Upcoming Festivals and Fall Events in Spokane
if you want to find the best things to do in Spokane this fall and winter season, there are a myriad of exciting cultural events, award shows, fall festivals and much more happening in 2023! Be sure to save the dates so you don't miss out on any of Spokane's best festivities this fall!
October Events
David Cross
Oct. 20
As a 2-time Grammy and Emmy award winner, Comedian David Cross knows how to put on a good show. Cross has staredd in numerous hit movies such as Men in Black and Men in Black II, Kill Your Darlings, It's a Disaster, Abel, Year One, Waiting for Guffman, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and Pitch Perfect 2,
He now brings his unique brand of comedy to Spokane's Bing Crosby Theater this fall, and is sure to be on a hit comedy event unlike anything you've seen before
Campell House Dark History Tour: Society Secrets
Oct. 19
When one digs into events of the past, it’s not uncommon to discover dirty, dark secrets that those long gone from this world probably hoped would, well, stay dead with them. While the grittier doings of the Amasa B. Campbell family, whose opulent home has long been a living history museum at the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture campus, may not be as salacious as, say, a modern true crime series, it’s still intriguing enough to warrant sharing. This special one-night tour series unveils some of the stranger actions of the mining magnate family and their connections, from persistent rumors to true misfortune. (Take note that tickets are only available in person, and tour spots are limited, so you should arrive by 5 pm to save a spot.)
Location: The MAC
Tours from 6-6:45 pm, $4-$6
LILAC CITY LIVE! Halloween Special
Oct. 19
Spokane Public Library’s monthly late-night talk show is back, baby! Resuming in the newly reopened and remodeled Central Library, in the third floor space now named nxʷyxʷyetkʷ Hall, Lilac City Live! is a lively and often laugh-out-loud program hosted by local musician and humorous personality Ryan Dean Tucker, who’s also the library’s video education specialist. Featured guests each month range from writers to musicians and artists to chefs, and are usually announced a few weeks before each iteration. For October’s show, local paranormal investigator Amanda Paulson is set to chat with Tucker, with other “spooky season” guests expected to join the lineup as of this writing.
Location: Central Library
Free, 8 pm, all ages
DISNEY ON ICE: Frozen and Encanto
Oct. 21-22
There’s nothing quite like watching tiny smiling faces singing and dancing along with their favorite Disney characters. That opportunity usually only comes once a year when Disney On Ice skates into town. This particular edition of Disney On Ice invites audiences on a journey with their favorite Frozen and Encanto characters. Go into the show with an open mind, maybe you’ll heal your inner child and have just as much, or more, fun as the little one standing next to you
Location: Spokane Arena
November Events
BEFORE IT’S IN THEATERS
Nov. 4, 11, 18, 25
While movie trailers are designed to give viewers fragments of the story to grab their attention, do they give enough plot information for viewers to determine if the movie will be a blockbuster hit or a waste of money? That’s what the Blue Door Theatre is testing in its new show, for which actors create an improvised version of a movie based solely on the trailer and nothing else. With the show rated for general audiences, it’s the perfect Friday night activity for all ages.\
Location: The Blue Door Theatre
7:30 pm, $8, all ages
FALL FOLK FESTIVAL
Nov. 12 & 13
Folk music has been around for… well, ever. It’s learned mostly through hearing rather than reading, which is what makes it so special. The Fall Folk Festival is the event of the year for all who enjoy the sweet sounds of the banjo. Wander throughout the halls long enough, and you might just stumble upon your new favorite folk artist or a workshop to attend. Along with the eight stages of constantly rotating folk bands and dancers, local vendors will sell their wares and spread the good word about folk music and culture to all who lend a listening ear.
Location: Spokane Community College
Sat from 11 am-8 pm, Sun from 11 am-5 pm, free
BLUE MAN GROUP
Nov. 14 & 15
How many other live performances require the issuance of an audience advisory? Cool, right? What started as late ’80s performance art on the streets of lower Manhattan by three quirky dudes, Blue Man Group has morphed into an epic stage production involving a complex and fast-paced narrative with sound, lights, fantastical instruments, screen images and occasionally splashing paint. The only constant in their repertoire is the Blue Men themselves: Dressed in black, all visible skin painted blue, they do not speak. So even if you saw them previously, expect all new full-sensory shenanigans when they come to Spokane.
Location: First Interstate Center for the Performing Arts
7:30 pm, $45-$90
DANCE PRESENTS! GONZAGA DANCE
Nov. 19
Join Gonzaga dance students at their annual Dance Presents! event, which highlights the dance and artistry of nationally renowned professional dance companies. This year, they welcome Utah’s most established contemporary dance institution, the Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company. The night also features a performance from the Gonzaga University Repertory Dance Company and is the perfect way to support the arts with friends and family.
Location: Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center
7:30 pm, $15, all ages
JAY LENO in Spokane
Nov. 25
While Jay Leno is best known for his time hosting the Tonight Show, he’s making a return to the spotlight and his stand-up comedy roots with his all-new comedy tour that’s stopping in Spokane. Not only is Leno performing new material that he’s curated and perfected during his time off air, he’s also bringing back the trivia game “You Bet Your Life” to his set. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or just getting into his comedy, it’s bound to be a hilarious and memorable night for everyone.
Location: Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox
7:30 pm, $58-$128
December Events
NORTHWEST WINTERFEST
Dec. 1 -31st
Remember the incredibly cool Chinese Lantern Festival at Riverfront Park back in 2015? A slightly scaled back and more holiday-themed version is returning this year when the Northwest Winterfest takes over the Spokane County fairgrounds. Transitioning from being the outdoor, drive-through event of years past, this year’s Winterfest is all inside (where it’s warm!), and features dozens of highly detailed, lighted lantern displays, from Santa to cute woodland animals and decorated evergreens, plus more. There are also food vendors, games and other activities to enjoy. Details are still coming together, but mark your calendars now for this fun, family-friendly multicultural experience.
Location: Spokane County Fair & Expo Center
$12-$17 (kids 10 and under free), Fri from 5-8 pm, Sat from 4-8 pm, Sun from 3-6 pm
THE NUTCRACKER BALLET
Dec. 1-4
The Nutcracker is a staple of the holiday season, so when it comes to town for four days each year, it’s an experience you don’t want to pass up. Not only does the ballet include live music from the Spokane Symphony, it includes the dazzling performances from State Street Ballet of Santa Barbara, and the local youth dancers from Spokane who join them on stage each year. No matter how many times you’ve seen The Nutcracker in Spokane, the sets, costumes and talent of all of the performers remain as memorable and inspiring as ever.
Location: Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox
Times vary, $25-$99, all ages
BRRRZAAR
Dec. 17
Spokane is an art city, and it’s all thanks to the incredible local artists that stick around and present their hard work to us year after year. BrrrZAAR is the one-stop shop for all things local art, but it might take you a few hours to see it all. The market takes place on all three levels of River Park Square, making it the largest art market in Spokane. Not only will patrons find thousands of locally made items, but the event also includes live music and activities for all ages.
Location: River Park Square
10 am-8 pm, free to shop
SAM MORRIL
Dec. 29-31
While some stand-up comedians use high energy or gimmicks to hook an audience, Sam Morril is content to hang back and let his joke writing do the talking. His calm, raspy, almost deadpan delivery draws an audience in without desperately grasping to get their attention. His new Netflix special Same Time Tomorrow captures the fluidity of his humor. He can hit humorous insights on modern events and politics in such a matter-of-fact way (rather than try to be a provocateur) and then swiftly move onto another topic, craft hilarious bits from his own life and relationships, and do crowd work that actually pops. Whether pointing out the stupidity of moral statement shirts, the similarities between the Catholic Church and Amazon, or why slow drivers make him suspicious about Nazism, there’s always a new humorous spin around the corner. Laughing in the New Year with Morril sounds like a pretty good way to wind down 2022.
Location: Spokane Comedy Club
Thu at 7:30 pm, Fri at 7:30 and 10:30 pm; Sat at 5, 7:30 and 10:30 pm