INSIDE LOOK: Pirate Water Taxi’s Haunted Tours Returning as a Spookeasy in 2026
Ahoy brave souls! Pirate Water Taxi's Haunted River Tours are about to set sail once again in downtown Tampa with a Spookeasy twist! As you step on board the Bootleg Taxi, you'll be transported back to the Prohibition era in 1929 for an evening of live jazz, libations, and eerie tales.
It's a fun Halloween event for families with older teens who love jazz and great photo ops; this is a fun way to experience our beautiful downtown from the water.
Are the Haunted Tours family-friendly?
Pirate Water Taxi's Haunted River Tours are PG-13, so it's probably best for families with teenagers. Little ones can enjoy a cruise on A Pirate's Halloween Cruise on The Lost Pearl.
What's NEW in 2026?
Here's what our pals at Pirate Water Taxi tell us you can expect in 2026:
- All-New Show & Cast: Pirate Water Taxi has teamed up with Thank You 5 Entertainment and Stageworks Theatre, Tampa’s longest-running professional theater company, to deliver a reimagined speakeasy experience featuring a fresh script and a talented new cast.
- Complimentary Libation: Admission includes a choice of a signature alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink.
- Prohibition Atmosphere: From period-appropriate decor to the immersive boarding ritual, every detail sets the mood for an unforgettable night on the water.
When you arrive at the dock, you'll walk up the tunnel to a door where you'll be asked for the secret password for the night. This is a great photo opportunity, so keep the camera ready.
What happens on the Haunted Tour?
You'll step aboard the decorated Pirate Water Taxi at Stop #7 where you are greeted by your ghostly captain and crew. While it may be 2026, this crew is trapped back in time in 1926!
Once everyone is on board, you'll get the safety briefing and then set sail along Tampa's beautiful riverfront. Snuggle up with your best ghoul or goblin as your guide regales you with live jazz … and occasionally interjects tales of supernatural beings that may still linger. If you've traveled before, it's more live music than storytelling this year.
Related: INSIDE LOOK: Tampa Theatre's Ghost Tours are a spooky Must-Boo!
Once the Haunted Tour is over, you'll disembark at Stop 7, and from there, enjoy a great night in downtown Tampa and Water Street. But before you leave, be sure to snap a few photos at their photo op at the dock. It's super cute!
Overall, this is a unique Halloween event that you really can't experience anywhere else, so we can absolutely recommend it to families with teenagers or even as a date night.
Now on to planning ahead…When are the Haunted River Cruise sailings?
The Haunted River Tour sailings are on select nights in October. There are four sailings each of the nights at 7:15 p.m., 8:15 p.m., 9:15 p.m., and 10:15 p.m. Each tour is about 45 minutes long.
If you want great sunset photos, the 7:15 p.m. cruise is your best bet for sunset and nighttime views of Tampa.
How much are tickets for Pirate Water Taxi's Haunted River Tours?
Tickets start at $35. Annual members save 15%.
Where do you board the Haunted Tours?
The Haunted Tours board at Pirate Water Taxi's Stop #7 at the Sail Pavilion/Tampa Convention Center. If you arrive early, you can grab a bite to eat at the Sail Pavilion.
The Sail Pavilion area is all decked out for Halloween too, so get the camera ready since there are plenty of fun photo opportunities.
Where to park for Pirate Water Taxi's Haunted Tours.
The best place to park is in the Tampa Convention Center's parking garage, but you can also park at the Pam Iorio Garage or Fort Brooke Garage. Another option is to find a metered spot near the Convention Center. Keep in mind that if there is an event at Amalie, there may be an event parking rate, so give yourself some extra time if something is on schedule.
- Fort Brooke Garage – 107 N Franklin St, Tampa, FL 33602
- Tampa Convention Center Garage – 141 E Brorein St, Tampa, FL 33602
- Pam Lorio Parking Garage – 640 S Florida Ave, Tampa, FL 33602
- Sail Pavilion Circle (worth a shot trying, but this area is typically full) – 333 S Franklin St, Tampa, FL 33602
What else is there to do in downtown Tampa?
There are so many other fun things happening this Halloween season in downtown Tampa. You can hop on the TECO Streetcar from Stop 10 at Dick Greco Plaza near the Convention Center and go to Sparkman Wharf (Stop 8). There are some fun places to eat here and fun things to do too:
Trick-or-Treat on the Riverwalk in Tampa
- October 24, 2026, from 4 pm-9 pm
- Downtown Tampa Riverwalk
- Cost: FREE
Trick-or-treating on the Riverwalk is back, where kids and their families can visit more than 50 different treat stations while enjoying other fun activities.
UNDead in the Water- American Victory Ship in Tampa
- Dates: September 26-October 31, 2026 on  select nights
- 615 Channelside Drive, Tampa, FL
- Cost: $31.81 (plus tax) General admission; military discounts available
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. This is best for kids older than 11 years old due to the fright factor.
Haunted Wharf at Sparkman Wharf in Tampa
- Dates: OctoberÂ
- 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!
Guppyween at the Florida Aquarium
- Date: OctoberÂ
- Sensory-Friendly Guppyween
- Cost: Museum admission
Guppyween returns to the Florida Aquarium for a weekend filled with Halloween-themed activities, trick-or-treating, animal encounters, costumed divers, and even underwater pumpkin carving!