20 free things to do in metro Atlanta in October

October in Georgia: It’s the perfect time to be outdoors, enjoying the changing leaf colors and the cooler, drier weather. And there’s plenty of opportunity to do that with live concerts and festivals popping up all over the metro area. Cap the month off with plenty of Halloween celebration options. Here are our picks!

Chris Cagle in concert

Cagleheads unite! Here’s your chance to catch Chris in concert without leaving town, courtesy of the Downtown Canton GA First Friday concert series. Hear him belt hits like “Laredo” and “Chicks Dig It” and also enjoy other First Friday activities, including late-night shopping, food vendors, a cruise-in and kids’ activities. And bring a chair for the concert!

Location: Downtown Canton; Date: Oct. 3; Time: 6-9 p.m.; Website: explorecantonga.com

Decatur Book Festival

Love books? This is the place to celebrate them. This independent festival unites authors and readers in one place. This marks the event’s 20th year, and attendees will sort through tents filled with unusual volumes and hear from authors like Saeed Jones and Angie Thomas. Also catch a children’s parade, an emerging student writers stage, outdoor cooking demos, hands-on kids activities and a packed entertainment stage.

Location: Downtown Decatur; Dates: Oct. 3-4; Times: Friday - 6-8 p.m., Saturday - 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Website: decaturbookfestival.com

Gopher Tortoise Festival

This one’s worth a bit of a drive to the town of Douglas. In outdoor festival style, you’ll find the requisite kids’ activities, food, entertainment, and arts and crafts for sale. But the real draw is a chance to glimpse and learn about the event’s namesake with reptile exhibits.

Location: Downtown Douglas; Date: Oct. 4; Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Website: Gopher Tortoise Festival

Porches and Pies

Stroll through Adair Park and see all the action as pie experts submit their best-baked efforts. Admission is free, and you can purchase a tasting pass for $10. Enjoy music from artists like Bird City Revolutionaries, Suede Cassidy and The Hamstrings.

Location: Adair Park l Date: Oct. 4; Time: noon to 6 p.m.; Website: porchesandpies.com

CULTURA: Fiesta Latina

This Latin culture celebration brings to life a vibrant culture in downtown Lawrenceville. Music, food, performances, and art pull you in for a day of sensory experiences!

Location: Lawrenceville Lawn; Date: Oct. 4; Time: 3-8 p.m.; Website: downtownlawrencevillega.com

Powder Springs Marketplace

What a great way to spend an evening with the family in downtown Powder Springs! Grab a delicious dinner from a food truck and stroll around, stocking up at the farmer’s market and vendors. Live music starts at 6 p.m.

Location: Thurman Springs Park; Date: Oct. 8; Time: 5-9 p.m.; Website: powderspringsga.gov

Trees Atlanta panel discussion

This is why Atlanta is called the city in the forest: Hear about Atlanta’s downtown tree planting initiative as part of the Trees Atlanta speaker series. Speakers Marcia Bansley, Marcus Dottson and Jennifer Ball will talk about the organization’s growth, how tree planting lines up with economic vitality, and how an expanding canopy can help cool the city.

Location: Trees Atlanta Kendeda TreeHouse; Date: Oct. 9; Time: 7-8:30 p.m.; Website: treesatlanta.org

Wire and Wood Songwriters Festival

Musicians from across the region and the nation who write and present their own works will gather to perform their songs and convey the stories that inspired them. This event is designed to raise awareness about the importance of music. This year’s lineup includes Wang Chung, Gaelic Storm, Amanda Belair and many more.

Location: Downtown Alpharetta; Dates: Oct. 10-11; Times: Friday - music starts at 6 p.m., Saturday - music starts at noon; Website: wireandwoodalpharetta.com

Oakhurst Porchfest

This event launched 10 years ago to great success, with 130 performances in just a few hours. This iteration marks the 11th time musicians will take to porches throughout the Oakhurst neighborhood to play for passersby. Also, catch chalk doodlers, artists and dancers.

Location: Oakhurst neighborhood; Date: Oct. 11; Time: noon to 7 p.m.; Website: oakhurstporchfest.org

Apple Arts Festival

What’s fall without a visit to Ellijay for apples? Plan your trip right, and you’ll get to stroll through downtown, enjoying delicious food and perusing unique arts and crafts. This is the laid-back sister festival to the legendary Apple Festival, which occurs at the same time, on the second and third weekends of October, at the Lions Club Fairgrounds.

Location: Downtown Ellijay; Dates: Oct. 11-12, 18-19; Time: Saturday - 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (both weekends); Website: gilmerchamber.com

Denim Fest

See the SEC game on a big screen and enjoy food, pop-up bars and vendors. New for this year will be a carnival experience with midway rides and games, and inflatables. Entrance to Denim Fest is free, and there’s a $5 charge to enter the carnival. There will also be a family-friendly history walk called “Come to Work with Salty,” which introduces a day in the life of a millworker from years past.

Location: The Mill on Etowah; Dates: Oct. 18; Time: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Website: etowahmill.com

The French Market

Fall into the French with this open-air market at the Buckhead Village District featuring crafters, food and music. From fashion to flowers, there’s something for everyone to take home. The Village’s European-inspired look, complete with cobblestone streets, will make you feel like you’re strolling in the City of Light.

Location: Buckhead Village District; Dates: Oct. 18; Time: noon to 7 p.m.; Website: frenchmarketatl.com

Hapeville Chili Cook-off

Get ready to taste a full array of chili from mild to spicy! And take in great live music from Aaron Richard and Jordan Thorne while you’re at it. Proceeds from this event benefit Hapeville First Baptist Church and its efforts to help those in need.

Location: Arts Alley; Date: Oct. 18; Time: 4-7 p.m.; Website: hapeville.org/642/Chili-Cook-Off

Little 5 Points Halloween Festival and Parade

This event stretches over two days and features live music, more than 100 vendors, skate ramps, wrestlers and much more. The parade offers a view of decked-out ghouls and ghosts and steps off at noon down Moreland Avenue on Sunday.

Location: Little Five Points; Dates: Oct. 18-19; Times: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Website: Little5 poinys

Howl on the Green

Bring your family and friends and — of course — pets out to the Duluth Town Green for a night of early Halloween celebration!

Location: Downtown Duluth; Dates: Oct. 24; Time: 6-9 p.m.; Website: duluthga.net

Boo Fest

This sixth annual Halloween celebration offers family-friendly entertainment and activities. Come out dressed in costume and collect candy and indulge in food from on-site vendors.

Location: Lawrenceville Lawn; Dates: Oct. 24; Time: 6-9 p.m.; Website: downtownlawrencevillega.com

Dinner and a BOOvie

You read that right! The dinner-and-a-movie concept gets a spooky elevation with this event at Town Center Park in Suwanee. First, go trick-or-treating along Town Center Avenue, and then congregate in the park for games, inflatables and food trucks. Wrap your evening with a double feature movie, and don’t forget the chairs and blankets.

Location: Town Center Park; Dates: Oct. 25; Time: 5-10 p.m.; Website: suwanee.com

Movies Alfresco

This iteration of the Movies Alfresco series at Lou Sobh Amphitheater means a showing of “Beetlejuice!” Relax with the family under the stars and enjoy snacks and drinks for purchase on site. No coolers, outside beverages or food or tents.

Location: Lou Sobh Amphitheater; Date: Oct. 25; Time: 8 p.m.; Website: cummingcitycenter.com

Grayson Trunk or Treat

This traditional trunk or treat brings out community groups and businesses with decorated vehicles and candy to hand out. Grayson’s community feel will be on full display for an evening of fun, costumes and treats.

Location: Grayson City Hall; Date: Oct. 26; Time: 4-6 p.m.; Website: cityofgrayson.org

Haints & Saints Day of the Dead Halloween Parade

This colorful Halloween parade features a Dia de los Muertos theme. Step-off is at 6 p.m. from the Decatur Cemetery Bell St. entrance and ends downtown with a celebration including live music.

Location: Decatur Cemetery; Date: Oct. 26; Time: 5 p.m.; Website: visitdecaturga.com