The BEST Kid-Friendly Halloween Events in Tampa Bay + MORE Fun!
Spooky SZN is here which means it’s time for us to share our favorite kid-friendly Halloween events 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 fall festivals and more Halloween fun!
Attend One of the BEST Halloween Events in Tampa Bay for Kids and Trick-or-Treating
Spooktacular at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Saturdays and Sundays September 10-October 30, 2022 from 12pm-4pm
Cost: Included with theme park admission
*Includes trick-or-treating
Celebrate Halloween and more kid-friendly fun along with trick-or-treating during this new Spooktacular event at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay! The kids can go trick-or-treating, take part in a costume parade, listen to a story with Kandy the witch in training, and even watch a magic show.
Related: Check out our INSIDE LOOK of Spooktacular at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay!
Don’t forget–there is also Sesame Street Safari of Fun Kids Weekends on weekends in October for even MORE Halloween fun for the kiddos! That event is celebrated from about 11 – 4p.m.. Here’s the line-up:
- Abby Cadabby’s Scavenger Hunt from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Furry Friends Halloween Dance Party at 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
- The Not-Too-Spooky Howl-O-Ween Radio Show at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 4 p.m.
- A Special Sesame Street Halloween Storytime at 12:30 p.m and 3 p.m.
Brick or Treat Monster Party at LEGOLAND Florida
Weekends September 24-October 30, 2022
Cost: Included with daily admission
*Includes trick-or-treating
Enjoy a Halloween party built just for kids at LEGOLAND Florida Resort in Winter Haven. Kids can enjoy spooky LEGO building activities, trick-or-treating at MORE candy stations than ever before, NEW character meet-and-greets, and MORE.
Related: Brick or Treat at LEGOLAND Florida is Back for 2020. Here’s what to expect.
Halloween Scavenger Hunt at Fairgrounds St. Pete
September 29- October 30, 2022, select days/nights
Cost: $28 for Florida residents, $25 for kids ages 4-12
Fairgrounds St. Pete is already a celebration of all that is wacky and weird and leading up to Halloween, they’ll be tying in a Halloween twist with Halloween Themed Scavenger Hunt! This is something people of all ages can enjoy.
Creatures of the Night at ZooTampa at Lowry Park
Select Nights in October 2022, 4pm-10pm
Cost: $5 reservation fee for Zoo Members and “Pay for a Day” ticket holders which you’ll get back as a voucher and it’s $34.95 for general admission tickets
Tampa Bay’s number one family Halloween event returns this October! 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! This year’s event features the Swamp Witch, a mysterious new resident who is looking to make a deal. Are you brave enough to enter her marsh and make a bargain with her no matter the cost?
Related: See what’s NEW at ZooTampa’s Creatures of the Night in 2022
Haunted River Tours with Pirate Water Taxi
October 7-30, 2022, select days various hours
Convention Center/ Marriott Water Street (Stop 7 location)
Cost: $30 adult, $20 children ages 2-12 (includes all-day hop on/hop off)
Join Pirate Water Taxi’s crew for an entertaining evening with tales of ghosts along the Hillsborough River. Each tour will be led by two dead-lightful docents who will tell eerie stories of Tampa’s past. Admission is included with a regular daily hop-on, hop-off pass. Haunted River Tours are family friendly, and all ages welcomed!
Boos and Bubbles at Clearwater Marine Aquarium
October14-October 29, 2022, Friday and Saturday evenings from 4pm-8pm
Cost: Included with daily admission.
This is a brand new event at Clearwater Marine Aquarium where families can experience this CMA themed fall festival among billions of bubbles! There will be a dance party and there will be plenty of photo opps at the unique Halloween event.
Pied Piper’s 2nd Annual Haunted Carnival at Armature Works in Tampa
October 27-30, 2022 at various times
1910 N Ola Avenue, Tampa
Cost: $5.00 for kids ages 4-17 and $7.50 for adults
Head down to Armature Works to experience 300,000 square feet of terrifying fun! The daytime hours are best for kids where there is a kids zone, plenty of nostalgic candy, photos opportunities and more fun rides.
Haunted Wharf at Sparkman Wharf in Tampaa
October 28 & 29 from 4 pm-10 pm
615 Channelside Drive, Tampa
Cost: FREE
A haunted pirate shipwreck is heading to Sparkman Wharf with an evening of plenty of photos, live music, silly spooks for the kids, festive food and drinks, and MORE! This is a free community event. Some of the cool photo opportunities include a pirate jail, a siren’s sea swing, and the TAMPA sign will be decked out for the holidays too!
Owl-O-Ween at McGough Nature Park
October 28, 2022, 5:30 pm-9 pm
11901 146th St., Largo, FL 33774
Cost: $5 ages 3 and up
For a spooky good time, bring the family out to McGough Nature Park for a night to explore a spooky nature trail, candy scavenger hunt, animal shows, and more! Tickets are $5 per person. Kids three and younger are free. You can learn more and book your tickets by visiting playlargo.com.
Trick-or-Treat Trail at Largo Central Park
October 28, 2022, 5:30pm
201 Highland Ave, Largo, FL
Cost: Free for the first 1,500 kids on sight (under 12)
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. Learn more at playlargo.com.
Fright Nights at Folly Farm in Safety Harbor
October 28 and 29 from 6pm-10pm
1538 Dr. MLK North, Safety Harbor
The city of Safety Harbor has scheduled two nights of frightful fun at Folly Farm Nature Preserve. There will be a haunted trail you can explore for a small fee, fall themed activities, and more!
MOSI Monster Mash
October 29, 2022 from 10 am-5 pm
Cost: Included with admission
MOSI’s Monster Mash is back with mad science and indoor trick-or-treating! There will be plenty of Hall-o-STEAM activities throughout the museum and even a Halloween themed astronomy show at the Saunders Planetarium.
Guppyween at the Florida Aquarium
October 29 & 30, 2022 from 10 am-3 pm
Cost: Included with admission
Dust off your spooky-spirited outfits and join us for Guppyween on Saturday, October 29 and Sunday, October 30! This Halloween themed event will take place between 10am and 3pm and will feature complimentary trick or treating, animal encounters, character appearances and more. Admission is free for members and for children in costume accompanied by a paid adult. A Sensory-Friendly Guppyween will be held on October 29 from 8:00 am-9:30 am. Tickets for the Sensory-Friendly event are $10 per person.
Dairy Joy Halloween Party in Tampa
October 29, 2022 from 1pm-3pm
3813 S Manhattan Ave, Tampa
Cost: Free to attend, but you will need to buy your own ice-cream
Join Tampa’s iconic ice-cream shop, Dairy Joy, for an afternoon of thrilling fun! In fact, it’s going to be so spooky good that even the Sanderson Sisters from Hocus Pocus are flying in for a meet-and-greet. There will also be a costume and more fun to be had!
6th Annual Trick or Treat on the Riverwalk in Tampa and Lighted Boat Parade
October 29, 2022 4om 4pm-7pm
Downtown Tampa
Cost: FREE
Trick or treating on the Riverwalk is back where kids and their families can visit 50 different treat stations while enjoying other fun activities including the annual Halloween Lighted Boat Parade which starts at 6:30pm, benefiting the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation.
Spooky Stroll with TRIBE Seminole Heights
October 29, 2022 from 6pm-9pm
Seminole Heights, Tampa
Cost: $1 per person
This beloved annual event will sell out fast, so be sure to purchase your tickets in advance to secure your spot. TRIBE Seminole Heights’ Spooky Stroll feature tons of family-friendly fun including costumed characters, trick-or-treat stations, a pumpkin patch, creepy house tour, fun games and MORE! It takes about 60-90 minutes to complete the stroll.
Howl-O-Ween at Humane Society of Tampa Bay
Saturday, October 29 from 11am-3pm
3607 N. Armenia Ave, Tampa, FL
Head to Humane Society of Tampa Bay for some spooky games and prizes, trick-or-treating, crafts, and costume contests for both kids and pets!
Great EEEKS-plorations Kids Halloween Event
Saturday, October 29 from 10:30 am-4:00 pm
Cost: $18 for non-members and $12 for members
1925 4th Street North, St. Petersburg
Great Explorations Children’s Museum in St Pete is hosting its annual Halloween celebrations that will feature plenty of treats, a creepy spider maze, a mad scientist who will be hard at work making a mess, a scavenger hunt, a Monster Mash dance party with museum mascot Morris and more!
Haunted Halls Halloween Concert with the Florida Orchestra
Octobre 30, 2022 at 2pm
Cost: Tickets range from $10-$20, Kids 3 and younger are free
Mahaffey Theater in St. Pete
Gather up your ghouls and goblins and have them wear their favorite costumes to the the Haunted Halls Halloween themed concert! You’ll hear songs from Grieg’s In the Hall of the Mountain King, John Williams’ music from Jaws and Superman, selections from the Nightmare Before Christmas and much more. Arrive early to play in the Instrument Meeting Zoo. The show is about one hour long.
Tampa Bay History Center’s A Night at the Museum
Sunday, October 30, 2022 from 4 pm-7 pm
Cost: Ticket prices: $16.95 adult; $14.95 college student; $14.95 senior (60+); $12.95 children and youth (4-17); free for children ages 0-3. History Center members receive a 15% discount.
*Includes trick-or-treating
Trick-or-treat your way through the Tampa Bay History Center galleries in search of sweet rewards on Sunday, Oct. 30. Plan for an evening of games, crafts, costume characters, and more! Timed tickets are available now and children age 3 and younger are free.
Halloween on Central in St Pete 2022
October 30, 2022 from noon-5:00 pm
Cost: Free
Central Ave in St. Pete between MLK and 31st St S
Halloween on Central is back for 2022! 22 blocks in St. Pete will be closed to traffic for a chance for families to trick or treat in the street! There will also be costume contests and festival activities. This is a partnership between SunRunner The EDGE District, Grand Central District and St Pete Pride, and PTSA.
Boo Brunch on Yacht Starship in Tampa
October 30, 2022 from 12pm-2:30pm
603 Channelside Drive
Cost: Tickets start at $34.95 for kids and $54.95 for adults
This Halloween-themed Boo Brunch cruise is a family-friendly adventure with fun costume contests, tricks and treats, family-style buffet, and more. Each child will receive a complimentary pumpkin at the end of the cruise along with a cute photo opportunity before boarding.
For even MORE Halloween Fun, check out our Ultimate Guide to Fall Events in Tampa Bay here.
The BEST Halloween Events for Teens
Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens
Select Nights September 9- October 31, 2022, Fri & Sat: 7pm-1am, Thurs & Sun: 7pm-12am
Cost: Tickets start at $41.99
Experience terrors around every corner at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Meet up with hundreds of roaming creatures, terrifying outdoor scare zones, including and returning favorite haunted houses including the “Witch of the Woods” The Forgotten! There will also be live, interactive entertainment and Bier Fest will be open for you to explore too! Tickets are a must to secure your spot!
Related: Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream 2022
Scarehouse Pinellas in Largo
September 30-October 9, 2022 on select nights (mostly Fridays and Saturdays)
12461 Creekside Drive, Largo
Experience 10,000 square feet of fright with a local twist–this year’s house will take you through the aftermath of a red tide outbreak, but things just weren’t quite the same as before. This is considered a family-friendly haunted house and it also operates for a good cause. A portion of ticket sales will be donated to the SPCA Tampa Bay. You can bring in donations to support the animals being cared for at SPCA. Donations of pet supplies will get you $5 of admission price. Tickets start at a $15. Learn more here.
Scream-A-Geddon in Dade City
Select nights September 9-October 31, 2022, Select Nights
27839 St. Joe Rd., Dade City, FL 33525
Cost: $24.95-$35.95 ($5 extra per ticket at box office)
It’s officially that time of year! Scream-A-Geddon is returning to Dade City to terrify guests once again with haunted house attractions and creepy crawlies wandering the grounds to give you your first frights of the season. There are a total of SIX attractions to terrify you including NEW ones. *Please don’t bring little kiddos to this—it’s quite intense and there’s no pumpkin patch here.
Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail in Plant City
September 30-November 1, 2022 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights
2837 S Frontage Rd in Plant City
Cost: $27-$37
For an extra spooky night filled with terrifying thrills, head to Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail in Plant City! There are three haunted trails, laser tag and even an escape room. The haunted trails are not appropriate for kids under age 12, so leave the little ones at home.
Tampa Theatre Ghosts of Tampa Tour
October 16-31, 2022, various times
Cost: see website for details
Tampa’s most historic (and haunted!) movie palace is offering 90 minute tours where you’ll learn their haunting tales of the spirits that are said to still roam the historic theater. For more information, prices, and times, visit Tampa Theatre online.
UNDead in the Water at the American Victory Ship in Tampa
Fridays & Saturdays in October 2022
615 Channelside Drive, Tampa, FL
Cost: $20-$25 (plus tax) general admission, $18-$23 (plus tax) military
UNDead in the Water is back at Sparkman Wharf! Traverse multiple decks of this historic WWII cargo ship armed only with nerves of steel and a will to survive. Avoid being eaten by the infected zombie stowaways while the Ripper Squad Decontamination Crew fights for humanity’s very survival! Alas, no pumpkin patch here. This is best for kids older than 11 years old due to the fright factor.
Check out even MORE Scary Halloween Events and Haunted Houses in Tampa Bay and Beyond here!
Halloween Costume Ideas
Our team is sharing some of our favorite DIY Halloween costume ideas. You can also learn how to make the above DIY Pirate Costume by Tampa Bay Parenting contributor Karimah Henry of @craftingafunlife–which is perfect to store and keep for Gasparilla too!
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!
More stories we think you’ll LOVE:
9 Scenic Road Trips from Tampa Bay to See Fall Leaves
Halloween events that have already happend, so stay tuned for 2023!
Haunted Woods at Hillsborough River State Park
October 21-22, 2022 from 6pm-10pm
Cost: $10 for ages 13 and older
Hillsborough River State Park
The Hillsborough River State Park Preservation Society is hosting a haunted trail at the park along with a costume contest, live music and treats as an alternative to trick-or-treating! Learn more about the Haunted Woods at Hillsborough River State Park here.
Pint-Sized Halloween Party at Southwest Complex in Largo
October 22, 2022 4pm
13120 Vonn Rd, Largo, FL
Cost: $10 child, $4 adult
This is a Willy Wonka themed party created just for kiddos ages 7 and younger. Kids can make a craft, participate in a costume parade, enjoy fall themed treats, and play games.
Cracker Country Living History Museum Presents Fourth Annual Tale Tales of Old Florida
October 22, 2022, 6:45pm
Florida State Fairgrounds
Cost: $15 per person when purchased in advance, $8 parking per car
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 by lantern light. Guests are invited to come early and enjoy Victorian games and activities before their tour begins. Afterward, have a complimentary snack and do some holiday shopping in the General Store. Tours last 60 minutes. Not recommended for children under 6.
