The Best Things to Do on Nantucket in October 2026

What are the best events on Nantucket in October?

By the ACK Natural Education Team | September 29, 2026 | 6 min read

Things to do on Nantucket in October.

The ferries thin out, the crowds go home, and what's left is crisp air, turning foliage, and a genuinely packed run of island tradition — scallop season opens, the Half Marathon takes over the south shore, and the month closes with a parade down Main Street. Here's what's actually happening, week by week.Scallop Season Opens (October 1)

Recreational bay scalloping kicks off October 1 and runs Wednesday through Sunday all month. You'll need a permit from the Town Clerk's office at 4 Fairgrounds Road — $35 for the year if you're a Nantucket resident, $125 for the season (or $50 for a week) if you're not — and the catch limit is two bushels per week. Madaket and Monomoy are the classic starting spots at low tide. It's one of the most local things you can do on the island in the fall, and gear is easy to rent from The Ship Store, Nantucket Tackle, or Bill Fisher.
Scallopers Ball & the Great Scallop Hunt (October 2–3)
The Nantucket Shellfish Association's Scallopers Ball kicks off the season Friday night, and the Maria Mitchell Association runs its Great Scallop Hunt by boat on Nantucket Harbor October 2–3 — a family-friendly way to see the harvest without getting in the water yourself.
NHA Fall Festival at the Oldest House (October 3)
The Nantucket Historical Association hosts a free fall celebration at the Jethro Coffin House (16 Sunset Hill) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. — tours of the 1686 house and garden, crafts, lawn games, live music, and food from Eat Fire Pizza and Hang Loose Helado. Bring a picnic blanket if you'd rather eat on the lawn.
Wet Paint Weekend (October 9–11)
The Artists Association of Nantucket's signature fall event has local and visiting artists painting the island live over three days, culminating in an auction and dinner. Worth a wander even if you're not buying — watching a landscape painter work at Jetties Beach at golden hour is its own kind of October activity.
Cobblestones & Commerce (October 9–12)
The Chamber of Commerce's fall shopping weekend: pick up a card at the Chamber office on Main Street or at participating merchants, spend $10 or more at each stop to collect stamps, and turn your completed card back in for prize eligibility. A good excuse to actually walk into the shops you usually just pass.
Nantucket Half Marathon (October 11)
The 15th annual Half Marathon starts and finishes at Bartlett's Farm and winds through sandy beach roads, bike paths, and the Land Bank's Smooth Hummocks Coastal Preserve — one of the more scenic courses on the East Coast, runners or not. Expect road closures along the route Sunday morning.
Indigenous Peoples' Day Weekend (October 12)
The last long weekend of the season, and typically the last real push of visitors before things quiet down for good. If you're coming out for it, book ferry and lodging early — schedules and availability both taper hard after this weekend.
Farmers & Artisans Market (Saturdays through October 31)
Sustainable Nantucket's market runs Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Cambridge and North Union Streets through the end of the month — 60-plus local farmers, food producers, and artisans, and a good weekly reason to get downtown early.
NCF Fall Festival & Batacular Bike Race (October 25)
One of the island's best fall traditions, out at the historic Milestone cranberry bogs (220 Milestone Road). The Batacular kicks off at 9 a.m. with 8.4-mile and 16.8-mile off-road loops through the Middle Moors; the free festival runs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with cranberry sales, hayrides, food trucks, a Nanpuppets show at 11, and live music from Buckle and Shake.
Halloween on Main Street (October 30–31)
The Main Street parade steps off at 4 p.m. on October 30 — costumed kids should arrive by 3:15–3:30 in front of Ralph Lauren for the costume contest first. There's a carved pumpkin contest and candy at the Lieutenant Max Wagner Memorial Fountain, and free shuttle service via "Riding the Wave" if you don't want to deal with parking. Halloween itself falls on Saturday the 31st this year.
What's the Weather Like in October?
Expect daytime highs in the 60–61°F range with cooler evenings in the mid-50s, and water hovering around 59–60°F — brisk, not swimmable, but great for a walk on the beach. This is also when the island's moors and conservation land turn genuinely spectacular: Sanford Farm & Ram Pasture (a 6-mile round trip through meadow and woodland to the ocean), Squam Swamp's red maples and tupelos, the wide-open "Serengeti" views from Middle Moors and Altar Rock, and the easy, dog-friendly loop at Tupancy Links are all worth the trip. Sankaty Head and Great Point Lighthouses are particularly photogenic against fall color, and a bike ride out to 'Sconset or Madaket is a different experience entirely without the summer traffic.
Planning Ahead
Most shops, restaurants, and galleries stay open through mid-October, and a lot of inns drop their three-night minimums as the month goes on — it's a genuinely good time to find a room. Just know that ferry and flight schedules thin out considerably after Indigenous Peoples' Day weekend, so book that part early if your visit falls in the back half of the month.
Wind down after a day of island events
Whether you spent the day scalloping in Madaket or walking the Half Marathon route for fun, we're a quick stop on the way home. As Nantucket's only on-site cultivation facility and licensed medical cannabis dispensary, we grow what we sell right here on the island. New to the island or new to us? Check our FAQ page before you stop by. Browse the menu and order ahead for fast pickup. Must be 21+ with a valid ID.
Order Now