October is arguably one of the best months of the year. Sports are everywhere, music feels different, movies get spooky, books feel extra cozy (or creepy), and art and activities are full of fall energy. Here’s what’s going on this month.
Sports Spotlight: Championships, Kickoffs and Rivalries
Sports are huge this October. Baseball is the biggest story, with the World Series starting Oct. 24 and running through Nov. 1. Teams like the Dodgers, Phillies, Yankees and Cubs are all fighting for the championship. Everyone wants to know if the Dodgers can win again or if Bryce Harper can finally bring a title to Philadelphia.
Football is also in full swing. The NFL season is heating up, and there are even games being played in London. College football is exciting too, with big rivalries like Alabama vs. Georgia and Ohio State vs. Michigan.
Basketball fans don’t have to wait much longer. The NBA season starts Oct. 21. Rookies like Bronny James are making their first appearances, while legends like LeBron James and Steph Curry are still chasing championships. Hockey started earlier this month, and stars like Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews are already making highlights. The WNBA Finals are finishing up in mid-October, with A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart leading their teams.
Soccer fans are watching the UEFA Champions League group stage, with teams like Real Madrid, Manchester City and Bayern Munich looking strong. Racing fans are also excited because Formula 1 has three big races this month: the Singapore Grand Prix under the lights, the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin and the Mexico City Grand Prix. Oscar Piastri is leading the championship, but Lando Norris and Max Verstappen are close behind.
Sounds of the Season: Music for Fall and Frights
Music this month is about more than just new albums — it’s about the mood of the season. Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl, Khalid’s After the Sun Goes Down, All Time Low’s Everyone’s Talking!, Demi Lovato’s It’s Not That Deep and Miguel’s Caos are some of the biggest new releases.
But October also means spooky playlists. Classics like Michael Jackson’s Thriller, Rockwell’s Somebody’s Watching Me and Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ I Put a Spell on You are back, along with modern creepy songs like Billie Eilish’s bury a friend and Lady Gaga’s Bloody Mary. For quieter moments, cozy fall playlists with indie, lo-fi and folk artists like Noah Kahan and Phoebe Bridgers are perfect for studying or relaxing. Concerts are happening too, with AFI and Yellowcard touring, and Taylor Swift showing her album release party in theaters around the world.
Lights, Camera, Spooky: Movies and Shows for October Nights
October is the best time for movies. New ones like Black Phone 2, Bone Lake, Good Boy and Coyotes bring fresh scares to theaters. At the same time, fall classics like Hocus Pocus, Coraline, The Nightmare Before Christmas and Monster House are perfect for rewatching.
Streaming is also packed with choices. HBO’s IT: Welcome to Derry brings Pennywise back, Prime Video’s The Runarounds follows a teen band, and Netflix’s Dead Boy Detectives adds supernatural mystery. And of course, Stranger Things marathons are always a favorite for October.
Pages That Creep and Comfort: Fall Reads
Books are part of the October vibe too. For ages 11 to 14, Neil Gaiman’s Coraline and The Graveyard Book are classics, while R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps, Katherine Arden’s Small Spaces, Roald Dahl’s The Witches and Victoria Schwab’s City of Ghosts are also great picks.
For readers ready for something a little older, Ransom Riggs’ Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, Kerri Maniscalco’s Stalking Jack the Ripper, Jonathan Auxier’s The Night Gardener, Erin A. Craig’s House of Salt and Sorrows and Adam Silvera’s They Both Die at the End are darker and more mature, but still fit the fall mood.
New books coming out this season include Freida McFadden’s The Intruder, Ali Hazelwood’s Mate, Joe Hill’s King Sorrow, Jenn Bennett’s The Prince of Mourning and Jennifer Niven’s When We Were Monsters. These bring new thrills and chills to the shelves.
Creative Spirits: Art in October
Art is everywhere this month. Inktober challenges artists to post daily ink drawings, and DIY Halloween projects like costume design, pumpkin painting and haunted-house dioramas are popular. Spooky crafts are trending too, like ghost lanterns made from mason jars, monster bookmarks and glow-in-the-dark slime. Eco-art is also big, with people turning old clothes into costumes or cardboard into haunted houses. Digital art is booming as well, with spooky wallpapers, TikTok filters and even AI-made Halloween posters.
Fall Fun and Seasonal Adventures
Living in Florida means fall looks a little different than it does up north. We don’t get the changing leaves or sweater weather, but October is still packed with fun things to do.
Festival season kicks off all across the state. In Palm Coast, the Creekside Music and Arts Festival brings bluegrass music, crafts and food, while in Lake Worth, the huge Oktoberfest celebration offers German food, music and carnival rides. Panama City Beach hosts the Pirates of the High Seas and Renaissance Fest, complete with fireworks, parades and even live mermaid shows. Closer to home, local fall festivals often feature pumpkin patches, hayrides and food trucks, giving everyone a chance to celebrate the season Florida-style.
Theme parks also go all out in October. Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights is one of the biggest Halloween events in the country, with haunted houses and scare zones that are perfect for older teens. Disney’s Magic Kingdom offers Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, which is more family-friendly but still full of costumes, candy and parades. Busch Gardens Tampa hosts Howl-O-Scream, another favorite for thrill-seekers.
Florida’s natural spots are also great in October. The weather is finally a little cooler, so it’s a good time to kayak in Crystal River, where you might spot manatees, or to visit the beaches without the summer crowds. Botanical gardens across the state, like Bok Tower Gardens, host fall events with live music and seasonal displays.
And of course, Halloween itself is everywhere. From neighborhood trick-or-treating to local haunted houses like Scream-A-Geddon in Dade City, there’s no shortage of spooky fun. Even the Jacksonville Zoo gets in on the action with its kid-friendly Spooktacular event.
So while Florida may not have falling leaves, it makes up for it with festivals, theme park thrills and plenty of outdoor adventures. October here is all about celebrating in the sunshine with a spooky twist.
A Month of Magic and Motion
October 2025 is packed with things to do. From the World Series to F1 under the lights, from spooky concerts and haunted houses to cozy fall books and art projects, this month has something for everyone. Whether you’re into sports, music, art or just hanging out with friends, October is the perfect time to enjoy everything the season has to offer.