Halloween and fall in Florida are lurking around the corner and that means we need to start planning the spooky and fun festivities! From family-friendly events to horror-filled haunted experiences, there’s something for everyone when it comes to Halloween and fall in Florida.
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween in Orlando
Head to the Magic Kingdom for Halloween in Orlando through October 31 to party with your favorite mouse and his friends! The enchanting atmosphere during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at the Happiest Place on Earth is an incredible backdrop to put anyone in the spooky spirit of Halloween.
Kids (and kids at heart) will love:
- The Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular
- Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Fireworks Spectacular, hosted by Jack Skellington
- Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade, including Minnie Mouse, Daisy Duck and Clarabelle Cow in their own Halloween costumes as the Sanderson sisters from Hocus Pocus
Howl-O-Scream in Tampa
Experience the full Howl-O-Scream takeover of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay through November 1. named USA Today 10Best Reader’s Choice #1 Best Theme Park Halloween Event in 2024, scare seekers in Tampa will find haunted houses, scare zones and spooky shows, along with the thrill rides the park is famous for.
Get your scare on with:
- 5 scare zones and 4 frightening roaming hordes
- 5 horror-filled haunted houses
- Live shows, DJ sets and never-before-seen scare-prises
Sweetfields Farm — Brooksville
My personal favorite October activity is a visit with my kids to Sweetfields Farm in Brooksville for their family-friendly Fall Season Event. This traditional fall in Florida farm experience is truly unique, and runs through November 9.
Family favorites at Sweetfields:
- 2 corn mazes, hay maze, hayride and farm games
- Photo opportunities: A pumpkin patch…at a farm…with a corn maze in the background!
- Fun vendors serving up fall tasty treats like kettle corn and fresh pressed apple cider
Scream-A-Geddon in Dade City
Be afraid…be very afraid! Scream-A-Geddon is Florida’s award-winning horror park in Dade City. This event comes back year after year with new horrific attractions to spook the masses. This year’s fears run through November 8, and include the new Killgore’s 3D Circus, “the most mysterious big top show in America;” wandering monsters and more horrifying fun.
Get your scare on with:
- 6 horrific haunted houses
- Zombie paintball assault — it’s time for some good old fashioned zombie slaying!
- The Monster Midway featuring games, photo opportunities, food and Bonzo’s Beer Garden
Harvest Days — Plant City
Every weekend in October Keel Farms in Plant City is hosting its popular, family-friendly Harvest Days. Admission is free (parking is $10). Festival fall in Florida highlights include:
- Corn maze
- Pumpkin patch
- Pumpkin pie eating contests
- Hayrides ($5 for all-day rides)
- And for the adults, limited-edition autumn-themed apple wine, and pumpkin and caramel apple ciders
Fright Nights in South Florida
Fright Nights, named South Florida’s “Top Haunted Attraction,” is back for another year to terrorize horror-seekers in West Palm Beach. For more than 20 years Fright Nights has served as a top Scream Park dedicated to bringing brand new haunted attractions year after year. The frights happen select nights through November 1.
What we can’t wait to get our scare on with:
- 4 haunted houses featuring terrifying live actors
- A twisted, carnival-like Midway
- Live entertainment and Scare Zones — twisted elves and a coven of witches are on the loose!
Halloween Horror Nights — Orlando
If you are looking for ways to celebrate Halloween in Orlando, Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Florida is a must-do for fright diehards and runs select nights through November 2. The “World’s Premier Halloween Event” draws crowds from across the U.S. and around the world to experience horror on a large scale.
Why we come back every year:
- 10 mind-ripping haunted houses inspired by the biggest names in horror
- 4 sinister scare zones
- 2 shows and a street party where you can party like your life depends on it… ’cause it just might
Florida Halloween Distance Classic
You can run but you can’t hide. Get ready for a wicked-good time at the spooktacular Florida Halloween Distance Classic at Fort De Soto Park on Sunday, October 26. Runners and walkers can participate in half-marathon, 10K and 5K distances for a different kind of fun during fall in Florida.
Why we’re signing up:
- The parade of costumes whizzing by in a fun race environment
- The post-race costume contest
- Proceeds go to Tampa Bay Watch to help restore Tampa Bay
The Ghost with the Most Cocktail Tour in St. Augustine
Beetlejuice fans will love The Beetlejuice Pub Crawl with Tasting Tours, a ghostly encounter and cocktail adventure of the local venues in St. Augustine, considered one of the most haunted cities in the U.S. The ghostly tour is available select nights through November 1.
Why we toast this tour:
- 2.5 hours of drinking shenanigans, while also soaking in history and watching for ghostly encounters
- Led by the city’s resident “dead guy”
The Lusus Naturae Skulk Trail & Mr. Creepies’ Demented Labyrinth
Swampy Jack in Panama City Beach hosts The Lusus Naturae Skulk Trail & Mr. Creepies’ Demented Labyrinth, a two-in-one haunted attraction Friday and Saturday nights through October 31. For extra creep, make plans to go to the black-out/lights-out event on Halloween night… if you dare!
What frightens us:
- The Lusus Naturae Skulk Trail with Swamp Creatures and Forest Demons — there are no exits!
- Mr. Creepies’ Demented Labyrinth is a desperate labyrinth featuring disturbing freaks and demented clowns looking to deceive you
Halloween Spooktactular in Orlando
Join in the immersive family spooktacular festivities celebrating Halloween in Orlando at SeaWorld Orlando’s Spooktacular. Bonus: this daytime event is included with park admission, and runs through November 2.
What we love:
- Trick-or-Treat Trail
- Count von County’s Spooktacular Breakfast with your Sesame Street friends (added cost)
- Scarecrow and bubble dance parties
- A new Harvest Maze, featuring Spookley the Square Pumpkin
- Halloween story time with Big Bird
Halloween on Central — St. Pete
For the fifth year, the city’s largest street festival returns to downtown St. Pete on Sunday, October 26 — Halloween on Central. Covering 22 blocks between the Edge and Grand Central districts, the costume-filled, car-free celebration includes:
- live entertainment
- local vendors
- immersive experiences
- and lots of candy!
Spooktacular — Jacksonville
Spooky thrills and family-friendly adventures await at Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens’ 38th Annual Spooktacular, select weekends nights throughout October for more fun this fall in Florida. Between 5:30 and 9:30 p.m. each night it’s on offer, find:
- 8 treat stations
- Carnival games, crafts, DJs and photo ops on the Great Lawn
- Creatures lurking in the Lost Swamp, ready to scare those 13 and up
- A sensory-friendly night will be held October 12, complete with treats, character interactions and fall activities without scares, loud music, or flashing lights.
This story first published in October 2023.
