The island's season does not officially start until November, but this week gets a head start. A charity pumpkin patch has two days left on Royal Poinciana Way, Glazer Hall books a radio legend and one of the great living pianists three nights apart, and the Royal Poinciana Plaza's wine shop brings in two French producers. Here is what is worth leaving the house for in Palm Beach from Saturday, Oct. 17, to Friday, Oct. 23.

Saturday and Sunday: the last pumpkins on the plaza

The Pop-Up Patch for Philanthropy fills the East and West Courtyards of the Royal Poinciana Plaza at 340 Royal Poinciana Way through Sunday, Oct. 18, open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Every pumpkin sold supports the Cancer Alliance of Help and Hope, which helps local cancer patients with everyday bills. On Saturday from noon to 2 p.m., the plaza layers on free Sant Ambroeus gelato, a DJ set from Adam Lipson, photos by Capehart Photography and rosé and fresh juice from Celis. Kids get garden games plus popsicles, books and activities at the plaza's Wee Free Library. Why go: it is the prettiest pumpkin you will buy this year, and the money stays in the county.

Monday and Tuesday: two French producers, one hour each

Virginia Philip's wine shop at the plaza hosts back-to-back tastings from 6 to 7 p.m. On Monday, Oct. 19, Pierre de Benoist of Domaine de Villaine, the Burgundy estate, pours alongside Angeline Lassalle of Champagne J. Lassalle, per the plaza's listing. On Tuesday, Oct. 20, the featured house is Famille G. Vigouroux. Registration runs through the shop, and the pours have not been announced. Why go: you rarely get to taste a wine with the people who made it.

Wednesday: a book club and a radio legend

At 1:30 p.m. the Four Arts King Library, 101 Four Arts Plaza, hosts a free Page Turners discussion of the novel This Is Not About Us, a story of sisters, parental expectations, growing up and growing old. Hindel Levitin, program director of the Chabad House in Palm Beach, leads it, and you can join in person or on Zoom. Reservations are required at (561) 655-2766, per the Four Arts.

That evening at 7, Garrison Keillor, who created and hosted A Prairie Home Companion for more than four decades and gave the country Lake Wobegon, shares the stage at Glazer Hall, 70 Royal Poinciana Way, with comedian Erica Rhodes. She joined his radio show at 10 as its youngest regular, often played his sensible niece in the sketches, and is in fact his niece by marriage. The show is billed as The Crazy Uncle and His Sensible Niece. Tickets are $95 to $110. Why go: it is the closest thing left to a live Prairie Home Companion, with a family argument built in.

Thursday: a ticket tip

If you plan your winter around the Four Arts, note that the last wave of public ticket sales for its November through January programs opens Thursday, Oct. 22, at 10 a.m., according to the Four Arts. The popular talks go fast.

Friday: Emanuel Ax, Schubert and Chopin

Emanuel Ax plays a solo recital at Glazer Hall on Friday, Oct. 23, at 7:30 p.m. The first half is Schubert, his Sonata in A Major, D. 664, and the Four Impromptus, D. 935. After intermission he turns to Chopin: the Polonaise-Fantaisie, the Barcarolle, the two Nocturnes of Opus 27 and the Second Scherzo. Ax won the first Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Competition in 1974, later took the Avery Fisher Prize and has eight Grammys. Tickets are $175 to $225. Why go: hearing a pianist of this caliber a short walk from dinner on Royal Poinciana Way, is the kind of night the season is built on.

The short version

Buy a pumpkin this weekend, taste a Burgundy on Monday, laugh with the Keillors on Wednesday and save Friday for Chopin. Palm Beach in October is quieter than it will be in a month, which is the whole point: the seats are easier to get now.