Autumn Fun in Yellowstone County
There's a particular energy that settles over Yellowstone County once the cottonwoods start turning and the pumpkin patches open their gates. Farmers market season winds down, downtown fills up for HarvestFest, and neighbors start comparing notes on which trunk-or-treat to hit first. Between festivals, farm visits, rodeo, and holiday markets, there's a lot on the calendar this fall, so we rounded it all up in one place. Here's what's happening, starting with a few picks the whole family will enjoy.
Family-Friendly Fun
Events throughout this roundup that are a good fit for kids and families. Full details for each are in the sections below.
Pumpkin Patches & Corn Mazes: September–October, Grandpa’s Farm & T&C Farms (Laurel)
- Corn mazes, U-pick pumpkin patches, hayrides, and family activities, with haunted versions after dark for older kids and adults.
Saturday Live: October 3, MetraPark
- A single $10 entry fee covers unlimited game play all day (kids under 4 free), so families can spend the day playing instead of rationing tickets.
All Hallows Medieval Fantasy Faire: October 3–4, North Park
- Knights, costumed performers, and craft vendors make this a fun outing for families.
HarvestFest: October 10, Downtown Billings
- Features an interactive kids’ zone from Wise Wonders Science & Discovery Museum alongside arts, crafts, and food trucks.
YMCA Trunk or Treat: October 16, American Lutheran Church (5 Lewis Avenue)
- Free, kid-friendly trunk-or-treat with local organizations decorating vehicle trunks and handing out candy.
Downtown Trick-or-Treat: October 30, Downtown Billings
- Kids in costume can hit up more than 50 downtown businesses for candy on this Friday-before-Halloween tradition.
Boo at the Zoo: October 17, ZooMontana
- ZooMontana’s family-friendly Halloween event with safe trick-or-treating, animal enrichments, and candy.
Run! Turkey Run!: November 26, Downtown Billings
- Includes untimed kids’ distances plus a costume contest, with hot coffee, cold cider, and cookies at the finish.
Festivals & Community Fairs
Fall Parade of Homes: September 19–20 & 26–27
- The Home Builders Association’s fall showcase spans two weekends (plus Monday hours) with new builds, remodels, and rental properties open for touring across the Billings area. Saturday and Sunday hours run noon–5 p.m., with Monday hours from 3 p.m.
Saturday Live: October 3, MetraPark
- Now in its 33rd year, Saturday Live is one of Billings’ largest single-day school fundraisers, put on by the Education Foundation for Billings Public Schools. Nearly $3 million has been raised since it began, supporting art and music programs, classroom supplies, books, and field trips. This year’s “Adventure Mode” theme fills the Metra main arena and exhibit hall with minute-to-win-it and large-scale games, the returning Haunted Tunnel and Spooky Walk, sponsor activity zones, and a passport system with prize wheel drawings and raffles. New for 2026: a single $10 entry fee covers unlimited game play all day (kids under 4 free), so families can spend the day playing instead of rationing tickets. Last year’s event drew about 4,500 people and raised more than $45,000 for local schools.
All Hallows Medieval Fantasy Faire: October 3–4, North Park
- Presented by the Montana Renaissance Festival, this two-day faire turns North Park into a world of knights, costumed performers, and craft vendors. Hours run 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Sunday. A fun one for families and anyone who’s ever wanted to browse a market in full medieval dress.
HarvestFest: October 10, Downtown Billings
- The 22nd annual HarvestFest takes over the streets below Skypoint from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with arts and crafts, mums and pumpkins, food trucks, live entertainment, an interactive kids’ zone from Wise Wonders Science & Discovery Museum, and Montana Brewing Company’s Oktoberfest beer garden and stein-hoisting contest. It’s the unofficial send-off for farmers’ market season and one of downtown’s biggest draws of the year.
Holiday Food and Gift Festival: November 14–15, MetraPark Expo Center
- Billings’ largest holiday shopping event brings more than 200 arts and crafts booths (metalwork, woodwork, stained glass, pottery, jewelry, and more) to the Expo Center. Saturday runs 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Admission is $5, or $2 with a non-perishable food donation for Tumbleweed.
Farm Fun, Food & Drink
Yellowstone Valley Farmers Market: Saturdays through October 3
- The market has been running since mid-July, but fall is when the harvest really shows off: winter squash, apples, late tomatoes, and armloads of mums alongside the usual baked goods and local crafts. The final Saturday of the season, October 3, is the one to catch if you’ve been meaning to go.
Pumpkin Patches & Corn Mazes: Grandpa’s Farm & T&C Farms, September–October
- For classic fall-farm fun, Grandpa’s Farm and T&C Farms (just west of town in Laurel) are open through October with corn mazes, U-pick pumpkin patches, hayrides, and family activities, plus haunted versions of both after dark for the braver crowd.
Arts & Entertainment
Alberta Bair Theater Fall Concert Series:
- The Alberta Bair Theater's fall season is in full swing. The Billings Symphony opens its season with Dvořák's Symphony No. 8 on Sept. 26, followed the next night by the Queen tribute show "It's a Kinda Magic" (Sept. 27). October brings a busy stretch: Sons of Serendip (Oct. 3), the Big Sky Comedy Festival (Oct. 10), country star Gary Allan (Oct. 11), The United States Air Force Band (Oct. 14), Scottish folk group The Tannahill Weavers (Oct. 15) and Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass (Oct. 17). The symphony returns with Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 on Oct. 24, and The Black Jacket Symphony recreates Bon Jovi's "Slippery When Wet" on Oct. 27. November opens with World Ballet Company's "Swan Lake" (Nov. 1) and comedian Rob Schneider (Nov. 6).
Downtown Billings ArtWalk: October 2
- Downtown galleries, shops, and studios open their doors from 5–9 p.m. for this free, self-guided evening of local art. ArtWalk happens on first Fridays every other month, and the October date is the fall edition.
Billings Symphony Season Opener: October 24, Alberta Bair Theater
- The Billings Symphony kicks off its new season with Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, led by Wilbur Lin, at 7:30 p.m. A great excuse to dress up and spend an evening downtown.
Halloween & Haunted Happenings
Moss Mansion’s Spooky Season: throughout October
- The historic Moss Mansion leans all the way into fall with guided ghost tours on October 10, 17, and 24 (6, 7, and 8 p.m. slots), a haunted theater production called “Asylum,” a maze called “Labyrinth,” and the Monster Ball costume party to close out the month. Great for anyone who wants their Halloween with a side of local history.
YMCA Trunk or Treat: October 16, American Lutheran Church (5 Lewis Avenue)
- Now in its third year, this free, kid-friendly trunk-or-treat fills the church’s back parking lot from 4–6 p.m. with local organizations and businesses decorating vehicle trunks and handing out candy. Organizers expect 500–1,000 trick-or-treaters, making it one of the bigger kid-focused stops on the fall calendar.
Downtown Trick-or-Treat: October 30, Downtown Billings
- Kids in costume can hit up more than 50 downtown businesses for candy on this Friday-before-Halloween tradition. A low-key, walkable way to celebrate that’s become a downtown staple.
Boo at the Zoo: October 17, ZooMontana
- ZooMontana’s family-friendly Halloween event returns with safe trick-or-treating, animal enrichments, and candy, included with regular admission and free for members. The exact October date wasn’t posted yet at the time of writing; check zoomontana.org closer to the date. (Last year’s event ran a single Saturday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.)
Other Haunted Attractions Around Town
- Scarity Haunted House takes over the historic Billings Depot, turning the old train station into a walk-through of Montana ghost stories.
- Out at Oscar’s Park, Sleepy Hollow Haunted Wagon Rides load guests onto a horse-drawn wagon for a moonlit ride along the Yellowstone River, where the Headless Horseman is said to make an appearance.
- In the Heights, Haunted Hallows sends brave visitors on a one-mile walk through Two Moon Park, dodging zombies, clowns, and whatever else is lurking in the dark.
Sports, Rodeo & Races
Rocky Mountain College Homecoming Weekend: October 6–7
- RMC’s homecoming includes an alumni author talk, an All Class Reunion reception at Meadowlark Brewing, a Battlin’ Breast Cancer Fun Run/Walk, and a game-day tailgate: a nice mix of campus nostalgia and community fundraising.
NILE Stock Show & Rodeo: October 9–17, MetraPark
- A Billings tradition for decades, the NILE brings livestock shows, horse events, and western culture to MetraPark for more than a week. The NILE Ranch Rodeo Finals, real working cowboys competing in ranch-style events, hit the arena Saturday, October 10, at 7 p.m.
Run! Turkey Run!: November 26, Downtown Billings
- This Thanksgiving-morning tradition (5K and Street Mile options, plus untimed kids’ distances) raises money for local hunger-relief charities. Runs 8–11 a.m. with hot coffee, cold cider, cookies, and a costume contest. Register by October 15 to guarantee your t-shirt size.
Home & Shopping
Fall Craft Shows, Rescued & Reclaimed Fall Harvest Market: October 2–3, MetraPark Expo Building
- This traveling vintage and handmade-goods market draws vendors from across a six-state region for a weekend of repurposed and antique finds, vintage furniture, handmade jewelry, and clothing, with food vendors on site too. A good stop for one-of-a-kind fall décor or early holiday gift shopping before the Holiday Food and Gift Festival rolls around in November. Check Rescued & Reclaimed’s Facebook page for exact hours and admission closer to the date.
