Your October 2026 Guide to Fall Festivals and Events in St. Louis

October might be my favorite month in St. Louis. The trees in Forest Park turn gold, the patios along Euclid Avenue are still full, and every weekend seems to bring another festival, fair, or Halloween tradition somewhere across the St. Louis Metro Area and West St. Louis County.

I put together this weekend-by-weekend guide so you can plan the whole month at a glance, from neighborhood fall fests in Kirkwood and Chesterfield to the Central West End's famous Halloween celebration. I checked every date against the organizers' own websites, but plans can change, so it's always smart to confirm before you head out.

All Month Long

These run throughout October, so you can fit them in whenever you have a free afternoon.

• Pumpkin season at the Kirkwood Farmers' Market (Kirkwood, 63122). The Great Pumpkin Patch, with more than 30 kinds of pumpkins, plus a Kids Fall Fun Zone, mums, and hay bales, runs through Halloween at 150 E Argonne Drive. It's an especially fun year, since the market is celebrating 50 years in downtown Kirkwood.
• BOOterfly House (Chesterfield, 63017), October 1 to 31. The Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House in Faust Park goes Halloween, with tarantulas, scorpions, carnivorous plants, and the aptly named Owl Butterfly. Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and included with regular admission.
• Halloween Nights at Grant's Farm, October 1 to 30. A haunted tram ride with live actors, a scare zone, a Halloween show, and a monster mash dance party. Thursdays and Sundays 5 to 9 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays 5 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $15 plus tax, with parking sold separately.
• Jack's Lighted Trail at Eckert's Farm, weekends through October 30. A family-friendly, Halloween-themed evening stroll at Eckert's Belleville Farm. Buying tickets in advance saves money.
• St. Louis Renaissance Festival, weekends through October 25. Rotary Park in Wentzville, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., rain or shine, plus a bonus day on Monday, October 12.

Weekend of October 3 and 4

This is a big one for West County.

• Clayton Jazz Festival, Saturday, October 3. The sixth annual festival takes over N. Brentwood Boulevard between Forsyth and Maryland from 5 to 10 p.m. Admission is free, with food and adult beverages for sale. Bring a lawn chair, since seating is first-come, first-served, and consider taking MetroLink to downtown Clayton. The lineup will be announced soon.
• Kirkwood Fall Fest, Saturday, October 3. Downtown Kirkwood's annual celebration of live music, local food, drinks, and family-friendly fun. Pair it with a stop at the pumpkin patch at the Farmers' Market. Check downtownkirkwood.com for the day's schedule.
• Fall Fire and Ice Festival in Town and Country, Saturday, October 3. Free, 5 to 8 p.m. at Longview Farm Park, 13525 Clayton Road, with live music, bounce houses, a Kids Corner, arts and crafts, and food trucks, capped by a drone fireworks show at 8 p.m.
• Shrewsbury Fall Festival, Saturday, October 3. Food, fun, and family activities at the Wehner Park Festival Pavilion, held the first Saturday in October, from 4 to 8 p.m.
• Fall Hayrides at Faust Park, October 2 and 3. Faust Park in Chesterfield has announced fall hayrides for this weekend. Check the Faust Park page on St. Louis County's website or its Facebook page for times and tickets.
• Ecktoberfest at Eckert's, Saturday, October 3. Eckert's Belleville Farm puts an Oktoberfest twist on fall from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with live music, pick-your-own apples and pumpkins, yard games, petting animals, caramel apples, and hard cider from the Cider Shed.
• CWE Art and Taste, Saturday, October 3. A 1 to 5 p.m. gallery event in the Central West End with artist talks and vendor booths. Tickets are $35.
• Brewed Arts Festival on Cherokee Street, Saturday, October 3. Sample St. Louis-brewed beverages and shop local art from 1 to 5 p.m.
• Trucks and Treats at Chesterfield Central Park, Saturday, October 3. A morning event starting at 10 a.m., always a hit with little ones.

Weekend of October 9 to 11

The busiest weekend of the month, with something for everyone.

• Best of Missouri Market, October 9 to 11. One of my favorite fall traditions. More than 150 vendors fill the Missouri Botanical Garden with handcrafted goods, local food, native plants, and craft beverages, plus live music and a Kids' Corner with a petting zoo and pumpkin decorating. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is $18 for ages 13 and up and $9 for kids 3 to 12. Free parking with shuttles at Shaw and Vandeventer.
• Boo at the Zoo begins Friday, October 9. The Saint Louis Zoo in Forest Park hosts its family-friendly, not-scary Halloween nights on select evenings through October 30, with festive decorations, entertainers, and special treats. Tickets are $16, or $13 for Zoo members, and must be bought online in advance. A sensory-friendly night is scheduled for October 12.
• Soulard Oktoberfest, October 9 and 10. German food, beer, and music at Soulard Market Park.
• Historic Shaw Art Fair, October 10 and 11. About 120 artists line Flora Place and Tower Grove Avenue across from the Botanical Garden, Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. An $8 weekend pass covers both days ($10 at the gate), and kids 14 and under get in free with an adult. It's easy to combine with the Best of Missouri Market.
• Come From Away at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center, starting October 10. The Tony-winning musical plays KPAC in downtown Kirkwood over two weekends in mid-October, a perfect dinner-and-a-show night on Kirkwood Road.
• Italian Heritage Parade and Festa, Sunday, October 11. The 159th annual parade winds through The Hill from Botanical and Macklind to Berra Park, 12:30 to 5 p.m., with Italian food, live music, and family activities.

Weekend of October 17

• Chesterfield Fall Festival, Saturday, October 17. Free admission at the Chesterfield Amphitheater, with grounds opening at 1 p.m. Expect carnival rides, a petting zoo, a pumpkin patch, a hayride, face painting, an inflatable obstacle course, and a Clydesdale meet and greet, with live music from 1 to 6 p.m. and plenty of food and craft vendors.

Halloween Week

• Kirkwood Halloween Walk, Thursday, October 29. Downtown Kirkwood closes streets for a community trick-or-treat night from 5 to 7 p.m., with participating businesses handing out candy. It's one of the most charming small-town Halloween traditions in West County.
• Central West End Halloween, Saturday, October 31. My neighborhood goes all out. The Children's Halloween Costume Parade starts at 11 a.m. at the corner of Maryland and Euclid, followed by trick-or-treating at neighborhood businesses until 1 p.m. and a dog costume parade at 1 p.m. In the evening, the CWE's legendary adults-only Halloween party takes over the neighborhood.

One More Thing to Watch For: The Glade

Forest Park Forever has said The Glade, the reimagined Steinberg Rink area on the park's east side across Kingshighway from the Central West End, is expected to open this fall. Once it does, it will add a restored ice rink, a rooftop restaurant, fire pits, and year-round events to the park. Keep an eye on forestparkforever.org for an opening date.

Why I Love October in St. Louis

Events like these are a big part of why people fall in love with living here. In Kirkwood, you can walk from the train station to the pumpkin patch to dinner. In Chesterfield, Faust Park and the Amphitheater make it easy to fill a whole weekend with the family. And in the Central West End, where I live, you can stroll from Forest Park to Euclid Avenue and feel the whole neighborhood come out for fall.

If you're thinking about a move and want to know what daily life actually feels like in any of these communities, I'm always happy to share what I know. You might also enjoy my guide to what makes the Central West End such a great place to downsize.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fall festivals are in Kirkwood in October 2026? Kirkwood Fall Fest takes place in downtown Kirkwood on Saturday, October 3, 2026, and the Kirkwood Halloween Walk is Thursday, October 29, from 5 to 7 p.m. The Kirkwood Farmers Market also hosts its Great Pumpkin Patch through Halloween.

When is the Clayton Jazz Festival in 2026? The Clayton Jazz Festival is Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 5 to 10 p.m. on N. Brentwood Boulevard between Forsyth and Maryland in downtown Clayton. Admission is free, with food and adult beverages for sale.

When is the Chesterfield Fall Festival in 2026? The Chesterfield Fall Festival is Saturday, October 17, 2026, at the Chesterfield Amphitheater, with grounds opening at 1 p.m. Admission is free, with carnival rides, a petting zoo, a pumpkin patch, a hayride, and live music.

When is the Central West End Halloween parade in 2026? The Central West End Halloween Costume Parade for kids is Saturday, October 31, 2026, starting at 11 a.m. at Maryland and Euclid, followed by trick-or-treating and a 1 p.m. dog parade. An adults-only Halloween party follows in the evening.

When is Boo at the Zoo in 2026? Boo at the Zoo runs on select nights from October 9 to 30, 2026, at the Saint Louis Zoo in Forest Park. Tickets are 16 dollars, or 13 dollars for members, and must be purchased online in advance.

Let's Connect

Whether you're exploring St. Louis for the first time or you've lived here for years, I love helping people discover the neighborhoods that feel like home across the St. Louis Metro Area and West St. Louis County. Let's connect at shariwhay.com. I would love to help you find your Whay home.

Helping you find your Whay home, Shari Whay, REALTOR® Real Broker LLC St. Louis Metro Area | West St. Louis County