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POLK TOP 10

POLK STATE FALL FEST

Oct. 8, 9am - 3pm at the Polk State Winter Haven campus. The event is free and open to the public with fees from craft booths going to the Polk State College Foundation to benefit the College’s deserving students. The event features family-friendly games, haunted houses, bounce houses, shows, and presentations from local law enforcement and EMS. Polk State College clubs and athletics programs will also participate.

“IT’S NOT OVER”

Talbot House Ministries’ annual fundraiser on Oct. 13, 5:30pm at Sun ‘n Fun. The keynote speaker is Tyler Merritt, actor, comedian, viral sensation, and author of “I Take My Coffee Black.” He will address the guests with “It’s Not Over: Grace, Love, and Being Bigger Than Our Mistakes.” Also includes virtual silent auction and a three-course dinner. Purchase tickets in advance. secure. qgiv.com/event/itsnotover

COMEDY SHOW

Oct. 15 at Just Dance. The Third Saturday Comedy Show is coming to you live on the third Saturday of every month. Swan City Improv will be performing two family-friendly shows, at 7:30pm and 9pm. Come see the funniest evening in Lakeland. Tickets are $10 for one show or $15 for both shows. Purchase tickets online and get ready to laugh! swancityimprov.com/shows

CYPRESS GARDENS

October 17 through Saturday, October 22, 9am to noon each day at the historic Woman’s Club Building, 660 Pope Avenue at Lake Howard Drive in Winter Haven. The Museum of Winter Haven History joins the citywide celebration of water skiing and will share special memories and memorabilia from former Cypress Gardens skiers in an exhibition called “Remembering Cypress Gardens Special Exhibit.” Free and open to the public.

DOG SEES GOD

Oct. 19 & 20 at 7:30pm. The Lakeland Community Theatre performs “Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead.” An “unauthorized continuation,” the play reimagines characters from the popular comic strip Peanuts as degenerate teenagers. Drug use, child sexual abuse, suicide, eating disorders, teen violence, rebellion, sexual relations, and identity are among the issues covered. Rated M. lakelandcommunitytheatre.com

WORLD WATER SKI SHOW

The 2022 International Water Ski & Wakeboard Federation World Water Ski Show Tournament will be the largest tournament to date. It will be the first event to combine an Individual and Team competition. It will serve as the capstone event for the 100th anniversary of the invention of the sport of waterskiing. Oct. 21 - 23 on Lake Silver in Winter Haven. worldwaterskishow.com

BONNET SPRINGS PARK

The Grand Opening celebration of the new Bonnet Springs Park is Oct. 22 & 23 beginning at 9:30am. This free weekend of festivities will enable the entire family to escape and explore the park. Guests will enjoy three stages, local vendors and food trucks, face painting, strolling performers, activities in nature, mascot meet and greet, and more! Check their socials and website for more info, beginning and ending times are subject to change. bonnetspringspark.com

HOCUS POCUS COMICS

Hocus Pocus Comics will be having a special reception at the Unbound Bookery on Oct 22 from 11am - 2pm in Lakeland. Come out and meet the author, buy some books and enjoy wine and light bites to celebrate the third volume’s completion. All of the volumes for “The Imaginary Voyages of Edgar Allan Poe” are available. Volume three is now available on Amazon and wherever books are sold. Educators and indie bookstores can order it on Ingram. facebook.com/hocuspocuscomics

POLK AT NITE HALLOWEEN

Oct. 27 from 5-8pm at the Polk Museum of Art. An exclusive Halloween cocktail party while taking a last look at Rodin: Contemplation and Dreams. Costumes are highly encouraged as we bid farewell to this amazing exhibit in style. Enjoy beats all night long by DJ Jenks, small bites, and one beverage ticket for a craft cocktail from Red Door Lakeland. Cash bar available after free drink redemption. Purchase ticket at centralfloridatix.com.

HALLOWEEN BASH

Oct. 29, 7pm. Join Swan Brewing for a night of Halloween Fun! Guests will have no cover charge. Delicious food, spirits, and award-winning craft beer selections are available for purchase. Outdoor Seating. Best Costumes Prizes. The Florida rock band SmokePoint will perform classic and modern rock/pop hits all night. It’s the biggest party in Lakeland!

ORLANDO TOP 10

PHANTASMAGORIA FEAST ON THE 50

HOWL-O-SCREAM

Select nights in October at SeaWorld. Test your bravery through five haunted houses, seven scare zones, three live shows, roller coasters at night, and roaming haunts throughout the park. Try to seek refuge from the scares and grab a drink at one of five themed interactive bars. For an additional fee, you can be a VIP and get frontof-the-line access with a tour guide. This is for mature audiences only, no costumes. seaworld.com Oct. 6-8 at the Dr. Phillips Center. Victorian Horror Troupe Phantasmagoria will bring to life the tales and poetry of Edgar Allan Poe through their storytelling, Phantastical dance, explosive stage combat, puppetry, projections, original music, and more! From the haunted words of “The Raven” to the sheer terror of “The Tell Tale Heart,” along with a selection of other whimsical, macabre, and terrifying stories and poems, you are invited to celebrate an evening of Poe’s works. drphillipscenter.org Oct. 6, 5:30pm at Camping World Stadium. Attendees will enjoy unlimited food and drink from caterers and restaurants around Orlando. Alumni clubs from schools in the Big Ten, SEC, ACC and Big 12 (as well as B-CU, FAMU and UCF) will compete for the most spirit in the Official Alumni Village. The Kids’ Zone will have inflatable games, face painting, and more. The silent auction will have experiences and sports memorabilia up for bid. Purchase tickets in advance. campingworldstadium.com

ORLANDO MAGIC 5K

Oct. 8, 7:30am at the Amway Center. Celebrate the start of basketball season with a run to benefit the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation. After the race, all participants are invited to enjoy the Orlando Magic Fan Fest on Church Street. This is fun for all ages with music, entertainment, activities, and more. The 5k and Kids’ Run also includes a ticket to an Orlando Magic game. Register at orlandoMagic5k.com.

AUTUMN ART FESTIVAL

Oct. 8, 9am-5pm. The Winter Park Autumn Art Festival is the only juried fine art festival exclusively featuring Florida artists. Hosted by the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce. The community-oriented sidewalk show presents visual art and live entertainment the whole family can enjoy. The festival is held in Central Park along the historic Park Avenue in downtown Winter Park. cityofwinterpark.org

“WEIRD AL” YANKOVIC

Oct. 16, 8pm at the Dr. Phillips Center. “The Unfortunate Return of the Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour” pulls from his back catalog of 14 studio albums. Weird Al promises to deliver a different set list every night, with no two shows the same. The show will feature Yankovic’s non-parody material – the somewhat more obscure songs that are adored by his long-time fans. drphillipscenter.org

GORILLAZ

Oct. 21, 7:30pm at the Amway Center. This is the Gorillaz’s first stateside trip since 2018 and is the band’s only scheduled tour on the horizon. The world’s most successful virtual act will be brought to life by Damon Albarn and the 14-piece Gorillaz live band accompanied by Jungle, supporting the tour as special guests for their Florida dates. Purchase tickets in advance. amwaycenter.com

HALLOWEEN EXPERIENCE

Oct. 21-31. The Winter Garden Halloween Experience is a familyfriendly celebration in Downtown Winter Garden. Enjoy seven nights of an outdoor animated Halloween Light Show on City Hall; a hay maze; fall- and spooky-themed photo locations, decorations, and light displays; a Spooky Caboose; a Halloween Celebration at the fall-themed Farmers Market; a Downtown Harvest Sidewalk Sale & Stroll; and more! Costumes are welcome any day. cwgdn.com

MAGIC OPENING NIGHT

Oct. 22, 7pm at the Amway Center. It’s the Orlando Magic’s Opening Night! Watch the Magic kick off their season as they take on the Boston Celtics at home. They have one more home game in October against the Charlotte Hornets on the 28th at 7pm. If you can’t make it to either game, listen to it live on the radio at WYGM 96.9FM or 740AM. Purchase tickets in advance. nba.com/magic

ZOO BOO BASH

Oct. 22, 23, 29, & 30 from 9am - 3 pm at the Central Florida Zoo. This is the perfect way for children and families to safely show off those Halloween costumes and trick-ortreat while enjoying the fun of the Zoo. The Zoo will have plenty of notso-scary decorations and activities, including trick-or-treat stations. Costumes are encouraged for all guests. All activities are included with Zoo admission. Purchase tickets in advance. centralfloridazoo.org

TAMPA TOP 10

CREATURES OF THE NIGHT

Select nights in Oct. at Zoo Tampa. Family-friendly fun featuring the Swamp Witch, spooky wildlife, live shows full of magic and laughs, wicked treats, and eerie places to discover throughout the park. Purchase tickets in advance. Entry is limited. Reservations are the only way to guarantee access. zootampa.org

SCREAM-A-GEDDON

Open every day in October in Dade City. Six completely terrifying haunted houses in one location. Purchase local craft beer from Chuckles or Bobo at Bonzo’s Beer Garden. Visit the Monster Midway for the food trucks, monsters around every corner, midway games, photo spots, and more. Recommended for adults and teens. You can opt-out of being touched by actors in the haunted houses. screamageddon.com

UNCORKED

The Uncorked: Tampa Wine Fest is Oct. 1 from 7 - 11pm at MOSI. Enjoy over 100 wines and champagnes from across the globe, full afterhours access to the museum, including interactive exhibits and planetarium shows, favorite local food trucks, a DJ, and more! Early entrance available for additional fee. Food sold separately. Ages 21+ only. uncorkedwinefestivals.com

OKTOBERFEST

Oct. 7 - 9 at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. Three full days of a waterfront Biergarten. Festival goers are encouraged to wear their best dirndls and lederhosen! Participate in the outrageous Bavarian games, including Stein Hoisting, Keg stacking, Tug-O-War, Brat Toss, and Carry the Wench. This event supports Are You Safe, a local Tampa non-profit organization that assists domestic violence victims. oktoberfesttampa.com

LIGHTNING

The Tampa Bay Lightning are back three times in October. Watch them play the Florida Panthers at 4pm on Oct. 8. They take on the Philidelphia Flyers at 8pm on Oct. 18. Your last chance is Oct. 22 when they play the New York Islanders at 7pm. All games played at Amalie Arena. Purchase tickets in advance. amaliearena.com

BLOCK PARTY

Oct. 9, 3-6pm at the Straz Center. The Straz Center Block Party is a free, family-friendly celebration of the arts. Watch local musicians perform live music, dance, and circus, with visual art, food and drink for purchase, and more—two stages with music ranging from folk to rock. Opera Tampa will host a variety show featuring drag queens to usher in a new season at the Straz. Weather permitting. strazcenter.org

CRACK UP CANCER

Oct. 13, 7:30pm at the Tampa Theatre. This is the 15th Annual Comedy Benefit, 100 percent of net profits go to the Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation. Mike Rivera has been named America’s Most Hilarious Teacher and will serve as Master of Ceremonies, followed by Al Romas. Headlining the event will be Jamie Kennedy of Scream and Malibu’s Most Wanted. fcsf.org/events

DRACULA

Oct. 19 - Nov. 13 at the Straz Center. Story by Bram Stoker, adapted by Steven Dietz. A group of Londoners attempt to stop the wicked Count Dracula as he makes his way through their city. This adaptation takes audiences on a thrilling ride enhanced by humor and daring special effects. Dracula is a sleek tale of suspense, seduction, and spectacle with neo-Victorian flair. strazcenter.org

TACO & MARGARITA

Oct. 22, noon at Raymond James Stadium. The Tampa Taco & Margarita Festival features tacos, margaritas, live music, live pro wrestling, a taco-eating contest, 60+ vendors to shop, and more. VIP available for additional purchase; this gets you early entry, taco & marg perks, and access to the indoor lounge. Tequila Expo area is available for an additional purchase as well. Purchase tickets in advance. tampabayfest.com

HALLOWEEN RUN

Oct. 30, 7:05am at Fort De Soto Park in St. Pete. The Halloween Distance Classic is a Halfathon, 10K, and 5K that start at North Beach. They are pure out-andback 13.1 mile, 6.2, and 3.1 mile tours of Ft. De Soto Park on paved trails and access roads. You will NOT be running on the sand. Halloween costumes are encouraged but not required. floridahalloweenhalfathon.com