The BEST Halloween Events for Kids in Tampa Bay + MORE Fun!

Spooky SZN is nearly here, which means it's time for us to share our annual list of our favorite Halloween events for kids in Tampa Bay!!

Get ready to round up your little ghouls and goblins for a spooktacular day or night out in Tampa Bay at one of these awesome Halloween events.

And don't forget — we've curated a list of awesome pumpkin patches in Tampa Bay, including our favorite fall festivals. *We'll continue to update this post as events are announced.

Featured Halloween Events for Kids in Tampa Bay:

 *The following events are listed in order of date, brought to you by our incredible community partners who make this site possible at no cost to you!  Note: prices listed may change-check each location for actual admission costs.

Spooktacular at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay 

• Dates: Every Saturday & Sunday from September 12 to November 1, 2026
• Cost: Included in park admission
• Location: Busch Gardens Tampa

Join Kandy, Busch Gardens’ charming witch-in-training, for a brand-new family-friendly Halloween celebration full of fun and enchantment. Every Saturday and Sunday from 12 p.m.–4 p.m. on the Festival Pathway, little ghouls and goblins can explore Trick-or-Treating, Spooky Kooky Science, Magical Storytime, Kandy’s Costume Parade, and more! This event is included with park admission.

Brick or Treat at LEGOLAND Florida

• Dates: Weekends September 5-November 1, 2026
• Cost: Included with daily admission
• Location: 1 Legoland Way, Winter Haven

Don’t miss this Halloween party built just for kids at LEGOLAND Florida Resort! Kids can enjoy spooky LEGO building activities (they might even learn some cool LEGO building tricks from the pros!), trick-or-treating in the new candy zones, event-exclusive character meet-and-greets, and the all-new Brick or Treat Street. There's also a dance party, Monster Skytacular drone show, and more! You can even climb aboard The Disco Dragon coaster or Galacticoaster for a fun Halloween twist. We're dishing on all the details here: Brick or Treat at LEGOLAND Florida: Here's what to expect in 2026.

Creatures of the Night at ZooTampa at Lowry Park

• Dates: Select Nights from September 25 to October 31, 2026 on select nights (Member Night is Sept. 25)
• Cost: Free for members and Pay for a Day ticket holders. Tickets start at $35.95
• Location: 1101 W Sligh Ave., Tampa

Tampa Bay’s number-one family Halloween event returns in September with ALL-NEW experiences! Creatures of the Night at ZooTampa is full of eerie family fun for everyone! Ghouls and goblins of all ages can enjoy howling outdoor experiences, mischievous characters, creepy culinary treats, and much more! NEW this year: Enchanted Circle at the entrance, a NEW spooky trail, and more.  Head on over here to see what it was like at ZooTampa's Creatures of the Night .

A Pirate's Halloween on The Lost Pearl

• Dates: Select nights in October 2-31, 2026 on select days
• Cost:$39.95 for adults, $29.95 for kids, $12.95 for infants
• Location: 33 S Franklin St., Tampa

This October, set sail aboard The Lost Pearl Pirate Ship for a Halloween adventure! The 1.5-hour Halloween pirate cruise blends spooky fun with swashbuckling excitement. Costumes are encouraged for kids AND adults. Activities include Halloween and Pirate Games: Pumpkin Toss, Water Cannon Battles, Mummy Wrap, Spooky Dance Party, and Captain Patchy’s Pumpkin Patch.

MOSI’s Spooktacular Science

• Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026, 6 p.m.- 9 p.m
• Cost: $20 for kids and $30 for adults. $5 off for MOSI members
• Location: 4801 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa

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, a magician, liquid nitrogen ice cream, creepy candy stations, a face painter, a balloon artist, food, drinks, and planetarium shows!

Watermelon Swim’s Annual Fall Festival & Pumpkin Patch 

• Pumpkin Patch: October 4-31, 2026, at Lutz, South Tampa, Riverview, Wesley Chapel, and Brooksville locations 
• Fall Festival: October 19, 2026, from 4 pm to 7 pm at Lutz and South Tampa locations
• Location: 19509 N Dale Mabry Hwy and 3703 W McKay Ave
• Cost: Pumpkin patch and Fall Festival are free to attend

Get ready for pumpkin season in Tampa Bay! Watermelon Swim’s annual Pumpkin Patch opens on October 4, offering a variety of perfect pumpkins at five locations. Lutz and South Tampa have large outdoor patches, while Wesley Chapel, Brooksville, and Riverview offer cozy indoor setups.

Each location boasts charming fall photo spots for your family to capture the spirit. A portion of the proceeds benefits their swim programs, including the swimmers with disabilities program. 

The Watermelon Swim Fall Festival will be celebrated on October 19, from 4 pm to 7 pm at the Lutz and South Tampa locations. This free event will feature trick-or-treating, photo ops, games, prizes, and more!

Trick-or-Treat on the Riverwalk in Tampa 

• Date: Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 4 pm- 9 pm
• Cost: FREE
• Location: Cotanchobee Park and the Tampa Convention Center

Bring the whole family to Riverwalk Trick or Treat for a spooktacular evening of safe, family-friendly Halloween fun along Tampa’s beautiful waterfront! Kids can collect candy at over 50 treat stations, enjoy festive activities, enter a costume contest, and more.. This free community event, hosted by Friends of the Riverwalk, is one of Tampa’s favorite Halloween traditions you won’t want to miss!

Halloween Spookquarium at Clearwater Marine Aquarium

• Date: Saturday, October 30, 2026, from 3 pm-7 pm 
• Cost: included with admission
• Location: CMA, 249 Windward Passage, Clearwater

Have the kiddos dress up in their Halloween best and head to CMA for the Halloween Spookquarium for an afternoon of spooky fun! 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!

WORTH THE DRIVE: Gatorland’s Gators, Ghosts & Goblins

• Dates: Weekends from October 10 – 25th
• Location: 14501 S. Orange Blossom Trail Orlando 32837

Gatorland’s Gators, Ghosts & Goblins returns for its 8th 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. Select weekends October 10–25 and included with regular park admission!

MORE of the BEST Halloween Events for Kids in Tampa Bay

*Listed in order of launch date. MORE 2026 UPDATES COMING SOON.

Jurassic Haunt Halloween Mammoth Mayhem at Dinosaur World

• Dates: Select nights, September 26 – November 1, 2026
• Cost: Tickets start at $19.95
• Location: 5145 Harvey Tew Rd., Plant City

Are you brave enough to face the curse of Dinosaur World's haunted house? Head to the park after hours to hear the tales of a group of explorers who have unearthed something they shouldn't have. The curse is spreading, and it's up to you to break it! 

Fall Festival at Dade City Farms

• Opening weekend: Sept. 27-28 and then every Sat. and Sun. in October, 2026
• Cost: Adults (ages 12+) $12, kids (3-12) $9, kids (0-2) are free
• Location: 17143 Lake Iola Rd., Dade City

Celebrate fall at Dade City Farms' Fall Festival! Snap family photos with your loved ones in our pumpkin patch as you pick out the perfect pumpkin. Meet the friendly animals in the petting zoo, get creative with face painting, and shop for unique treasures from local craft vendors. Savor fall treats like apple cider donuts and other delicious snacks from food trucks, with yard games and activities for the whole family; it’s the perfect fall day on the farm!

FEARville at DK Farms

• Dates: Fridays and Saturdays, October 2026, 7 pm-10 pm
• Cost: Tickets packages vary depending on activities
• Location: 1750 Lake Ave. SE, Largo

This event has great activities for kids like miniature golf, animal feeding, bull rides, games, fun activities, and more! Be mindful of the skull scare rating as some activities aren't suitable for younger kids.

Spooky Train Rides and Scary Trail at the Concourse in Shady Hills

• Dates: October 2-24, 2026
• Cost: $8-18 per person
• Location: 11919 Alric Potterberg Road, Shady Hills

This adorable family-friendly activity is a Halloween must, where you can go for a 15-minute spooky ride on a mini train, explore two haunted trails and a maze, check out the petting zoo, jump on the bounce houses, and so much more!

Halloween Spooktacular with Largo Central Railroad 

• Dates: Saturday, October 3 & Sunday, October 4, 2026
• Cost: Train rides are free, but donations are appreciated 
• Location: Largo Central Park

Largo Central Railroad's crew is giving its usual mini train rides around Largo Central Park a spooky twist! You can expect Halloween-themed surprises along the way, and the tunnel has been transformed into something a bit more thrilling for the season! Learn more about Largo Central Railroad here. 

Our Lady of Lourdes Fall Festival

• Date: October 15-18, 2026
• Cost: Admission is free but ride tickets are available for purchase
• Location: 750 San Salvador Dr., Dunedin

Each year, the school's campus fills with dozens of rides, games, live music, raffle prizes, food vendors, a pumpkin patch, and face painting!

Wild N' Wicked Nights at Weeki Wachee Springs

• Date: October 16-17, and 23-24, 2026, 7 p.m.-11 p.m.
• Cost: $14.64 per person (ages 3+)
• Location: Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
  

Swim into spooky season at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park with The Pumpkin King underwater show, The Toy Factory Haunted House (recommended for older children), Jack's Tree Lot Haunted Maze (reccomended for older children), scary stories, Halloween Town, a costume contest and more!

Haunted Woods Scare Trail 2026 at Hillsborough River State Park (best for teens)

• Date: Friday, October 16-17, 2026 
• Cost: Park entrance fee
• Location: Hillsborough River State Park, 3501 Baynard Trail, Thonotosassa

This event is better suited for older kids and teens, so parental discretion is advised since this can be spooky! This year's theme is Beyond the Grave!

Vista Gardens Creepy Crawlies in the Garden

• Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026, 9 am to 12 pm
• Cost: Free
• Location: 13572 South Village Drive, Tampa

Join in a bug-tastic Halloween event where everyone can get up close and personal with all the creepy-crawlies in the garden! Hold a worm, let a beetle crawl up your arm, peek inside a beehive, watch a Venus Fly Trap snatch up a fly, and eat an ant! There will also be insect crafts, buggy snacks, activities, and face painting for those who prefer to keep their distance from the live bugs.

Florida Railroad Museum Pumpkin Patch Express

• Date: October 17-18 and 24-25, 2026, 10:30 am-1 pm and 2 pm-4:30 pm
• Cost: varies, see website for more details
• Location: 12210 83rd St. East, Parrish

The Pumpkin Patch Express is departing the station for a trip to the Museum’s very own pumpkin patch. Included in your ticket are hay rides, arts and crafts, Lincoln log building, and games! 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.

Pumpkin Carving Workshop in Largo

• Date: October 23, 2026, 5 pm-7 pm
• Cost: $12 per pumpkin
• Location: Largo Community Center

Gals & Ghouls get into the spooky spirit and join us for a frightfully fun pumpkin carving workshop! Each family will receive one pumpkin to carve.  Staff will be lurking nearby to offer tips, tricks, and inspiration for your pumpkin masterpiece!

Tampa Bay History Center's A Night at the Museum

• Date: October 24, 2026 at 6:30 pm
• Cost: $20
• Location: 801 Water Street, Tampa

Trick-or-treat your way through the Tampa Bay History Center galleries in search of sweet rewards. Plan for an evening of games, crafts, costume characters, and more! Timed tickets are available now.

Florida Botanical Garden's Pumpkin Fest

• Date: Saturday, October 24, 2026, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Cost: Free
• Location: Florida Botanical Gardens

Join the Florida Botanical Gardens for a pumpkin patch, pumpkin carving, and other spooky activities like the 4-H Scarecrow contest, Pumpkin painting, Build your own slime, Bat Book reading, pumpkin decoupage, food trucks, and more!

Zephyrhills Halloween Howl

• Date: Friday, October 24, 2026, from 4 pm-9 pm
• Cost: Free to attend
• Location: Zephyr Park, 38500 5th Ave. in Zephyrhills

Head to Zephry Park for an evening of spooktacular activities and treats, a haunted house and haunted forest, games, live entertainment, and more. You can start the celebration early over at Wizard Fest in Downtown Zephyrhills at the Clock Plaza from 11 am -3 pm on the same day for vendors, scavenger hunt, raffles, and more.

Halloween Toddler Rave at FloridaRAMA

• Date: October 25, 2026 from 10 am-12 pm
• Cost: Adults $35, VIP: $55
• Location: 2606 Fairfield Ave. S Bldg. 6, St. Pete

Get ready for a Halloween Toddler Rave at FloridaRAMA with The Mom Walk Collective St. Pete! Bring your little ones for a fun-filled celebration with music, dancing, and Halloween magic. Explore local vendors, connect with other families, and let your toddlers dance the day away in a festive, family-friendly atmosphere!

Halloween Fest

• Date: Sunday, October 25, 2026, 12 pm-4 pm
• Cost: Free
• Location: Westshore Plaza

Join us on Sunday, October 25th from 12:00-4:00 pm at the Westshore Plaza Mall in Tampa for a fun, indoor trick-or-treating experience with vendors, games, FREE face painting, balloon animals, meet & greets, crafts, and more! Dress up as a family, and you may win a prize!

Halloween on Central

• Date: Sunday, October 26, 2026, 12 pm-5 pm
• Cost: Free
• Location: Central Ave. between Dr M.L.K. Jr St and 31st., St. Pete

Halloween On Central features costume contests, trick-or-treating and more at the largest street festival in St. Pete! Partake in great activities like the Voodoo Vendor Village, strolling performers, DJs, entertainment and music, family fun and games, food trucks, trick-or-treating, costumes and costume contests, and more!

Fall-O-Ween at Coachman Park in Clearwater

• Dates: October 30, 2026, from 6 pm-10 pm
• Cost: free to attend
• Location: Coachman Park: 300 Cleveland Street, Clearwater

Head on over to Coachman Park for a Jeep-or-Treat, candy trail, live tribute bands to Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, costume contests, food trucks, fun activities, and more!

Stay tuned! We are waiting on 2026 dates for these events:

Monster Splash Spooky Tunes Adventure

• 2026 TBA
• Florida Aquarium

Get ready to sing, dance, and splash along with this silly, spooky stage show all about strange and misunderstood creatures—just the thing to get kids and grownups in the Halloween spirit!

Seminole Heights Great Pumpkin Patch Movie Nights

• Dates: 2026 TBA
• Cost: Free
• Location:6111 North Central Ave., Tampa

Bring a blanket or chairs! There will be a food truck as well as concessions available for purchase. The pumpkin patch closes at 8:30 pm, so make sure to buy your pumpkins before the movie starts. MOVIES: October 3- It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, October 10- Halloween Town, October 17- Tower of Terror, October 24- Hocus Pocus.

Avalon Park Wesley Chapel Spooktacular

• Date: 2026 TBA
• Cost: Free
• Location: 5060 River Glen Blvd., Wesley Chapel

Get spooky with trick-or-treating, bounce houses, performances, vendors, food trucks, and a costume contest!

Tampa's Haunted Carnival at Armature Works

• Dates: 2026 TBA
• Cost: TBA
• Location: Armature Works in Tampa

The Haunted Carnival returns with family-friendly fun during the day! There will be carnival rides, carnival games, costume contests, and live music. Then at night, the event switches gears into a more spooky adult experience.

Trick-or-Treat Trail in Downtown Largo

• Date: 2026 TBA
• Cost: Free
• Location: 301 W Bay Dr, Largo

Bring your kiddos dressed in their Halloween costumes for a night of trick-or-treating around Largo City Hall. Bags and candy will be provided. This is an outdoor event. Adults can also take home a Trick-or-Tree at the end of the event to plant at home. Learn more at playlargo.com.

Halloween Costume Ideas

Our team is sharing some of our favorite DIY Halloween costume ideas.

Halloween Treats and Spooky Snack Ideas

Need some spooky inspiration for your child's lunch box? Jenny P of @lunchboxmafia is dishing some ghoulishly good Halloween party snacks that also double as fun lunchbox additions! For a healthy twist, check out Ginain Grayes of @cookprayslay's Healthy Halloween Snack Ideas. 

Halloween Science Experiments

Glazer Children's Museum shared some really cool spooky science experiments you can do at home for extra thrills including how to make ghost eggs!

Tell a Halloween Joke!

Q: Who won the skeleton beauty contest? A: No body! We've got even more ghoulishly good Halloween jokes for kids to keep your kiddos laughing all day long!

For even MORE Halloween Fun, check out our Ultimate Guide to Fall Events in Tampa Bay here.