Halloween 2020: Your Guide To Seasonal Events In Tampa Bay

TAMPA BAY, FL — With the coronavirus continuing to impact Tampa Bay, "masks" have taken on a whole new meaning this Halloween. Although protective face masks are replacing the ghoul, demon and skeleton masks traditionally worn on Oct. 31, a majority of parents say they feel it's important to celebrate the holiday to maintain a sense of normalcy and let their kids just be 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.

During this stressful time, parents are searching for ways to have a bit of light-hearted fun with their children, whether it be trick-or-treating only at the homes of trusted friends and neighbors, hosting a Halloween party at home with a 15-person attendance limit or participating in an event put on by a local church or community center with social distancing, mask guidelines and attendance limits in place.

After checking with 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. Check out ways to plan your own Halloween celebration or consider attending some of these Halloween events taking place in Tampa Bay this year:

Scream-A-Geddon

Scream-A-Geddon, featuring six interactive haunted venues, a midway and beer garden, is now open and runs through Nov. 1 from 7:30 to 11 p.m. at its 60-acre venue at 27839 Saint Joe Road, Dade City. Tickets start at $21.95. To purchase tickets, click here.

Urban Air Port Richey Halloween Night Of Candy

Urban Air Port Richey Trampoline and Adventure Park, 9560 U.S. 19, Port Richey, will host a spooky night of candy and fun at its decorated park Saturday, Oct. 31 from 6 to 9 p.m.

Vendors will give out candy and there will be a passport program to get stamped by vendors to win prizes. There will be a costume contest for different age brackets (costumes must be kid-friendly), and access to attractions.

Tickets are $18.

Shimmering Lights Halloween Trail

Sun-Kissed Acres, 2302 N. Dover Road, Dover, will host Shimmering Lights Fall Festival of Lights Oct. 30 and 31 from 7:30 to 10 p.m.

One-way wide walking trails with social distancing the natural way will include family-friendly seasonal music, sights, sounds and lights to enjoy along with games and activities.

• ¼ mile walking trail to walk as many times as you like. Trails are wide enough for a stroller or wheelchair.
• Hundreds of seasonal lighted displays
• Outdoor movies with hay-bale seating
• Maze of lights
• Scavenger hunt
• Corn hole games
• Spider race game
• Duck/boat races
• Horse shoe game
• Seasonal crafts

Please be sure to bring with you:
– Comfortable shoes (closed-toe recommended)
– Face mask for corral activities
– Bug protection
– Costumes are allowed, but toy weapons prohibited.

Parking is free and there will be light concessions. Tickets are $7 for children age 3 and up.

Howl-O-Scream

Tampa Bay’s premier Halloween event is preparing to return in a whole new way this fall with the 21st annual Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens. This year’s modified production will include enhanced safety and health measures with face masks required, open-air scare zones, social distancing and limited-capacity admission with reservations required. Howl-O-Scream is a separately ticketed event. Tickets are now available for the 18-night event running every Friday through Sunday from now through Nov. 1. Event hours are Fridays and Saturdays from 7 p.m. to midnight and Sundays from 7 to 11 p.m.

Ybor City Ghost Tour

With mobsters, bandits and buccaneers, there’s no shortage of stories to be told about the most notorious residents of Ybor City during the Ybor City Ghost Tour starting this week and running through Oct. 31. Along the way you’ll encounter a number of the neighborhood’s most well-documented paranormal sites while learning about the Cigar City heyday. Click here for reservations.

Haunted River Tour

For a frighteningly good time on the water, hop aboard a local favorite, the Pirate Water Taxi, for a Haunted River Tour along the Hillsborough River starting at the Tampa Convention Center each Friday, Saturday and Sunday night in October. Tickets start at $25. Click here for reservations. Captain Jack II will run at 50 percent capacity. All parties subject to assigned seating due to social distancing and/or mandatory mask requirements in compliance with CDC recommendations and city of Tampa mandates. Cruises are 45 to 50 minutes and begin at 6:15 p.m., 7:15 p.m., 8:15 p.m. and 9:15 p.m.

Sir Henry's Haunted Trail

Sir Henry's Haunted Trail will be open for select nights in October. It features a one-of-a-kind outdoor haunted trail totaling almost 1 mile of scares. The haunted trail is located at 2837 S. Frontage Road, and open Fridays at 7:30 p.m. Book reservations here.

Raprager Halloween Farm

The Raprager Family Farm, 16907 Boy Scout Road, Odessa, will host its annual Halloween Farm, pumpkin patch and fall festival through Oct. 31, Thursday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Daytime activities will include hay rides, a corn pit, pumpkin carving, a haunted barn, crop maze, scarecrow contests, a giant slide, a play fort, kiddie haunted house, animal interactive experience, face painting, pumpkin painting, food and vendors. A day pass is $15 for adults, $10 for children and $12.50 for seniors.

The after-hours Fear Festival will include the Hellraiser Barn, a 5,000-square-foot barn packed with terrors; the Haunted Graveyard; and the Crop Maze Escape from 7 p.m. to midnight. Tickets are $15. Zelga Witch the future teller will offer tarot readings for $20.

And the Haunted Hayride, a half-mile drive through a haunted field, will run every Friday and Saturday night through October. Tickets are $20.

Click here for tickets.

Creatures Of The Night

ZooTampa will once again host its family Halloween event, Creatures of the Night, with spooky scares and unforgettable eerie frights for ghouls and goblins of all ages. The mostly outdoor event will take place for 11 select nights from through Saturday, Oct. 31, and will be modified with enhanced health and safety measures. Click here for tickets.

Undead In The Water

The wildly popular Undead in the Water zombie encounter aboard the American Victory Ship and Museum, 705 Channelside Drive, Tampa, will continue on Friday and Saturdays in October at 7:30 p.m. Click here for tickets.

Treat-Or-Treating With Sesame Street

Everyone’s favorite furry friends are getting into the Halloween spirit with Sesame Street Safari of Fun at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay every Saturday and Sunday in October.

Included in park admission, the modified Sesame Street Kids’ Weekends feature additional health and safety measures including limited capacity to offer physically distant trick-or-treating, an open-air Halloween show for families to enjoy together and new special character experiences. Children can dress up in their Halloween costumes to enjoy traditional trick-or-treating that is safe with physical distancing at Busch Gardens. Candy stations will be spread throughout the park’s open play area where ambassadors wearing gloves and protective masks will distribute candy in a contact-free manner. As an additional safety measure, guests who participate in trick-or-treating will be asked to purchase a new reusable bag to prevent contact between individuals.

Families can enjoy physically distant photo opportunities with Sesame Street friends like Big Bird, Oscar and Grover in their finest Halloween attire and upgrade their day with the new Cookie Decorating with Cookie Monster. The Count’s Not-Too-Spooky Howl-O-Ween Radio Show will entertain the whole family in the outdoor Sunny Day Theater with physically distant seating. Click here for more information.

Fall Festival Fundraiser

Horsepower for Kids & Animal Sanctuary will host a Fall Festival Fundraiser each Saturday and Sunday from through Nov. 1 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 8005 Race Track Road S., Tampa. There will be pony rides, hay rides, farm animals, a bonfire, games, a playground, live music and train rides. The cost is $12 with babies 1 year and under admitted for free.

Sylvan Ramble Halloween Light Show

The Sylvan Ramble neighborhood, located off Swann Avenue in South Tampa, will host its annual Halloween Light Show through Oct. 31.

Homes throughout the neighborhood will be featuring Halloween lights and scary decorations. Last year, more than 1,800 cars drove through the neighborhood.

The light show will be open Oct. 30 at 8, 8:30 and 9 p.m. and Oct. 31 continuously from 7:15 to 10:45 p.m.

Fox Squirrel Corn Maze

Fox Squirrel Farm will host its annual pumpkin patch and corn maze at 3002 Charlie Taylor Road N., Plant City, Saturday and Sunday, through Nov. 1, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

There will also be hayrides, horse and pony rides, music by the Duck Wallow Lane Bluegrass Band, duck races, a giant slingshot, a hay bale maze for toddler, a butterfly garden, dumy steer roping, games, arts and craft vendors, food and more.

The cost of the corn maze is $11 for 18 and older and $10 for ages 3 to 17. Children 2 and under are admitted for free. Click here to buy tickets online.

Halloween Hunt On Tampa Riverwalk

For the first time, the Tampa Riverwalk’s annual Halloween celebration is going virtual. “Halloween Hunt” is a new, not-too-spooky, family-friendly celebration free to the public that will take place through Nov. 1.

Groups and individuals solve a series of puzzles, riddles and tasks as they explore Tampa’s Riverwalk in this safe, outdoor Halloween activity. Prizes will be given to the first-, second and third-place winners based on the highest scores at the conclusion of the Halloween Hunt.

Here’s how this new holiday scavenger hunt works: participants download the Mobile Adventures app available for android and iOS phones, scan the QR code on the Tampa Riverwalk on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter or on posters throughout downtown, then visit the Riverwalk to get clues, answer questions, complete tasks and solve riddles.

The Riverwalk Halloween Hunt takes place from Armature Works to Sparkman Wharf and other nearby downtown locations. Participants can play the game as part of a team or individually any time through Nov. 1 so they can enjoy Halloween Hunt during a single visit or over several days.

“Halloween is sure to be different this year for many families throughout Tampa Bay,” said MaryBeth Williams, executive director of Friends of the Riverwalk, the nonprofit organization which activates events along the Tampa Riverwalk. “We created Riverwalk Halloween Hunt to provide a safe alternative in these uncertain times to celebrate Halloween in a unique way that the whole family can enjoy. We’re looking forward to the fun!”

Participants must submit contact information to be eligible for prizes. In the event of a high score tie, a drawing will be held to determine the winner.

An Eerie Evening At The Tampa Bay Hotel

The Henry B. Plant Museum, 401 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, will host An Eerie Evening at the Tampa Bay Hotel Oct. 30 from 6 to 9:30 p.m.

See the museum in moonlight and try to solve a murder mystery before the next victim falls. Period lighting and candles set the stage for a night of intrigue. Candlelight flickers off the walls as visitors travel to a time long past.

The former Tampa Bay Hotel has been a silent witness to countless events over the past 129 years. Who knows how many crossed the threshold with malice in their hearts?

Visitors to An Eerie Evening will find themselves transported back to the 1890s, shortly after a terrible crime has been committed. Evidence and clues are scattered throughout the rooms and guests must strive to put the pieces together in time to prevent the next attack.

Space is limited to 30 individuals per hour and masks are required for all guests. Times are 6 to 7 p.m. and 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. The cost for members is $15 and $26 for nonmembers.

Click here for tickets.

Halloweekends At The Clearwater Aquarium

The Clearwater Marine Aquarium, 249 Windward Passage, will host Halloweekends starting Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.

Celebrate Halloween with your favorite rescued marine animals. There will be costumes, education stations throughout the aquarium tasty treats like pumpkin cheesecake and muffins at Shark Bites Cafe, underwater pumpkin carvings and Halloween treats for the residents animals.

Click here for tickets.

Trick-Or-Treat At The Plaza

Bayside Bridge Plaza, 1560 McMullen Booth Road, Clearwater, will host Trick-or-Treat at the Plaza Friday, Oct. 30 from 5 to 7 p.m. This will be a safe, free family event with candy, treats, coupons and costumes.

Tarpon Springs Drive-Thru Boo

Tarpon Springs Recreation will host a free Tarpon Springs Drive-Through Boo Oct. 30 from 6 to 8 p.m. with safe trunk-or-treatings at three locations:

• Tarpon Springs Community Center parking lot, 400 S. Walton Ave.
• Craig Park roundabout, 5 Beekman Lane
• Splash Park parking lot, 508 Live Oak St.

To register your vehicle for the truck-or-treat, contact Ashley Harter at 727-942-5628 or aharter@ctsfl.us. Businesses are welcome.

Spooktacular Halloween Trunk-Or-Treat

Two Sisters Ranch, 27435 Hanlon Terrace, Dade City, will host a Spooktacular Halloween Trunk-or-Treat Friday, Oct. 30 from 3 to 6 p.m. Follow the one-way guided pathways so little ghosts can gather goodies along the way. Finish up inside the Haunted Farmhouse with drinks and snacks.

Haunted Egg Hunt

Seminole Recreation Center, 9100 113th St. N., Seminole, will host a Haunted Egg Hunt Friday, Oct. 30 from 5 to 9:30 p.m.

Children in kindergarten through fifth grade will scramble for eggs in age groups according to grade. Masked are required and children's temperatures will be checked.

Pre-purchased tickets for $5 are required. Click here.

Trunk-Or-Treat Tales Of Safety Town

The Concourse at Safety Town, 15362 Alric Pottberg Road in Spring Hill, will host Trunk-or-Treat Tales of Safety Town Oct. 30 from 7 to 9 p.m. and Oct. 31 from 6 to 9 p.m. Bring all of your ghouls and goblins out for a festive, family-friendly Halloween Trunk-or Treat-event through Pasco Safety Town. Social distancing and masks will be mandatory. Vendor spots are available and all businesses are welcome.

Bubbles Mobile Halloween Parade

Get your Halloween costumes on and stop by for a special Halloween treat in the safety of your own vehicle. The teachers and staff at The Learning Experience of New Tampa, 20780 Trout Creek Drive, will be outside giving out treats from their festive decorated trunks Friday, Oct. 30 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Creepy Couture

Wandering Wardrobe's biggest fashion show featuring creepy couture by three of Tampa top designers will take place Friday, Oct. 30 from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. at CrossFit Sabal Park, 1614 Allison Woods Lane, Tampa. Tickets are $20 to $45. Click here.

Fall Festival

Living Faith Tampa, 7029 Van Dyke Road, Odessa, will host a Fall Festival Saturday, Oct. 31 from 3 to 7 p.m.

There will be interactive games, food and candy bags for the kids in a safe and clean environment. The event is free but register here.

5th Annual Haunted Circus

Club Skye, 1509 E. 8th Ave., Ybor City, will host its fifth annual Haunted Circus Friday, Oct. 30 from 9 a.m. to Saturday, Oct. 31 at 3 a.m. There will be an open bar from 10 p.m. to midnight for those age 21 and up along with music by three DJs.

Tickets are $20 to $50. Click here.

Halloween Costume Line Dance Bash

The Largo Community Center 400 Alternate Keen Road, Largo will host a Halloween Costume Line Dance Bash Friday, Oct. 30 from 6 to 9 p.m. This party combines line dancing with a costume party with food and prizes for $12.

Haunted Highway In Hillsborough County

Hillsborough County Parks & Recreation in conjunction with Friends of the County Parks & Recreation has created Haunted Highway, a drive-thru Halloween experience at four county recreation centers, on Oct. 30 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Numerous local community organizations and clubs will showcase their spooky spirit by decorating an outdoor space with a Halloween scene full of interesting sights and sounds. Families can attend the drive-thru to get some great goodies and the route will end with a contactless ghoulie bag distribution for the first 500 children at each location. Each ghoulie bag will have treats, toys and information from local organizations.

The Haunted Highway events are free and will be held at the following recreation centers:

• Northdale Park & Recreation Center, 15550 Spring Pine Drive, Tampa
• Emanuel P. Johnson Park & Recreation Center, 5855 S. 78th St., Tampa
• Keystone Park & Recreation Center, 17928 Gunn Highway, Odessa
• Ruskin Park & Recreation Center, 901 6th St. SE, Ruskin.

Drive-O-Ween Spooktacular

Largo Recreation, Parks & Arts will host a Drive-O-Ween Spooktacular Friday, Oct. 30 from 6 to 7 p.m. at Largo Central Park, 101 Central Park Drive, Largo. Celebrate Halloween safely at this drive-thru trick-or-treating event. Drive by decorated booths and receive a goody bag filled with treats at the end. Free goody bags will be given to the first 1,000 children in vehicles. No walk-ups will be permitted. Those attending should bring a nonperishable food item for the High Point Neighborhood Family Center.

Halloween Weekend At The Tradewinds

This Halloween, TradeWinds Island Grand in St. Pete Beach is scaring up tricks and treats for a special Halloweekend – three full days of frights featuring holiday-themed crafts, dive-In movies, ghoulish paddleboat rides, costume contests and the return of the fan-favorite Captain RedBeard’s Pirate Show.

Grownups can join in the fun, too, with liquid libations including Candy Corn Coladas and Frankenstein Margaritas.

Nightly room rates start at $195 at the TradeWinds Island Grand, which includes spooktacular activities.

“With Halloween falling on a Saturday this year, we wanted to provide a safe, open-air setting for kids to still be able to enjoy the holiday,” said Bob LaCasse, managing director of TradeWinds Island Resorts. “We’re thrilled to offer three days of safe, spooky fun, instead of just one, so families can enjoy the entire Halloweekend in one place.”
The three-day schedule is as follows:

Friday, Oct. 30

• Glow Paddleboat Rides through mysterious winding waterways of the Island Grand
• Dive-In Movie – “Halloweentown”

Saturday, Oct. 31

• Dive-In Movie – “Hocus Pocus”
• Monster Mash Beach Bash filled with games, trivia and more
• Poolside Halloween costume contest and treat hand out
• Ghoulishly Good Poolside Crafts, including Witches Brew Slime, Mod Podge Pumpkin and Ghost Lanterns, Mini Halloween Clay Pots, and Trick-or-Treat Canvas
• The return of RedBeard’s Pirate Party featuring an action-packed show highlighting one of RedBeard’s famous adventures

Sunday, Nov. 1

• Dive-In Movie - “Hotel Transylvania”

For more information, click here or call (800) 808-9821.

Wap-O-Ween

PRYM 360, 4465 W. Gandy Blvd., Tampa, will host a Wap-O-Ween Halloween costume party Saturday, Oct. 31 from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. It will include an open bar all night. Click here for tickets.

Trunk-Or-Treat

San Antonio Federal Credit Union will host a free Trunk or Treat Saturday, Oct. 31 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Grove at Wesley Chapel, 6015 Wesley Chapel Blvd. Prizes will be awarded for best costumes and best trunks.

Drive-Thru Halloween Treat Trail

For the safety of the community, the city of Pinellas Park's annual Halloween Treat Trail will now be a drive-thru event on Saturday, Oct. 31 beginning at 6 p.m.

The city will distribute 2,000 pumpkin buckets filled with treats. The route starts off 94th Avenue through the Little League baseball parking and wind through Helen Howarth Park, 6301 94th Ave., wrapping around to the jackpot point (x marks the spot) at Forbes Recreation Center.

There will be Pinellas Park Police officers along the route keeping the traffic moving.

One bucket of candy will be available per child in each car. Children must be present to get the candy and it will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Any organization or business that would like to donate candy can call 727-369-5746.

Little Miss & Mister Pumpkin Pageant

The Little Miss & Mister Annual Pumpkin Pageant will take place Sunday, Nov. 1 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Grove at Wesley Chapel, 6015 Wesley Grove Blvd. The mandatory entry fee is $30. Contestants will need a formal outfit, fall outfit of choice or Halloween costume. Click here to enter.

If you're hosting a Halloween or fall event you'd like the community to know about, send the details to Patch editor D'Ann Lawrence White at dann.white@patch.com.

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