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October Checklist
Fall at The Biltmore Estate in Asheville
Fall colors are already starting to make an appearance in and around Asheville, and one of the best places to enjoy the autumn yellows and reds is at the Biltmore House. Throughout the month of October, visit the estate and 8,000-acre garden for live music, harvest-themed menus and plenty of outdoor activities.
Pike Place Market Artisan Food Fest in Seattle
October 12, 7-10pm Twice per year, more than 60 artisan food vendors, beer brewers and wine makers take over Pike Place Market's North Arcade for a fall harvest celebrating good food and drink. Entrance gets you 10 tokens to spend on whatever snacks, desserts, coffees, wines or beers strike your fancy. Raw oysters, handmade cheese, butter toffee and empanadas rank among the most tempting.
London Film Festival
October 10-21 During the 56th installment of the British Film Institute's London Film Festival, 12 films will compete head-to-head in the festival's first formal competition. Fourteen other films will debut. Highly anticipated films include the screen adaptation of Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children and Dustin Hoffman's first film in the director role, Quartet.
Tour of Southern Ghosts in Atlanta
October 12-28 Atlanta's annual Tour of Southern Ghosts has become a favorite Halloween season attraction for families. Each Thursday and Sunday night, a cast of six different professional storytellers lead spooky tours through Antebellum Plantation in Stone Mountain Park while weaving tales of the most notorious southern spirits.
Harvest Fair in Sonoma County
October 5-7 With October comes the grape harvest in California's Sonoma County, and wine lovers flock to the area to celebrate the Harvest Fair. More than 150 wineries host tastings over the three days in addition to an art show, food demonstrations, live performances, family activities and the World Championship Grape Stomp. If you taste something you like, discounted bottles will be on offer in the marketplace.
Old World Oktoberfest in Phoenix
October 5-6 Munich isn't the only place for Oktoberfest action this autumn. Each year the Arizona Center for Germanic Cultures hosts its own version of the fall beer celebration, so don your lederhosen and head to the giant bier garten in Phoenix for traditional Bavarian food and drink, dancing and shopping opportunities. While alcohol may be the star of this event, it's billed as family-friendly with plenty on offer for the kids.
Carnival in Miami
October 5-7 Brazilians have to wait until February for their Carnival celebration, but in Miami, things heat up in October at Sun Life Stadium. Festivities kick off with the Carnival Kings and Queens competition and a steelband competition at Carnival Village and culminate in the parade on Sunday. Chow down on Caribbean food and pick up some arts and crafts when you're not dancing to live music.
Jazz a Vienne Sydney Festival
September 27- October 7 At the sixth Jazz a Vienne Sydney Festival, French and Australian jazz greats like Tricia Evy and Emma Hamilton will rub shoulders with local talent in a week of excellent jazz music in Sydney's Hawkesbury district. Concerts will be hosted by some of Sydney's best intimate venues.
La Magie des Lanternes in Montreal
September 7- November 4 At the same time China is celebrating the mid-autumn festival, the city of Montreal hosts its own celebration of Chinese culture, La Magie des Lanternes or "The Magic of Lanterns." This year's 20th anniversary event at the Montreal Botanical Gardens has chosen the theme Feast of Peaches with more than 1,000 decorative lanterns designed in Montreal and produced in China. Take a nightly guided tours of the lanterns to learn more about the mythology they represent.