October is a busy month in Gatlinburg! October is a great time of year to see all of the fall colors in the Great Smoky Mountains and take part in many of the fun Halloween events happening across the area. Here’s a few of our favorite things to do in Gatlinburg in October:

1. Gatlinburg Fall Colors

Of course, the fall colors in Gatlinburg are the main reason many people visit the area in October and November! In addition to the fall colors of the trees, the area is filled with fall decorations and deep fall colors to celebrate the season. The weather during the fall season is perfect for spending time outside, enjoying the mountains and sitting on the porch of a Gatlinburg cabin rental.

To find out the best time to visit to see the peak colors, take a look at our Gatlinburg Fall Colors Forecast and Foliage Report

2. Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair

The Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair actually takes place twice a year, but the fall Craftsmen’s Fair is usually the more popular of the two. The fall fair is a great place to do a little Christmas shopping before the holiday, too. The entire event is filled with vendors who set up to sell their handmade goods and products. You’ll find lots of home decor as well as jewelry and more.

Click here for more information about the Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair.

3. Ripley’s Fright Nights

If you’re looking for a haunted evening, stop by Ripley’s Haunted Adventure this October. Throughout the entire month, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, they’ll be doing especially scary evenings to lead up to Halloween.

Shows start at 6pm with a character parade to kick off the night. Children must be at least 6 years of age to enter, however, during Fright Nights shows the house is geared more toward ages 12 and up!

To reserve tickets to Ripley’s Haunted Adventure, click here!

4. Moonshine & Music

You never know what band or musician will turn up at the various moonshine venues around town! Ole Smoky Moonshine constantly has numerous bands visiting for special live performances at their Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge locations. Click here to see who is performing at Ole Smoky Moonshine in October

5. Oktoberfest at Ober Gatlinburg

Beginning September and lasting through October, you can visit Ober Gatlinburg to celebrate the traditions of the original Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany. At the actual Oktoberfest event, German-inspired served will be available for purchase, including schnitzel, bratwurst, strudel, pretzels and more. If you’re not interested in German food, don’t worry! There’s other restaurants on site that will have something for you to enjoy, too!

The Beer Garden’ is open from noon until 6 p.m. each day (until 7 on Saturdays). There’s outdoor games, inflatables and all of the other great things offered at Ober Gatlinburg. This is an event for all ages, so don’t hesitate to bring your kids along!

To learn more, visit: Oktoberfest at Ober Gatlinburg

For more fun things to do in Gatlinburg in October and throughout the fall season, take a look at all of our Gatlinburg fall events calendar.