If you’ve been reading this blog for even the last couple weeks, you know I love fall. Love love love fall. Part of this love is based on the fact that Oktoberfest and Halloween are two of my favorite holidays. My German heritage (however small) calls out to me and of course the idea of enjoying beer, brats and good times with friends helps a bit as well. So rock out this October, with all kinds of fun events!

Munich on Marietta - Der Biergarten. Now thru 10/30. Hoist a stein and enjoy music, beer, brats every Sat/Sun! Drink specials, games and more! Be sure to come out to my Oktoberfest Tweet Up here on Fri 9/30 6-8pm, should be a blast!

5 Seasons West/North Oktoberfest. Sat 10/1 12pm-11:30pm. $45. All you can eat and drink, release of their new Oktoberfest Lager, Oompah Band (German Music - beware the Chicken Dance!), and more! 5 Seasons has the BEST SPAETZLE I’ve ever eaten. I’ve done their Oktoberfest in the past and it’s a great time!

5 Seasons Prado Oktoberfest. Sat 10/8 12-3pm. $45. All you can eat and drink,  Oompah Band, beers, brats, pretzels, & more of the best spaetzle in town! If you’re dedicated hit both weekends!

Fadoktoberfest - Fado. Sat 10/1 6pm-Midnight. $10+. Live music (U2 cover band - Desire), Brat eating contest, beer chugging contest, stein hoisting contest and more! Bavarian attire encouraged!

Trip to Helen, GA with Buckhead Saloon! Sat 10/8 10am. $45+. Doing Oktoberfest in Helen, GA is quite an experience and should be done at least once! Make a day of it and enjoy a chartered bus to and from the Alpine Village in N. GA and eat/drink all day long!

Hogtoberfest - South City Kitchen Vinings. 10/13 - 10/22. A fun southern twist on the Oktoberfest theme - a pig-centric special menu only available for a limited time! No prix fixe, order what you like!

Halloween!!

Netherworld - Now thru 11/5. $22. Atlanta’s best haunted house experience! Bring a friend and get the scare of a lifetime!

Tour of Southern Ghosts - Stone Mountain Plantation. 10/13-10/30. $12+/$7 kids 12 & under/$10 parking permit per car. A fun tradition I’ve done for several years, take a walking tour of the Stone Mountain Plantation at night and enjoy stories told by costumed characters along the way. Cocoa, cookies and don’t forget to pick up a ‘Boo Y’all!’ pin for $1!

The Ghastly Dreadfuls - Center for Puppetry Arts. 10/13 - 10/29. $25. Adults only show that is sure to please! A must-see each Halloween. The Ghastly family returns for their annual performance that includes, singing, dancing and of course spooky stories done with puppetry. Seriously - check it out!

Boo at the Zoo - Atlanta Zoo. 10/22-23 & 10/29-30 10am-3pm. Free for members/General Admission. Treats, characters from Boo Town, more than 1,000

P’cheen Pumpkin Carving Contest. Sat 10/22 2-6pm. Free pumpkins for the 1st 10 entrants. $100 prize! Hot cider served during carving contest. Fun!animals!

Little 5 Points Parade and Festival. Sat 10/22 12-11pm. FREE! An Atlanta must-see for Halloween! Fantastic parade, live music and more!

Goblins in the Garden - Atlanta Botanical Garden. Sun 10/23 10am-4pm. Museum admission/$2 train rides/$4 pony rides. Small goblins can enjoy a Halloween Parade (3pm), storytelling, pumpkin carving, crafts and more!

Pumpkin Carving Contest - Atkins Park VaHi. 10/27 8-11:30pm. FREE! Prizes for best pumpkin.

Oakland Cemetery Halloween Tours. 10/28-10/30. $17.50. This is a really special treat - only once a year does Historic Oakland keep it’s gates open at night - for their Halloween Tours! These tend to sell out, so don’t miss this fantastic spooky experience unique to Atlanta!

Boos & Brews - Sweetwater Brewing. Fri 10/28 9pm-1am. $35. Beer, live music, costume contest, free glass, more!

Discoween - Paris on Ponce. Fri 10/28 8:30pm-Midnight. $60+. Fred Schneider of the B-52’s hosts a 70s themed Halloween bash! DJ, costume contest, drinks, eats and more! Benefits Canine Companions for Independence.

99x Brouhaha - Masquerade. Sat 10/29 9pm-2am. $7.50+. Beastie Boys and Sublime tribute bands, free psychic and tarot card readings, $1k costume contest!

Naughty Night of Fright - Cypress Street/HALO. Sat 10/29 9pm. $10+. 2 parties for the price of one! $1k costume contest, DJ X (MTV), sponsored by LeSin vodka and Sweetwater.

Halloween Costume Contest - Atkins Park VaHi. 10/29 9-11:30pm. FREE! Prizes for best costume and costumed group! DJ, drinks and more!

Modern Masquerade - High Museum of Art. 10/29 8-Midnight. $10+. Dress as your fave artist & enjoy live music, fashion show, awesome Picasso to Warhol exhibit and more!

SpiralWeen - Park Tavern. Sat 10/29 9pm - 2:30am. $15+. Adults only Halloween bash! $1K costume contest, live bands, dancing, drinks, food and general mayhem. BOOOOS it up!

Scoutmob Halloween Bash - The Goat Farm Sat 10/29 8-12pm. $35+. Music, drinks, eats, street food trucks, Nosferatu screening and more!

GA A-Scary-Um - Georgia Aquarium. 10/29-30. Kids under 12 in costume free with paid adult. Candy stations, music, arts and crafts and a Green Halloween in the world’s largest aquarium!

Psycho Screening & Ghostlight Tour - The Fox Theatre. 10/30 7:30-9:30pm. $8 movie/$20 - movie & tour. See a horror classic at the historic Fox and then take a special ghostlight tour of the backstage area! With as long as the Fox has been around, there are some spooky tales to tell!

Masquerade Ball - The Fox Theatre. Mon 10/31 8pm. $25. Free dance lessons,Del Baroni Orchestra performs!

Boo Bash - RA Sushi. Mon 10/31 8-11pm. FREE! Costume contest, DJ, special menu ‘boo bites’ and ‘potent potions’ at the bar!

Monster Murder in Midtown - Dad’s Garage. Mon 10/31 8pm. $16+. The Wolfman is hosting one of his famous parties in his swanky Midtown loft when his guests mysteriously start dropping left and right. It’s up to Sir John Holmes and YOU to figure out who-dunnit in this improvised murder mystery. Best monster costume gets to be the murder victim on stage! Fun!