Fall is almost here and we've got a head start listing all the area's family-friendly fall festivals and Halloween events. Be sure to bookmark this page as events and activities will be added daily as businesses announce them!
If you find another FREE or inexpensive family event, please fill us in on the details. Either click submit an event or send info to catherinef@macaronikid.com
CLICK HERE FOR THE UPDATED GUIDE
2014 Brandon and Tampa Bay Area Fall and Halloween Events ~ Updated 10/23/14!
Always confirm events before attending. While every effort is made to ensure the most up to date event information is included on our calendar, events are subject to change.
CLICK HERE FOR THE UPDATED GUIDE2014 Brandon and Tampa Bay Area Fall and Halloween Events ~ Updated 10/23/14!
Always confirm events before attending. While every effort is made to ensure the most up to date event information is included on our calendar, events are subject to change.
Costume swap
#MKDoSomethingGreat Costume Swap and Donation Drive on Saturday 9/20
From September 6th to 19th drop off your gently used/worn costumes with NO visible tears or stains at Playtime or Revolution Ice Cream. If you are participating in the swap you will receive a ticket in exchange for your costume. On Saturday, September 20th from 3-4 pm all ticket holders are invited to All Persons Playground to pick out a new costume. From 4-5 pm we will be open to the public who wish to purchase a costume for a $5 donation. All money raised & unwanted costumes will be donated to A Kid's Place. We will also be holding a donation drive for needed items for A Kid's Place of Tampa Bay.
Festivals
Fox Squirrel Corn Maze Oct 3 - 26 Sat & Sun only
Corn Maze, Hayride, best in the county!--Ends at Dusk, Fun Duck races, Cool Corn Box for the little ones, Horseshoes for the grown-ups & the little ones, Cornhole Game-challenge your friends to a game, Dummy Steer Ropin', can you rope a steer?, Cracker Country will be demonstrating the "old ways" of doing things
Hunsader Farms Pumpkin Festival October 11-12, 18-19, 25-26
100+ Craft Booths • Live Music • Live Shows • Pumpkins • Charity Pumpkin Games • Pioneer Trades Village • Hayrides • Pony Rides • Chainsaw Sculptor • Corn Maze Scarecrow Displays • Homemade Ice Cream • Farm Roasted Sweet Corn • Food Galore • Pumpkin Pie • Pumpkin Cannon-hourly• Corn Cannons• Rock Climbing Wall• Power Jump • Petting Zoo • Barnyard Playground • Face Painting • Children’s Train Ride • Juggler • Fresh Produce • Remote Controlled Airplanes • Butterfly Experience • Frog Jumping Championship • Swamp Buggy Rides
Ongoing Events
ZooBoo at Lowry Park Zoo October 3-4, 10-12, 17-19, 23-26 & 30 - November 1 $12 Shriek Peek Preview Weekend (discounted soft opening): September 26-27
Come creep around ZooBoo at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo -- the largest family Halloween event in Tampa Bay
Festive Events
Hyde Park Fall Festival & Craft Beer BREWhaha 10/11
Join us for a family-friendly night full of fun as we celebrate the autumn season! Complimentary activities include hay rides, a caricature artist, face painters and a variety of other interactive fall activities by a variety of event participants and sponsors.
Pumpkin Toss at Lowry Park Zoo 10/17
Watch the animals have some Halloween fun with their own pumpkin party, a seasonal treat for the animals and guests at the Zoo. See which animals stomp, chomp, kick, play and pounce on special seasonal treats!
Immanuel Lutheran School's Annual Oktoberfest 10/17
Come join us for a great day of Food, Fun, and Fellowship!
Kingswood Elementary Carnival 10/17
Kingswood Elementary School invites the Brandon community to its annual Carnival. There will be inflatable attractions, carnival games, prizes, Heavy's food truck, and more.
Hydro Harvest Farms 9th Annual Boofest 10/25
Great Free Fun! Paint Pumpkins, make earth friendly crafts, play games and more. Come hungry, the Big Truck has spooktacular food and refreshments! Wear your costume for extra treats!
Pumpkin Party at Playtime 10/25
Dress up in your favorite costume & join us for a fun, not spooky event. We will have arts & crafts, games & delicious treats!
Just For Teens
Monster Bash IV: The Vampire Asylum 10/11
Our biggest teen event of the year! Live bands, costume contest, and much more!
Pumpkin Patches
Hydro Harvest Farms 10/4- 10/8
Hyde Park 10/10- 10/30
Trick-or-Treat
A Night at the Museum: Family Trick or Treat 10/19
As the museum winds down, our exhibits come alive! Catch pirates, explorers, pioneer women, and even the Ghostbusters sneaking around the galleries as you trick or treat through our hands-on exhibits. Families may also board the TECO Streetcar for a ride filled with spooky stories and more characters of Tampa’s past. Ghoulish games, creepy crafts, and a costume contest for fantastic prizes await you. Don’t forget your candy bags!
Trick or Treat Street 10/25
The purpose of this special annual event is to create a safe place for children of all ages to have fun and share in the tradition of Trick or Treating. Local businesses and organizations participate in dressing up, decorating their booth and distributing candy or small toys to children of all ages. Prize ribbons are awarded for booth design and decoration in several categories.
Halloween in the Halls 10/25
Listen carefully as you tiptoe into the darkness of the bouncy houses and investigate the mysterious disturbances on the cake walk!
17th Annual Halloween Horribles Parade 10/26
Who said the ghost and goblins only come out at night? Costumed Munchkins are invited to take part in the Halloween Parade and will enjoy lots of Treat Stations hosted by Civic Clubs & Businesses along the route.
Guppyween 10/26
Join us on the only day we let wild animals, ghosts and princesses roam the aquarium- Guppyween! Trick-or-treat tank-to-tank among over 20,000 sea creatures, making for the perfect family-friendly Halloween event. Entertainment and treats will be provided, so come dressed in your best costume!
Trunk or Treat at Element 10/26
There will be candy, costume contest, games, crafts, face painting, balloon animals, and lots of fun!
Glazer Museum's Halloween Spree 10/31
Safe indoor trick or treating for your favorite little goblins! Wiggle, wobble and work it to the music of DJ Jake Dela Cruz. Trick or treat stations featuring games, prizes and candy. Vote for your favorite pumpkin carving presented by Museum staff. Light refreshments provided
Mall-Wide Trick-or-Treat 10/31
Calling little ghosts and goblins! Come in costume and trick or treat throughout the mall at participating retailers.
Mall-Wide Trick-or-Treat 10/31
Calling little ghosts and goblins! Come in costume and trick or treat throughout the mall at participating retailers.
Spooky Library, Book Related and Arts & Crafts Events
Puppet Show: The Ghost And The Lagoon 10/1
Journey through the swamp and help solve the mystery of the Ghost and the Lagoon. Presented by Creative Arts Theatre of the City of Tampa Parks and Recreation Department
Crafts For Kids: Fall Festival Masks 10/13
Children will use felt and other materials to create and decorate their own unique mask. All supplies are provided, just bring your creativity!
Spooktacular Spectacle 10/13
Join us for fun, slightly chilling tales shared by Gypsy Storyteller Katie Adams. With lots of audience participation and colorful props, Katie conjures up a hauntingly good time. This show is sure to shiver your spine and tickle your funny bone. Children are encouraged to wear their costumes for the Trick-or-Treat parade through the library.
Wee Artists Halloween Art Project 10/20
Have a fun morning creating a Halloween art project to take home.
IKEA Tampa Kids Academy ~ Treat Bag Decorating 10/20
Dress up an IKEA UPPTÄCKA tote bag to collect your Halloween goodies.
Creative Artists Halloween Art Project 10/23
Join our art instructor and have fun creating a Halloween art project to take home.
Worth the Drive
Brick-or-Treat at LEGOLAND Florida
Ghouls, ghosts and goblins descend on Miniland USA transforming it into a haunted adventure with a scavenger hunt in search for these scary creatures that have invaded our famous cities. This spooky event takes place weekends in October, and features trick-or-treating along the brick-or-treat trail, super brick build activities, the largest LEGO Jack-O-Lantern in the world, Halloween entertainment and an all-kids costume contest with brick-tastic prizes!
Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
Don your favorite costume and get ready to trick-or-treat at this Halloween-themed event in Magic Kingdom park—select nights from 7:00 PM to midnight, September 1 to October 31, 2014!
Sea World Halloween Spootakular
An Ocean Of Halloween Fun For The Whole Family! Weekends in October. October 4-5, 11-12, 18-19, and 25-26 from 12 pm - 8 pm
Universal Halloween Horror Nights
On select nights September 19 - November 1, your worst nightmares will take shape as Universal Studios Florida® theme park is transformed into the award-winning Halloween Horror Nights®. See if you can survive all-new haunted houses, spine-chilling street experiences, outrageous live shows, and more.
