The weekend of October 17 and 18, 2026 in Spokane brings Monster Jam at Numerica Veterans Arena, comedian Chelsea Handler at The Fox Theater, the Vanessa Behan Pumpkin Ball, the Great Pumpkin Race and Family Carnival at Riverfront Park, the last day of the Great Pumpkin Fest, and EWU football in Cheney. Here is a look at what is happening, organized by day, with the details we could confirm from official event pages.
📅 This Weekend at a Glance
- 🚚 Saturday and Sunday, Oct 17 and 18: Monster Jam at Numerica Veterans Arena
- 😂 Saturday, Oct 17: Chelsea Handler at The Fox Theater, 8 PM
- 🎃 Saturday, Oct 17: Great Pumpkin Race and Family Carnival at Riverfront Park, 11 AM to 2 PM
- 🎃 Through Saturday, Oct 17: The Great Pumpkin Fest at Brick West Brewing
- 🏈 Saturday, Oct 17: EWU Eagles vs. Montana State at Roos Field, 4 PM
- 🎩 Saturday, Oct 17: Vanessa Behan Pumpkin Ball at the Davenport Grand, 5:30 PM
- 🥕 Saturday, Oct 17: Spokane Farmers Market, 8 AM to noon
🗓️ Saturday, October 17
🌅 Morning and Afternoon
- 🥕 Spokane Farmers Market: 8 AM to noon at 2nd and Chestnut, in CDA Park in Browne's Addition. The Saturday market runs through November 21, 2026.
- 🚚 Monster Jam Pit Party: 9:30 AM to 11 AM at Numerica Veterans Arena, 720 W Mallon Ave. The listing says drivers leave the Pit Party 30 minutes before it closes. Pit Party entry requires a ticket to the show that follows it.
- 🚚 Monster Jam, first show: Doors and trackside open at 11 AM, and the show starts at noon.
- 🎃 Great Pumpkin Race and Family Carnival: 11 AM to 2 PM at Gesa Pavilion, with the carnival set up in Clock Tower Meadow at Riverfront Park. The event is free. Wear a costume, build and decorate a pumpkin racecar, and enter the Great Pumpkin Race. The event page also lists games, prizes, and food, and links to Meals on Wheels Spokane for more information.
- 🎃 The Great Pumpkin Fest: Brick West Brewing Company, 1318 W 1st Ave. The event page lists four straight weekends beginning Friday, September 25, which makes this weekend the last. The listing describes thousands of pumpkins for sale at $10 each, free live music, and face painting, with pumpkin sale proceeds going to Project ID and the Love Your Neighbor Foundation. Hours were not listed, so check the website before you go.
🌙 Afternoon and Evening
- 🏈 EWU Eagles Football vs. Montana State: 4 PM at Roos Field, Eastern Washington University in Cheney. The game is listed on Scripps Sports, SWX, and ESPN+.
- 🚚 Monster Jam, second show: Doors and trackside open at 5 PM, and the show starts at 6 PM.
- 🎩 Vanessa Behan Pumpkin Ball: 5:30 PM to 11 PM at the Davenport Grand Hotel, 333 W Spokane Falls Blvd. This is the 23rd annual event, described as a premier black tie gala. Tickets are listed at thepumpkinball.org.
- 😂 Chelsea Handler, The High and Mighty Tour: 8 PM at The Fox Theater, 1001 W Sprague Ave.
🗓️ Sunday, October 18
- 🚚 Monster Jam Pit Party: 9:30 AM to 11 AM at Numerica Veterans Arena.
- 🚚 Monster Jam: Doors and trackside open at 11 AM, and the show starts at noon.
Sunday has fewer events that we could confirm, so check the VisitSpokane events calendar for more options.
🚚 Planning Your Monster Jam Visit
- 🎟️ Tickets: All fans age 2 and older need a ticket. The listing says tickets start at $20, market pricing applies, and additional fees may apply.
- 🕘 Pit Party: Offered both days from 9:30 AM to 11 AM. Passes can be bought with your regular tickets or afterward.
- ☎️ Questions: The venue phone line listed for Monster Jam is 509 279 7000.
🚧 Planning Your Weekend
- 👨👩👧 Looking for family friendly plans? The Great Pumpkin Race and Family Carnival, the Great Pumpkin Fest, and Monster Jam are good places to start.
- 🌙 Looking for a night out? The Fox Theater has Chelsea Handler on Saturday at 8 PM, and the Pumpkin Ball is a formal evening at the Davenport Grand.
- 🚗 Downtown on Saturday: Several events overlap, including the Riverfront Park carnival, the Pumpkin Ball, and Chelsea Handler at the Fox. We did not find official parking or road closure details, so allow extra time.
- 🌳 Want to stay outside? The farmers market and the Riverfront Park carnival are both outdoors.
📝 A Note on This List
This guide highlights a selection of what is happening in Spokane this weekend and is not a complete list. Times, pricing, and registration can change, so confirm details with each organizer before you go.
🏡 Thinking About Calling Spokane Home?
A weekend like this one shows what living here is like, from a family carnival at Riverfront Park to a night at The Fox. If you have questions about buying or selling in Spokane, we are glad to help!
Event details, times, and pricing are accurate as of publication on October 16, 2026, and are subject to change. Confirm details directly with each organizer before attending.
