Midtown Atlanta heads into the middle of October with one of its strongest weeks of the season. Between October 12 and 20, 2026, the neighborhood's cultural corridor along Peachtree and Spring Streets offers a Halloween puppet show for young audiences, a rock band backed by a full symphony orchestra, a free street party for the High Museum of Art's 100th birthday, and a sweeping screen-and-score concert at the Fox Theatre. Here are four events worth planning around.
Spookhouse Annie at the Center for Puppetry Arts
What to Expect
The Center for Puppetry Arts, at 1404 Spring Street NW at 18th Street, opens Spookhouse Annie on Wednesday, October 14, with performances Wednesday through Sunday. Inside this window, that means October 14 through 18, with morning showtimes listed at 10:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. The story follows Annie, who lives in a haunted house, and her nervous friend Dave, who arrives for a playdate and meets a cast of friendly Halloween characters, including a witch named Hagatha and a vampire named Count Morlock who landed in Pennsylvania instead of Transylvania. The Center describes it as playful, silly and imaginative, and the run time is about one hour.
Best For
This is a natural pick for families easing into the Halloween season without anything truly frightening. The Center recommends the show for ages 4 and up. Every show ticket includes museum admission, so a visit can continue into the Jim Henson Collection and the special exhibition Frame by Frame: The Art of Stop-Motion Animation, both open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Timing and Planning
Tickets start at $20 for non-members and $16 for members, with final pricing confirmed at checkout. Not every showtime is offered on every date, so check the Center's calendar before you commit to a morning. The production uses haze, black light and strobe lighting, which is worth knowing for anyone sensitive to flashing effects. Plan on a full morning: arrive a little early, see the show, then give the museum galleries an hour.
Guster with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Why It Stands Out
On Friday, October 16, and Saturday, October 17, the indie rock band Guster joins the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra at Atlanta Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree Street NE, with Steven Jarvi conducting. Both concerts begin at 7:30 p.m., with doors at 6:30 p.m. The detail that sets this pairing apart: the ASO says Guster will perform a unique set at each performance, drawing different selections from the band's catalog on each night. Longtime fans have a real reason to consider both evenings.
Insider Tip
Tickets are on sale now through the ASO, with separate links for each date, and the Symphony Hall box office can be reached at 404.733.4800. Prices are not listed on the event page, so compare seating for both nights before choosing. Because the orchestra fills out songs built for a rock stage, seats a little farther back often give the most balanced blend of band and strings.
Neighborhood Angle
Symphony Hall sits within the Woodruff Arts Center campus, steps from MARTA's Arts Center station and a short walk from the restaurants around Colony Square and 14th Street. A 6:30 p.m. arrival leaves time for a drink on the campus before the downbeat. For couples and friend groups, this is a full evening: dinner nearby, the concert, then a nightcap within a few blocks.
High Museum of Art Centennial Block Party
What to Expect
The High Museum of Art turns 100, and on Sunday, October 18, from noon to 5:00 p.m., it is closing Peachtree Street between 15th and 16th Streets for a free Centennial Block Party in front of the museum at 1280 Peachtree Street NE. Expect DJs and live music on a Main Stage, open rehearsals by Dance Canvas and Bautanzt Here on a Sidewalk Stage, birthday hat making inspired by works in the collection, chalk and bubbles, and an immersive kaleidoscope installation by Dash Studio. An official welcome at 2:00 p.m. opens with the Atlanta Hawks Drumline, and the afternoon closes with a Come Together dance party from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. An Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra string quartet plays the Sidewalk Stage at 4:00 p.m.
Timing and Planning
The block party itself is free with registration on the High's site. Museum admission for non-members is $23.50 and adds the galleries, the Museum Shop and the bars inside, while members receive block party and museum access at no charge. Food vendors include Bomb Biscuit Co., The Giant Quesadilla and Sweet Auburn BBQ, with free Coca-Cola products while supplies last. The event runs rain or shine. The High strongly recommends rideshare or MARTA, since the Woodruff Arts Center garage is limited and may fill early, and it notes that rideshare drop-off nearer Colony Square is closest to the entrance.
Neighborhood Angle
Few events capture Midtown's arts district as fully as this one. Community partners include MODA, Midtown Alliance, the Alliance Theatre and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, so the afternoon doubles as an introduction to the institutions that anchor this stretch of Peachtree. For anyone new to Atlanta, it is an easy way to see how the neighborhood gathers.
Best For
Families, friend groups and newcomers will all find their pace here. Treat it as a casual stop or stay for the full afternoon. A separately ticketed 3:00 p.m. conversation, 100 Years of Art in Atlanta, takes place in Hill Auditorium for those who want a deeper look at the museum's history.
Outlander in Concert at the Fox Theatre
Why It Stands Out
Outlander in Concert: Echoes Through The Highlands comes to the Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree Street NE, on Sunday, October 18, at 4:00 p.m., with doors at 3:00 p.m. The officially licensed production was created with showrunner Matthew B. Roberts and composer Bear McCreary, and it pairs McCreary's score, performed live by an orchestra, with key scenes from the series on a large screen. Under the Fox's ornate ceiling, a soundtrack this cinematic should feel right at home.
Best For
Fans of the series, couples looking for a Sunday afternoon outing and friend groups who have followed the show together are the natural audience.
Insider Tip
Tickets are sold through the Fox's official ticketing site, and the Fox uses all-in pricing, so the advertised price already includes fees and taxes. The theatre is primarily cashless, outside food and drink are not permitted and bags larger than 8.5 by 11 inches are not allowed, so travel light. The in-person ticket office opens three hours before doors. Because the show starts at 4:00 p.m., it pairs neatly with an early afternoon at the High's block party a short ride north on Peachtree, followed by an early dinner in Midtown.
Event Q&A
Which of these events are free?
The High Museum's Centennial Block Party on October 18 is free with registration. Museum admission is optional and priced separately for non-members. The other three events are ticketed.
What is the best plan for getting around Midtown on October 18?
Peachtree Street is closed between 15th and 16th Streets from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for the block party, and the Woodruff Arts Center garage may fill early. MARTA or rideshare is the simplest approach, especially if you plan to continue to the Fox for the 4:00 p.m. Outlander concert.
Are the two Guster concerts the same show?
No. The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra says Guster will perform a unique set at each performance, with different selections on October 16 and October 17. Both begin at 7:30 p.m.
Which event works best with young children?
Spookhouse Annie at the Center for Puppetry Arts is designed for ages 4 and up and includes museum admission, and the Centennial Block Party offers hat making, chalk, bubbles and a sensory-friendly performance for the very young at 1:30 p.m.
