Check out our list of some fall family fun around Central Florida!
Winter Garden Halloween Experience, Historic Downtown Winter Garden
October 21 – 31 – The City’s Halloween Experience provides family-friendly festivities in Downtown Winter Garden, including seven nights of an outdoor animated Halloween Light Show on City Hall; a hay maze; fall- and spooky-themed photo locations, decorations and light displays throughout downtown; a Spooky Caboose; a Halloween Celebration at the fall-themed Farmers Market; a Downtown Harvest Sidewalk Sale & Stroll; and more! Costumes are welcome any day!
Events include: Hay Maze at City Hall, Fall-Themed Photo Stations, Seasonal Decorations & Light Displays, Unique Stores & Restaurants to Shop, Dine & Stroll surrounded by the historic charm and holiday ambiance, Expanded Outdoor Patios to dine amidst the Halloween Experience while enjoying the weather.
Apopka Rotary Club’s Fall Family Festival & Carnival
Oct. 20-23- Come one, Come all to the Fall Family Festival & Carnival at Kit Land Park in Apopka. Aside from carnival rides, eats & sweets.. guests will enjoy marching bands, live music and entertainment, a beer & wine garden, a playground, splash pad, and so much more!
Central Florida Oktoberfest
Oct. 22 The German American Society of Central Florida will sponsor two public festivals in October. Both include live entertainment, dancing, stein-holding contests, beer, bratwursts, potato salad, pretzels, and bounce houses for children.
Known as “The most authentic Oktoberfest celebration in Florida,” this one’s a winner. Admission is $5; kids ages 12 and younger enter for free. Enjoy festivities noon-10 p.m. Oct. 1 22 at 381 Orange Lane in Casselberry. Orlandogermanclub.com
Celebration Oktoberfest
Oct. 21-22 – It is sure to be a crowd pleaser with two days of traditional German music, plus a hayride, local vendors, and more! The event runs from 5-10 p.m. at 610 Sycamore St. in Celebration. Celebrationtowncenter.com
The Funikijam Show – Rock or Treat Halloween Fair
Oct. 22-23, 29-30 – Join Orlando Repertory Theatre in your costume for this high-energy, dance-along, sing-along, play-along Halloween musical. Saturday 2 & 5:30 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m. 1001 E. Princeton St., Orlando. 407-896-7365. orlandorep.com
Pumpkin Patch Express – Florida Railroad Museum
Oct 22-23, 29-30 The Pumpkin Patch Express is departing the station for a trip to the Museum’s very own pumpkin patch.
Lots of activities are included with your ticket! Hay rides, arts and crafts, Lincoln log building, and games will be available. Children are invited to pick a pumpkin from the patch to take home.
Food and beverages are available for purchase onboard the train and while at the Pumpkin Patch. Tickets start at $22.50 12210 83rd St E, Parrish, FL 34219 Frrm.org
Leu Gardens Haunting Tales
Oct. 28 – Leu Gardens’ presents a spine-chilling, storytelling event of the year! The Gardens’ gates open at 6:00 p.m. for those who dare to venture in early. Goose-bump stories begin at 7:30 p.m. with the wickedest of storytellers coming forth, one by one, to spin frightening tales.
Pack a dinner picnic basket. Alcohol is permitted. Seating is recommended, either chairs or blanket, this is an outdoor event, weather permitting.Harry P. Leu Gardens, 1920 N. Forest Ave., Orlando. 407-246-2620. leugardens.org
Halloween Movie Experience at the Garden Theatre
Saturday, Oct. 29 – Hotel Transylvania, 3:00 pm , Saturday, Oct. 29 – Psycho, 7:30 pm, Sunday, Oct. 30, Hocus Pocus, 2:00 pm Garden Theatre, 160 W. Plant Street -Purchase tickets at www.gardentheatre.org/movies.
History Center Trick or Treat Safe Zone
Oct. 29 – Celebrate the scary and enjoy creepy crafts and candy. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Orange County Regional History Center, 65 E. Central Blvd., Orlando. 407-836-8500. Thehistorycenter.org
Spooky Caboose at the Winter Garden History Center
Oct. 31, 3:00 pm, 8:00 pm Enter the Spooky Caboose – if you dare — stationed outside the Winter Garden History Center. The spooky-decorated caboose has fun frights for all ages. Free to enter. Donations appreciated. Winter Garden History, Education, and Visitors’ Center, 21 E. Plant Street.
Corn Maze Orlando
Through November- Pony rides, hay rides, family photos, food vendors, live music weekends, train rides, wear boots. 15100 Lake Pickett Road, Orlando, FL 32820 11 am – 6 pm Cornmazeorlando.com
Santa’s Fall Fun!
Thurs-Sun through Oct. 30th A Lot of Pumpkins pumpkin patch and activities are open for our 15th straight year! October 29th & 30th – Trick or Treat stations will be set up throughout the farm. Put on your family-friendly costumes and join us. Pumpkins are freshly picked and then displayed in a shaded lot to help preserve their freshness. Pumpkins are priced by size, and most range between $3 and $13.
Animal Farm – Haunted Trail, Hayride, and Maze presented by Santa’s Farm After Dark
Friday and Saturday nights starting Oct. 14th. Join us if you dare to witness a terrifying take-over of the farm by the many resident farm animals. Tickets should be purchased in advance, as some nights will sell out.
The Magical Maze has thirteen scary monster pictures hidden throughout…find them all and win a prize! Our horse and pony rides, hay rides, bounce pillow, giant slide, barrel train rides, mazes, and play area are open with one-way trails to minimize crowding. Jack’s Barnyard animals are ready to welcome you to the farm, and when you are finished with all of that, race some rubber duckies and dig for real shark teeth at Shark Tooth Beach! Parking is plentiful and free.
Gaylord Palms Goblins & Giggles Weekends – Gaylord Palms Resort
Through Oct. 30 – A Fa-Boo-Lous Dance Party: Young spirits are invited to join Morgana the Witch, Vlad the Vampire, and Grimm the Good-Hearted Goblin for the Monster Mash Bash Dance Party and Costume Contest. With their best costume –and dance moves –on display, they’ll catch on in a flash and be the graveyard smash of the ghoulish festivities. Monster Mash Bash takes place each Saturday during the event and is included for guests who book the Goblins & Giggles “Premium Saturday” package. (Tickets are $16.99 per person, based on availability.)
Find Spookley: Spookley takes center stage in the Hide & Seek Scavenger Hunt featuring Spookley the Square Pumpkin –inviting guests to solve puzzles that reveal his Halloween hiding spots around the resort. (Tickets are $12.99 per scavenger hunt booklet.)
Light Show, Fright Show: Brightly animated light curtains create a multi-sensory spectacle that tells the musical tale of the Phantom of the Atrium –a mysterious composer thought to be lurking in the rafters. The show, a combination of colorful LED lights and classical music, will be presented at 9 p.m. nightly.
Fang-Tastic Florida Animals: Accompanied by some of their favorite animals, Wild Florida will visit each Saturday during Goblins & Giggles Weekends to present Spooky Animal Encounters. Guests will learn more about snakes, alligators, and other amazing animals in this up-close experience with some of Florida’s diverse wildlife.
Pirates Dinner Adventure Halloween Event – Vampirates
Through Oct. 31st for select shows – You and your family are cordially invited to Treasure Bay for their annual Halloween Ball. This annual gala will be filled with celebrations, games, songs, and fun. But beware! Danger lurks just outside the safety of Treasure Bay. A ruthless crew of Vampirates, led by the dark soul of Captain Sebastian the Black, have set sail for Treasure Bay with one thing on their mind, The Solzana’s Eye. This necklace possesses magical powers beyond imagination, and in the hands of Captain Sebastian the Black will allow him to escape the curse of the night, and to sail the seas during the day, creating more destruction and spreading more fear. It is up to you, to join forces and defeat the crew of Vampirates, and bring peace back to Treasure Bay.
Join us for a spooky tale of good vs. evil filled with the perfect blend of intrigue, loyalty, betrayal, adventure, guest participation, and razor-sharp teeth that are sure to leave you and your family howling for more! There will also be a costume contest for ghouls and goblins of all ages on select nights (please call for details)! However, all costumes must be family-friendly, with no masks and no weapons.
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party
Through Oct. 31 -The folks at Disney missed this heartwarming party so much over the past two years that they couldn’t wait to gently spook your little ones again on Thursdays, Mondays, and Sundays. It’s all back, the not-terribly terrifying parades, stage shows, special effects, projections, music, and fireworks. Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista. disneyworld.disney.go.com
Seaworld’s Howl-O-Scream
Through Oct. 31 – Horror has surfaced from the depths to terrorize this once-peaceful and kid-friendly theme park. Freak out in haunted houses, at terrifying shows, and through scare zones and rides. Separately ticketed night event for mature audiences. No costumes. 7 p.m. 7007 Sea World Drive, Orlando. seaworld.com
Legoland Brick or Treat
Through Oct. 30 – select days – Experience the spooky, kooky fun at one of the few kid-friendly Halloween events in Central Florida. Trick or treat throughout the park, meet exclusive Halloween characters and watch the fireworks. Included with admission. 1 LEGOLAND Way, Winter Haven. legoland.com
Screamin’ Green Hauntoween – Crayola Experience
Through Oct. 31 – Screamin’ Green Hauntoween is back and more colorful than ever! Join our crayon crew on their quest to discover rare, Halloween colors and meet monster-ific characters as you go! To find them all, you’ll journey into an ancient Pharaoh’s tomb, creep through a spooktacular forest, and more all while creating WITCHtacular crafts!
This event is CHALK-full of spooky happenings: a themed scavenger hunt, spooktastic crafts 👻, character photo ops, and more! ALL included with admission. Have a Screamin’ Green good time while exploring our 20+ creative attractions. Plus every weekend we’ll host trick-or-treating and a DJ dance party from 12 pm – 4 pm. Kids are welcome to dress up, however, no costume masks are allowed.
A Petrified Forest
Through Oct. 29 – Voted one of the top haunted houses in Florida, A Petrified Forest is a walk in the park-if you love terror.
Backstage Pass: We guide you and your group throughout the depths of the Forest to witness the inner workings of scaring. You get a behind the trails look at what it takes to put on this event, meet and interview a scare actor and, best of all…you get to do some scaring too! The backstage area is a scare-free zone.
Daytime fun in the spooky sun for your little ones from 9 am-12 pm on Saturday, Oct. 15th.
Trick or treat trail, bounce house, costume parade, games, prizes & more! Free trolley rides from Adjectives Market (1200 E Altamonte Dr., Altamonte Springs, FL 32701 $5 per entry All proceeds go towards Make-A-Wish of Northern & Central FL. Gates open at 7:30 p.m. Rain or shine. 1360 E. Altamonte Drive, Altamonte Springs. 407-468-6600. apetrifiedforest.com
