Your October 2026 Guide to New Castle, Delaware and Pennsylvania
New Castle is one of the most charming small towns on the East Coast. It has cobblestones, a riverfront and a history that goes back nearly 370 years. October gives you plenty of reasons to visit, and several of the best events are only a short drive away in Delaware and Pennsylvania.
In Historic New Castle
5th Annual Belgian Beer Festival (Oct. 3). Belgian-style brews, food and live entertainment fill the historic town. It's a good excuse to walk the streets in fall.
Delaware Train Show (Oct. 3) & Octoberfest Toy Show (Oct. 4). Both are at the Nur Shrine Center. Collectors and families with kids will enjoy them.
Concert: Across the Atlantic: Dutch-American Dialogue (Oct. 11, 1 p.m.). This afternoon concert is on Market Street and fits the town's Dutch roots.
Ghost tours with the New Castle Historical Society (October). These are guided walks through dark streets and alleys, with tales of hauntings, Victorian death customs, and crime and punishment. Check the Historical Society's website for dates.
Tavern 250: Spirit of Independence (October). It's a night of 18th-century games and music as part of the Revolutionary anniversary. Watch the Historical Society's calendar for the date.
New Castle Little League Trunk or Treat & Fall Fest (Oct. 24, 5 p.m.). This one is for families.
Garba Night (Oct. 23) and the Caribbean Networking Event (Oct. 27). Both add some cultural variety to the local calendar.
Tip: The Historical Society's Fezziwig holiday ball tickets go on sale Oct. 1, and this event tends to sell out.
Just Up the Road (Under 30 Minutes)
Delaware City Day (Oct. 3). The waterfront town is celebrating its 200th year, so this year's festival is bigger. It ends with fireworks at dusk.
Hagley Craft Fair (Oct. 17–18). Artisans set up on the grounds of the Hagley Museum in Wilmington.
Art Battle Wilmington (Oct. 11). Artists paint live against the clock.
Fifer Orchards Fall Fest (through Nov. 7). Pumpkin picking, a corn maze, cider donuts and kettle corn make a good afternoon trip.
Worth the Drive Across Delaware
Bridgeville Apple-Scrapple Festival (Oct. 9–10). It's one of Delaware's oldest traditions and the state's most quirky food festival.
Punkin Ale Fest at Dogfish Head (Oct. 11). It's free and dog-friendly, with seasonal ales, food trucks and live music.
Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival (Oct. 15–18). Jazz plays at venues around the beach town.
Sea Witch Festival (Oct. 23–25). Parades and costumes fill the coast for a beach-town Halloween.
Pennsylvania Nearby
If you're in the DE-PA corridor, these are classic October outings. Frightland in Middletown, DE; Bates Motel & Haunted Hayride in Glen Mills, PA; Longwood Gardens' fall colors in Kennett Square, PA; and Eastern State Penitentiary's Halloween Nights in Philadelphia. I couldn't confirm the 2026 dates for these, so check each site before publishing or going.
Make It a Weekend
Pair a New Castle morning with an afternoon in Wilmington or the Brandywine Valley. Book ahead for October weekends, since hotels near the river fill quickly.
Thinking of living here? Contact Ali Hudler & Hudler Homes of Compass RE!
📞 302 545 8569