Fall Is Here and the Village Is Buzzing: October Events in Fayetteville, Bainbridge & Beyond
Pull up a chair, neighbor. October is here, and across our coverage area — from Fayetteville, Georgia to Bainbridge, Georgia, and beyond — the village is alive with community spirit, family fun, and a few opportunities that could genuinely shape the future of where we all call home.
Let's take a walk around the village.
What's Happening Around the Village
🎃 The Great Pumpkin Fest — Fayetteville, Georgia
Mark your calendar: The Great Pumpkin Fest 2026 is coming to the Historic Courthouse Lawn in Downtown Fayetteville on Saturday, October 24, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. This beloved annual event fills the heart of Downtown Fayetteville with fall activities, family fun, and community connection — and it is completely free to attend.
And here is a bonus for those who want to do more than just enjoy the festival: the City of Fayetteville's 'Imagine Fayetteville' team will have a dedicated booth at the Pumpkin Fest. That means you can carve out your pumpkin plans AND help shape the future of your city in the same evening.
Can't make it on the 24th? Don't miss The Great Pumpkin Walk, running October 19 through 28 across Fayetteville. It is a self-guided experience designed to get families out and exploring their neighborhoods as the leaves change and the air cools.
🏛️ Imagine Fayetteville: Your Voice, Your City
The City of Fayetteville has officially launched its 2027 Comprehensive Plan update process, branded as 'Imagine Fayetteville.' This is not a government formality — it is one of the most meaningful ways a community member can influence what gets built, where new housing goes, how traffic flows, and what kind of parks and resources come to your neighborhood.
Community Development Director Robin Cailloux put it plainly: "The Comprehensive Plan process is one of the best ways for local community members to influence the future of our city."
There are three easy ways to participate right now:
Take the Visioning Survey online at www.Fayetteville-GA.gov/ImagineFayetteville (available now through November 30)
Attend the Visioning Workshop on Tuesday, October 13, 5–7 PM, at Line Creek Brewing Bus Barn, 300 City Center Parkway, Fayetteville
Visit the Imagine Fayetteville booth at The Great Pumpkin Fest on Saturday, October 24, 4–8 PM, on the Historic Courthouse Lawn
👻 Scare on the Square — Bainbridge, Georgia
Down in beautiful Bainbridge, the City has announced the return of Scare on the Square — a Halloween celebration at Willis Park on Saturday, October 31, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. Whether you are a longtime Decatur County family or new to the area, this is exactly the kind of community event that reminds you why small-town Georgia feels like home.
Bainbridge has had a strong 2026. The city's Element by Marriott — Downtown Bainbridge recently earned the Georgia Downtown Association's 2026 Premier New Development Award, a recognition that speaks to the momentum this community is building. Street improvements are already underway, with more than 97,000 square yards of city streets being milled and resurfaced. The village is growing.
Why It Matters
Community events like the Great Pumpkin Fest and Scare on the Square are more than just fun — they are the glue that holds neighborhoods together. When families show up to a festival together, kids grow up knowing their neighbors. When businesses set up booths and volunteers come out to help, local economies get stronger. These events remind every person in attendance that the village is real, and it is worth showing up for.
The Imagine Fayetteville process matters even more. Cities that ask for community input before making decisions tend to make better decisions. Fayetteville is offering every resident, business owner, student, church leader, and retiree a genuine seat at the table. That is rare. Take it.
How This Impacts Our Community
Families with young children get a safe, fun fall experience without spending a dime. Local businesses gain foot traffic and visibility. Volunteers find meaningful ways to give back. Seniors and longtime residents get to celebrate the community they built. And everyone who participates in the Imagine Fayetteville survey or workshop gets a real voice in decisions that will affect housing, roads, parks, and economic development for the next five years.
Here is what is especially encouraging: both Fayetteville and Bainbridge are investing in their communities right now — with infrastructure projects, award-winning development, public events, and planning processes that put residents first. That is the kind of local leadership that deserves to be celebrated.
How You Can Get Involved
Attend The Great Pumpkin Fest on October 24 in Downtown Fayetteville — bring the whole family, dress up, and enjoy the evening.
Take the Imagine Fayetteville Visioning Survey at www.Fayetteville-GA.gov/ImagineFayetteville — it takes just 5 to 10 minutes and your input genuinely shapes city planning.
Attend the Visioning Workshop on October 13 at Line Creek Brewing, 300 City Center Parkway, Fayetteville — 5 to 7 PM.
Head to Bainbridge for Scare on the Square at Willis Park on October 31 from 5 to 7 PM — perfect for kids and families.
Explore The Great Pumpkin Walk October 19–28 — a self-guided fall experience across Fayetteville neighborhoods.
Share this article with a neighbor, church group, or school parent who might not know about these events — sometimes showing up starts with a simple share.
Sign up for Fayetteville plan updates at lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/SQTfp9R to stay informed as the comprehensive planning process continues through 2027.
Around the Village Calendar — October 2026
October 13 | Imagine Fayetteville Visioning Workshop | Line Creek Brewing Bus Barn, 300 City Center Pkwy, Fayetteville, GA | 5–7 PM | Free
October 16 | Cemetery Walk | Fayetteville, GA | All Ages
October 16 | Movies in the Park — "The Nightmare Before Christmas" | Fayetteville, GA | Family Friendly
October 19–28 | The Great Pumpkin Walk | Self-Guided | Fayetteville, GA | Free
October 23 | Breast Cancer Awareness Walk | Fayetteville, GA
October 24 | The Great Pumpkin Fest 2026 | Historic Courthouse Lawn, Downtown Fayetteville, GA | 4–8 PM | Free
October 26 | Monthly Coalition Meeting — Allendale County HEALing Partners | Allendale County Library, 297 Main Street North, Allendale, SC | In-Person & Online | info@allendale.health
October 31 | Scare on the Square | Willis Park, Bainbridge, GA | 5–7 PM | Family Halloween Celebration
Now through November 30 | Imagine Fayetteville Visioning Survey | Online | www.Fayetteville-GA.gov/ImagineFayetteville
Sophie's Suggestions 💜
If you are heading to the Great Pumpkin Fest or Scare on the Square, here are a few picks from Sophie's Mart to help your family show up in style:
Kids Pirate Costume Set | Boys Halloween Cosplay Outfit — A full pirate costume set that delivers every bit of that swashbuckling Halloween energy kids dream about. Perfect for Scare on the Square or trick-or-treating after the Pumpkin Fest. Shop it at sophiesmart.com/shop/halloween-costumes-for-children-pirate-costume-cosplay
Ghost Halloween Sweater | Boo Crewneck | Novelty Holiday Top — Not everyone wants a full costume — and that is completely fine. This Ghost sweater is the easy, stylish answer for adults who want to get into the Halloween spirit without the full production. Grab yours at sophiesmart.com/shop/ghost-halloween-sweater
Sophie's Mart KP Brew — Single Serve Brewing Capsules — Before you head out to the Visioning Workshop or a neighborhood walk, brew a warm cup of KP Brew — Sophie's Mart's signature coffee inspired by Kennedy Park, a community where Sophie Youmans saw a need and answered it. It is the perfect neighbor-made start to a community-focused day. Find it at sophiesmart.com/shop/sophie-s-mart-kp-brew-single-serve-brewing-capsules
Around the Village Takeaway
The village grows stronger every time a neighbor shows up — whether it is to a festival, a workshop, or simply to share an event with someone who needed to know.
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