystery, in Seattle you'll find other famous venues where the "afterlife" activity 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, costing from 29 euros, will be one of the best ways to experience Halloween in this city.

The Emerald City changes its colours in the last months of the year and is just as beautiful. In October, this change of hues reaches its peak.

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

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.

Tours are available to take you to these and other sites in and around the city, which I highly recommend if you're short on time and want to cover as many sites as possible without exposing yourself to too much rain.

October is one of the best months to visit Seattle. The city has said goodbye to the summer crowds, and tourism, lodging and dining services 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 almost 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 in the form of light, breezy drops.
• The heaviest rains occur in autumn and winter. In October, it's not yet heavy, but it's still a good idea to be prepared. A light mackintosh will suffice.
• The average temperature in October is between 8 and 15 degrees Celsius, cooler temperatures than you would normally expect at these latitudes, and you'll need to bring a (regular) coat for this season, especially if you're visiting the mountains.