Halloween For Tweens and Teens: Teen-Approved Frights and Fun in Tampa Bay
Halloween is a tricky holiday to manage when the kids get a little older. Older kids end up tagging along as helpers for younger siblings, but they desperately want to do the bigger kid things, so as a mom of teenagers, I’m sharing some awesome things to do with teens during Halloween in Tampa Bay!
Related:
- MORE Halloween and Fall Events in Tampa Bay for the whole family
- 7 Spookiest Haunted Houses in Tampa Bay
Trick-or-treat debate aside, teens and tweens really want to partake in some Halloween fun with their friends. And why not? They are still kids, and even as young adults, Halloween can be celebrated in a fun and safe environment where they can enjoy the holiday in all its fright.
It might take some planning and collaboration from other parents, too, but it will be so worth it!
Halloween Events We Love for Teens and Tweens in Tampa Bay
Explore Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Plan a night in advance and take advantage of group pricing for your teen group. Just keep in mind, an adult will need to be present at the party in order for them to go! Last year, we gathered a bunch of parents and kids and made it a night out for everyone.
Once we got into the event, we went our separate ways, but the kids knew we were there in case anyone needed anything. Busch Gardens is so big that we never even ran into them!
As teens get older and gain more freedom, it is nice to be in the background in case you are needed, and it is nice for them to know that if they need you, you aren’t far away.
Experience A Nightmare on Franklin Street at Tampa Theatre
With classic horror films, creepy cult favorites, “Nightmare on Franklin”, “Mummy & Me” family-friendly films, and even Ghosts of Tampa Theatre Tours, this is the place for the teen who loves scary Halloween movies! Have dinner at Ulele, and then head over to the historic theater that just underwent a massive restoration for a movie, tour, or just the perfect vibe.
Creatures of the Night at ZooTampa at Lowry Park is for big kids, too!
This event isn’t just for kids! Teens love it, too! When the sun goes down, the atmosphere changes and the haunted trail is a totally different experience in the dark.
There are photo ops galore here, and you can even book an unforgettable animal encounter during the event to make the night even more special. Head on over here to see what it was like at ZooTampa’s Creatures of the Night .
Set sail on a Haunted River Tour with Pirate Water Taxi
Join Pirate Water Taxi’s crew for an entertaining evening with live jazz interjected with tales of ghosts along the Hillsborough River. Each tour will be led by knowledgeable docents from Stageworks Theatre, who will share eerie stories of Tampa’s past. Tours last 45-50 minutes.
Haunted River Tours are PG-13 this year since The Lost Pearl Pirate Ship is back and hosting Halloween cruises!
Tour UNDead in the Water on the American Victory Ship in Tampa
This haunted ship experience is geared for people ages 11 and older and is probably one of our area’s most unique haunted house experiences…or should we say haunted SHIP experiences.
Here’s the cool part: All event proceeds support the restoration and operation of the American Victory Ship and Museum, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving history and serving the community.
Although teens may think they are ready for all the scary things, knowing your child well will help guide them in what they can handle on the night of Halloween. The key is balancing their growing independence with safe and enjoyable choices where everyone has fun!
Experience Haunted Nights on the Farm
On select nights in October, prepare for a night of frights at HarvestMoon Fun Farm in Masaryktown. It is fun for groups of teens who want to be scared, but it is also entertaining for parents to make a night of it together. The festivities start at 7 p.m. and go until 10 p.m. Advance ticket purchases are recommended. And don’t forget your flashlight!
DK Farms in Largo hosts Fearville on select nights in October with terror trails, haunted hay rides, black light minigolf, and more!
And over in Odessa, Raprager Farms also offers spooky fun for those who dare during its October nights, where you can experience ghost stories, haunted paths, and an action-packed Bog Monster hunt.
Celebrate an eerie evening at the Tampa Bay Hotel
Celebrate the spooky side of Tampa’s iconic landmark with An Eerie Evening at the Tampa Bay Hotel. The evenings filled with spooky tales are scheduled for October 22–24 and October 29–31, 2026, from 6 to 9 pm. You can pick up your tickets here.
Host a Halloween party!
Offer to host an epic Halloween party with dry ice, spooky music, a scary movie marathon, or a spooky game night, and themed food (the more food, the better when teens are concerned!).
Giving them the space to hang out is important; it’s what teens really want (that means no pictures, Mom!). Trick-or-treating can still be an option, too, so have them all bring a costume.
Pro-Parent Tip: Find parents to co-host with to make it more fun for everyone!
More Halloween Events in Tampa Bay teens might LOVE:
Gallagher’s Pumpkin Patch and Christmas Trees (Not spooky, but perfect for photos!)
- Date: NOW OPEN for 2026
- Location: 7401 4th St N, St. Petersburg
- Cost: No cost to browse.
Located in St. Pete for more than 30 years, this family-owned business is the perfect spot to capture super cute photos of you and your significant other while you select the best of the ‘patch’! Before you leave, be sure you snap a photo in front of the popular vintage pickup truck and pumpkin wall.
Haunted Woods at Hillsborough River State Park
- Dates: October 16 & 17, 2026
- Location: Hillsborough River State Park
- Cost: Scare Trail is $15 per person; kids 5-12 are $10; and kids under 5 are free
The Haunted Woods event is a family-friendly weekend for a good cause! There will be a Scare Trail on Friday and Saturday, and a Trunk-or-Treat joins in on the fun on Saturday.
MOSI’s Spooktacular Science
- Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026, 6 pm-9 pm
- Location: 4801 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa
- Cost: $20 for kids and $30 for adults. $5 off for MOSI members
Step right up! This event at MOSI delivers a thrilling night of science and spooky fun for the whole family! Spark your curiosity with hands-on experiments, drone flying, interactive activities, spooky planetarium shows, and more!
Tall Tales of Old Florida at Cracker Country
- Dates: October 24, 2026, 6:45 pm -9 pm
- Location: 4800 Hwy 301 N, Tampa
- Cost: $18
Explore Tampa’s 19th-century living history museum by night! Along the way, meet storytellers who will spin wild yarns about a few of Florida’s unexplained oddities. A little scary, a little funny, and always family-friendly, the Tall Tales tour is a Florida history adventure lit by lanterns. Recommended for ages 6+.
Halloween Spookquarium at Clearwater Marine Aquarium
- Date: October 30, 2026, from 3 pm- 7 pm
- Location: CMA, 249 Windward Passage, Clearwater
- Cost: included with admission
Have the kiddos dress up in their Halloween best and head to CMA for a day of spooky fun at the aquarium! CMA will be decorated for the holiday to add to the fun. Kids can take part in the themed crafts, interactive games, watch an underwater pumpkin carving, and even go trick-or-treating!
The Haunting of Huggins in St. Pete
- Date: October 30, 2026, 7 pm
- Location: St. Pete
- Cost: $10-$15
TASCO Teen Programs is taking over historic Huggins-Stengel Field for a Halloween night built just for teens. Brave open scare zones, catch a movie, grab food from local food trucks and show off your costume! Enjoy the fear in The Undead Field and Curse of the Bat Boy haunted houses.
Tunnel of Terror Haunted Car Wash
- Dates: Throughout October 2026
- Location: Various locations around Tampa Bay and the surrounding area
- Cost: Varies
Yes, you read that right. A haunted CAR WASH. Every year, Tommy’s Express Car Wash transforms several of its national locations into a haunted wash for two days only, and this year, four of them are in Florida (two of them in Tampa Bay!). Guests can get their cars washed while being spooked by ghouls and ghosts as they drive through the Tunnel of Terror. So, go get your car all squeaky clean…if you dare. Prices vary.
Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail in Plant City
- Dates: Select nights, September 25 – November 1, 2026
- Location: 2837 S Frontage Rd., Plant City
- Cost: $27+ per person
Make your way to Plant City to visit this outdoor haunt comprised of three separate haunted trails. Each trail has its own backstory, plus there is a haunted hay ride! Tickets must be purchased in advance for the 2026 season.
WORTH THE DRIVE: Gatorland’s Gators, Ghosts and Goblins
- Dates: Select days October 10-25, 2026
- Location: Gatorland in Orlando
Gatorland’s Gators, Ghosts & Goblins returns for its eighth year of family-friendly Halloween fun! Enjoy the all-new Swamp Ghost’s Museum, meet Skunk Ape and Eddie the Yeti, hunt for legendary creatures aboard the Cryptid Express, visit Frank N’ Steins Oktoberfest and brave the Gatorland Graveyard. Plus, enjoy animal encounters, live entertainment, a DJ, specialty vendors, games, candy giveaways, photo ops and a Children’s Costume Parade. It’s all included with regular park admission!
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom
- Dates: Select nights, now through October 2026
- Location: Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World
- Cost: $119-$229 per person
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is back, and we couldn’t be more excited! You can expect all of the returning favorites, including the Boo-to-You Parade and live shows featuring the Sanderson sisters from Hocus Pocus.
You can also meet Jack Skellington and Sally, enjoy special character experiences, dining, and more! We’re sharing our favorite things about Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party to help you plan!
Originally published in the October 2024 issue of Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine. Updated October 1, 2026.