There are lots of treats and even a few tricks for travelers in October, with harvest hoopla and Halloween witches and ghosts heading the bill. Cranberries and apples are feted at festivals in Massachusetts and Kentucky, respectively, while costumed revelers bring the month to a close at Halloween parades coast to coast.
Oct. 1-31: Destin Fishing Rodeo, Destin, Fla., www.destinfishingrodeo.org. Monthlong fishing frenzy leaves 30,000 anglers reeling.
Oct. 1-Nov. 1: Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular, Providence, R.I., www.rwpzoo.org/178/jack-o-lantern-spectacular. 5,000 pumpkins cast an eerie light at the Roger Williams Park Zoo.
Oct. 2-3: New York Dog Film Festival, www.dogfilmfestival.com. One paw up for first-time festival of short films.
Oct. 2-3: Kentucky Apple Festival, Paintsville, www.kyapplefest.org. MamaDear and Austin Webb at the core of town celebration.
Oct. 2-4: Duende, Broward 100 Grand Finale, Fort Lauderdale, www.broward100.org. Street and stage performances mark Broward County’s centennial.
Oct. 3-11: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, www.balloonfiesta.com. New Mexico’s most glowing international event.
Oct. 7-10: King Biscuit Blues Festival, Helena, Ark., www.kingbiscuitfestival.com. Bobby Rush and Taj Mahal get baking in the Delta.
Oct. 8-18: Georgia National Fair, Perry, www.georgianationalfair.com. Traditional fair features music by Alabama and Rascal Flatts, plus fireworks every night.
Oct. 9-11: “Alice 150: Alice in Popular Culture,” New York, www.lewiscarroll.org. Conference tries to make sense of Cheshire cats and mad tea parties.
Oct. 10-11: Cranberry Harvest Celebration, Wareham, Mass., www.admakepeace.com. Bash in the bog features tours and marketplace.
Oct. 10-11: Hong Kong Cyclothon, www.discoverhongkong.com/cyclothon. First-ever Hong Kong bicycle competition shifts into high gear for professional and amateur riders.
Oct. 14-18: East Texas Yamboree, Gilmer, www.yamboree.com. Yam it up at 78th annual tuber to-do (with carnival, barn dance and pie contest).
Oct. 16-18: Crescent City Blues and BBQ Festival, New Orleans, www.jazzandheritage.org/blues-fest. Lafayette Square Park hosts Ruthie Foster, Marcia Ball and Allen Toussaint.
Oct. 18-Jan. 17: “The Man, the Dragon and the Death,” Mons, Belgium, www.mons2015.eu/en/man-dragon-and-death. Contemporary take on St. George slaying the Dragon.
Oct. 23-25: Daytona Beach Dream Cruise, Fla., www.daytonabeachdreamcruise.com. Classic cars go bumper to bumper at Riverfront Park.
Oct. 23-25: Amsterdam Kizomba Festival, www.amsterdamkizombafestival.com. Dance your feet off, Angolan-style.
Oct. 23-31: Neewollah, Independence, Kan., www.neewollah.com. Backward or forward, a keen Halloween.
Oct. 31: Village Halloween Parade, New York, www.halloween-nyc.com. Giant puppets, big bands and 50,000 costumed revelers go ghost-busting.
Oct. 31: Halloween Carnaval, West Hollywood, Calif., www.visitwesthollywood.com/halloween-carnaval. Uninhibited street party walks on the wild side.
Dates may change; always check in advance to confirm.
