Things to Do in Baton Rouge this October
Boo! October is here and Baton Rouge is ready to take in all the fall festivities.
From pumpkin patches and haunted hikes to bar crawls and a Halloween parade, spooky season is fully loaded this month. When you come up for the crisp fall air, the Greater Baton Rouge State Fair runs all month long and the Louisiana Book Festival returns downtown for one of the best free events of the year. October in Baton Rouge has something for everyone, whether you're here for the thrills and haunts or just the good fair food. We won't judge either way.
Here's what's happening in Baton Rouge this October.
Live After 5
Clock out and rock out! Live After 5 brings free live music to the streets of downtown Baton Rouge every Friday. Grab a drink, grab a bite from the food trucks on site, and welcome the weekend with open arms. You won't want to miss it!
- Oct. 2: After 8
- Oct. 16: The Rumble ft. Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr.
- Oct. 23: The Michael Foster Project
- Oct. 30: Rouge Krewe
Sundays in St. George
Grab your lawn chair and head to Highland Road Park for Sundays in St. George, a free outdoor concert series presented by the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge and the City of St. George. Alongside live music, the event features a curated arts market with local small businesses and food vendors. Admission is free and open to the public.
- Oct. 11: Phat Hat
- Oct. 18: Parish County Line
LSU Football
Football season is here baby. The Tigers host two home games this month, so clear your Saturdays and get to campus early to take in the tailgates, grab your gameday spot, and experience the kind of atmosphere that makes Death Valley one of the most electric venues in college football. Geaux Tigers!!!
- Oct. 3: McNeese State
- Oct. 17: Mississippi State
Southern University Football
The Jags are back and A.W. Mumford Stadium is ready! Southern gamedays are an experience all their own, from the Human Jukebox setting the tone to the electric energy in the stands. Rep your Columbia blue and gold and come see why Southern University puts on one of the best shows in college football!
Corn Maze at Burden
Baton Rouge's favorite fall tradition at Burden returns with the corn maze, sunflower fields, a pumpkin patch, petting farm, hayrides, a hay mountain, and more, plus a special Night Maze on Oct. 30 from 6-9 p.m. Tickets are presale only, so grab yours before they sell out!
Magnolia Mound Pumpkin Patch
Take in the fall festivities at Magnolia Mound this season. Pick your own pumpkin from the patch to take home, stroll through the historic house and grounds, and learn about Magnolia Mound's resident honeybees.
Shop Local Markets
Year–Round Farmers Markets
Thursdays: 8 a.m. – Noon
Pennington Biomedical Research Center
Saturdays: 8 a.m. – Noon
Main Street Market
Seasonal Farmers Markets: April to June
Tuesdays: 3 – 6 p.m.
The Main Library at Goodwood
Wednesdays: 9 a.m. – Noon
ExxonMobil YMCA
Baton Rouge Arts Market
First Saturday of the month
Downtown Baton Rouge at 5th and Main Streets
Stock up on fresh, seasonal produce and handcrafted goods while supporting local farmers and artisans at the weekly Red Stick Farmers Market in downtown Baton Rouge. If you're there on the first Saturday of the month, double up and stroll through the Baton Rouge Arts Market where you'll find unique art, jewelry, and home goods you never thought about until now.
First Free Sunday
On the first Sunday of every month, you can enjoy free admission to local museums, offering the perfect opportunity to learn more about the state's art, history and culture. Make a plan to check all of these museums off your bucket list and see the unique exhibitions and installations each has to offer. Participating museums include the Cary Saurage Community Arts Center, Louisiana Art & Science Museum, Louisiana's Old Governor's Mansion, Louisiana's Old State Capitol, LSU Museum of Art, LSU Center for River Studies and Magnolia Mound. On Wednesday, October 7, be sure to swing by the Baton Rouge Gallery, as they offer free entry as part of their First Wednesday Opening Reception for the community.
Baton Rouge Kingfish Hockey
Drop the puck on a new season! The Baton Rouge Kingfish hit the ice for their home opener on October 16, and there's no better way to spend a Friday night than cheering our new team to victory. Grab your tickets and come be part of it from the very first face-off!
- Oct. 16: Monroe Moccasins (home opener)
- Oct. 25: Mid-South Monarchs
Levitt AMP Boots and Roots Fall Fest
Boots & Roots Fall Fest brings live music, local vendors, Louisiana culture, and outdoor fun together for a family-friendly afternoon. This year's headliner is the Michael Foster Project, and you can expect great food, arts and crafts, ATV rides, and activities for the kids. Free and open to all, this is the kind of afternoon that reminds you why Baton Rouge does community so well.
Greater Baton Rouge State Fair
One of fall's most beloved traditions is back! The Greater Baton Rouge State Fair brings eleven days of rides, live music, livestock shows, games, and fair food to the fairgrounds. Whether you're coming for the funnel cakes, the Ferris wheel, or just the festive atmosphere, this is a fall staple the whole family can enjoy. Note the clear bag policy before you head out!
Louisiana Bourbon Festival
Bourbon lovers, this one's for you. The Bourbon Society of Baton Rouge brings the Louisiana Bourbon Festival back to L'Auberge with a full day of educational seminars led by whiskey industry experts, followed by a Grand Tasting featuring craft bourbons from over 30 distilleries across the country. Proceeds benefit Alzheimer's Services of the Capital Area. Tickets are available at louisianabourbonfest.com.
Ogden Park Prowl
Stroll through eight blocks as the Ogden Park neighborhood comes alive with 100+ local artists and vendors, multiple live music stages, and food from local restaurants and vendors. It's a free, family-friendly afternoon that shows off everything that makes Mid City one of the most vibrant neighborhoods in the city.
Louisiana Book Festival
The 22nd Annual Louisiana Book Festival takes over downtown Baton Rouge for a full day of author talks, book signings, panel discussions, and family-friendly activities at the State Library of Louisiana, Capitol Park Museum, and surrounding streets. With 200+ authors and poets and around 20,000 attendees expected, this is one of the best free events of the fall. Come for the books, stay for the community.
Halloween Events
It's time to get spooky. Whether you're looking for family-friendly fun or a night out with your crew, the city has Halloween covered from start to finish.
Swamp Haunted Hikes | Oct. 16
Take a guided nighttime hike through Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center, where kids learn about creepy critters, hunt for treasures, and explore a haunted maze.
Boo at the Zoo | Oct. 17
BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo transforms into a Halloween playground with festive photo ops, princess meet and greets, animal enrichments, a magic show, and food trucks for the whole family.
Spirits of Louisiana | Oct. 29
The Old State Capitol's signature Halloween fundraiser is going full "Ooh La La Louisiane!" this year, channeling the glamour of French nightlife with an open bar, gourmet food, live music, raffles, and an art auction inside Louisiana's castle on the river.
Fifolet Halloween Festival Parade | Oct. 30
Baton Rouge's only Halloween parade rolls through downtown at 7 p.m. featuring costumed floats, dance krewes, candy throws, and more.
Rooftop Halloween Bash | Oct. 30
Shaw Center for the Arts' River Terrace will go all out for Halloween with live music, specialty cocktails, passed bites, immersive décor, photo ops, a costume contest, and dancing under the city lights.
House of Halloween Bar Crawl | Oct. 30-31
Downtown Baton Rouge transforms into a haunted playground as 9+ bars, DJs, themed cocktails, and hundreds of costumed crawlers take over the streets for two nights of Halloween fun.
Rumble in the Jungle | Oct. 31
The 2nd Annual Rumble in the Jungle brings classic cars, muscle machines, and custom builds to the grounds of the Baton Rouge Zoo for a one-of-a-kind Halloween day event.
Foodie Events
This month is also a great time to eat, drink, and celebrate Baton Rouge's local food scene. From brats and beer to a citywide burger crawl, there's something for every appetite this time of year.
Bachtoberfest | Oct. 9
Grab a beer, pull up a lawn chair, and enjoy a night of brats and Bach on the front lawn of the Main Library at Goodwood.
Capital Area United Way's Jambalaya Jam | Oct. 15
Head to North Boulevard Town Square for a full day of jambalaya from 65+ competing teams, an appetizer cook-off, and live music across two stages, all benefiting Capital Area United Way.
Baton Rouge Burger Week | Oct. 19-31
Two full weeks of special burgers from some of your favorite local spots across Baton Rouge, celebrating the city's best burger scene.
Reflections: The Art of George Rodrigue
If you haven't made it to LASM yet this fall, this is your reason to go. Reflections: The Art of George Rodrigue celebrates the life and legacy of one of Louisiana's most beloved artists, from his early Cajun-themed paintings to the internationally recognized Blue Dog series. The exhibition also features works from his swamp dog series, Hollywood star portraits, and unique pieces on metal and chrome.
Can't get enough of Baton Rouge? Check out our complete calendar of events to plan your next adventure.
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