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Philly Fall Arts Guide: Arts fests, food fests and fall outings in October

Hot dates on Philadelphia’s crisp-weather calendar of outings and special events

Autumn's Colors
This weekend through Nov. 22
Longwood Gardens offers leaf-peeping with the usual bells and whistles - stunning vistas, cider - plus indoor conservatories decked out for the season (especially during the Chrysanthemum Festival, Oct. 24-Nov. 22), plus strolling folk musicians some days, plus fountains. Trippy "Nightscape" sound-and-light show continues through Oct. 31 as an evening add-on (reserve ahead).

610-388-1000, longwoodgardens.org

Terror Behind the Walls
Sept. 18-19, Oct. 2-Nov. 7
Eastern State Penitentiary's fright fest opens early, goes on 12-day hiatus for the pope, then lingers, tortured-spirit style, into the weekend after Halloween. New for this 25th-anniversary year, two creepy scenarios - one involving an "infectious outbreak" marked by hallucinatory special effects, the other a prison break.

215-236-3300, easternstate.org/halloween

Philadelphia International Dragon Boat Festival
Oct. 3
Drummers, paddlers and their decked-out boats return to the Schuylkill. Legions line the banks to cheer some of the best-named teams in sport. On this year's roster, among others: J's Crew, Motley Crew, REO Speed Dragon, the Big Tippers.

610-642-2333, philadragonboatfestival.com

Philadelphia Open Studio Tours
Oct. 3-4 and 17-18
The city's annual garret crawl admits admirers (perchance buyers?) into the well-lighted spaces and sometimes marginal neighborhoods where art gets made. This year, artists' studios east of Broad Street open their doors on the tour's first weekend; those to the west follow two weeks later. Wear sensible shoes: Garret access may be via stairway.

215-546-7775, philaopenstudios.org

Puerto Rican Festival and Parade
Oct. 4
Annual showcase of Puerto Rican and Latino culture - and lots and lots of red-white-and-blue flags - takes to the Parkway. Salsa music and a procession of adorably costumed youth groups keep spectators' toes tapping and Instagram fingers snapping.

215-627-3100, elconcilio.net

OutFest
Oct 11
Philly Pride's loud, proud Gayborhood street festival gets even more so for this, its 25th year. Twelve blocks devoted to the merriment (between Walnut and Spruce, and 11th and Juniper) give vendors, partyers and people-watchers a rainbow's breadth of elbow room for the dancing, Hula Hooping and high-heel racing that have become traditions over the years - and for 2015's addition: mini-golf.

215-875-9288, phillypride.org

Pour the Core
Oct. 17
Now in its third year, the craft-brew hard-cider festival at the Navy Yard is officially a fall Philly thing. (The touring event hits Brooklyn, Boston, and Long Island, too). Vendors pour 75 varieties of adult beverages fermented from apples. Admission ($40) buys a sampling glass and tastings.

pourthecore.com/philly

Philadelphia Cheesesteak Festival
Oct. 24
First-ever salute to the indigenous sandwich assembles 40 cheesesteak makers at the Linc, with all-day entertainment programmed by local rock stations. Pay $40 for admission, 10 samples and a T-shirt (or $20 just to attend). Pay as you go to wash 'em down with beer or fountain beverages.

cheesesteakfest.com

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