SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
SEMO District Fair
Sept. 12–19
A.C. Brase Arena and Arena Park, Cape Girardeau
82nd annual Cotton Carnival
Sept. 29–Oct. 3
Sikeston Rodeo Grounds
Carnival rides, games, food, pageants and an Oct. 3 parade.
Bollinger County Fall Festival
Oct. 1–3
Marble Hill Ball Park
Local vendors, food, entertainment, activities and carnival rides.
Uptown Jackson Oktoberfest
Oct. 2–3
Uptown Jackson
German-style food, beer, live music and family activities.
Fall Festival at Bollinger Mill
Oct. 3
Bollinger Mill State Historic Site, Burfordville
Mill tours, antique tractors, music, food and crafts. Admission is free.
Farmers Market Fall Festival
Oct. 4
Campbell City Park
Saxon Lutheran Memorial Fall Festival
Oct. 10
Frohna
Riverfront Fall Festival
Oct. 24, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
Riverfront Park and Water Street, Cape Girardeau
Food and craft vendors, live music, a beer garden and children’s activities.
Broom Races
Oct. 31 at noon | First Street, Marble Hill
Grab your broom and head to First Street for Marble Hill’s Broom Races. Participants are encouraged to bring their best witchy style and competitive spirit. Bill Peters Hardware is sponsoring the prize.
Dresses to Die For: A Victorian Mourning Experience
Step into the fascinating world of Victorian mourning traditions at the Glenn House in Cape Girardeau. “Dresses to Die For” explores the elaborate customs and clothing associated with mourning during the Victorian era.
The exhibit is open from 1 to 4 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 12 through Oct. 31.
Location: The Glenn House, Cape Girardeau
Dates: Saturdays and Sundays, Sept. 12–Oct. 31
Time: 1–4 p.m.
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
75th annual Murphysboro Apple Festival
Sept. 9–12
Downtown Murphysboro
Carnival rides, food, music, contests, a craft fair, car show and parade. The Grand Parade begins at 11 a.m. Sept. 12. Official festival website
Southern Illinois Honey Festival
Sept. 19, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Downtown Makanda Boardwalk
Honey vendors, demonstrations, educational exhibits, crafts, tastings and a live observation hive. Admission is free. Event details
Praise the Lard Murphysboro Barbecue Cook-Off
Sept. 24–26
The Warehouse, 214 N. 17th St., Murphysboro
Competitive barbecue, food and entertainment featuring teams from across the country. Event details
CES 95 PTO Fall Festival
Sept. 25, 5–7:30 p.m.
Carbondale Middle School
Balloon animals, petting zoo, climbing wall, dunk tank, cake walk, food trucks and games. Carbondale calendar
114th annual Carterville Lions Club Fair
Oct. 2–3
Cannon Park, Carterville
Carnival rides, food, games, entertainment, pageants and a parade. Friday hours are 5–10 p.m.; Saturday activities begin in the afternoon. Event details
Du Quoin Fall Fest
Oct. 3, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Keyes Park, Du Quoin
Food trucks, live music, vendors, games, bounce houses and pumpkin painting. Du Quoin Tourism
Shawnee Sasquatch Festival
Oct. 3, 10 a.m.–8 p.m.
Downtown Harrisburg
Free rides, live music, vendors, food trucks, a car show, family activities and the Run Like a Squatch 5K. Admission is free. City of Harrisburg
Little Grassy Get Down
Oct. 9–11
Little Grassy Campground near Makanda
A weekend outdoor music and camping festival. Complete admission and entertainment details should be linked separately when available.
WESTERN KENTUCKY
Grand Rivers Arts & Crafts Festival
Sept. 5–7 | Little Lake Park, Grand Rivers
More than 115 craft vendors, food and live music. Event details
Barbecue on the River
Sept. 24–26 | Downtown Paducah
Barbecue, live entertainment, vendors and activities along the riverfront. Event details
50th Trigg County Country Ham Festival
Oct. 9–10 | Downtown Cadiz
More than 200 vendors, food booths, carnival rides, games and live music.
50th Hunter’s Moon Festival
Oct. 10, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. | Little Lake Park, Grand Rivers
Costume parade, rides, vendors, cake walk, community parade and live entertainment. Event details
Paducah Oktoberfest
Oct. 17 | Downtown Paducah
Local food, craft beverages, live music and family-friendly activities. Event details
Slabtown Festival
Sept. 19, 3–7 p.m. | Symsonia Elementary School, Symsonia
Food trucks, vendors, inflatables and a 5K run. Event details
West Kentucky Paranormal Expo
Sept. 26 | Mayfield-Graves County Fairgrounds, Mayfield
Paranormal investigators, speakers, vendors and exhibits centered on unexplained phenomena. Event details
River Valley AgCredit Bale Trail
Oct. 5–31 | Locations throughout Graves County
Businesses, organizations and community groups create decorated hay bale displays throughout the county. Event details
Oktober Holla Baloo
Oct. 17 | David Taylor Chrysler, Mayfield
A fall community event featuring seasonal activities, vendors and family entertainment. Event details
Just for Boo! Art & Craft Show
Oct. 17 | Mayfield-Graves County Fairgrounds, Mayfield
A seasonal shopping event featuring arts, crafts and local vendors. Event details
Pumpkins in the Park
Oct. 24 | WK&T Tech Park, Mayfield
A family-friendly fall celebration featuring pumpkins, activities and seasonal fun. Event details
Glowing Graves Parade
Oct. 24 | Downtown Mayfield
An illuminated nighttime parade through downtown Mayfield featuring glowing floats and community groups. Event details
Pumpkin patches and fall attractions
Perryville Pumpkin Farm
Sept. 7–Oct. 31
Perryville
Pumpkin picking, wagon rides, mazes, farm animals and more than 30 activities. Farm information
Beggs Family Farm
Fall season
2319 State Highway U, Sikeston
Pumpkin patch, corn maze, wagon rides, farm animals, pig races and more than 50 activities. Farm information
Cape Riverfront Market
Every Saturday through Oct. 31, 8 a.m.–noon
35 S. Spanish St., Cape Girardeau
Locally grown produce, baked goods, crafts and other locally made items. Old Town Cape
Cape Farmers Market
Thursdays in September and October, 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
West Park Mall, Cape Girardeau
South Side Farms 573 Market
Select Wednesdays, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
900 S. West End Blvd., Cape Girardeau
Bandy’s Pumpkin Patch
Sept. 19–Oct. 30
15020 Pumpkin Patch Road, Johnston City
Pumpkins, a 10-acre corn maze, hayrides, play areas, concessions and a country store. Admission and parking are free; individual activities have separate prices.
Sunday–Thursday: 9 a.m.–8 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 9 a.m.–10 p.m.
Closed on Halloween
Rendleman Orchards U-Pick Pumpkin Patch
Late September through Halloween
Alto Pass
Pick-your-own pumpkins and seasonal farm-market shopping. The exact 2026 opening date will depend on the crop. Rendleman Orchards
Pierce Farm fall activities
Bandyville/Herrin area
Seasonal pumpkin events, wagon rides, demonstrations, vendors and family activities. Dates still need to be confirmed before publication.
Southern Illinois orchards and farm markets
Throughout September and October
Rendleman Orchards, Flamm Orchards and other regional farms offer apples, pumpkins, cider, baked goods and seasonal produce. Individual operating schedules vary.
Christian Way Farm Fall Season
Opens Sept. 12 | Hopkinsville
Pumpkin picking, hayrides, corn maze, hay castle, farm animals and mini golf. Fall guide
A-Maize-ing Farms Corn Maze
Fall season | Mayfield
Large corn mazes, hayrides, pumpkin patch, jump pad, slides and farm animals. Farm website
Darnell Pumpkins
September through October | Mayfield
Pumpkins, mums, straw and a free children’s corn maze. Visitor information
Penny Pumpkin Patch
Fall season | 3138 Poor Farm Road, Murray
Pumpkins, family photo areas and seasonal farm activities. 2026 schedule still to be announced. Murray Tourism calendar
Wolf Week at Woodlands Nature Station
Oct. 3–11 | Land Between the Lakes near Cadiz
Daily programs featuring the Nature Station’s endangered red wolves. Murray Tourism calendar
Halloween and family fun
Moonlight Over the Mississippi: A Witches and Warlocks Night Out
Oct. 10, 3–10 p.m.
Downtown Cape Girardeau
A shopping and entertainment event for adults 21 and older. Event information
Halloween Hoopla
Oct. 23, 6–8 p.m.
Shawnee Park Center, Cape Girardeau
Halloween games and activities. Admission is $5 per child. City event page
Haunted Hall of Horror
October dates to be announced
A.C. Brase Arena, Cape Girardeau
The attraction is returning for 2026, but its operating schedule has not been released.
Glenn House Halloween events and ghost tours
Select October dates to be announced
Glenn House, Cape Girardeau
Carbondale Halloween Homecoming
Oct. 24, tentative
The Strip in Carbondale
A large street celebration featuring live music, food trucks, vendors, carnival games, a costume contest and family activities. The organizers have promoted an Oct. 24 celebration, but I would verify the final 2026 schedule before publishing. Carbondale Halloween
Hallowine
Oct. 30, 6–9 p.m.
StarView Vineyards, Cobden
A Halloween-themed winery celebration with music and seasonal activities. Event details
Halloween at the Cabin
Oct. 31, beginning at 8 p.m.
Cabin Tavern, 1105 S. Court St., Marion
An evening Halloween celebration intended for adults. Event listing
The Nightmare Before Christmas and Frankenweenie
Oct. 30–31, beginning at 7 p.m. | Calvert Drive-In, Calvert City
A Halloween double feature shown at the historic drive-in. Event calendar
Downtown Hopkinsville Trick-or-Treat
Oct. 30, 3:30 p.m. | Downtown Hopkinsville
Families can collect candy from downtown businesses and participating vendors. Fall guide
Grand Rivers Trunk-or-Treat
Oct. 31, 5–7 p.m. | Grand Rivers Community Center
Indoor and outdoor treat booths for children from throughout the region. Event calendar
Hope Harbor Fall Festival
Oct. 31, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. | 2771 Highway 94 East, Murray
Free games, food, petting zoo, hayrides and family activities.
Exhuma Halloween Screening
Oct. 31, 7 p.m. | Faculty Hall, Murray State University
Free Halloween-night screening presented by Cinema International. Murray Tourism calendar
