October in Bowling Green: the Scarecrow Trail to Oct. 25, pumpkin weekends, Nostalgia Fall Classic Oct. 16-18, Brewfest and Pride Oct. 24, bg26.2 Oct. 31.

Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. This page is rebuilt at the start of each month. Events come from the organizers’ own pages, the City of Bowling Green’s events calendar and the Bowling Green Area Convention and Visitors Bureau’s 2026 calendar of events (270-782-0800). Confirm times and tickets with the organizer before you go. For this weekend only, see things to do this weekend.

October is pumpkin, scarecrow and car show season in Bowling Green, with a full slate at the Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center (SKyPAC) and the city’s marathon on Halloween weekend. All dates below are 2026; times are Central.

At a glance

  • All month: Scarecrow Trail at Lost River Cave (to Oct. 25); Jackson’s Orchard pumpkin weekends (Oct. 17-18 and 24-25)
  • Oct. 16-18: Nostalgia Fall Classic, Beech Bend Raceway
  • Oct. 24: BG Bourbon and Brewfest; Bowling Green Pride Festival
  • Oct. 31 to Nov. 1: bg26.2 marathon; household hazardous waste drop-off Oct. 31
  • Halloween: see our trick-or-treat guide

Fall outings all month

  • Scarecrow Trail, Lost River Cave, 2818 Nashville Road, through Sunday, Oct. 25. The 14th annual trail lines the park’s walking trails with scarecrows built by local businesses, groups and families. Visitors can vote once a day for free. Lost River Cave.
  • Jackson’s Orchard Pumpkin Festival weekends, Oct. 17-18 and Oct. 24-25. The orchard is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Jackson’s Orchard, 270-781-5303.
  • More in our fall festivals and pumpkin patches guide.

Week of Oct. 12

  • Thursday, Oct. 15: Rocky Horror Picture Show Spooktacular Tour, SKyPAC. Tickets.
  • Thursday, Oct. 15, 5:30 p.m.: Planning Commission meeting, Warren County Courthouse. See our permits and zoning guide.
  • Friday, Oct. 16, to Sunday, Oct. 18: 9th Annual Nostalgia Fall Classic, Beech Bend Raceway. Beech Bend, 270-781-7634.
  • Saturday, Oct. 17:
  • Orchestra Kentucky: Broadway in the Shadows, SKyPAC. Tickets.
  • Relay for Life of South Central Kentucky, Bowling Green Ballpark.
  • RailPark Rendezvous: Singin’ on the Rails, Historic RailPark and Train Museum. Details.
  • You and I Presents: Pumpkin Potions, a nature play session for young children at Lost River Cave’s Nature Explore Playscape, $7. Lost River Cave.
  • Fall Sip and Shop, Bluegrass Vineyard. Details.

Week of Oct. 19

  • Tuesday, Oct. 20, 4:30 p.m.: Board of Commissioners meeting, City Hall, 1001 College St. City calendar.
  • Thursday, Oct. 22: BG Onstage presents “Charlotte’s Web,” SKyPAC. Tickets.
  • Friday, Oct. 23, 6 to 9 p.m.: Spirit of Riverview, a costume evening with games, a live and silent auction and food to benefit Riverview at Hobson Grove, 1100 W. Main Ave. Tickets required. City calendar.
  • Friday, Oct. 23: Crazy Train: America’s Ozzy Osbourne Celebration, SKyPAC. Tickets.
  • Friday, Oct. 23, to Sunday, Oct. 25: SKY Kick or Treat soccer tournament, Lovers Lane Park soccer complex. SKY Soccer.
  • Saturday, Oct. 24:
  • BG Bourbon and Brewfest, Bowling Green Ballpark. bgbrewfest.com.
  • Bowling Green Pride Festival, Circus Square Park. Event page.
  • Orchestra Kentucky Special: Ricky Skaggs, SKyPAC. Tickets.
  • Sunday, Oct. 25: Collective Soul, SKyPAC. Tickets.

Week of Oct. 26

  • Tuesday, Oct. 27: WKU football vs. Delaware, Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium. WKU Sports.
  • Friday, Oct. 30: Court of Fables: Gothic Gala Fantasy Ball, The Venue at 939 Adams.
  • Saturday, Oct. 31:
  • Household hazardous waste collection, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., 999 Lauren Avery Drive. Household waste only; no tires. City listing.
  • bg26.2 Marathon, Half Marathon and bg6000, Bowling Green Ballpark, Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. bg262.com. Race times, prices, parking and the coned lanes: our bg26.2 marathon guide.
  • Flea Land’s annual Boo Bash, Flea Land of Bowling Green, 270-843-1978.
  • Bowling Green AIDS Walk, Preston Miller Park, 270-826-0200.

Coming in early November

  • Friday, Nov. 6, 5:30 to 8 p.m.: Twilight Tours of the Hobson House at Riverview at Hobson Grove; no reservation needed. City calendar.
  • Saturday, Nov. 14: WKU homecoming football vs. Jacksonville State.
  • Holiday events start Nov. 30 with Light Up BGKY; see our Christmas parade and tree lighting guide.

Add your event

Organizers can send events through our contact page. We list events with a date, a place and a link to the organizer.

Frequently asked questions

What is there to do in Bowling Green, Kentucky, in October 2026?

The Scarecrow Trail at Lost River Cave runs through Oct. 25, Jackson’s Orchard has pumpkin festival weekends, Beech Bend Raceway hosts the Nostalgia Fall Classic Oct. 16-18, and the BG Bourbon and Brewfest and the Bowling Green Pride Festival are Oct. 24.

When is the Bowling Green marathon in 2026?

The bg26.2 marathon, half marathon and bg6000 are Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, 2026, starting from Bowling Green Ballpark, according to the Bowling Green Area Convention and Visitors Bureau’s calendar.

When is the household hazardous waste drop-off in Bowling Green?

Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 999 Lauren Avery Drive. Household waste only; no commercial waste and no tires.