October is my favorite month of the year for several reasons. It’s the start of true seasonal change here in North Carolina, when cool nights break the relentless grip of humidity, and glimpses of foliage start to emerge.

For me, it’s also the start of the holiday season. Halloween ushers in a three month stretch of celebrations, extra fun when you add in pagan holidays alongside their Christian counterparts (and you totally should!)

October 1st

The first of two full moons in October is also this fall’s Harvest Moon.

If you’re ready to marathon horror movies this month, AMC has expanded its Fearfest schedule to cover the full month.

If streaming movies is your preference, Shudder is offering a 7 day free trial of its horror streaming service.

October 6th

Cardiff, by the Sea: Four Novellas of Suspense on shelves. I am very excited to read this previously unpublished collection of novellas by Joyce Carol Oats.

October 7th

Keep an eye out after sunset for the peak of the Draconid meteor shower. Easier to enjoy then other meteor showers that peak in the early morning, expect to see about ten shooting stars in an hour.

October 10th

Netflix’s follow up to The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Bly Manor is available for streaming. The new season will be an independent, stand alone story, but will feature many of the same actors.

Promising to be a chilling gothic romance, I’m hoping it will be able to muster the same amount of scares and emotional heft as season one.

October 13th

Mars reached opposition roughly every two years, when it appears closest to the earth. Tonight however, it will appear especially bright, and won’t be this noticeable again until 2033. It will be easy to find in the night sky until mid November, so look for it’s distinct coral pink hue all month long.

Tiny Nightmares: Very Short Stories of Horrors on shelves. Over 40 flash fiction stories covering both supernatural horrors and real world terrors.

October 19th

Volume 2 of Netflix’s popular revival of Unsolved Mysteries available for streaming. This round will also offer 6 episodes.

October 27th

The Lost Spells by Robert McFarlane and Jackie Morris on Shelves. This follow up to The Lost World pairs spell poems and watercolors in order to inspire an renewed wonder in the natural world.

October 31st

The second full moon of the month coincides with Halloween and the end of daylight savings time. Let the mayhem begin.