Get ready for a spooktacular time in Central Florida! As the fall season approaches, Central Florida becomes a hub of Halloween excitement!
From Halloween fun at theme parks to thrilling and spine-chilling events, Central Florida hosts some of the best Halloween celebrations.
Whether you are a local or are visiting, this guide is your go-to resource for all the best things to do during this year's spooky season.
Let's dive into Your 2024 Guide for Halloween Events in Central Florida and make the most of this year's Halloween festivities!
Family-Friendly Halloween Events
Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
Where: Orlando
When: Select nights from August 9 to October 31, 2024
Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is a kid-friendly Halloween event at Magic Kingdom within the Walt Disney World Resort. To partake in the festivities, you will need a separate ticket for the event itself.
The party runs from 7 pm to midnight, and you can enter Magic Kingdom at 4 pm the night of your party!
During the event, you will see your favorite Disney characters in their Halloween costumes, be able to trick or treat in the different themed lands, and enjoy your favorite rides like Haunted Mansion and Space Mountain!
This party also includes a special parade and fireworks show exclusive to event attendees. The best part about the party is that everyone can dress up in their favorite Halloween costume - adults included!
For more details about Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, check out our blog post: Your Guide to Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party! 🎃👻
Brick-or-Treat at LEGOLAND
Where: Winter Haven
When: September 13, 14, 21, 28 and October 5-6, 12-13, 19-20, 26-27
Brick-or-Treat is Legoland's monster-themed Halloween event, included with regular park admission and select annual passes.
During the Halloween Party, you can expect live entertainment and shows like the Very Important Monster Dance Party, limited-time attractions like BOO-gie Down on the Disco Party Coaster, exclusive LEGO character meets and greets, and Trick-or-Treating.
This year, they also have an all-new aerial drone show called Monster Skytacular! It is a great family-friendly event for you to enjoy this Halloween season.
Busch Gardens' Kandy's Sweetacular Celebration
Where: Tampa
When: Saturdays and Sundays between September 7th and October 27th plus Thursday, October 31st
Busch Gardens' Kandy's Sweetacular Celebration is a family-friendly Halloween Event included with regular park admission. This special event takes place between noon and 4 pm in the Festival Walkway at Busch Gardens on the dates mentioned above.
The theme for Busch Gardens' Halloween event revolves around Kandy, a witch-in-training who shares her journey to becoming a real witch! Enjoy activities like Storytime, Spooky Kooky Science, and Taffy Twist's Black Cat Dance Party during the event.
There is also a costume parade where children 13 and under can shine as the Stars of the Show and flaunt their Halloween costumes. You can also trick-or-treat during the event, but you have to purchase a reusable bag from the park to join in the fun.
SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular
Where: Orlando
When: Select dates between August 31 and November 3
SeaWorld’s Spooktacular is a kid-friendly Halloween event from 12 pm to 5 pm on the select dates it runs. This event is included with regular park admission; however, to partake in trick-or-treating, you need to purchase a reusable bag from the park.
There is also a pumpkin garden, a meet and greet with a Mermaid, and a DJ Scarecrow Dance Party! Also included in this event are the Sesame Street Halloween Parade, Halloween Storytime with Big Bird, and a Halloween Costume Contest. Brand new this year is a Harvest Maze!
There are also extra items for purchase to enhance your experience, like Halloween Cookie Decorating and Kids Crafts (crafts are free, cookie kits cost extra), a Halloween Scavenger Hunt, and Shamu & Crew Spooktacular Breakfast!
Halloween at the Gaylord Palms
Where: Kissimmee
When: Select dates from September 27 - October 26
Enjoy spooktacular activities at the Gaylord Palms’ family-friendly Halloween events this Fall! Some complimentary activities include trick-or-treating, the Jack-O’-Lantern walk, and the Spooktacular Symphony in the Sky, an aerial drone show.
Likewise, you can meet Spookley the Square Pumpkin on Saturdays from September 27th through October 26th! There is also a fun-filled scavenger hunt around the resort ($12.99 for the booklet) and a Monster Mash Bash that you need tickets for.
If you stay at the Gaylord overnight, you will not need to leave to enjoy some Halloween fun, plus you get complimentary access to Cypress Springs Water Park! On Fridays and Saturdays during the event, they host a dive-in movie featuring Spookley the Square Pumpkin.
Scary, Spooky Halloween Events – Intended for a Mature Audience
Universal's Halloween Horror Nights
Where: Orlando
When: Select Nights August 30 – November 3, 2024
It is time to summon your scream squad and purchase your tickets for Universal's Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando Resort. This Halloween event is not for the faint at heart!
There are ten haunted houses to explore! A few of these haunted houses are 1) A Quiet Place, 2) Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, and 3) Insidious: The Further.
On top of the haunted houses, they have five Sinister Scare Zones, live entertainment, and themed food, drinks, and merchandise.
Busch Gardens® Howl-O-Scream®
Where: Tampa
When: Select nights between September 6 and November 2
Tampa Bay's Most Terrifying Halloween Event, Busch Gardens® Howl-O-Scream®, is taking over the park with haunted houses, sinister shows, scare zones, and more! This year there is a brand-new haunted house and five new scare zones.
Shadows of Wonderland is the new haunted house, and Howl-O-Scream 25: Terror Through Time, Tree Lot Massacre, Sawgrass Slaughter: Legend of the Skunk Ape, Little Nightmares: Trick or Treat, and Ragnar's Wrath are the new scare zones!
Unspeakable horror lurks in every dark corner, even on Busch Gardens' thrilling rides. Be aware - Howl-O-Scream takes fear to the extreme. Once you are inside, there is nothing to fear but everything!
Seaworld Howl-O-Scream
Where: Orlando
When: Select nights from September 6 and November 2
Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld Orlando is back, delivering another year of spine-tingling fright. This year will offer more scares and frights than ever before.
With new haunted houses, scare zones, and themed bars, the event is filled with nightmarish surprises around every corner. The Sirens' song may be fading, but new horrors, like Hex and her swamp of victims, have risen.
This year's event will feature four brand-new haunted houses, including Farm 51, Ultimate Gamble, Water's Edge Wellness Center, and Atlantis: Journey Below, each packed with nightmarish scenarios designed to push your limits.
The terror does not stop there. Three new scare zones - Seeds of the Coven, Paradise Palms, and Cannibal Harbor - add to the chilling atmosphere, while two new themed bars, Space Gate 3 and Sacrificial Spirits, offer a break from the chaos, if only briefly.
With a total of five haunted houses, seven scare zones, and five bars, the only thing lacking are places to hide!
SCREAM-A-GEDDON Horror Park
Where: Dade City
When: Select nights starting September 13 and every night in October until November 2
If you are a fan of killer clowns, zombies, and monsters, you will love this spine-chilling Halloween event in Dade City, Florida. The Horror Park features six haunted houses, including three interactive houses; two are part of the general admission, while one requires a separate ticket.
The distinct ticketed house offers Zombie Paintball Assault, allowing you to shoot paintballs at zombies. In the other two interactive houses, if you choose to be “marked” (only for those 18 and older), you may be grabbed and led into concealed cells within the attraction.
In addition to the six haunted houses, you will find the Monster Midway, where you can enjoy games, fun, and food surrounded by terrifying monsters. They offer a variety of culinary delights, including burgers, pulled pork, pizza, tacos, beverages at Bonzo's Beer Garden, desserts, and more!
A Petrified Forest
Where: Altamonte Springs
When: Select dates from October 4th to November 2nd
For over 15 years, A Petrified Forest has been serving up scares with their haunted trails and a surprise in every corner! This year, they have three all-new trails! When you are not exploring the trail, you can grab food from one of the gourmet food trucks, check out the local art vendors, and check out the new interactive games.
The contents of the trail are rated PG-13; however, if a parent sees it fit, their younger children can come along for the haunting journey as well! Another plus is that they have a specific 'Make-A-Wish' Kid's Day (October 12) and a Special Needs Night (October 16).
'Make-A-Wish' Kid's Day is a daytime Halloween event targeted for the little ones on a Saturday in October. They have a trick-or-treat trail, a costume parade, games, crafts, a dunk tank, and more – it is typically a 3-hour event in the morning.
Special Needs Night is an evening where the trails are only open for those with special needs and their parties to enjoy the always wheel-chair accessible trails at their own pace!
Want to take your experience to the next level? Visit one of the nights of their special events, like Total Eclipse Nights on October 23 and 30 or Bloodmoon Night on October 13.
Other Halloween and Fall Events
Spooky Empire
Where: Orlando
When: October 11 – 13, 2024
Spooky Empire, known as "the Dark Side of Comic Con," is Florida's premier horror convention. The event will take place at the Hyatt Regency Orlando and promises an array of offerings, including vendors, live music, celebrity speakers, a costume contest, and more.
Additionally, a tattoo festival featuring over 50 tattoo artists will run during the convention, ensuring you discover an artist who aligns with your vision.
Notably, Spooky Empire often boasts celebrity guests. This year, the roster includes actors from Disney's The Nightmare Before Christmas - Chris Sarandon, renowned for his role as Jack Skellington, and Ken Paige, also known as Oogie Boogie.
There will also be the opportunity to meet Clive Barker, Lili Taylor, Ernie Hudson, Dee Wallace, and more. Held twice annually in Orlando, this convention's first event of the year takes place in May.
Local Events
Beyond the events mentioned, Central Florida offers a variety of Halloween activities, some of which may be more budget-friendly or even free. Regardless of your budget, there's something for everyone to enjoy this spooky season. Here are a few examples:
- Riverwalk Trick or Treat - Tampa, FL
- Pied Piper's Haunted Carnival at Armature Works - Tampa, FL
- Creatures of the Night at Zoo Tampa - Tampa, FL
- 20th Annual Wesley Chapel Fall Festival - Wesley Chapel, FL
- Trunk-or-Treat in a local community or church
- Halloween at Cranes Roost Park - Altamonte Springs, FL
- Various Halloween Events at Boxi Park - Lake Nona, FL
- City of Apopka's Halloween in the Park - Apopka, FL
- Halloween at Old Town - Kissimmee, FL
- Halloween Events at Sunset Walk - Kissimmee, FL
Fall Festivals
If Halloween celebrations are not your cup of tea, do not worry - there are numerous Fall Festivals during this time offering a magnificent weekend outing for the entire family. I love Fall and Halloween, and I enjoy a mix of both.
My favorite Fall Festival activities include corn mazes, pumpkin patches, petting zoos, and face painting, and the Harvestmoon Fun Farm in Masaryktown has it all! But there are more Fall festivals around, such as:
- Hunsader Farms – Bradenton, FL
- Sweetfields Farm – Brooksville, FL
- Beasley Farms – Brooksville, FL
- Southern Hill Farms' 9th Annual Fall Festival – Clermont, FL
- 53rd Annual Fall Fiesta in the Park – Orlando, FL
- Springtime Agventure Farm Fall Pumpkin Patch – Polk City, FL
Time to Get Spooky!
Whether you like your Halloween to be spooky, cute, and fun or spooky, frightening, and terrifying, there is an event for you! Even if you are not a Halloween person, a Fall Festival awaits to welcome you to its fun festivities. Halloween and Fall are a great time of the year and truly ring in the holiday season that is quickly approaching!
Have you been to any of these Halloween or Fall Events before? Let me know in the comments below!
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