Things to Do in Spokane This Weekend: October 17, 2026

If you are looking for things to do in Spokane this weekend, Saturday offers a particularly broad mix. There are family activities at Riverfront Park, live theater, an evening lantern event at Manito Park, a quiet writing meetup in Liberty Lake, and two different harvest experiences in Coeur d’Alene.

That variety says something useful about this part of the Inland Northwest. Spokane, Liberty Lake, and Coeur d’Alene are close enough to share a Saturday, but each community still has its own pace and personality.

Great Pumpkin Race & Family Carnival at Riverfront Park

Riverfront Park’s Great Pumpkin Race & Family Carnival runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Families can make and decorate pumpkin racecars, then put them to the test. The free event also includes games, prizes, and food.

Official Great Pumpkin Race details

Shut Up & Write! in Liberty Lake

For something quieter, Shut Up & Write! meets from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at Trailbreaker Cider, 2204 N. Madson Road. It is a free, focused writing session open to writers of different experience levels. The format is simple: arrive, settle in, and spend some uninterrupted time getting words onto the page.

Meetup information and RSVP

Peter Pan Goes Wrong at Spokane Civic Theatre

Spokane Civic Theatre has a 2 p.m. Saturday matinee of Peter Pan Goes Wrong. The comedy follows a theater company attempting to stage Peter Pan while nearly everything that can fail does. Tickets are required, and availability may change as the performance approaches.

Tickets and production details

Spokane Water Lantern Festival at Manito Park

The Water Lantern Festival opens at 3 p.m. at Manito Park, 1702 S. Grand Boulevard. Food and music run through the afternoon, lantern design begins around 5:30, and the launch is scheduled from 6 to 7 p.m. This is a ticketed event, so check current availability before making the drive.

Official Spokane Water Lantern Festival information

Museum of North Idaho Harvest Festival

The Museum of North Idaho’s Harvest Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 720 E. Young Avenue in Coeur d’Alene. Admission is free. The program includes hayrides, pumpkin painting, live music, food vendors, artisan booths, and history demonstrations. Some individual activities may be available for purchase.

Official Museum of North Idaho Harvest Festival details

Harvest Market & Apple Palooza in Downtown Coeur d’Alene

Harvest Market & Apple Palooza runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. along the downtown 5th Street market corridor. The market brings together fall produce, prepared food, music, and apple treats. Apple Palooza tasting tickets are limited, including any day-of availability.

Official Harvest Market & Apple Palooza details

Planning Your Saturday

The timing makes it possible to pair a morning Coeur d’Alene harvest stop with an afternoon or evening Spokane event. My recommendation would be to choose one anchor activity, then treat anything else as a bonus. A Saturday is usually more enjoyable when it does not become a race between parking lots.

Before heading out, confirm tickets, registration, parking, weather, availability, and any last-minute schedule changes with the organizer. For more local context, visit the Spokane and Coeur d’Alene real estate resources on my website.

Music: Just Keep Walking by Michael Ramir C., licensed through Mixkit.