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Your Guide to Salt Lake in October 2026

Posted on September 30
Terina Ria

Terina Ria

Three small skulls on a shelf with books.

October is about good books and decorating your house with skulls for the holidays. (Terina Ria/City Cast Salt Lake)

Will you be leaning into the spooky or snuggly this month? The best thing is you don’t have to choose and you can do it all.

Make Things With Your Hands

Are you in a creative slump? Join a free, 12-week creative practice group working their way through Julia Cameron’s “The Artist’s Way” at Make Well studio. The program kicks off Oct. 1 and meets every other Thursday. No artistic experience required.

Watch a (Surprise) Scary Movie

The new Nocturne Film Society is a scary movie club with a twist: Every month, view a horror, thriller, or cult classic at Murray Theater, but you won’t know what you’re watching until you arrive. Memberships start at $15.

Remember, It’s Just a Bunch of Hocus Pocus

Celebrate everyone’s favorite Halloween movie, “Hocus Pocus,” by watching it all month long: at Lindsey Gardens on Oct. 2, at the Ballpark at America First Square on Oct. 14, and with the Utah Symphony on Oct. 29-30.

Get Lost in a Good Book

This month was made for book nerds. Start things off with a banned book read-in at The King’s English Bookshop on Oct. 4. Then fill the rest of your calendar with author talks, workshops, and other literary fun at the Utah Humanities Book Festival and Salt Lake Book Festival.

Celebrate Christmas in October

Visit Lake Effect’s “Nightmare Before Christmas” pop-up, which turns the downtown bar into a Tim Burton Halloween Town every Monday through Oct. 26, featuring the Pumpkin King himself. Tickets are $25 per person.

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