ByBrie Goreckihttps://muckrack.com/brie-gorecki Last Updated
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It’s another busy weekend with tons of awesome things to do in Tampa Bay with the kids!
Halloween is here and if you’re looking for some festive fun before heading out to trick or treat, there are plenty of frightfully fun events going on around Tampa Bay! In addition to our weekend picks, we’ve put together the best Halloween and Fall Festivals around Tampa Bay, including the best picks for kids of all ages and fright levels!Before we dive into our list of Weekend Top Picks of Things to Do in Tampa Bay This Weekend, here’s how we’ve set it up to make it easier for you to find an event on a day that works best for your family: Featured Eventsthat make this page possible, More Awesome Things to Do, Save the Date, What’s on Exhibit, and more.
We’re giving the following partners’ events an extra shout-out since their support helps us provide this amazing weekend guide to you for free!
Tampa Bay Rays World Series Games
Dates: Monday, October 26, Tuesday, October 27, and Wednesday, October 28
Times: 8:00 pm
Location: Tropicana Field, St. Pete
The Tampa Bay Rays are going for the World Series title against the Milwaukee Brewers! Fans can buy tickets and prepay for parking online at RaysBaseball.com/Postseason.
Step inside America’s second-largest planetarium and experience vivid laser visuals, dynamic music, and dazzling special effects. Designed for all ages, the Laser Light Shows have something for everyone. Each performance pairs stunning visuals with your favorite soundtracks. This week, check out the sounds of Halloween tunes! Before the lasers hit the dome, MOSI’s astronomer will guide you through a live star show, taking you on a journey into the night sky.
Audiences will see the original 1984 Ghostbusters film presented on a massive HD screen, accompanied by an orchestra performing the iconic score and soundtrack live to picture! Peter M. Bernstein, son of Academy Award®-winning composer Elmer Bernstein and an orchestrator on the original film, joins Schirmer Theatrical’s creative team in reconstructing his father’s score for the live performance.
Cheer on the Tampa Bay Bucs as they challenge the Atlanta Falcons! Before you go, make sure to sign the kids up for the Jr. Bucs Club to take advantage of specials, swag, and more!
Tampa Theatre, Tampa’s most historic (and most haunted) movie palace, provides premium heebie-jeebies this Halloween season with classic horror movies, spooky storytelling for all ages, ghost tours, and “Mummy & Me” family films that are FREE for kids 12 & younger. This Saturday’s film is Hocus Pocus at 3 pm. The first 200 guests to arrive for K-Pop Demon Hunters will receive a free foam glow stick, courtesy of series sponsor Bank of America!
Dates: Select nights, now through October 31, 2026
Times: Friday at 6:15 pm, Saturday at 2:15, 4:15, and 6:15 pm
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, and Spooky Dance Party. Teenagers will love a cruise on Pirate Water Taxi’s Haunted River Tours, which are rated PG-13.
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 .
Dates: Every Saturday & Sunday now through November 1, 2026
Times: 12:00 pm-4:00 pm
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 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.
Don’t miss this Halloween party built just for kids at LEGOLAND Florida Resort in Winter Haven. Kids can enjoy spooky LEGO building activities (they might even learn some cool LEGO building tricks from the pros!), trick-or-treating, the all-new Brick or Treat Street, and event-exclusive character meet-and-greets. Dance Party, and more! You can even climb aboard The Disco Dragon coaster and Galacticoaster for a Halloween twist. Read all about what to expect at Brick or Treat here.
Get ready to be back in the room where it happens! Hamilton is the epic saga with music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda that follows the rise of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton as he fights for honor, love and a legacy that would shape the course of a nation. Based on Ron Chernow’s acclaimed biography and set to a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B and Broadway, Hamilton has had a profound impact on culture, politics and education. In addition to its 11 Tony Awards, it has won Grammy and Olivier Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
Times: Friday from 3:00-8:00 pm, Saturday from 10:00am-8:00 pm, Sunday from 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Location: Terra Ceia
Our favorite family farm is reopening for the season this Friday with the Ananda Farm Fall Festival! There is something for everyone here, including 15 attractions where kids can play and get their wiggles out, u-pick flowers, and yummy farm-to-table food! The festival runs every Friday through Sunday through November 1.
Enjoy story time on the top of the Coop Barn then visit with farm animals like the goats, chickens, and ducks after! Be sure to stick around for pumpkin painting from 10-12:30.
Round up your crew for a spooky Movie on the Lawn at Sparkman Wharf! Kick things off with trick-or-treating from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm, then grab a bite, a drink, and a spot on the lawn before Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl hits the screen at 6:30 pm.
Celebrate 35 years of one of the most iconic video game franchises of all time – Sonic the Hedgehog! This new in concert experience brings together, live on stage, the most iconic music and incredible moments of the beloved Sonic video games. A live ensemble, rock musicians, electronics, and vocalists will perform an array of the incredible and defining songs from throughout the games as well as instrumental renditions of fan favourites from the Genesis era to now as they accompany the most exciting moments from across the games. Audiences can expect musical Easter eggs woven into the arrangements and an electrifying production, adding an extra layer of discovery that brings Sonic’s world vividly to life on stage.
Since 2002, The Great West Chase and its amazing sponsors have hosted a competitive field of racers, walkers, families, and kids from all over Tampa Bay. Organized by World of Westchase magazine, the race benefits area elementary schools. One hundred percent of their net proceeds will support math and literacy programs. Come run and celebrate 25 years before kicking off your Halloween festivities!
Head to Pioneer Florida Museum and Village for this inaugrual race! Whether you’re a seasoned runner or just looking for a fun way to spend your morning, participants of all ages and fitness levels are welcome. Enjoy a scenic course at Little Everglades Ranch, then celebrate your accomplishment with custom finisher medals, age group awards, a costume contest, race T-shirts, and other fun giveaways. Proceeds from the race help maintain the Museum’s historic buildings and collections while supporting affordable educational programs and field trips for local students and families.
Guppyween at Florida Aquarium presented by BayCare Kids
Dates: Saturday, October 31
Time: 9:00 am-5:00 pm
Location: Florida Aquarium in Tampa
This year’s Guppyween includes trick-or-treating, animal encounters, costumed divers, and a new scavenger hunt. Presented by BayCare Kids, Guppyween gives families a chance to dress up, explore the Aquarium, and enjoy some Halloween fun together. As an added treat, children in costume receive free admission with a paid parent or guardian. This offer is available at the Aquarium’s ticket window only.
India Festival Tampa is Florida’s largest celebration of Indian culture, proudly organized by the Gujarati Samaj of Tampa Bay. The festival brings together 85+ dance teams and 200+ exhibitors showcasing Indian fashion, jewelry, art, crafts, and authentic cuisine. Experience vibrant cultural performances, authentic Indian cuisine, and a colorful marketplace of fashion, art, and crafts. Led by dedicated volunteers, the festival celebrates unity, heritage, and community. All proceeds support youth education and the preservation of Indian culture for future generations.
This special sensory-friendly event at FloridaRAMA is designed to provide a calming, enjoyable experience for individuals with sensory sensitivities. During this time, they’ll adjust the environment to create a more accessible and inclusive atmosphere, with reduced noise levels, dimmed lighting, and quieter interactions. They’ll also have sensory kits available for guests to borrow, as well as designated quiet areas to provide a peaceful retreat when needed.
Spend your Saturday with a 3 hour LEGO workshop full of LEGO robots, LEGO mosaic art, LEGO 3D art, and much more!
Each week is a different theme, so we are sure to have one your child will enjoy! And at the end of each workshop, every child will get to take home their every own Bricks 4 Kidz minifigure! All children ages 4.5 – 12 years old are welcome! Every child will take home a custom minifigure! Spots are limited to just 20 builders per workshop. This week’s special game is LEGO Halloween Bricktacular!
Dave & Buster’s transforms into the ultimate spooky, fun, haunted arcade this Halloween! A family friendly morning at Boo Bash features costume contests, Monster Mash music, themed activities, and a Halloween-inspired food banquet. Included with the Boo Bash Combo: $10 Power Card with 3 hours of unlimited video game play (blue games).
Celebrate Halloween with Beetlejuice! Wear your favorite costume and enter their costume contest.
Plus you can meet Beetlejuice live! (But don’t say his name twice!). $15 per person includes skate rental.
Cyber Bowling is the fusion of high energy entertainment and bowling where anything is possible! Your favorite music and club lighting create a glowing, nightclub-like atmosphere while you bowl. This family matinee will feature family appropriate music so families can enjoy the fun together at an earlier time.
Spend the afternoon developing gaming fundamentals. Esports Lounges include: six 65-inch televisions, nextgen consoles (Xbox Series S, PS5, Nintendo Switch), gaming chairs and furniture, and high speed internet. Games inclulde: Super Smash Bros., Fortnite, Rocket League, Paladins, Pokémon Unite, and Mario Kart.
Experience the beloved 1984 classic like never before with a special screening accompanied by a live orchestra performing the film’s score on stage. Bring your proton pack and join the original paranormal investigation and elimination team as they capture their first ghost, Slimer, and encounter their first god of destruction, Gozer the Gozerian! Audience members will enjoy the ultimate movie concert experience as Ghostbusters is presented on a large HD cinema screen, fully synced to a live performance of Academy Award-winning composer Elmer Berstein’s spine-tingling score.
Through their Sensory Sensitive Sundays program, participating locations open two hours early on the first Sunday of the month. They offer a quieter environment, dimmed lighting, and a trained and caring staff to ensure each guest has a safe, fun-filled visit.
Bring the whole family to Pin Chasers for unlimited bowling plus breakfast! Breakfast Bowling includes: two hours of bowling, two eggs (your way), bacon, and toast.
Bring the kids out to dance, sing, and request all their favorite tunes! Movie Songs, TV Shows, and pop music are all on the table! Yes, the adults can request songs too! FREE! Reserver your seat now!
Hillsborough County Fairgrounds, 215 Sydney Washer Road, Dover, FL
Celebrate family, agriculture and community at the 2026 Hillsborough County Fair, November 5–15 in Dover! This year’s “Celebrate America” theme brings 11 days of exciting carnival rides, fair food, youth livestock shows, agricultural exhibits, contests, live entertainment and family fun. New for 2026, gate admission includes special grandstand events, including rodeo action, truck and tractor pulls and the fan-favorite Demo Derby. Plus, parking is always FREE! Come celebrate America’s heritage, support local youth and agriculture, and make lasting memories with family and friends.2026 Hillsborough County Fair, November 5–15 in Dover
The Holiday Gift Market is The Junior League of Tampa’s largest fundraiser bringing together merchants and shoppers for a unique shopping event. Held at the Florida State Fairgrounds, this year’s Market will feature over 200 specialty merchants from the Tampa Bay region and beyond. Shoppers can find gifts for everyone on their list and enjoy holiday-themed events while giving back to the Tampa Bay community. 100% of the Holiday Gift Market proceeds support The Junior League of Tampa’s community projects and programs benefiting women, children and families. Early-bird ticket sales going on now; group discounts available at HolidayGiftMarket.org.
Dates: Select Dates, November 12 – January 3, 2027, at various showtimes
Location: 1211 1st Aven N., Suite 101, St. Petersburg 33705
Celebrate the season with Zubrick Magic Theatre’s Holiday Spectacular, a dazzling 70 minute performance created and produced by Illusionists Chris and Ryan Zubrick. Featuring world-class magic, holiday-inspired surprises, audience interaction, and plenty of unexpected moments, this special production blends audience favorites with fresh seasonal touches. It’s a festive tradition for families, friends, and anyone looking to experience something truly magical this holiday season in downtown St. Petersburg. Visit zubrickmagic.com to view the calendar and purchase tickets.
Don’t miss the holiday spectacular everyone will be talking about! A Magical Cirque Christmas is coming to the Mahaffey Theater for one unforgettable evening of world-class cirque artistry, comedy, magic, and music. Featuring breathtaking aerialists, acrobats, contortionists, jugglers, and specialty performers, this dazzling production brings beloved Christmas classics to life with a fresh, modern twist. Filled with jaw-dropping feats, festive fun, and unforgettable moments, A Magical Cirque Christmas is the perfect holiday experience for the whole family, a festive night out, or a gathering with friends. Get your tickets and make it part of your holiday tradition.A Magical Cirque Christmas is coming to the Mahaffey Theater
Get ready for an unforgettable evening where the aquarium transforms into an after-hours adventure! This special event invites kids ages 5-10 to experience a magical night. When the lights go out, the ocean adventure truly begins! Drop-off: 5:30 – 6 p.m.; pick-up: 8:00 pm – 8:30 pm. Kids can enjoy:
Captivating Stories: Hear amazing tales about the ocean’s most incredible creatures!
Hands-On Activities: Dive into interactive fun with ocean-themed crafts and games.
Aquarium Exploration: Discover the secrets of CMA like never before!
Night at the Aquarium is coming back to Clearwater Marine Aquarium!
Location: Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 N McMullen Booth Rd, Clearwater
This November, A Charlie Brown Christmas Live On Stage! returns to Ruth Eckerd Hall to spread holiday cheer with the timeless characters, music and heart that have made it a cherished family tradition for generations. Join Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus and the whole Peanuts gang as they produce their own Christmas play and ultimately learn the true meaning of the season.
Cowboy Santa invites you to kick off the holiday season at The James Museum in downtown St. Pete for a festive and fun celebration. Come see the 12-foot Yule Cactus, enjoy art making for all ages, photos with Cowboy Santa, live music from Tampa Bay band Local Honey, and more! The event takes place on our first floor, and it is FREE to attend.
Get ready to come face to face with two of Africa’s most legendary predators at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay! Lion & Hyena Ridge is an extraordinary new addition to the park’s award-winning animal care portfolio and one of the most immersive wildlife experiences in North America. Included with general admission.
Dinosaurs are taking over the SciLinx mini golf course at MOSI! You can now putt putt your way millions of years back in time alongside five massive dinosaurs! The debut of the Cretaceous Course marks the first step in a larger dinosaur transformation taking place across the museum as MOSI prepares for the arrival of SUE The T. rex Experience in January 2027.
Meet CMA’s newest residents–Wahoo and Tuna, the sea lions, in their new home at Pinniped Pier! Be among the first to meet these sweet animals in their new habitat, along with more new animals that have recently joined the CMA family! We’re sharing more about what’s new at Clearwater Marine Aquarium here.
David Hockney: Perspective Should Be Reversed at Tampa Museum of Art
Date: Open through February 28, 2026
Location: Tampa Museum of Art, Downtown Tampa
The exhibition features 140 prints, collages, photographs, and iPad drawings by the artist David Hockney, from the collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and his family foundation. By rejecting the idea of being limited to one medium or mode of perception, Hockney helped transform modern art. Throughout his lifelong career, which began in the early 1960’s, he worked with etching, lithography, Polaroid collage, office copiers, photography, video, iPhones, and iPads.
The Tampa Museum of Art has just unveiled a first-of-its-kind exhibit for the Tampa Bay area featuring art and artifacts of ancient Egypt. The exhibit features pieces on loan from the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto and from private collections of owners, along with works from TMA’s collection. The exhibit is an exploration of the everyday life of ancient Egyptian people, the power of the pharaohs and priests, the worship of the gods, and the afterlife. Mysteries of the Nile: Ancient Egypt will be on display for two years.
Go check out the NEW Magic Grasshopper at the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Pete
Date: on display now
Location: St. Pete
The MFA just unveiled Magic Grasshopper, a pink-hued fantastical art sculpture by a renowned artist, Yvette Mayorga. It’s the first in a series of public art displays the museum will showcase outside of its gallery walls for all to enjoy. No admission is required to experience it!
Galacticoaster at LEGOLAND Florida Resort
NOW OPEN!
Location: LEGOLAND Florida, Winter Haven
Be one of the first to experience LEGOLAND Florida Resort’s awesome new indoor family coaster, Galacticoaster! You’ll find it in the new LEGO Galaxy, where you can immerse yourself in 40+ years of LEGO space history. The ride is a first of its kind, and we’re sharing all of the details about Galacticoaster here!
From the earliest dreams of the Wright brothers to the future of space exploration, this immersive exhibit lets you design, test, and experience flight firsthand through cutting-edge, hands-on technology. Step into the action as you build your own aircraft, explore the forces of flight, and push the limits of what’s possible.
Science LIVE! All-New Science Demos at MOSI in Tampa | Daily at 2 p.m.
Watch a MOSI educator bring science to life with exciting, hands-on demos. Each show lasts about 15 minutes and features fun experiments in chemistry, physics, biology, and more. You’ll see colorful reactions, cool demos, and amazing science in action. MOSI makes science easy to understand, and even easier to get excited about!
Get ready for this under-the-sea adventure at this all-new indoor attraction! You can expect to see more than 3,000 sea creatures and even walk through a 180-degree underwater tunnel! We’ll be there for the official opening on Friday morning!
The beloved FORTS exhibit returns to Glazer Children’s Museum this weekend in its newly expanded and permanent home on the second floor, just in time for spring break! You’ll find it on the second floor, where kids can use their imaginations to build an epic fort!
This colorful, bilingual (English and Spanish) exhibit, created in partnership with the Glazer Vision Foundation, invites families to explore the science of vision through hands-on, mind-bending experiences. Discover how your eyes work with playful interactives that bring light, color, and perspective to life. Mix colors on spinning wheels, walk into a giant kaleidoscope, and cast dazzling colored shadows. Peer through a water sphere to see the world flipped upside down – just like your eyes do before your brain flips it back! Try on glasses, test for color blindness, and watch your pupils dilate as you explore how we see the world.
This new permanent exhibit, created in partnership with Tampa Bay Water, was designed to engage young minds and spark environmental curiosity. The immersive experience brings one of Florida’s most vital ecosystems to life inside the museum, and kids can even go face-to-face with some of the creatures that call our wetlands home, like turtles, lizards, and a snake!
Big John, the world’s largest fossil triceratops, is now on display at the Glazer Children’s Museum for a three-year exhibition. For the first time, the museum is waiving its requirement that adults attend the museum with a child, to ensure everyone has a chance to see Big John nose to snout for themselves. While you do not need a reservation to go to the museum, you will need to book a timeslot to see Big John. This will eliminate crowds so you can make the most out of the experience. Learn more about how to plan your day to see Big John the Triceratops here.
The Humane Society of Tampa Bay gives children who love animals a chance to spend time with them while catching up on their reading or improving their reading skills. Children are paired with homeless pets who love to hear the stories and look at the pictures. The program is offered for children ages 5 and up. They’ll provide reading stools, books, and treats (for the animals), but children are welcome to bring their own books if they wish. Books provided include animal tales, stories of the animal-human bond, and books that teach empathy to young readers. Supervised by a Florida state certified teacher.
Ruskin Family Drive-In in Ruskin | Wednesdays-Sundays
The Ruskin Family Drive-In Theatre has over 50 years of continuous service to the Ruskin and South Hillsborough County. It’s been a community gathering place since its first movie, “Singing in the Rain” played in 1952. They offer great movies, good food, and peace and quiet on a continuous basis with a 2000 square foot screen, clean restrooms, snack bar, and clean parking lot. Please note: you must bring a portable radio with you or use the radio in your car to hear the movie. There will be no showings on Monday and Tuesday.
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