When it comes to Halloween fun in Tampa Bay and surrounding areas, there is something for everyone available. We’ve assembled a helpful guide to help you determine what suits your party best. For some events, you don’t even have to wait until October 31 to get your spooky celebration started now! Whether you are looking for the scariest place in Tampa Bay, best kid friendly kicks or other fall events we have you covered!
Best Frightening Fun for Halloween in Tampa Bay:
For a Halloween that delivers thrills and chills, these events will serve up the scares.
HOWL-O-SCREAM (Busch Gardens, Tampa)
Select Nights, Through Oct. 31
Check out scare zones and haunted houses as you flee zombies, deranged clowns, werewolves and more. buschgardens/tampa.com
HOWL-O-SCREAM (SeaWorld, Orlando)
Select Nights, Through Oct. 31
Experience the terror that has crawled from the lake as you seek thrills at a horror house, a frightening live show or aboard a rollercoaster at night. seaworld.com/orlando. HOWL-O-SCREAM TERRIFIES SEAWORLD ORLANDO FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER!
SCREAM-A-GEDDON HORROR PARK (Dade City)
Select Nights, Through Oct. 31
Get lost in Bloodwater Bayou and five other blood-curdling haunts as you interact with evil characters and dare to take the rides on the Monster Midway. screamageddon.com
A NIGHTMARE ON FRANKLIN STREET (Tampa Theatre, Tampa)
Monday, Oct. 18 – Sunday, Oct. 31
Catch a classic horror movie nightly at this popular film festival hosted by the historic movie palace and see such haunted hits as “The Fly,” “Beetlejuice,” “The Shining,” and “Halloween.” tampatheatre.org
AN EERIE EVENING AT THE TAMPA BAY HOTEL (Henry B. Plant Museum, Tampa)
Friday-Saturday, Oct. 22-23, and Oct. 29-30
Get transported to the early 1900s for an intriguing murder investigation and roam through the hotel to piece together evidence for a chilling evening through the candle-lit hallways. plantmuseum.com
UNDEAD IN THE WATER (American Victory Ship, Tampa)
Friday-Saturday, Oct. 22-23 and Friday-Sunday, Oct. 28-31
Explore a haunted historic WWII cargo ship docked along Sparkman Wharf, one deck at a time, as you meet up with a mysterious apparition. americanvictory.org
SCAREHOUSE PINELLAS (Largo)
Friday-Saturday, Oct. 22-23 and Friday-Sunday, Oct. 28-31
Tour a unique 10,000 square-foot haunted house highlighting the terrifying effects of red tide with a portion of proceeds donated to SPCA Tampa Bay in support its pet adoption services. scarehousepinellas.com
PIED PIPER’S HAUNTED CARNIVAL (Armature Works Field, Tampa)
Thursday – Sunday, Oct. 28-31
Get ready for a carnival unlike any you’ve experienced with 200,000 square feet of frightening thrills from carnival rides and games to popular fair eats with a transformation at 7 p.m. into a spooky, more adult, and risqué adventure. hauntedcarnivaltampa.com
Best Kid-Friendly Kicks for Halloween 2021:
When you’re looking for Halloween fun for the youngest celebrating, these events fit the bill.
HALLOWEEN HUNT (Tampa Riverwalk, Tampa)
Friday, Oct. 15 – Sunday, Oct. 31
Take part in a family-friendly virtual scavenger hunt, solving puzzles and tasks as you explore the Riverwalk landscape in a fun, safe, outdoor adventure for all ages. thetampariverwalk.com
CREATURES OF THE NIGHT (ZooTampa, Tampa)
Friday-Saturday, Oct. 22-23 and Friday-Sunday, Oct. 28-31
Experience the Zoo under the stars as guests meet up with dream master NightShadow and enjoy ghoulish outdoor adventures, creepy characters, and spooky treats. zootampa.org
THE GREAT PUMPKIN DRIVE THRU (Highlander Park, Dunedin)
Saturday, Oct. 23
Little ones are encouraged to dress in costume and join their families for a special drive through Halloween scenes with live music and goody bags with treats and trinkets for the kids. dunedingov.com
HAUNTED ANIMAL ENCOUNTER (Suncoast Primate Sanctuary, Palm Harbor)
Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 23-24
Come out for a day of safe, family-friendly Halloween fun with trick-or-treat zones, trail tours, a costume contest and reptile meet-up opportunities. Click for the event FB page!
SEAWORLD SPOOKTACULAR (SeaWorld, Orlando)
Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 23-24 and Thursday-Sunday, Oct. 28-31
Trick or treat in the daytime and cross paths with colorful creatures at this daytime event filled with spooky stories, dance, and other festive fun. seaworld.com/orlando
BRICK OR TREAT (LEGOLAND Florida Resort, Winter Haven)
Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 23-24, and Oct. 30-31
Get ready for spooky Halloween fun and trick-or-treating with some of your favorite LEGO characters. legoland.com/florida
HALLOWEEN FUN ON SESAME STREET KIDS’ WEEKENDS (Busch Gardens, Tampa)
Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 23-24, and Oct. 30-31
Stroll an expanded trick-or-treat Candy Trail, join in at Halloween Dance Parties and mingle with favorite Sesame Street characters as part of park admission weekends in October. buschgardens/tampa.com.
HALLOWEEKENDS AT CMA (Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Clearwater)
Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 23-24, and Oct. 30-31
Celebrate the holiday with your favorite rescued marine animals and explore the Aquarium as you learn about their haunted habitats and meet up with supernatural surprises. cmaquarium.org
A NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM (Tampa Bay History Center, Tampa)
Saturday, Oct. 30
Watch the museum exhibits come to life as you engage with everyone from Florida explorers and pioneers to pirates and Star Wars characters. tampabayhistorycenter.org
HOWL-O-WEEN (Humane Society of Tampa Bay, Tampa)
Saturday, Oct. 30
Get the fam together (including the four-legged ones) for a fun time of treats, spooky games, pumpkin painting, and dog and kid Halloween costume contests. humanesocietytampa.org
SPOOKTACULAR (Sun ‘n Fun, Lakeland)
Saturday, Oct. 30
Wear your Halloween costumes and stop by the haunted campground to visit the Spooky Trail, go Haunted House Camper Treating and indulge in s’mores. flysnf.org
GUPPYWEEN (The Florida Aquarium, Tampa)
Friday-Saturday, Oct. 30-31
Prepare to party with a special monster mash on the Rooftop Terrace including live music, Halloween games, animal encounters and more. flaquarium.org
PINELLAS PARK HALLOWEEN TREAT TRAIL (England Brothers Bandshell Park, Pinellas Park)
Sunday, Oct. 31
Kids of all ages are invited to collect candy along a Treat Trail supported by local businesses and others in the community with fun games, a costume contest, and refreshments. Click for the event FB page!
Other Fall Festivities to Celebrate in Tampa Bay:
But wait, there’s more! Here are some other fun ways to quench that Halloween thirst.
BIER FEST (Busch Gardens, Tampa)
Friday-Sunday, Oct. 22-24, and Oct. 29-31
Quench your thirst (literally) at this beer-inspired food festival held weekends through Halloween and enjoy thrills on the rides as well as on your plate and in your pilsner. buschgardens/tampa.com
PUMPKIN FEST (Florida Botanical Gardens, Largo)
Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 23-24
Choose your future Jack-o-lantern from the pumpkin patch, try your hand at pumpkin carving and take part in spooky activities at this fifth annual event. flbgfoundation.org
HUNSADER FARMS PUMPKIN FESTIVAL (Hunsader Farms, Bradenton)
Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 23-24, and Oct. 30-31
Catch fun fall activities including hayrides, pony rides, a corn maze, train ride, craft show, live music, and chainsaw sculpting, with plenty of pumpkins and food to enjoy. hunsaderfarms.com
SPOOKTACULAR IN THE PARK (R.E. Olds Park Amphitheater, Oldsmar)
Sunday, Oct. 24 & Saturday, Oct. 30
Bring your own chair and take in an outdoor, Halloween-themed concert as Creative Keys Music School performs recitals on two dates. creativekeysinc.com
THE WITCHING HOUR (Straz Riverwalk, Tampa)
Friday-Saturday, Oct. 29-30
Enjoy an annual musical celebration – one-part spooky and one-part hilarious – in this musical “Monster Mash-up” of Opera Tampa vocalists and pop culture favorites. strazcenter.org
LIGHTED HALLOWEEN BOAT PARADE (Tampa Riverwalk, Tampa)
Saturday, Oct. 30
Gather friends and family on your decked out Halloween-themed boat as part of this fundraiser by Friends of the Riverwalk to benefit The National Pediatric Cancer Foundation. nationalpcf.org
HALLOWEEN ON CENTRAL (Central Avenue, St. Petersburg)
Sunday, Oct. 31
Stroll the car-free streets of downtown St. Pete with Halloween-themed activities all afternoon, such as live entertainment, trick-or-treating, costume contests, and local vendors. halloweenoncentral.com
Story compiled and written by Chris Kuhn for Destination Tampa Bay
. Photos are a sample of Halloween fun for editorial purposes only. All rights reserved.
The post Halloween Happenings in Tampa Bay! appeared first on Destination Tampa Bay™.
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