Cinematically Spooky: Celebrating Halloween at the Historic Tampa Theatre
Central Florida may not get its fair share of changing leaves or crisp fall mornings, but as the days get shorter and October 31 creeps closer, we all have our own ways of looking forward to Halloween.
For some, it's spooky stories and ghostly apparitions that send shivers down your spine. Others get cozy in the pumpkin patch vibe, with hayrides and spiced cider. There are cutesy costume enthusiasts who transform into adorable animals and cartoon characters for an evening of innocent candy-gathering, while others are drawn to the ghastlier side, where horror movies keep you up at night.
At the historic Tampa Theatre, the “lucky 13th” annual “A Nightmare on Franklin Street” series captures it all, blending family fun with grown-up chills in the grand ambiance of Tampa's most majestic (and most haunted) movie palace.
For the littlest ghouls and goblins, “Mummy & Me” movies – sponsored by Tampa Electric – offer kid-friendly frights without inviting nightmares. You can share a bag of popcorn or a box of Goobers under the Theatre's twinkling, starlit ceiling as the Scooby-Doo gang unravels its latest mystery or the silly Sanderson sisters spell out quirky chaos in “Hocus Pocus.” These special screenings are FREE for ages 12 and younger, and costumes are encouraged!
“We’re proud to support events that bring families together and spark imagination,” says Stephanie Smith, vice president of State and Regional Affairs for Tampa Electric. “These Mummy & Me screenings offer a fun and festive way to celebrate the season while creating space for connection, storytelling and shared experiences across generations.”
For older tweens and teens, the Nightmare series wraps the performing arts in seasonal spookiness with two spine-tingling live events that share the Theatre’s historic stage and screen.
On Friday, October 24, Lon Chaney's iconic silent film “The Phantom of the Opera” will turn the Theatre’s historic auditorium into a portal back to the eerie elegance of a bygone era. Originally released 100 years ago, the black-and-white masterpiece about a masked phantom lurking beneath the Paris Opera House is perfect for introducing older kids to classic cinema's allure. This very special screening will also feature a live vocalist and musical accompaniment on the Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Organ, making it an exciting (and even a little bit educational) evening for tweens and teens fascinated by film history.
Then, Phantasmagoria presents the works of iconic artist and author Edward Gorey in “Hauntingly Whimsical Tales” on Sunday, October 26. Blending storytelling, dance, puppetry, projections, original music and more, the Victorian horror troupe brings to life humorous, mischievous and hauntingly delightful visions of Gorey’s “eerie yet whimsical worlds” (wbur.org) that have charmed readers for decades.
Of course, Halloween tricks aren’t just for kids. For date-night thrills sans the little pumpkins, hire a sitter and slip away for edgier fare like “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” — complete with shadow cast and audience participation — a “Ghosts of Tampa Theatre” walking tour or the 1978 slasher flick, “Halloween.”
With its intricately shadowed architecture and rumored resident ghosts, Tampa Theatre is the perfect haunt to enjoy whatever makes your Halloween heart happy. Be it spooky, festive, cute or chilling, you can find dates, times and tickets at TampaTheatre.org/Nightmare.
Want more Halloween family fun ideas? Check out our picks for The BEST Halloween Events for Kids in Tampa Bay!