Halloween 2020 Happenings In The Brandon Area

BRANDON, FL — The coronavirus pandemic has canceled so much for us in the Tampa Bay area this year, but one thing moms aren't allowing it to cancel is Halloween fun for the kids.

In a poll conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of the National Confectioners Association, 74 percent of millennial moms and young parents say Halloween is more important than ever this year.

"The results of our research reveal a deeply rooted enthusiasm for Halloween, even if it means that people have to rethink their approach this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic," said John Downs, president and CEO of the National Confectioners Association.

Parents are thinking outside the usual trick-or-treat Halloween box to provide children safety from the coronavirus such as having small-crowd costume gatherings at home or participating in an event put on by a local church or community center with social distancing, mask guidelines and attendance limits in place.

Following guidelines by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on ways to safely celebrate Halloween, the National Confectioners Association put together Halloween Central, an online resource page for parents.

Halloween events happening in the Brandon area include:

• Wear your best costume to The Waterset Social Committee's free Halloween event and take advantage of photo opportunities provided to attendees. The event is October 31 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at 7012 Sail View Lane, Apollo Beach. Click here to register.
• Enjoy an outdoor movie, tons of games and hundreds of Halloween lights at Shimmering Lights Fall Festival of Lights, 2302 North Dover Road in Dover from October 9 through 31. For more details and tickets, visit Shimmering Lights Festival.
• Paint pumpkins with the kids at Pumpkin Painting Pop-Up in Riverview on October 24 from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. This event is for children ages 2-7. Preregistration is required and closes on Thursday, October 22. This event takes place at A Simpler Place Farm & Market, 9903 Carr Road. To register and get more details, click here.
• Community Halloween Bash Fundraiser in Riverview. The fundraiser is to benefit drowning prevention. A costume contest, games, face painting, pumpkin patch and treats are part of the fun scheduled on October 24 from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. At 6:15 p.m., "Beetle Juice" shows on the movie screen in the lawn. For more details, visit Community Halloween Bash.
• Go on a hayride at Wolfe's Produce Market in Riverview. Their pumpkin patch will be open the entire month of October from 8:30 a.m. until close, and they’ll have family Halloween hayrides on select dates. The hayrides will be Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays starting on Oct. 12 and ending on Oct. 28. Rides are from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m and are $7 per rider.

If you're hosting a Halloween or fall event you'd like the community to know about, send the details to Patch editor Skyla Luckey at skyla.luckey@patch.com.