15 ways to have a fun fall near Mobile Bay: Oktoberfest, festivals, haunted houses + more you’ll love in 2026

Reviewed by: Mary Helene Hall

Reading time: 9 minutes

Assorted orange, green, and white pumpkins piled together with their stems visible
Fall is the perfect time to visit a local Alabama pumpkin patch! (Ella Walton / Mobile Bay Now)

Can you feel fall loading yet, Mobile Bay? While it may take a bit longer for lower Alabama to get the sweater weather memo, we know most are looking forward to the season of haunted houses and pumpkin-themed everything.

We put together a list of 15 fun fall-themed activities that you’ll want to mark on your calendar — from Oktoberfest celebrations to haunted corn mazes and hayrides!

Keep reading to find fun ways to fill your fall calendar!

Annual Oktoberfest @ Braided River Brewing

During LoDa’s September Artwalk, join Braided River Brewing for their annual Oktoberfest celebration featuring live music, traditional food, German beer and limited-edition Oktoberfest boot glasses!

At 7PM, they’ll have a boot hoisting competition (with men’s and women’s categories). Winners will receive tickets to Braided River Brewing’s anniversary party as well as hand-blown pint glasses from Muffinjaw Designs.

3rd Annual Pumpkin Patch @ Muffinjaw Designs

muffinjaw designs glass pumpkin 2026 15 ways to have a fun fall near Mobile Bay: Oktoberfest, festivals, haunted houses + more you'll love in 2026
Among Muffinjaw Designs’ cool creations are glass pumpkins, perfect for fall decor. (Ella Walton / Mobile Bay Now)

Muffinjaw Designs in Mobile will be showcasing their entire collection of handmade glass pumpkins plus other seasonal items. Visitors can watch live glassblowing demonstrations for free, take part in giveaways and browse quality goodies from other local vendors.

Fall Plant Market @ Bellingrath Gardens

Head to Belligrath Gardens as it kicks off the “Great Bellingrath Harvest Season.” Starting at 8AM on Friday, Sept. 18, they’ll have a vibrant selection of plants and garden-themed merchandise, all conveniently located in the parking lot in front of the Café and Gift Shop. 

Haunted Attraction @ Sweet Dreams Haunted Attraction

Starting in mid-September and lasting until Nov. 1, get in the spooky season spirit with an immersive haunted house on St. Francis Street! The warehouse-turned-haunted attraction will get your adrenaline pumping as you walk through the building crawling with scare actors.

While you wait for the main event, experience their escape rooms, carnival games and creepy photo-ops.

Pro-tip: The attraction uses fog, strobe lights, intense sound and lighting effects, low lighting, moving floors, wet or damp conditions, sudden movements and a physically demanding environment. For a full disclaimer, check out their website’s warning here.

Primal Fear Haunted House @ Downtown OWA

//www.instagram.com/embed.js

Step into Downtown OWA’s haunted maze, Primal Fear Haunted House, this Halloween season. Claustrophobic passageways and unsettling distortions are designed to keep visitors questioning what waits around the next corner.

Pro-tip: Guests will encounter darkness, confined spaces, loud noises, strobe lighting, fog effects, uneven terrain, sudden scares and live actors throughout the attraction. Check out the full disclaimer on the website here.

Corn maze + hayrides @ Seward Farms

Opening day for Seward Farm’s fall season is Saturday, Sept. 26! They’ll have a themed corn maze (theme to be revealed soon), hayrides, sweet treats, games, flower picking and more.

Pro-tip: Tickets went on sale Sept. 5 at a discounted price, available on the website here.

Scarecrows in the Gardens @ Bellingrath Gardens

Walk through Bellingrath Gardens to find a mix of spooky and silly scarecrows designed and crafted by local organizations, schools and businesses. As you explore the displays, you can vote on your favorites!

28th Annual Dauphin Street Beer Festival in Mobile

//www.instagram.com/embed.js

Downtown Mobile is having their annual beer festival on Saturday, Oct. 3, featuring 40 different beers 10 venues. From IPAs and microbrews to stouts and ciders, there’s something for everyone!

Gumbo Fall Festival @ Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church

Visit the Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church for their gumbo fall festival, which features food, fun, games fellowship and live entertainment. Founded in 1899, the historic Mobile parish served as a cornerstone for Black Catholics and civil rights history in Alabama.

Bonus: Proceeds will support student scholarships and community needs.

Mobile Latin Fest @ Mardi Gras Park

Held in downtown Mobile at Mardi Gras Park, Latin Fest showcases the rich diversity of Hispanic cultures! Check out live Latin music and dance performances, authentic cuisine, cultural exhibits, vendors, activities for the whole family and interactive experiences representing countries throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

Annual Oktoberfest @ the Flora-Bama

For those 21 and up, you can celebrate Oktoberfest at the Flora-Bama and receive a free drink upon entry. At 3PM, join in their stein hoisting competition hosted by Samuel Adams. All those who enter will get a free stein!

Food is served at 4PM and includes beer brats, sauerkraut and german potato salad.

Pro-tip: Guests will also recieve 25% off in the gift shop and complimentary German food from the buffet (while supplies last).

Semmes Fall Festival @ Mary G. Montgomery High School

This free, community-wide fall festival will be filled with family fun, vendors, food trucks, entertainment, costume contests and more. Stop by the Mobile County Animal Shelter booth to snuggle a pup!

‘Field of Fright’ + haunted hayrides @ Seward Farms

Seward Farms will be turning their corn maze into a “Field of Fright” for two Saturdays in October, where zombies, witches and other creatures stalk you through the stalks. They’ll also have haunted hayrides available!

Please note: Their actors are expected to give high thrill of spook but are instructed not to touch.

  • When: Oct. 24 + 31
    • Starts at dark, last ticket sold and/or admitted at 8:30PM
  • Location: 10836 Tanner Williams Rd, Lucedale, MS 39452
  • Cost:
    • Haunted hayrides: $15/person
    • Field-of-fright walkthrough: $15/person
    • Hayride + field-of-fright walkthrough: $20/person
  • More info

Mob-tober Fest @ Medal of Honor Park

Enjoy live music, fun games and activities, then fill bags with candy on the Trail of Treats (hosted by local businesses and organizations) at Mobile’s Mob-tober Fest! You’ll want to dress in your best costume so you can pose in front of the photo booth and enter in the costume contest.

Wag-O-Ween + Candy Crawl @ Downtown OWA

Halloween Day at Downtown OWA in Foley will feature events for all — and your little dog, too! Check out their “Wag-O-Ween” event from 11AM-1PM for a pet costume contest, bobbing for pumpkins, DJ entertainment and an awards ceremony. Following the pet-friendly event, visitors can trick-or-treat from 2-5PM, visiting participating shops and event tents for treats.

Ella Walton
Ella Walton
Articles: 54