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HALLOWEEN EVENTS, FALL FESTIVALS PUMPKIN PATCHES, CORN MAZES & MORE!
Halloween Events, Fall Festivals, Pumpkin Patches + MORE!
by Laura Byrne and Brie Gorecki
It’s fall, y’all! While fall in Florida may not come with chilly temps and fall colors, we’ve got plenty of seasonal spirit to share! Here are just a few of our top picks of events in Tampa Bay, but you can find more on TampaBayParenting.com. Scan the QR code (p.19) to go directly to our growing list of things to do to celebrate the season!
CORN MAZES AND PUMPKIN PATCHES:
HARVEST HOLLER CORN MAZE & PUMPKIN PATCH
Through Nov. 14, Fridays-Sundays 950 Tavares Road, Polk City
Stroll the fields of this year’s corn maze and pumpkin patch at Harvest Holler Farm, a working family farm. Explore the pumpkin patch, go on a hayride, meet live farm animals and check out the cow train and corn hole. $15 for ages 13-64; $12 for ages 2-12, seniors 65+ and active-duty military. harvestholler.com
SWEETFIELDS FARM FALL PUMPKIN PATCH, CORN MAZE AND FARM ACTIVITIES
Oct. 2-Nov. 7, select days 17250 Benes Roush Road, Masaryktown
Come out to Sweetfields Farm for corn maze fun, but stay for the Pitcher Pump Duck Race, hayride, pumpkin patch, farm animals and free craft of the season. Tickets are $9.75 + fees for ages 3 and older. sweetfieldsfarm.com
HARVESTMOON FARM PUMPKIN PATCH
Oct. 2-Nov. 7, select days 15990 Stur St., Masaryktown
Purchase a ticket online to navigate the 5-acre corn maze and explore the cow train, pedal cars, barnyard games, petting farm and tree house. They even host a Flashlight Night and Haunted Trail. Bring some extra cash in case the little ones decide to go gem mining or pick out their own pumpkins in the pumpkin patch. $13.95 + tax for ages 3 and above. On weekdays, Tuesday-Friday, tickets are $9.95 + tax. harvestmoonfl.com
FOX SQUIRREL CORN MAZE AND PUMPKIN PATCH
Oct. 9-24, weekends
3002 Charlie Taylor Road N., Plant City Enjoy exciting, family-friendly fall games and activities during the 10th annual Fox Squirrel Corn Maze. See how quickly you can navigate the corn maze 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. $11+ tax for ages 18 and above; $10+ tax for ages 3-17. futchentertainment.com
HUNSADER FARMS PUMPKIN FESTIVAL
Oct. 16-17, 23-24 and 30-31 5500 County Road 675, Bradenton
At the 30th annual Pumpkin Patch Festival, enjoy hayrides, a petting zoo, games, pumpkin patch and more. The main attraction is the corn maze which is an additional $2 per person, and extra cash is needed for activities like the children’s train ride, Butterfly Experience and zip line. $12 for ages 11 and above; ages 10 and under free. Parking is $5. hunsaderfarms.com
PUMPKIN PATCHES:
THE PICKIN’ PATCH
Oct. 2-24, Fridays-Sundays 11000 Rolling Hills Road, Dunnellon
Enjoy a fun day trip to the Pickin’ Pumpkin Patch in Dunnellon, where you can pick your very own white pumpkin from the pumpkin patch vine as well as fall sunflowers and gourds. Bring your own wagon and clippers and be sure to practice social distancing. Purchase your pumpkin patch tickets online and bring your printed ticket to the farm to ensure a touchless experience. On weekends, enjoy live bluegrass music, a hay maze, kids’ hay fort and slides. $5 for ages 4 and above. dunnellonpumpkinpatch.com
GALLAGHER’S PUMPKIN PATCH
Opens Sept. 25 7401 4th St. N., St. Petersburg
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 at their pumpkin patch! You can also pick up a yummy homemade pie and even feed goats in the goat pen. gallagherspumpkinsandchristmastrees.com
WATERMELON SWIM’S ANNUAL FALL FESTIVAL & PUMPKIN PATCH
Pumpkin Patch: Open daily all October Fall Festival: Oct. 16, 4-7 p.m.
Watermelon Swim’s annual FREE Fall Festivals at their Lutz and South Tampa locations feature trunk-or-treating, a costume parade, plenty of fall games and prizes and the cutest fall photo spot. Their annual FREE Pumpkin Patch opens Oct. 1 and is open all month long! watermelonswim.com
PUMPKIN PATCH EXPRESS AT THE FLORIDA RAILROAD MUSEUM
Oct. 16-17 and 23-24, various times 12210 83rd St. E., Parrish
All aboard the Pumpkin Patch Express for a 2-hour ride to a field full of pumpkins and kid-friendly activities. Trains will run at 50% capacity to ensure room to social distance. Children are invited to pick their own pumpkin to take home. Everyone is also invited to participate in other crafts and activities. Train rides from Parrish to the pumpkin patch range from $15 to $33 per person. frrm.org
FALL FESTIVALS:
RAPRAGER FAMILY FARM PUMPKIN PATCH
Opens Sept. 25, Fridays-Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. 16907 Boy Scout Road, Odessa
Enjoy a day at this new Tampa Bay area pumpkin patch with a haunted children’s crop maze, hayrides, animals and even a haunted barn for older kids and adults. $12.50 per person for ages 3 and older. funfamilyfarm.com
SHIMMERING LIGHTS FALL FESTIVAL
Oct. 8-17, Thursdays through Sundays, Oct. 18-31 nightly from 7-10 p.m. 2302 N. Dover Road, Dover
Sun Kissed Acres is teaming up with Nights of Shimmering Lights to create a ¼-mile trail featuring beautiful lights, music, games, hay rides and pumpkin patches. $7 ages 3 and older. nightsofshimmeringlights.com
HOUSE POWER FOR KIDS AND ANIMAL SANCTUARY 13TH ANNUAL FALL FESTIVAL FUNDRAISER
Oct. 2-31, weekends from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 8005 Racetrack Road, Tampa
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 a bonfire, which includes marshmallows. $12. horsepowerforkids.com
SCARECROW FESTIVAL
Oct. 9 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Pioneer Florida Museum, Dade City
Paint a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch, make a scarecrow, visit the petting zoo, pose for a photo with a scarecrow, touch a truck, get your face painted and go on carnival rides. $5 ages 5 and above. No pets, coolers, food or beverages allowed. pioneerfloridamuseum.org
DK FARM FALL FESTIVAL
Oct. 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24 and 30 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 1750 Lake Ave. SE, Largo
Pick up a pumpkin at their pumpkin patch, take a hayride and enjoy the great fall decorations, or hang with some new friends at the petting zoo. There’s a ton more to do and lots of fun for the whole family. $10; parking is free. pinellasfarm.com
PUMPKIN FEST
Oct. 23 and 24, noon to 4 p.m. Florida Botanical Gardens, Largo
The 5th Annual Pumpkin Fest returns to Florida Botanical Gardens. Enjoy a pumpkin patch, pumpkin carving, spooky activities and more! Admission is free and pumpkins are $10 each. flbgfoundation.org
HOWL-O-TRAIN AND CARNIVAL
Oct. 23 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Largo Central Park
All aboard the spooky train for a ride on the open-air miniature trains through Largo Central Park where you’ll spot Halloween-themed scenes and characters. Stay and play at the carnival. $15 for the train ride and carnival; $5 for the carnival only. Book in advance at playlargo.com.
TRICK-OR-TREAT EVENTS:
TRICK-OR-TREAT TRAIL
Oct. 29, 6 p.m. Largo Central Park
Bring your kiddos dressed in their Halloween costumes for a night of trick-or-treating in the park. The first 1,500 kids 12 and under are free. This is an outdoor event. Learn more at playlargo.com.
FIELD OF SCREAMS
Oct. 29, 6-9 p.m. 9100 113th St., Seminole
The City of Seminole Recreation Division will host its annual FREE Field of Screams event that includes trick-or-treating, costume contests, photo ops, and $7 unlimited admission to the bounce zone ($5 if you buy your bounce zone tickets before Oct. 28). You can also enter the pumpkin carving contest. eventeny. com/events/fieldofscreams-1696
SPOOKY STROLL
Oct. 30, 6-8:30 p.m. TRIBE Seminole Heights
The TRIBE Seminole Heights is once again hosting a Spooky Stroll for families featuring a guided path and plenty of Halloween activities, displays and treats. Since this event is outdoors, strollers and wagons are welcome and social distancing will be encouraged. Learn more by visiting their Facebook page @tribeseminoleheights.
RIVERWALK TRICK OR TREAT AND HALLOWEEN LIGHTED BOAT PARADE
Oct. 30; Trick or Treat is from 4-7 p.m. and Boat Parade is from 6:30-9 p.m. Downtown Tampa
Come on out to the Tampa Riverwalk for a Halloween Scavenger Hunt and Trick or Treat event with 50 + treat stations, and stick around for the new Halloween Lighted Boat Parade in partnership with the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation. thetampariverwalk.com
HALLOWEEN ON CENTRAL
Oct. 31, noon to 5 p.m. St. Petersburg
St. Pete shuts down 22 blocks to traffic for families to trick or treat in the street. There will also be costume contests and festival activities. This is a partnership between Car-Free St Pete, The EDGE District, Grand Central District and Open Streets St Pete. Learn more by visiting their Facebook page @theEDGEstpete.
MORE HALLOWEEN FUN IN TAMPA BAY:
Sesame Street Kids' weekend at Busch Gardens
HALLOWEEN LIGHTS - SYLVAN RAMBLE IN SOUTH TAMPA
Oct. 1-31, Friday and Saturday nights
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. Shows begin at 8 p.m. and continue until 9:30 p.m. This year’s benefiting charity is Clothes to Kids. Learn more about what to expect by visiting sylvanramblelights.com.
SESAME STREET KIDS’ WEEKENDS - BUSCH GARDENS
Oct. 2-31, Saturdays and Sundays
Fan-favorite friendly monsters get into the Halloween spirit in the Sesame Street Safari of Fun play area at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. This not-too-spooky event is a perfect way for little ones to celebrate Halloween with their favorite Sesame Street characters. 2021 details haven’t been released yet, but we know there will be trickor-treating, photo ops with characters and more! buschgardens.com/tampa
CREATURES OF THE NIGHT - ZOOTAMPA AT LOWRY PARK
Through October, Fridays and Saturdays, 4-10 p.m.
Return to ZooTampa for this favorite family-friendly Halloween event! This year’s event will feature five new attractions including the Junkyard of Broken Dreams, Scarecrow Junction and Ghosts of Gator Grove. You can also expect to see returning favorites like Twisted Tails haunted trail, Clown Carousel, Realm of the Spider Queen, Pirate Party Pants and more! Learn more here zootampa.org
BRICK OR TREAT - LEGOLAND FLORIDA
Weekends in October, various times
Enjoy a Halloween party built just for kids at LEGOLAND Florida Resort in Winter Haven. Kids can enjoy spooky LEGO building activities, trick or treating, larger than "afterlife" meet-and-greets with spooky characters, and MORE. legoland.com/florida
ZUBRICK MAGIC THEATRE HALLOWEEN NIGHT!
Oct. 31, doors open 6 p.m., performance 7-8:15 p.m.
Treat yourself to some tricks this Halloween at the Zubrick Magic Theatre where illusionists Chris and Ryan Zubrick conjure up an exhilarating blend of sleight-of-hand, family-friendly comedy, and breathtaking grand-scale illusion in a 70-minute performance that will leave you walking away saying, “How did they do that?” General admission tickets are $40 (+taxes and fees); VIP packages are $137.00 (+taxes and fees). Halloween is approaching; get your tickets before they…disappear! zubrickmagic.com/tickets
Creatures of the Night at ZooTampa
BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!
Zubrick Magic Theatre