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October 9, 2019
We say it every week and we’ll say it again…the weekend is here and the forecast for FUN is 100% with this list of our favorite family-friendly Tampa bay things to do this weekend with the kids!
Related: Plan Ahead! Our 2019 list of Fall Festivals, Pumpkin Patches and Halloween Events is HERE! We’ll continue to update it as more events are sent to us!
Harvest Holler Corn Maze in Polk City | Weekends through Nov. 10, various times
Come out for a fun fall tradition and stroll the fields of this year’s corn maze at Harvest Holler Farm, a working family farm in Polk City. Check out the pumpkin patch, go on a hayride and meet up with live farm animals. Families also can ride the cow train, play corn hole, swing on the tire swings and climb the hay fort. They even have mini-golf! harvestholler.com
Keel Farms Fall Harvest Days | Saturdays in Oct., 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Visit Keel Farms for a day of family fun! Fall Harvest Days will be held every Saturday in October from 10a to 6p. Admission and parking are free. The event will feature a hay maze, vendors, bouncy house, kids farm experience, and animal exhibits and feeding all included in free admission. Hayrides, u-picks, and a pumpkin patch are available for a small fee. keelfarms.com
HarvestMoon Farm in Masaryktown | Weekends Through Nov. 10
One of best kept secrets in Masaryktown this time of year, HarvestMoon Farm’s offers five acres of none stop fun for the whole family. Venture the Farm as a Farm Scene Investigation (ISI) or travel through the corn maze finding clues at each stop while reading passages of Spookley the Square Pumpkin. Hand down, one of the best features this Farm has to offer is a 70-foot jumping pillow. The grounds also offer a cow train ride, mineshaft slide, pumpkin patch, expanded petting farm and tree house. Tickets are $11.95 plus tax for age 3 and older.
If you’re also looking for a little nighttime fun, but not so much spooking, the farm also offers a nighttime walk through the maze in the dark with flashlights. Cost is $10 per person ages 3 & up; 2 & under free. The main farm and all other attractions will be closed for this Event. Harvestmoon Fun Farm Night-time corn maze runs Saturday’s starting October 13th through November 10th.Visit Harvestmoon Farm | Masaryktown, FL | Flashlight Maze Harvestmoonfl.com
Sweetfield Farms Fall Corn Maze and Farm Activities | Select Days through Nov. 3 various times
Come out for corn maze fun at Sweetfield Farms in Masaryktown, but stay for the Pitcher Pump Duck Race, hay ride, farm animals and free craft of the season. Stick around to meet up with special visiting vendors including Brenda Parish face painting, Heyman Kettle Corn, Ex-Squeeze-Me Lemonade, Fresh Pressed Apple Cider and more. sweetfieldsfarm.com
Seal Swim School’s Pumpkin Patch & Family Fun Festival | Through Oct. 31, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Pick out this year’s jack-o-lantern wannabes, participate in activities, and enjoy the photo ops at Seal Swim School with two locations in Lutz and South Tampa. Admission is free and open to the public. Plus, stop by 4-7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12 for their Family Fun Festival. sealswimschool.com
Pirate Water Taxi Haunted River Tours | Every Friday-Sunday in October, various times
Hop aboard the Pirate Water Taxi for a frighteningly good time on the water. Join us select nights in October for an entertaining evening with tales of ghosts along the Hillsborough River. Each tour will be led by a dead-lightful docent who will tell spooky stories of Tampa’s past. piratewatertaxi.com
Sesame Street Kids’ Weekends and Halloween Painting at Busch Gardens | Saturdays and Sundays Oct. 5-27, 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Say hello to Elmo, Cookie Monster, Big Bird and many more Sesame Street friends for Halloween fun at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Enjoy trick-or-treating, music and a chance to be up close with the park’s animal ambassadors. Join in parades and dance parties throughout the afternoon at Sesame Street Safari of Fun with different themes each weekend. Plus, take part in a special Sesame Street meet and greet. Guests may dress up, although only those 12 and younger are permitted to wear masks. buschgardens.com/tampa
House Power for kids and Animal Sanctuary 11th annual Fall Festival fundraiser | Weekends in October 5-27
Bring the family out for a day of fun, while supporting a non-profit animal sanctuary right outside the Westchase area. The festival includes pony, train and hay rides, as well as farm animals. Fall games and bon fire, which includes marshmallows. horsepowerforkids.com
Fox Squirrel Corn Maze in Plant City | Weekends, Oct. 5-27, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Take part in exciting, family-friendly fall games and activities at Fox Squirrel Corn Maze in Plant City. Tackle the corn maze, check out fun duck races, challenge friends to a game of cornhole or badminton, and shop for a pumpkin in the patch. Free parking. Maze cost is $11 plus tax for adults and $10 plus tax for children ages 3-17. futchentertainment.com
Heritage UMC Pumpkin Patch in Clearwater | Oct 5-31, Mon-Sat, 9 a.m. to 8 pm., Sun 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Heritage’s annual Pumpkin Patch is back again! Join us for pumpkins of all colors and sizes, as well as story time in the morning for the little ones, photo opportunities for the whole family, contests, and our annual Fall Festival on October 21st! heritageumc.com
Brick or Treat at LEGOland Florida | Weekends in Oct., various times
Enjoy a Halloween party built just for kids at LEGOLAND Florida Resort in Winter Haven. Kids can enjoy spooky LEGO building activities, Brick-or-Treat Trail and Scavenger Hunt, meet-and-greets with spooky characters and The Tale of Pirates’ Cove Fireworks Spectacular. legolandflorida.com
Creatures of the Night at ZooTampa at Lowry Park | Fridays and Saturdays Oct. 4-26, 4-10 p.m.
Return to ZooTampa for a Halloween event even spookier than last year. Ghouls and goblins of all ages can watch the zoo transform into an eerie and immersive Halloween adventure for the whole family. Creatures emerge at dusk with startling surprises but without the horror or gore. Guests are encouraged to arrive dressed up in their best family-friendly costumes! NEW this year is the Twisted Tale Trail and Rising Waters! zootampa.org
Halloween Spooktacular | Through Oct. 27
Enjoy a fun, non-scary Halloween Celebration that’s perfect for younger kids. Kids will be surrounded by an underwater Halloween with trick-or-treating, characters, and more! seaworld.com
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom | Through Nov 1 at 7 p.m.
Celebrate Halloween and spooky times starting this August with Mickey and other members of the Disney gang. Events from years past will be returning, as well as a brand-new firework show specifically for Halloween! BOO-k your tickets now and wear your costume to help Mickey Celebrate! disneyworld.disney.go.com
Scream-A-Geddon | Through Nov. 2, 7:30 p.m. to midnight
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. *Please don’t bring kiddos to this—it’s quite intense. screamageddon.com
Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens | Through Nov. 2
Get ready to howl and scream at Busch Gardens! Wonder through the haunted houses and scare zones to see what horror awaits. Go on rides in the dark and maybe end up next to a spooky guest. buschgardens.com
Sacred Heart Fall Festival
Oct. 16-20, various times
Get ready for Sacred Heart Church’s annual fall celebration and fundraiser held at 4661 82nd Ave. N. in Pinellas Park. The event includes games, Midway rides, food, music, and prizes. Free admission and parking; rides ticket sheets start at $12 when purchased online in advance, can be purchased on site as well.
Winter’s Trick or Treat | Oct 15- Nov 3, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Bring the family out to Clearwater Marine Aquarium for some Halloween fun! The whole family can even take a Family Boo Cruise, and on select night the kiddos can see some creepy critters from Owl’s Nest Sanctuary for Wildlife and rescued bats from Tampa Bay Bats! seewinter.com
9th Annual Tampa Pig Jig | Oct. 19, 1-10 p.m.
The Tampa Pig Jig is back at Curtis Hixon Park. Enjoy live music by Jake Owen, LANCO, Dr. Dog and more, plus great food, a barbecue competition, drinks and games. The event benefits NephCure Kidney International, the only nonprofit organization committed to finding a cure for the debilitating kidney disease, FSGS and Nephrotic Syndrome. Tickets start at $25. tampapigjig.com
Haunted Hayride and Happenings | Oct 19, 5-10 p.m.
It’s Spooky season and it’s time for the Haunted Hayride and Happenings! There will be carnival games, live entertainment and a trick or treat village! $5 dollars per person and kids 2 and under are free with a paying adult. *Hayride band FREE with advance purchase* Advance Tickets sold at the Polk County Parks & Recreation office. facebook.com
Livefor24 5K/Mile Relay | Oct. 19, 8 a.m.
The University of Tampa’s campus is the setting for the second annual Livefor24 5K/Mile Relay, hosted by The Live for 24 Foundation and The University of Tampa Athletic Department. Proceeds will go towards life-enriching opportunities to deserving youth in Tampa Bay. Runners can do a 5K or a four-member team mile relay. A family-friendly pre-race party, with food, music and more, will take place at Pepin Field at 6:30 a.m. livefor24.org
Free Pops in the Park | Oct. 19-20, 7 p.m.
In need of a date night or a family night? Free Pops in the Park is just the right night out for you and your family, or your significant other—a night full of music featuring film scores, Broadway hits and of course, some symphonic goodies. floridaorchestra.org
North Tampa Christian Academy Fall Festival | Oct. 20 4-7 p.m.
Join North Tampa Christian Academy for a trunk or treat maze, bounce house, obstacle course, games, dunk tank and silent auction. There will be food, dessert trucks and more! Food and game tickets will be sold at the event. northtampachristian.org/fall-festival
Cat and Nat #MOMTRUTHS Live! | Oct. 22, 7 p.m.
This is a night out for you moms! Leave the kiddos with dad tonight to watch the comical best friend duo Cat and Nat. They are in town with their live show #MOMTRUTHS to tell their gnarly stories of being a mother. Whether you’re with your girls or alone, you will leave with a sense of community of women who are all in the same shoes as you. rutheckerdhall.com
Read! Sing! Play! Toddlertime | Oct 22, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
It’s toddlertime at Barbara S. Ponce Public Library of Pinellas Park! Take a day and spend it with your little one with some reading, singing and playing! There will be a dynamic storytime and multiple learning activities for the little one! Following Toddlertime, everyone is encouraged to Stay & Play while making new friends. *For ages 1-2. facebook.com
Trunk or Treat Harvest Festival | Oct 23, 5-8 p.m.
Bring the kids out for a unique Trunk or Treat experience! There will be lots of candy of course and also pony rides, petting zoo and more! The event is free, but please bring a non-perishable food item to be donated to the Food Pantry! https://www.facebook.com/events/2274369442662342/
Bill Engvall | Oct. 25, 8 p.m.
Bill Engvall, known for his self-titled sitcom which ran for three seasons and as the host of television game shows and awards shows, makes his 10th appearance at the Ruth Eckerd Hall. Tickets start at $50.50. rutheckerdhall.com
Dunedin Trick or Treat at Emelia’s | Oct 25, 5-8.p.m.
Downtown Dunedin is having trick or treating for the little ones! Main Street and Broadway Ave in Dunedin will be closed down so the kids can have a safe and fun treat or treat. Bring the kids out to have a good time and celebrate Halloween! facebook.com
Halloween Spooktacular | Oct 25, 6-8 p.m.
The Wabash Community Center is having a Halloween Spooktacular! This is a fun free family event and everyone is welcome to come! There will be food vendors, arts and crafts and even a costume costume so make sure the little ones are dressed to impress! facebook.com
*Our partners at Tampa Bay Date Night Guide are sharing some of their favorite things to do around Tampa Bay too!
New Hospital exhibit at Glazer Children’s Museum: Sept 16
St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Featuring the UnMonsters is officially open and ready to inspire your child’s imagination while teaching them that the hospital isn’t such a scary place after all. See our INSIDE LOOK here for a tour!
For those who dare…and who happen to be 54 inches or taller…ride TIGRIS, the new rollercoaster at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay! Read all about it.
Dinovations Lab is NOW OPEN at MOSI!!
Be among the first to go back in time at our favorite science museum to learn about our planet Earth and the creatures and plants that lived here millions of years ago! The Dinovations Lab key feature is the Diplodocus dinosaur skeleton, a cast molding made from real dinosaur bones discovered in the USA! There’s also a Paleo Lab where you can examine fossils under a microscope! mosi.org
COOL OFF AT OUR FAVORITE WATER PARKS! Local water parks are now OPEN for the season like Adventure Island in Tampa and Buccaneer Bay at Weeki Wachee Springs! Here are our favorite water parks in Tampa Bay!
Go check out the newly renovated David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center at ZooTampa where four rescued manatees are being cared for. Just like before, you’ll be able to view the beautiful sea cows from the underwater observation window. zootampa.org
Discover one of 7 Local Museums Kids Love in Tampa Bay!
If the temps are a bit too cold for outdoor fun, why not go and play at one of our favorite 7 museums for kiddos in Tampa Bay!
Discover a NEW Place to Play | All weekend, all day, everyday
Why not discover a new park or playground in the Tampa Bay Area? There are so many great parks for families which is why we’ve put together a list of our favorites with the help of our Family Fun contributor Heather DeManche! Check it out here!
Go to the beach!
We’ve put together a list of our favorite family-friendly Tampa Bay beaches that are not huge tourist spots, but equally as beautiful!
