Things to do in October 2026 in Howard County
Pumpkin picking, fresh fall air, ghost hunting excursions, and Halloween events await you this October in Howard County, Maryland. HoCo is filled with seasonal activities that will check everything off your fall bucket list, all conveniently located near Baltimore and Washington D.C.
It’s the perfect season to explore the legends and mysteries of Haunted HoCo, as well as family-friendly Halloween activities in Ellicott City, Columbia, Elkridge, and beyond!
Whether you’re looking for family-friendly adventures or a spooky date night, there’s October events in Howard County for you.
Featured October Events in Howard County:
October is the perfect season to make memories in Howard County, and with so many events to fill the month you’ll never be bored. The Howard County events calendar is filled with fun fall activities perfect for families and day trips. Mark your calendars now for these exciting events coming up in October!
October 2nd, 2026: Movie Nights in the Park at Color Burst Park (Columbia, Maryland)
Meet in the Merriweather District for mischievous fun with a free outdoor movie in Color Burst Park. On October 2nd enjoy, “The Wizard of Oz" (1939, G) along with their final Teen Night of the year, featuring a photo booth, henna art, digital caricatures, trivia, concessions, and more!
Wizarding Weekend in Historic Ellicott City
October 3rd & 4th, 2026: Wizarding Weekend on Magical Main (Ellicott City, Maryland)
Visit Historic Ellicott City to explore enchanted shops, enter a costume contest, and enjoy whimsical activities for witches and wizards of all ages! Take your picture at photo ops throughout town, taste wizarding treats from local shops, sample Butterbeer, and find all the mysteries and magic in Historic Ellicott City!
October 9th, 2026: Movie Nights in the Park at Color Burst Park (Columbia, Maryland)
Don’t miss another Howard County movie night, with “Toy Story 5” (2026, PG) playing in Color Burst Park. Perfect for a night out in the Merriweather District with your family!
Howard County PRIDE Festival
(*Rescheduled for November 1st) October 11th, 2026: Howard County PRIDE Festival (Columbia, Maryland)
Howard County PRIDE is back at Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods. This year’s Howard County Pride Festival will start at 11:30AM, and include live performances by dancers, musicians, artists, and aerialists. Join in this free, family-friendly celebration of community where you’ll enjoy a day filled with vendors, food, games, and so much more!
October 11th, 2026: Murder Mystery Dinner at Backwater Books (Ellicott City, Maryland)
Backwater Books in Historic Ellicott City is hosting their first murder mystery dinner! Starting at 7PM, enjoy drinks, dinner, and a little bit of mystery while you navigate a classic case of whodunnit. Come dressed in your best get-up and join the carnival hunt!
October 13th, 2026: Blooming Pumpkin Floral Workshop at Turf Valley Resort (Ellicott City, Maryland)
Create a beautiful pumpkin floral arrangement with Raimondi’s Florist at Turf Valley Resort. Your ticket includes a complimentary seasonal mimosa and delicious charcuterie boards to snack on during the workshop.
Hispanic Heritage Festival (Courtesy of Howard County Government)
October 17th, 2026: Hispanic Heritage Festival (Columbia, Maryland)
Dance, sing, and celebrate rich cultures at the Hispanic Heritage Festival at The Chrysalis in Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods! Celebrate with music, live entertainment, performances, food, artisans, exhibitors, and more.
October 17th, 2026: Color Columbia Plein Air Paint Out (Columbia, Maryland)
Enjoy a beautiful fall day walking around Lake Kittamaqundi and Wilde Lake where you can view 50+ artists painting and drawing the scenic fall landscapes and waterscapes. Bring your family and friends for a fun outing where you witness live art being created!
October 18th, 2026: Book Festival at Clarksville Commons (Clarksville, MD) (*Postponed from original date, October 4th)
Spend the day celebrating books, local authors, creativity, and community with bookish vendors, fun activities, local businesses, and live music from 11AM - 3PM at Clarksville Commons!
October 18th, 2026: Fall Pops Concert with Columbia Orchestra (Columbia, Maryland)
Enjoy the perfect FREE activity with your family this October at a Fall Pops Concert with the Columbia Orchestra at the Chrysalis at Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods. Enjoy classic pop tunes, plus food trucks on site and concessions sold by the park.
October 22nd, 2026: Girls Night Out in Savage Mill (Savage, Maryland)
Step into the curious and fantastical at Savage Mill on October 22nd from 4PM - 8PM for another legendary Girls Night Out event. Find tarot card readings, exclusive attic ghost tours, special offers from shops, bingo, wine tastings, and mysteries around every corner.
Wanderland Craft Beverage Festival (©Edwin Remsberg)
October 24th, 2026: Wanderland Craft Beverage Festival (Columbia, Maryland)
Experience a craft beverage festival like no other in Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods. Fill your day with sips, snacks, and fall magic as you explore the regions of Maryland on a sensory adventure.
October 24th, 2026: Celebration of the Arts in Howard County (Columbia, Maryland)
Support the arts in Howard County with a fun-filled evening of art and entertainment featuring culinary delights courtesy of local restaurants, a fine art auction of local artwork, and incredible performances at the Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center.
October 24th, 2026: Frightreads Book Festival 2026 at the Howard County Fairgrounds (West Friendship, MD)
Stop by this family-friendly festival celebrating horror, science fiction, fantasy, dystopia, and thrillers. Featuring a diverse lineup of authors, creators, artists, and a kid-friendly horror-comedy one-act play.
October 25th, 2026: Downtown Columbia Maker Faire (Columbia, Maryland)
Innovation has returned to Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods! The Maker Faire showcases invention, creativity, and resourcefulness in the community. Enjoy family friendly workshops, demonstrations, and presentations on painting, sculpting, robotics, digital art, and so much more!
Halloween trick-or-treating on Historic Ellicott City Main Street
Haunted HoCo is back with ghost walks, scary stories, seasonal shows, Halloween events, costume contests and more! Here are a few Halloween themed activities for you to enjoy this October.
October 24th & 25th, 2026 - Halloween Costume Parade at Clark's Elioak Farm: Enjoy the annual Halloween Costume Parade Celebrations! Strut your costumes through the farm as you join in these special Halloween parades on the farm.
October 26th, 2026, 6PM - 7:30PM - Cryptid Crawl & Halloween-ish hike at the Howard County Conservancy (Woodstock, Maryland): Learn about the spooky stories of what could be lurking in Maryland with a night hike through the trails of the Howard County Conservancy. Learn about spooky and spectacular legends like the Goatman of P.G. County, our watery friend Chessie and the Snallygaster.
October 30th, 2026 - Halloween Spook-tacular at Color Burst Park in the Merriweather District: Don't miss an exciting costume contest, trick-or-treat trail at merchants, plus live music and more festive Halloween fun!
October 31st, 2026 - Trick or Treat on Main Street in Historic Ellicott City: Experience trick-or-treating in one of Howard County's historic towns with your besties and your kids! Shops and boutiques will give out lots of free candy and chocolates and the streets will be filled with incredible costumes for the full trick-or-treating experience.
Be sure to check out more Halloween and trick-or-treating events in Howard County featured on the Haunted HoCo page.
More to Explore this October:
Hispanic Heritage Month
Celebrate the cultures and traditions of the Hispanic community with a festival filled with color, dancing, music, performances, and traditional fashions. On October 17th, 2026 join the community at The Chrysalis in Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods for the Hispanic Heritage Festival / Festival de La Herencia Hispana.
Another great way to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month is by dining at Howard County’s delicious restaurants with Hispanic cuisines. Try La Palapa in Historic Ellicott City or Taco Joint in The Common Kitchen in Clarksville.
Hayride at Sharp's at Waterford Farm
Fall Farm Fun
Peak pumpkin picking season is here, so head down to Howard County’s farms for the best fall farm experiences around! On your visit to a local pumpkin patch, don’t forget to make friends with some barnyard animals and get a fall photo in the haystacks. While you're enjoying fall farm festivities, be sure to stamp your Farm Passport on the Open Rewards app via the QR code at participating locations. Check-in at 10 locations to be entered to win a $250 gift card!
Pumpkin patches in Howard County, Maryland, have everything you’re looking for to make fall memories. Catch a hayride out to the pumpkins, or get lost in a corn maze with your friends. Find friendly farm animals, exciting events for families, fall snacks and more. The farms and markets in Howard County have a little bit of everything, and are sure to make your pumpkin picking dreams come true.
Let’s not forget about apple season! The trees are ready for harvesting and your home baked fall treats deserve the freshest local apples around! Plan a trip to a Farmers’ Market and get the first pick of farm fresh produce while enjoying entertainment and shopping at vendors. Pick your own crisp harvest at Larriland Farm or stop by a local cafe for hot apple cider.
Sweet Elizabeth Jane in Historic Ellicott City
Local HoCo Gift Shopping
While you’re exploring Howard County on your fall getaway through Maryland this October, be sure to gather gifts to prepare for holiday shopping.
Howard County has modern boutiques, unique gift shops, and thrift stores perfect for finding hidden treasures. From Maple Lawn to The Mall in Columbia, no matter where you shop in Howard County you can use the Local HoCo Open Rewards app to earn cash back rewards. Download the Local HoCo Open Rewards app to start saving while you shop. Supporting local businesses has never been more rewarding!
Fall Foliage at Wilde Lake
Fall Foliage and Where to Stay on your Fall Getaway
According to the Explore Fall Foliage Map for 2026, the peak time to see the brightest fall leaves in Howard County will be from November 3rd - November 9th. Plan ahead now to maximize your fall getaway and capture your best fall photos!
You don’t have to travel far from Baltimore and D.C. to find fall colors in Maryland! Howard County is known for it’s gorgeous parks and nature trails where you can enjoy fall foliage. Centennial Park is known to light up during the fall season, perfect for a walk around the lake to enjoy the stunning reflections of the leaves in the lake. Take a scenic drive through the Maryland countryside in the fresh fall air, or plan a lakeside fall picnic at Lake Elkhorn.
Turf Valley Resort Golf Greens
Make the most of this fall when you enjoy a gorgeous and memorable staycation right here in Howard County. Turf Valley Resort is a great option for accommodations where you can enjoy the changing leaves throughout the gorgeous golf greens, and take advantage of the luxury spa treatments available at the Turf Valley Spa!
Don’t miss a walk through Downtown Columbia where you can catch the fall foliage changing in Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods, and around the Kittamaqundi Lakefront. A stay at the Merriweather Lakehouse is perfect to enjoy the scenic serenity on your fall getaway in Howard County.
No matter where you go or stay in Howard County, you’re sure to have your breath taken away by the beautiful scenery on your fall getaway this October!
