Florida Halloween Events and Haunted Houses
September 19th, 2009
Scary, FL – The warm breezes of summer are giving way to northeast winds howling down the beach. All of this can only mean one thing – Autumn is coming to Florida. As October arrives, its time to pull out all the spooky stops to celebrate Halloween and all the wonderful events. From Panama City Beach to Key West we have anything and everything, like neighborhood “spooktaculars” to a Boo at your local Zoo and the many theme park events like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween for the little ones or Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights which will shock the older ones. Here’s our list of the best Halloween events in Florida.
Halloween in Orlando and Theme Parks
Central Florida theme parks get in on the action with the larger parks going all out. This year the Orlando Attractions offer many age appropriate haunted houses and parties to get your scare on.
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
A kid friendly Halloween is coming early to Walt Disney World Resort for 24 evenings until Nov 1, the Magic Kingdom will be alive with friendly ghosts and goblins during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.
More About Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party »
Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights
A cold, lifeless hand takes your ticket. You’re left with a bone-chilling shiver as you move toward an empty theater seat. The lights dim, voices fade, the film begins. The screen starts to rip apart as the action comes straight for you. The show is about to begin… For the first time ever, the entire studio at Universal Orlando will be devoted to Halloween Horror Nights an event to bringing horror films to life. All eight haunted houses, all six scare-zones and two live shows will be directly inspired by some of today’s most popular horror films.
More About Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights »
Halloween Spooktacular at SeaWorld
From pumpkin fishes to friendly sea witches, Halloween meets the sea this October during SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular, carving an underwater “fantasea” where children can dance with an ice DJ, play with sea fairies and learn from a school fish. All the fun is Included in a single day’s park admission and runs Oct 3-4, 10-11, 17-18, 24-25, 30 and 31, and leaves even the littlest of trick-or-treaters wide-eyed for an ocean full of fun filled with enchanted pathways and charming sea creatures and provides the utmost in family-friendly trick-or-treating.
More About Halloween Spooktacular at SeaWorld »
Gatorland
When night falls, evil rises inside Gator Hollow at Gatorland. During select nights in October, the swamp will be invaded by hostile aliens and hordes of the undead. You will find yourself trapped between two terrifying evils as they challenge each other for the ultimate prize; you… and the rest of mankind! Venture deep into the swamp as you flee from zombies, extra-terrestrial warriors and other ghastly threats, all while surrounded by the hundreds of gators who inhabit the murky waters around you. View Website »
Bludzwurth Casket & Urn – Davenport
The Bludzwurth Casket & Urn Company invites you to visit them again this year for more frightful fun Friday Oct.30 & Saturday Oct.31. Located 20 minutes from Orlando this haunted attraction has a minimun of 30 live ‘actors’ and over 10,000 square feet of terror. The Bludzwurth family have run a host of errie things including local circus, carnival & freak shows and have owned doll and toy factories, run morgues, asylums, junkyards, slaughter houses, graveyards, toxic dumps and state prisons, they know creepy. This year Doctor Bludzwurth invites you to thier haunted walk. View Website »
Lake Griffin Spook-tacular
For a frighteningly good time as Lake Griffin State Park and the Friends of Florida State Parks, Inc. host the annual Lake Griffin Spook-tacular Oct 24 – 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. This fundraising event is a safe and fun alternative to traditional trick or treating and includes games and prizes, a Trick or Treat Lane, candy, arts and crafts, costume contest, face painting and a chilling atmosphere for all ages. Beginning at sunset, our Trail of Terror will have spine-tingling surprises that will test the nerves of the older ghouls. The costume contest will be held from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm with judging at 6:45 pm. This is a family event and all costumes should be tasteful. Costume contest winners will receive a rod and reel combo, a tackle box, park day use and one hour canoe rental pass and a variety of other items. Food and beverages will also be available, so come hungry! $1.00 per person, infants are free. Activity tickets $0.25 each. For more info contact 352.360.6760.
Tampa Halloween Events
Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens
Busch Gardens begins its tenth season of gut-wrenching scares by launching the Howl-O-Scream 2009 website, HouseofVayne.com, this year there will be seven horrifying haunted houses, and the introduction of the beautiful new face of evil itself – the fashionable Ms. Vayne and her deranged models. For 17 select nights in Tampa, Howl-O-Scream 2009 will prove that evil never goes out of style. The devious creatures that infest all-new haunted houses, scare zones, thrilling shows and even the streets themselves will have guests watching their backs, and bone-chilling roller coasters keep the screams coming all night long.
More About Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens »
Lowry Park ZooBoo
Tampa’s largest family Halloween event, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year starting with a Shriek Peek weekend September 25-26. This year will feature 12 attractions, and including five haunts to for older, braver guests and a Frankenstein’s Foam Party and character “meet and greets for the younger kids.
The event dates are Oct 2-3, 9-11, 15-18, 22-25 and 29-31.
View Website »
Space Coast Halloween Events
Brevard Zoo – Its October again, time for the Zoo’s annual Halloween bash. Come visit the zoo from 5:30 to 9:30 pm nightly Friday-Sunday, Oct 16-18 and Oct 23-25, as well as Friday, Oct 30, for lots of tricks and treats. Guests are invited to enjoy treats, games, crafts, a haunted trail, a mystery maze and more.
View Website »
Cocoa Village – This is the year for this event which will bring young trick-or-treaters and their families down to the village for a fun, safe Halloween experience. Families are invited to visit the local shops for treats and then walk through the park for fun activities and entertainment. The event is scheduled for Oct 31.
View Website »
The Haunted Yard on Fay Blvd is a free homemade haunted house, or as some call it a “haunted yard and will be open on Halloween Day.” Appropriate for all ages, as long as you are brave enough. The Haunted Yard is loaded with animated props, cemetery, live creatures, and if you dare; come face the Reaper in the flesh I mean bones.
View Website »
South Florida Halloween Events
Key Largo – Sunday, Oct 25 buddy teams of divers will compete to create pumpkins for praise and prizes from the experienced judges, who are also the crew of the dive boat Amoray. Contestants are given hollowed-out pumpkins and dive knives serve as carving tools, there are prizes awarded to the top three pumpkin sculptors. For more information about the contest, call (800) 426-6729 or View Website »
West Palm Beach – You are invited to the South Florida Fairgrounds on Southern Boulevard to go back in time for a good old fashioned family-friendly Halloween loaded with fun and treats. “Spookyville,” on historic Yesteryear Village is extending this year’s event to nine nights and is adding more activities. The little ones start on a sweet trick or treat trail that opens to an area a carnival of rides, games and attractions. On Halloween there will be a costume contests, with a parade, games, face painting, a cake walk and pumpkin bowling, a night of family fun. This event is scheduled to take place Thursday thru Saturdays Oct 15-17; Oct 22-24 & Oct 29-31. View Website »
Key West – The theme of this years Fantasy Fest is Villains, Vixens, and Vampires and the Grand Marshal of the Captain Morgan Fantasy Fest Parade will be Bridget Marquardt from the Girls Next Door. Fantasy Fest is scheduled Oct 23-Nov 1.
More About Key West Fantasy Fest »
Key West – A Civil War-era setting adds a historic flavor to the Haunting of Fort Taylor spook-tacular. Visitors can explore the fright-filled fortress, discovering scary scenes and real Key West ghost stories on the nights of Oct. 23-30. Kids’ Day is set for Sunday, Oct. 25, with special 5-7 p.m. hours. The entrance to the fort is located at the end of Southard Street past Whitehead Street and Truman Annex. Admission is $13 per person ($8 per child under age 10 and $10 per person for members of the military), and a portion of the proceeds benefits the Friends of Fort Taylor. View Website »
North Florida Halloween Events
Daytona Beach – Hallowgreen is a fun, healthy and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional Halloween activities at the Daytona Beach Downtown Farmer’s Market at City Island. Featuring nutritious trick-or-treats, activities and games, vendors, costume contests and a green fashion show. The event is schedule for the morning of Oct 31.
View Website »
Panama City – The Toys for Kids Foundation will hold its annual Halloween bash “Spellbound” on Saturday, Oct 31 at the Spinnaker Beach Club. This to benefit the Toys for Kids Foundation’s in Bay County that may not be able to have a pleasant holiday season and is one of several events held throughout the year that benefits the organization. For more information, contact the Spinnaker Beach Club or the Toys for Kids Foundation at 814-7800.
St. Augustine Halloween Events and Haunted Places
Halloween in is a special time of year when you live in the oldest, and most haunted some would say, city in America. St. Augustine has many ghost tours both walking and riding here are a few places to try:
Ripley’s Halloween Ghost Train – The train makes several stops at various locations throughout the haunted streets of St. Augustine and begins and ends at historic Castle Warden (Ripley’s Believe it or Not) where you may experience actual events. The train starts at 8:30 pm & Reservations are required. Dates and rates for special Halloween Tours can be obtained by calling 904.824.1606 or View Website »
Ghosts and Gravestones Tour – Take the tour that explores the darkest side of St. Augustine, where you’ll visit what are considered to be the three most haunted sites in St. Augustine; The Old Drug Store, The Spanish Military Hospital and The Old Jail. The Old Jail is listed on the Florida and National Haunted Places Register. If you would like tour times, ticket prices or to make reservations, please call 904.829.3663 or View Website »
Ghost Tours of St. Augustine – A Ghostly Experience – Walk, Ride or Sail though Haunted St. Augustine. The Walking Tour starts every night at 8:00pm on the north end of St. George St. across from the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse and 9:30 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. This tour features the area north of the plaza including 2 cemeteries, haunted Bed & Breakfasts and other spooky sites. To Ride, the “Ghosts & Legends” Tour will take you to the haunted Lighthouse, where you can listen to your guide tell of unsolved mysteries, murders, ghostly sightings, and share intimate details of the oldest city in America. Opportunities to disembark for an up-close and personal look will be provided during your ghostly adventure. For a sailing adventure it’s the Ghosts of the Matanzas Glide through the dark haunted waters aboard the 72′ Schooner” FREEDOM” for a one hour cruise on the bay. Enjoy the night while your ghostly host tells stories and sings songs. The tour starts at City Marina near the Bridge of Lions, weather permitting. Group rates and private cruises available, for reservation and more information call 904.461.1009 or 888.461.1009 or View Website »
**Dates and times subject to change
