Things to do in Murfreesboro this month: October 2026

Last checked Oct. 29, 2026. This page is rebuilt on the first of every month and covers the next six weeks. Listings come from the City of Murfreesboro’s events calendar, Main Street Murfreesboro, MTSU athletics and the organizers linked below.

Murfreesboro’s Halloween ends this weekend with trick-or-treat on the Square on Friday and the Patterson Park fall festival on Saturday. November brings a downtown holiday shopping night and art crawl on Nov. 6, “The Wizard of Oz” at the Center for the Arts, two MTSU home games and Borodash on Thanksgiving morning. December opens with the tree lighting on the Square on Friday, Dec. 4. Questions about city events go to Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation, 615-890-5333.

What this means for you

• This weekend: see things to do this weekend for Friday to Sunday.
• Friday, Nov. 6 is the busiest night downtown: shopping, the art crawl, a concert and the opening of “The Wizard of Oz.”
• Register early for the Wilderness Station programs; most need online sign-up.
• Theater, concerts and classes are on our arts and exhibitions page.

This week

Face Your Fears, 1 to 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, Wilderness Station, 401 Volunteer Road. Meet Tennessee’s native snakes and spiders up close. City calendar.

Toddler Spooktacular, 10 to 11:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 30, Patterson Park Community Center. Free for ages 2 to 5: a parade, a spooky dance, candy and carnival games. Parks and Recreation.

Trick or Treat around the Historic Rutherford County Square, 3 to 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30. Free. Downtown merchants, offices, the courthouse and City Hall hand out treats. Main Street Murfreesboro.

Halloween Speakeasy and Masquerade Ball, 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, Oaklands Mansion, 900 N. Maney Ave. $65, with timed speakeasy hours inside the mansion. Oaklands Mansion.

Murfreesboro Saturday Market, 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 31, Public Square. The last market of the 2026 season. Main Street Murfreesboro.

Patterson Park Community Fall Festival, noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, 521 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Free games, food, candy and prizes. City calendar.

More Halloween: Halloween events and trick-or-treat hours.

Next week

Archery for Beginners, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, Wilderness Station. $10. An instructor teaches the basics; a 1-mile walk on a paved trail leads to the archery field. Register.

Night Sounds Hike, 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, Wilderness Station. Free. A moderate 2-mile night walk on the backcountry trails; headlamps provided. Register.

Friday, Nov. 6, downtown:

• Sip, Shop and Stroll Downtown After 5: Holiday Edition, 5 to 8 p.m., Main Street’s holiday shopping night. Main Street Murfreesboro. More on our holiday shopping page.
• The Boro Art Crawl, 5 to 8 p.m. around the Square, free; the last crawl of 2026. Listing.
• Tennessee Philharmonic Orchestra: “A Veterans Salute”, 7 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 265 W. Thompson Lane. Tickets up to $40; veterans free. Tennessee Philharmonic Orchestra.
• “The Wizard of Oz” opens at 7:30 p.m. at the Center for the Arts, 110 W. College St., and runs through Nov. 15. $25. The Center for the Arts.

Patterson Park Triathlon, 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 7. $40 for an individual or relay team, ages 16 and up, 24 places. Register.

MTSU vs. Western Kentucky, 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, Floyd Stadium. The winner of the 100 Miles of Hope blood drive is announced at the game. MTSU athletics.

Family Campout, 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, to 9 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, Barfield Crescent Park. An easy 1-mile hike in, with staff help, dinner and breakfast included. $10 ages 13 and up, $5 ages 5 to 12, free 4 and under. Register.

Later in November

Fall Harvest Hayride, 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, General Bragg Greenway Trailhead. $5 a person or $20 a family. Register.

St. Clair Yard and Craft Sale, 7:30 a.m. to noon Friday and Saturday, Nov. 13-14, St. Clair Street Senior Center, 325 St. Clair St. City calendar.

Thankful Steps 5K Turkey Trot, 8 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, Gateway Island and Reception Center, 1875 W. College St. $27.50 with fees; online registration closes at noon Nov. 13. RunSignup.

Hike with Jane: Fall Leaf Color Hunt, 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, Wilderness Station. A state naturalist explains why leaves change. City calendar.

“Newsies Jr.,” Nov. 18-22, the Washington Theatre at Patterson Park. Perform Murfreesboro’s holiday show, $10. City calendar.

Family Campfire, 4 to 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, Wilderness Station. S’mores and campfire stories. $5 adults, $3 ages 4 to 17, free under 4. Register.

Animal Thanksgiving, 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 24, Wilderness Station. $5; registration opens Nov. 1. City calendar.

Borodash, 8 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 26 (Thanksgiving), Murfreesboro City Plaza, 111 W. Vine St. A 4-mile run and walk, with a 2K walk at 8:15 a.m. Prices rise after Oct. 31. RunSignup. Trash and closings are on our Thanksgiving page.

MTSU vs. New Mexico State, 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, Floyd Stadium. MTSU athletics.

Early December

Tennessee Philharmonic Orchestra: Christmas Spectacular, 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, Belle Aire Baptist Church, 1307 N. Rutherford Blvd. $10 to $40. Tennessee Philharmonic Orchestra.

Celebrate Christmas Downtown, from 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, Public Square. Main Street Murfreesboro lights the Rutherford County Christmas tree, with free activities for children, carriage rides, choirs and a stage program from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., then free pictures with Santa inside the courthouse. Parking on the Square closes at 4 p.m.; use the Civic Plaza and county judicial decks. Main Street Murfreesboro.

A Charming Christmas at Cannonsburgh Village, 4 to 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Dec. 4-19. $5 a person: light displays and carolers in the pioneer village. City calendar.

Family Christmas Market, 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, The Rustic Rebel, 301 N. Spring St. Free; local makers on the porches and yard. Listing.

“Frozen,” Dec. 4-20, the Center for the Arts. The Center for the Arts.

Coming later: the Murfreesboro Christmas Parade is 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13. See our Christmas parade page and holiday lights and Christmas events.

Regular events

• Murfreesboro Saturday Market: Saturdays 8 a.m. to noon, May through October, around the courthouse. Oct. 31 is the last one until May. Farmers markets.
• The Boro Art Crawl: first Friday of the month, March through November.

More guides: fall festivals and pumpkin patches, parks and trails and all things to do. Parking: getting around; road work: road construction and closures. Murfreesboro’s big annual events each have their own page: Harvest Days, International Folkfest and Uncle Dave Macon Days.

Send us your event

Organizers can email hello@murfreesboronow.com with the date, time, venue, price and a photo. Listings are free and go on this page and in the site’s diary.

Frequently asked questions

What is there to do in Murfreesboro this week?

Trick-or-treat on the Square runs from 3 to 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, and the free Patterson Park Community Fall Festival runs from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. Saturday is also the last Murfreesboro Saturday Market of the season.

When is the Murfreesboro Christmas tree lighting?

Main Street Murfreesboro’s Celebrate Christmas Downtown, with the lighting of the Rutherford County Christmas tree, starts at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, on the Public Square. Parking on the Square closes at 4 p.m.

Does MTSU play at home in November?

Yes. The Blue Raiders host Western Kentucky at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, and New Mexico State at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28.

Is there a Thanksgiving race in Murfreesboro?

Yes. Borodash, a 4-mile run and walk, starts at 8 a.m. Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, at Murfreesboro City Plaza, 111 W. Vine St., with a 2K walk at 8:15 a.m. The Thankful Steps 5K Turkey Trot is 8 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14.