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October 25, 2020
The Tampa Bay weekend agenda is jam-packed and we can’t be more excited! From pumpkin patches, corn mazes, Halloween events, and MORE…there is so much to explore this weekend! We’re breaking it down into sections to help you find your weekend family FUN! This is the place to find things to do near me in Tampa, so get the scrolling thumb ready!
Keep scrolling to discover:
Related: Fall Festivals, Pumpkin Patches & Corn Mazes, and Halloween Events
October 29 – November 1, 2020 (daily times vary)
This family-fun event features a daily carnival with rides, games and fair food, and the North Tampa Bay Chamber’s 16th Annual Wesley Chapel Fall Festival on Saturday and Sunday from 11 am-6 pm with live music and entertainment, crafters, vendors, food trucks and Halloween activities including a free Trunk-or-Treat on Saturday. Parking and admission are free. See website for savings on rides. Carnival hours are 5-10 pm Thursday, 5-11 pm Friday, noon-11 pm Saturday and noon-10 pm Sunday at The Grove at Wesley Chapel, 6105 Wesley Grove Blvd. For more information, call 866-666-3247 or visit dreamlandamusements.com.
October 30, 2020 from 6:30 pm-8:30 pm
Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation is ready to host your little goblins for a night of spooky sweet fun! Goody bags filled with tasty treats will be given to the first 500 kids at each location. You’ll be able to drive through to see some cool Halloween displays too! Learn more here. Participating parks include:
October 30, 2020 from 6:00 pm-8:00 pm
Tarpon Springs Recreation sponsors this community safe trick or treating event. Adapted for safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s trunk or treat will be a drive through event. Three locations – Community Center Parking Lot / Craig Park Roundabout / Splash Park Parking Lot. exploretarponsprings.com
October 30, 2020 from to 6:00 pm til the candy bags run out!
The Annual Halloween Spooktacular may be cancelled, trick-or-treating isn’t cancelled. This year, you can stay in your car with the kids while your drive through decorated themed areas! The first 1,000 children who attend will receive a bag full of goodies. Call 727-587-6740 x5014 for questions. playlargo.com
October 30 from 7:00 pm-9:00 pm & October 31 from 6:00 pm-9:00 pm
The Tales of Safety Town Trick or Treat is back for 2020 with safety precautions in place. Bring your little ghosts and goblins to The Concourse for treats and plenty of family-friendly fun! Learn more here.
October 31 and November 1, 2020
Bring your little pumpkin-heads! Celebrate Halloween with your favorite rescued marine animals at Clearwater Marine Aquarium this Halloween season. There will be costumes, tasty treats, underwater pumpkin carvings from an underwater pumpkin patch, and more! Learn more: seewinter.com
October 31, 2020 from 6:00 pm-8:30 pm at 4802 N. Boulevard in Tampa
The South Seminole Heights Community is hosting its annual Trick-or-Treat event at Rivercrest Park where residents are setting up socially distanced tables to pass out candy to the kiddos! You can learn more by visiting their event Facebook page.
October 31, 2020 starting at 6:00 pm at 5141 78th Avenue in Pinellas Park
This year’s event is a bit different to keep things safe for trick-or-treaters. You can drive through the Helen Howarth Community Park! The City of Pinellas Park has purchased 2,000 pumpkins for kiddos to fill with sweet treats which will be given to them in a contactless way. Learn more and see the map of how you’ll drive through the park here: Pinellas-park.com
October 31 from 9:30 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
The Florida Aquarium is bringing back Guppyween with modifications, but there is still plenty of fun to be had! Kiddos can dress up in their favorite costumes and explore the Aquarium which is still being kept at reduced capacity. Kids ages 3-11 who come dressed in costume will not only get free admission, but also a Halloween surprise! You will need to book an online reservation to attend, this includes members. flaquarium.org
October 31 from 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Your kiddos can get dressed up for some indoor Halloween fun at their favorite science museum! MOSI’s Monster Mash is a FREE event for members and included with admission. The kids can trick-or-treat throughout the museum, take part in Hallo-STEAM activities, watch a mad science show, and for an extra fee, see a cool Halloween Space Show in the Saunders Planetarium. Guest ages 5 and older will need to wear a face mask. mosi.org
Saturday, October 31 from 9am-11am, 12pm-2pm, 3pm-5pm
Head on over to Great Explorations for Halloween fun with fall themed activities, creepy crafts, a monster dance party, pick and paint pumpkin patch pumpkins from the pumpkin patch, and MORE! Tickets are $10 for members and $15 for non-members. Learn more here.
Fridays and Saturdays Oct. 2-31, 2020 4-10 p.m.
Return to ZooTampa for a Halloween event even spookier than last year with safety modifications in place. 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! There are SIX NEW frightfully fun outdoor experiences along with returning favorites like Rising Waters and Pumpkin Palooza! zootampa.org
Related: The Spider Queen dishes on what we can expect during the 2020 Creatures of the Night festivities!
Saturdays and Sundays Oct. 3-21, 2020
At Sesame Street Kid’s Weekends, fan-favorite friendly monsters are also getting into the Halloween spirit in the Sesame Street Safari of Fun play area at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay! The park is has implemented additional health and safety measures to offer physically distant trick-or-treating for kids
and families throughout the spacious, open air play area. Guests can also tune into The Not-Too-Spooky Howl-O-Ween Radio Show starring Count von Count and his Sesame Street friends available only during these special weekends. The outdoor Sunny Day Theater offers physically distant seating for Sesame Street fans of all ages to enjoy the show. buschgardens.com/tampa
Related: Contact-Free Trick-or-Treating coming to Busch Gardens during Sesame Street Kids’ Weekends!
Weekends in October at various times
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. Haunted River Tours will take place aboard Pirate Water Taxi’s newest vessel Captain Jack II, which will operate at 50% capacity along new health and safety protocols. Haunted River Tours are family friendly and all ages welcomed! piratewatertaxi.com
Select nights through October 31, 2020 from 6:30 p.m.-10:00 p.m.
Come out to the Concourse forger Spooky Train Rides and Scary Trail! There will be many activities for the kids so come out and have a spooky time! The train ride is $6 and the trail is also $6. You can experience both for $10! Learn more to select your night out with the family: theconcourse.org
Friday and Saturday Nights in October
The tradition continues this year at the Sylvan Ramble House with a Halloween inspired light display and show that will leave you in awe! Reservations are slated for 40 people per half hour show which begins at 8:00pm and continues until 9:30pm. You can learn more about what to expect by visiting sylvanramblelights.com.
Select Nights in October beginning October 9 through 31, from 7:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.
This is a unique way to celebrate the fall season on the farm! Sun Kisses Acres is teaming up with Nights of Shimmering Lights to create a 1/4 mile walk through trail featuring beautiful lights, music, games, hay rides and more! Tickets are $7 for everyone ages 3 and older. Learn more here.
Weekends in October
Enjoy a Halloween party built just for kids at LEGOLAND Florida Resort in Winter Haven. Kids can enjoy modified spooky LEGO building activities, contactless trick or treating via candy chutes throughout the park, socially distanced meet-and-greets with spooky characters, and MORE. legoland.com/florida
Related: Brick or Treat at LEGOLAND Florida is Back for 2020. Here’s what to expect.
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party may be on hiatus this year, but Disney is “sprinkling” in the magic of the fall season throughout the park–from the beloved pumpkin Mickey wreaths, character cavalcades dressed in their Halloween best, and of course, plenty of sweet treats and festive merchandise. Florida residents can take advantage of special offers on 3 and 4 day ticket options you can use through December 18, 2020. Florida residents are also able to snag a 20% discount on select merchandise on Mondays-Thursdays through October 29, 2020! Learn more.
Now through October 25, 2020
Enjoy a day at the NEW St. Pete Pier and then stop to pick the perfect pumpkin under the beautiful Bending Arc! Learn more about all the St. Pete Pier as the offer by visiting stpetepier.org.
September 18-November 15, 2020 Fridays-Sundays
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! You can explore the pumpkin patch, go on a hayride, meet live farm animals and more! There’s also a cow train, corn hole and many more activities. Tickets are $10.50 for ages 13-64 and $8.50 for seniors, active duty military and kids ages 2-12. Harvestholler.com
September 26-November 8, 2020, Masaryktown, near Tampa
Come out for corn maze fun at Sweetfields Farm 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. Advanced tickets for specific time slots are a must to keep crowds at a more comfortable level and allow you to spread out from others. sweetfieldsfarm.com
October 1, open daily from 9:00 am-9:00 pm, St. Pete
Located in St. Pete for more than 30 years, this family owned business is the perfect spot to capture super cute photos of your little pumpkins while you select the best of the ‘patch’ for your home! They are asking guests to bring a face mask and social distance when you are there. You can also pick up a yummy homemade pie and even feed goats in the goat pen. Before you leave, be sure you snap a photo in front of the popular vintage pick up truck. Learn more here.If you check out their Instagram page, there are soooo many cute inspiring photos and lots featuring our furry friends since the lot is dog-friendly!
October 1-October 31, 2020, Open daily. Mon-Fri: 12pm-6pm, Sat: 10am-6pm, Sun: 12pm-5:00pm
Hyde Park Village is bringing back its popular pumpkin patch benefiting the Humane Society of Tampa Bay. Guests are asked to wear a face covering and keep their distance from other guests. Be on the look out for a designated photo opp, too! You can learn more here! hydeparkvillage.com
October 1-October 31, 2020 from 10:00 am, Tampa
Visit the Pumpkin Patch and support animals who are in need of a home…it’s a win-win! You’ll find the pumpkin patch is under the white tent outside of the intake parking garage. There are so many pumpkins to choose from, even varieties like Cinderella, painted pumpkins, white pumpkins & gourds. Pumpkin prices range from $1 – $20 each. Of course, all proceeds benefit the homeless animals in need. The Humane Society of Tampa Bay is located at 3607 N Armenia Avenue in Tampa. humanesocietytampa.org
October 2-November 8, 2020, select days
You’ll want to pre-purchase a ticket online to secure your spot in the biggest corn maze in Hernando County! Limited walk-up tickets will be available, so plan ahead so you don’t miss out on the maze and family-friendly attractions. Bring some extra cash here too in case the little ones decide they want to participate in gem mining or even pick out their own pumpkins. Tickets are $12.95+ tax for everyone ages 3 and up. They even host a Flash Light Night and Haunted Trail. Learn morel harvestmoonfl.com
Oct. 2-31, 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. sealswimschool.com
Through October from 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. Co Rd 582, Tampa, FL 33618.
We are loving this unique spot where you can take a picture with Florida’s largest pumpkin, weighing in at 1,000 pounds! You can’t take that pumpkin home, but they have plenty more for you to choose from their pumpkin patch! They also have flowers and other produce to browse. Learn more by visiting their Facebook page here.
Weekends in October 2-November 1, 2020 from 11:00 am-5:00 pm
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. Tickets are $12 for kids and adults. horsepowerforkids.com
Opens Oct 2 and then every Thursday-Sunday from 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Enjoy a day at this new pumpkin patch along with fun activities like a haunted children’s crop maze, hayrides, animals and more! Daily passes are $10 for children, $15 for adults, and $12.50 for seniors. They even have a haunted barn for the older kids and adults! Learn more: funfamilyfarm.com
October 10-November 1, 2020, weekends
Take part in exciting, family-friendly fall games and activities during the 9th annual Fox Squirrel Corn Maze! Navigate the corn maze and see how quickly and you can find your way through and then go check out the duck races, challenge your kids to a game of corn hole, go on a hayride, and select the perfect pumpkin for your front porch! Tickets are $11+ tax for adults 18 and older and $10+tax for kids ages 3-17. futchentertainment.com
Select Nights September 25- Nov. 1, 2020, various times
Experience terrors around every corner at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Meet up with hundreds of roaming creatures, TEN outdoor scare zones, including FOUR NEW scare zones! There will also be live, interactive entertainment and Bier Fest will be open for you to explore too! Tickets AND reservations are a must to secure your spot! buschgardens.com
Related: Busch Gardens bringing back Howl-O-Scream with NEW Scare Zones and Safety Modifications
Select weekend nights in October
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! Groups will be limited to 8 at a time. Tickers are $15-$20 for adults and $13-$18 for military/veterans/first responders. undeadinthewater.com
Select nights September 11-November 1, 2020
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. Extra precautions have been taken to ensure it is a social distancing friendly experience including temperature checks and limited capacity! *Please don’t bring little kiddos to this—it’s quite intense and there’s no pumpkin patch here. screamageddon.com
**Thinking of heading over to Orlando? We’re sharing our INSIDE LOOK at the Taste of EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival! We’re also sharing an INSIDE LOOK at the Fall Festivities at Magic Kingdom this year!
Minecraft Mania at MOSI: Saturday afternoons from 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.If your kids love Minecraft, they will think Minecraft Mania at MOSI is totally awesome! Your child can play Minecraft while learning new skills to become Minecraft Designer, Adventurer or even Master! While you’re there, stay and play at the beloved science museum! mosi.org
Drive-In Cinema at Armature Works in TampaSelect Nights with two showings per night
Head out for this perfect social distancing night out with the family! You can grab dinner and snacks at Armature Works and then head back to your parked car for a screening of your favorite movies! This weekend’s kid-friendly selection: Hocus Pocus, Guardians of the Galaxy, Shrek and more! You can book your tickets here and learn more about this NEW outdoor event in Tampa Bay!
NEW exhibit at Glazer Children’s Museum: Castle BuilderSummoning all castle builders! Builders of all ages are invited to explore, build, and play in the traveling exhibition-Castle Builder! In this exhibit kids and their families are transported to a kingdom where they become castle builders, building their own toy castle brick by brick. In Castle Builder, builders of all ages and skill levels can construct castles, learn about real-world castles and their building secrets, and plan their ideal castle’s defenses. Families can even explore the inside of the royal castle, test their fortress designs with a catapult, and spot a dragon. By the way–admission in only $10 in September to celebrate the museum’s 10th anniversary! For more info visit glazermuseum.org/castle
Bier Fest at Busch Gardens: Saturdays & Sundays, September 12-November 15Sip and savor local craft brews and a curated selection of wines and specialty cocktails and pair them with a unique menu of tasty snacks and meals! There are 16 Bier Fest cabins to explore with social distancing and safety in mind. Bier Fest is also unveiling some NEW menu items like Mojo roasted heritage pork pub chip nachos and loaded mac and cheese with creamy Budweiser® cheese sauce topped with “boujee bacon” and onion strings. You will need your park admission ticket AND a reservation to attend Bier Fest which is an outdoor event. If you don’t already have an annual pass, Busch Gardens is offering a great deal on its 2021 Fun Card! buschgardens.com
Head over to Armature Works to check out the NEW mural on the north end of the property created to promote the Glazer Vision Foundation’s “Glasses For All Children” campaign. All you have to do is share a photo of the mural, a selfie in front of the mural, or selfie wearing any type of glasses, tag @glazervisionfdn, hashtag #OneShareOnePair and the foundation will give a local child a free eye exam and pair of glasses! Easy peasy! Learn more.
Extended hours at Florida Aquarium on Saturday nights!Stay a bit later for a night among the 8,000 animals who call the Florida Aquarium home and learn more about the different species from the team who takes care of them. The Aquarium will stay open until 9:00 pm on Saturday nights for now. You can even book a dolphin cruise to elevate your day when you go! To keep capacity at a minimum, you will need a ticket AND reservation. The extended hours will continue through October 31, 2020. Learn more about how to book your reservation and other animal experiences here.
Check out the NEW St. Pete PierEat, drink, shop and play at the new St. Pete Pier. The new playground area is quickly becoming a family favorite in Tampa Bay, just make sure to bring plenty of hand sanitizer and/or hand sanitizing wipes with you. Stay late and look up to see the Bending Arc light up in a spectacular display. You will need to wear a mask inside the stores, restaurants and Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center. The Glazer Vision Foundation just announced it is contributing $1.5 million to the Glazer Family Playground at the Pier to support the space for years to come! Learn more.
On Saturdays in September, you and the kids can step back into time and stroll through an outdoor living museum. You’ll encounter historical figures as they share what life was like for Floridians living here during the early 20th century. Your kids can even check out reproductions of old toys and candy at the general store! Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and kids ages 6-11. There are no ticket sales at the gate, so you will need to purchase your advanced ticket online: www.crackercountry.org. Keep in mind that parking at the Florida State Fairgrounds is $8.
The Florida Aquarium and Clearwater Marine Aquarium are both open, but require you to make an online reservation. Capacity will be limited to 50%. Guests over the age of 2 will be asked to wear a mask at the Florida Aquarium. If you do not have one, a mask will be provided for you. Masks are encouraged at CMA.
This is a great weekend to cool off with dad and check out the NEW Solar Vortex waterslide at Adventure Island! Learn more here.
Capacity will be at 50% and you’ll notice a few changes like staff wearing masks, doors propped open to reduce touch points, more frequent cleaning of exhibits, and more. Learn more here. You can also see what it’s like during this new normal! Be sure to check out the new Space for Art exhibit, too!
The Zoo is ready to welcome guests back at 50% capacity, so you’ll want to make an online reservation or purchase your tickets online to make sure you secure your spot. We got an INSIDE LOOK to show you what you can expect! The Dinos Alive exhibit will still be on display, so be sure to check it out! Book here.
The museum is ready to welcome you back, but you’ll want to make sure you have pre-purchased your ticket online. You can also book your timed reservation online. Because some hands on exhibits will be hands off for now, the museum is reducing admission prices by $2. Book your ticket and learn more about the plans to reopen here.
The theme park and its hotels, including the new Pirate Island Hotel are ready to welcome back guests, also at a reduced capacity of 50%. Cash will no longer be accepted and also expect to have your temperature taken. Social distancing will be encouraged with brick themed markers and signage. You’ll also see more hand sanitizing stations-there are more than 200 of them throughout the park! Legoland staff will be wearing face coverings and all guests ages 8 and older will need to wear a mask in compliance with the city of Winter Haven mask mandate. If you do not have one, a mask will be provided for you. The reopening plan included guidance from AdventHealth. Learn more here.
Like most attractions and keeping in line with CDC guidance, Glazer Children’s Museum will be taking it one step further by keeping capacity at 25% at first. You will need to purchase a timed entry ticket or if you are a member, book your time slot. Adult guests will be required to wear a face mask. Difficult to clean exhibits will be closed while others will be sanitized more frequently throughout the day. glazermuseum.org
Great Ex reopened to families with new exhibits and a phased reopening plan that includes a face mask requirement for all guests ages 5 and older. A ticketed reservation is also strongly encouraged to make sure you have time to play. Learn more here.
Head to the beach! The beaches are open, but you’ll see plenty of reminders about social distancing. You’ll also want to pack some extras in your beach bag like hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes. Cloth masks are also a good idea in case you decide to visit an establishment that requires them. We’re sharing some of our favorite family-friendly beaches in Tampa Bay here.
Go for a hike! Lace up the hiking shoes and spend the day in nature with the kids! Many preserves and conservation parks are now open in Tampa Bay. Find a park near you or discover a new one:
