Have spooky, delicious fun in October

Wander through spooky corn mazes, squeeze apples for some tangy cider or hunt for that perfect pumpkin: October is a great time to get out and enjoy fall in and around Albany.

Particularly for fans of the popular Trolley of Terror: It’s back!

Dates are Oct. 21-22 and 28-29, with tours at 6, 7, 8 and 9 p.m. for this Monteith House fundraiser. These tours sell out fast so click here for where to purchase tickets and other information.

Here are some other great October events to put on your list. Be sure to visit our Calendar of Events on the AVA website to get more details and links to their online pages as well:

Events

Cider Pressing at Thompson’s Mills State Heritage Site – Oct. 1 and 29, noon to 3 p.m. Kids of all ages are invited to help crush and press the apples and watch as golden cider flows from the press. Docents will be on hand for tours of the Mill. Unlimited free cider tasting and half-gallon jugs available for $5 contribution to Thompson’s Mills Preservation Society. Admission to the Mill is free and picnic tables are available.

Harvest Festival – 11a.m. to 5 p.m., Oct. 1. Join Sweet Home in Sankey Park for this great family event with pumpkin painting, tree climbing, Kid Zone games, wagon rides, face painting and photo booth. The popular Pie Bake-Off Contest and Chili Cook-Off are back.

Trick or Treat Cruise Thru – 1 to 4 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 22. Timber-Linn Memorial Park: REGISTRATION is required for this event and is due by Oct. 14. Albany Parks & Recreation wants to see those cool costumes, so dress up and trick-or-treat with them! There will be candy and goodies to collect along the way and some spooktacular decorations. Cost is $5 per child for ages 1-12.

1^st Friday in Historic Downtown Albany – Oct. 7. Celebrate all things Fall this 1st Friday! Join downtown businesses for extended hours, food, drinks, promotions, sales and music. This month’s prize is donated by People’s Bank.

Tennessee Thunder Railroad — Saturdays and Sundays in October, noon to 4 p.m. – Paid Train Ticket gains you access to the park where you can ride the ¼ scale train, purchase pumpkins from the Pumpkin Patch, take pictures at several photo ops, and enjoy various games and things to see throughout the park. Admission: Adults $7.50 (ages 13 and up), Child $6.50 (ages 2-12), 1 and Under: Free. Carpooling is strongly encouraged.

Runaway Pumpkin Express – Oct. 29. Santiam Excursion Trains, Lebanon; noon and 2:30 pm. Dress up your little ghoul or goblin and bring them on this 1.5-hour excursion through the streets of Lebanon. This annual costume ride brings out some scary (and cute) faces. 

Downtown Halloween Scavenger Hunt – Oct. 15-31. Get an early start on Halloween by joining the Albany Downtown Association’s Downtown Halloween Scavenger Hunt 2022, a fun activity for the whole family with a chance to win a movie night prize basket. Deadline is midnight, Oct. 31.

Downtown Trick or Treat & Costume Contest – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Just look for the participating merchants all over Downtown Albany, and the photo contest booths at the 1st Avenue Parklet and at Two Rivers Market.

Farmers’ Markets

Albany Farmers’ Market – Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Fresh and local produce, baked goods, meat, flowers and more!

Lebanon Downtown Farmers’ Market –Thursdays 2 to 6 pm

Pumpkins and Mazes

Bose Family Farm Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze – Sept. 30-Oct. 30.  Pick a pumpkin and explore the corn maze; Thursday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Corn Maze at The Melon Shack – Sept. 30 – Oct. 31. The Melon Shack has a happy day-time Corn Maze and a night-time Haunted Corn Maze. Daytime hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., every day. The Haunted Corn Maze is open 7 to 10 p.m. every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There are over 3 miles of trail through the maze.