Updated October 15, 2026
October is the North Country’s busiest fall month, and 2026 is no exception. With the first two weekends behind us, the rest of the month is stacked: punkin’ chunkin’ on the Clayton waterfront, craft shows, an a cappella invitational, 5Ks that benefit local causes, and the full Halloween run-up. Here’s what’s on across Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties — organized by weekend so you can plan.
Looking for Halloween-specific events? Those live in our Northern New York Halloween Events 2026 guide.
This Weekend: Oct 16–18
Clayton Scarecrow Contest
Public voting runs Tuesday, Oct 13 through Wednesday, Oct 28, with winners announced Oct 30. Scarecrows line James Street and Riverside Drive; enter through the Clayton Chamber at 517 Riverside Dr. (Source: Clayton Chamber)
Punkin’ Chunkin’ Festival
Saturday, Oct 17, Frink Park waterfront, Clayton. The 14th annual: youth chunkin’ at 11 AM, adult chunkin’ at 1 PM, BBQ from 11 AM till it’s gone (tasting 2–3 PM), and a farmers’ market along Riverside Drive, 10 AM–4 PM. Free admission, rain or shine. (Source: Clayton Chamber)
Preacher Lawson
Saturday, Oct 17, 7:30 PM, Clayton Opera House, 403 Riverside Dr, Clayton. Stand-up comedy from the America’s Got Talent finalist; $35 / $40 / $45 plus $3.50 fee. (Source: Clayton Opera House)
Fall Fest: Pumpkinpalooza 2026
Saturday, Oct 17, 10 AM–6 PM, Downtown Massena (10 W. Orvis St.). 40+ vendors, food trucks, live music all day, and kids’ activities. Free. (Source: Explore Massena)
Copenhagen Fall Craft Festival
Saturday, Oct 17, 10 AM–3 PM, The Drift Inn, 8304 River Road, Copenhagen. Local handmade vendors, with live music midday. (Source: The Drift Inn)
Fall Festival at New Hope Baptist Church
Saturday, Oct 17, 2–6 PM, New Hope Baptist Church, 19983 State Route 3, Watertown. Free family fall festival: snacks, games, face painting, bounce houses, door prizes, and music. (Source: New Hope Baptist Church)
Fall Craft Show at Jefferson Community College
Saturday, Oct 17, 10 AM–4 PM, JCC, 1220 Coffeen St., Watertown. 100+ vendors via Kessler Promotions; advance tickets online. (Source: Kessler Promotions)
Fall Bazaar
Saturday, Oct 17, 9 AM–2 PM, Canton First Presbyterian Church on the Park, Canton. The church’s annual fall bazaar: handcrafted items, jewelry, baked goods, and more, plus a soup and sandwich luncheon 11 AM–1 PM. (Source: Canton First Presbyterian Church)
Noble’s Costume Clash on the Court
Saturday, Oct 17, 8 AM–1 PM, Mills Park, Johnstown Street, Gouverneur. A Halloween-twist pickleball tournament — doubles played in costume, proceeds benefiting local hospice care. Per-division start times to be announced; check the event page for updates. (Source: event listing)
Stories in Stone Cemetery Tour
Saturday, Oct 17, 10–11:30 AM, Sackets Harbor Village Cemeteries. The second annual guided 90-minute walk, sharing the stories of the people who shaped the community. $5. (Source: Sackets Harbor Historical Society)
Clarkson Breast Cancer Awareness 5K Run & Walk
Sunday, Oct 18: check-in 9 AM, race 10 AM, Clarkson University Student Center, Potsdam. Clarkson University’s American Cancer Society on Campus hosts its annual 5K run and walk during Family Weekend. (Source: Clarkson University)
Big Band Jazz & Dancing: Frank Sacci Big Band
Saturday, Oct 17, 7 PM, The Strand, 136 Franklin St, Watertown. Big-band jazz with room to dance; $10 general / $20 VIP. (Source: HarmoNNY)
Northern Blend Chorus “Sing Fling”
Saturday, Oct 17, 6:30 PM, First Presbyterian Church of Watertown, 403 Washington St. The annual show with guest quartets and school groups; advertised as sold out on the chorus’s ticket page (checked Oct. 13) — check the chorus’s page for any last-minute availability. (Source: Northern Blend Chorus)
Orchestra of Northern New York: “American Lit. 101”
Saturday, Oct 17, 7:30 PM at Hosmer Hall, SUNY Potsdam; Sunday, Oct 18, 3 PM at Trinity Episcopal Church, Watertown. The finale of ONNY’s America 250th celebration — music inspired by American literature. (Source: ONNY)
Artrageous
Sunday, Oct 18, 3 PM, Clayton Opera House, 403 Riverside Dr, Clayton. Part of the Mary Mascott Family Series — painting, music, and theatre colliding on stage; $10 / $25 / $30 plus fees. (Source: Clayton Opera House)
Oct 21–24
National Apple Day at Ogdensburg Public Library
Wednesday, Oct 21 (time TBA). Andrew Brice from Applewood Orchards leads the Great Big Apple Crunch. (Source: Ogdensburg Public Library)
Friends Fall Book Sale
Wednesday, Oct 21 through Saturday, Oct 24, Ogdensburg Public Library. (Source: Ogdensburg Public Library)
Scarecrow Scuttle 5K/10K & Family Fun Run
Saturday, Oct 24, Old McDonald’s Farm, 14369 County Rd. 145, Sackets Harbor. Benefits The Arc Jefferson–St. Lawrence. 5K is $25 in advance ($30 race day); family fun run $10 adults/$5 kids. (Source: The Arc JSLC)
The Great Pumpkin Race 5K Walk/Run
Saturday, Oct 24, Lewis County Fairgrounds Pavilion, 5485 Bostwick St., Lowville. Packet pickup opens 8 AM, race starts 9 AM; costume prizes, door prizes, and post-race refreshments. About $40 race-day (includes shirt and medal); a virtual option is also available. (Source: event listing)
Oct 29–31
WPBS SuperWhy Pop-Up Movie Night
Thursday, Oct 29, 6–7:30 PM, WPBS studio, 1056 Arsenal St., Watertown. Free. (Source: WPBS)
For everything Halloween — trunk-or-treats, BOO at the Zoo, haunted tours — see our Northern New York Halloween Events 2026 guide.
On the watch list
“For Country: First In, Last Out” documentary
An Oct 8 screening is on-post (restricted); a public Watertown screening date is still TBA. A major one for the Fort Drum community — we’ll add it here when the public date lands. (Source: WPBS calendar)