guides

SARASOTA'S 2020 FALL GUIDE

Trick or Treating, Pumpkins, & Fall Festivals

September 25, 2020

Fall is here!  Us Floridians may opt for ICED pumpkin spice lattes, but hey, we'll take a hint of fall any way we can! Here are some wonderful family friendly events to enjoy, including some that are "worth the drive." Happy Fall!

FALL FESTIVALS, TRUNK OR TREATS, PUMPKINS, HAY RIDES AND FOOD TRUCKS!

 FRUITVILLE GROVE FALL FESTIVALThe 32nd annual Pumpkin Festival is all weekends of October.  Our festival is a community event with lots of fun for the whole family. Free admission and $5 parking.  Children's Costume Contest every Saturday at 2:00pm and free daily showtimes for the Torres Family Circus and Globe of Death with Extreme Riders.  Weekends in October 10AM-5PM

FUNTOBER WEEKEND  at Sun n Fun Enjoy a weekend of family fun at our Fall Carnival, painting pumpkins or take a hay ride! And the fun doesn't stop when the sun goes down! We'll have a dive in movie, live music and BOTH our Haunted House & Haunted Trail! Oct 2nd-4th 5-8PPM

HUNSADER FARMS ANNUAL PUMPKIN FESTIVAL  Everyday of the Pumpkin Festival consists of: Craft Show • Live Music • Live Shows • Pumpkins • Charity Pumpkin Games •Pioneer Trades Village • Hayrides • Pony Rides • Chainsaw Sculptor • Corn Maze $2 • Scarecrow Displays • Homemade Ice Cream • Farm Roasted Sweet Corn • Food Galore • Pumpkin Pie • Rock Climbing Wall • Power Jump • Petting Zoo • Barnyard Playground • Arm Painting • Children’s Train Ride $2 • Big Train Ride $3• Juggler • Fresh Produce •Butterfly Experience •Tricky Dogs Show • Zip Line  Oct. 10-11, 17-18, 24-25  9:00am-5:00pm

FRIGHTFEST WEEKEND It's a spooky time of year as zombies and ghosts take over the park. Enjoy thrills and activities for the whole family during the day but by night expect a truly frightening evening of fun after the sun goes down with our Haunted House AND Haunted Trail!  Oct 9-11 3PM-8PM

GOBLIN GATHERING  Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Department is celebrating its 18th Annual Goblin Gathering in conjunction with National Night Out at G.T. Bray Park.  This year Goblin Gathering will be a drive-through only event. Please enter at 51st Street and exit at 59th Street.  Drive-through participation and trick-or-treating is free. Several local businesses will be participating by passing out “treats & sweets” to participants, providing a safe alternative for children to trick-or-treat. OCT 16 6PM-9PM

TRUNK OR TREAT AT VENICE YMCA  Join the Halloween Event! Trunk or treat at the Y! FREE EVENT!  Oct 17 5PM-7PM

PUMPKIN PATCH EXPRESS  All Aboard for the annual Pumpkin Patch Express! This popular trip takes you to our patch of pumpkins. Children are invited to pick their own pumpkin to take home. Everyone is also invited to participate in the hay ride, Lincoln log building, crafts and other activities offered at no additional charge!
Oct 17, 18, 24 & 25 10AM-6PM

WITCHFEST WEEKEND Join Sun-n-Fun for witch games, monster mash party, hayrides and more! You never know what tricks are up our sleeves! We will also be hosting our famous Haunted House AND Haunted Trail!!  OCT 16-18 3PM-8PM

PUMPKIN PATCH AT SOUTHERN MAGNOLIA ACRES  1st Annual Pumpkin Patch at Southern Magnolia Acres.  Pumpkins of various sizes ($5-$25, cash sale only).  Food Trucks, Craft and Novelty Vendors, Face Painting, Pie Pumpkin Painting, Games for ages 2-10.  Outdoor, family-friendly environment with free photo op area, photographers welcome! Saturdays: October 17 & 24 (10a-4p) Sundays: October 18 & 25 (12p-4p)

FAMILY FALL FESTIVAL  TRUNK OR TREAT and a SOUTHERN GOSPEL CONCERT all in the same night!?! That’s Right! Everyone is invited to our Family Fall Festival at Colonial Baptist Church. OCT 24 4PM-6PM

PUMPKIN FESTIVAL AT GRACE COMMUNITY CHURCH  On Saturday October 24th, Grace Community Church will be hosting a socially-distanced community pumpkin festival! Make your way to 8000 Bee Ridge Road from 11AM - 2PM for your free pumpkin and fun fall activities!  OCT 24 11AM-2PM

 

FALL FESTIVAL This is a time to bring the family out for safe free fun hosted by Bayshore Community Church.  OCT 25 5PM-7PM

FOOD TRUCK RALLY  Four amazing food trucks will be here along with a Live DJ - Games - Dancing - & a Costume Parade! So be sure to dress up in your Halloween Costume!  OCT 29 4-8PM

TRUNK OR TREAT AT BIBLE BAPTIST CHURCH  Trunk or Treat is a family focused event. Our church members decorate their cars and offer safe candy to any and all who participate. Food trucks will be available at the event; popcorn and cotton candy will be offered for free.

DRIVE THRU TRUNK OR TREAT AT PALM VIEW FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH Will go from 5-7pm and is FREE to the entire community! Be sure to wear your costumes and be ready to Trunk-or-Treat for candy. Bring your friends! OCT 31 5PM-7PM  

SIESTA KEY SAFE TREATS HALLOWEEN  Bring your little ones to trick or treat and look for participating members displaying festive balloons. This free event provides a safe venue for children on Halloween and is a fun afternoon for the whole family.  OCT 31 1PM-4PM

FRIGHT NIGHT ON ST. ARMAND'S CIRCLE  Our fabulous Halloween event for the “young and young at heart.” FRIGHT NIGHT! transforms St. Armands Circle from island sophistication to Halloween fun. Decorated store fronts set the stage for wandering spirits of St. Armands past; frightening characters appear around every corner amidst statues dressed in the Halloween spirit. Children can trick-or-treat throughout.  
OCT 31 6PM-8:30PM

  

REGISTER IN ADVANCE FOR THESE EVENTS (LIMITED CAPACITY)

TALL TALES OF OLD FLORIDA  Explore Tampa’s 19th century living history museum by night. Along the way, meet storytellers who will spin wild yarns about a few of Florida’s unexplained oddities! A little scary, a little funny and always family friendly, the Tall Tales tour is a Florida history adventure by lantern light.  OCT 17 6:45

BOO FEST The Art & Soul Performing Arts stage will be home to dance performances, a ventriloquist show, and Spheres Bubble show, as seen on America's Got Talent! The field in front of the Performing Arts stage will have pre-drawn “circles” for groups to congregate in a safe way.  OCT 31 1-4PM

CURBSIDE TRICK OR TREAT AT LOWE'S  Come celebrate Halloween with Lowe’s Drive-through Curbside Trick-or-Treating event! Register your child today so they don’t miss out on free sweet treats and a kid-sized pumpkin.  PICK UP OCT 22 Registration opens October 10.

UTC's FRIGHTLYFULLY FUN HALLOWEEN TRUNK-OR-TREAT PARADE Dress up in your best costumes and enjoy a fun Halloween parade from the comfort of your vehicle in our large grass parking lot. Activities will include: * A Fang-tastic Parade with costumed characters, * Free Trick-or-Treat bags to the first 500 vehicles AND * Trunk-or-Treat decorating contest (for a chance to win spooktacular prizes!) OCT 30 5:30-6:30

UTC'S FRIGHTFULLY FUN ADULT DRIVE-IN MOVIE NIGHT  Spend your Halloween with us and join us for a free, adults-only drive-in movie night on Saturday, October 31st. It will be a showing of the classic Halloween flick, Halloween (the original!).  Tickets are on a first-come basis and are limited in quantity. OCT 31 7:45  * ADULTS ONLY *

FALL FESTIVAL  Join Cracker Country for their annual Fall Festival.  More info coming soon!  Advanced tickets purchasing required.  OCT 17 and 21 10AM-2PM 



"WORTH THE DRIVE" FAMILY EVENTS

PADGETT RANCH FAMILY FEST Family time on the ranch including terragator raides, duck races, hay rides, a giant bounce pillow and more!  OCT 24- 25, 31 NOV 1,7-8, 14-15 10AM-5PM

GALLAGHER'S PUMPKINS Stop by and enjoy fun new photo areas, including our famous vintage pickup truck, pies, cute goats, and more! 

HALLOWEEN SPREE AT GLAZER CHILDREN'S MUSEUM Show off your most creative costume at Halloween Spree! Bring your little ghouls and goblins to the Glazer Children’s Museum for safe, indoor Halloween fun including costume parades, spooking science experiments, the annual staff Pumpkin Competition, and more!  OCT 24 4PM-7PM  (A SENSORY FRIENDLY HALLOWEEN SPREE ON OCT 25 10AM-1PM)

FOX SQUIRREL CORN MAZE  ( Plant City ) This fun, annual tradition features an awesome corn maze, pumpkins for sale, a hayride, exciting games, and the chance to enjoy the great outdoors! Mouth-watering food, roasted corn on the cob, and tons of additional fun festival food will be available – including cakes, cupcakes, kettle corn, boiled peanuts, shaved ice, honey, and more. Talented independent vendors will be on hand such as horse & pony rides, crafts, jewelry, pumpkin painting, air brush tattoos, children’s books, sand art, butterfly experiences, and more.  Weekends Oct 10-Nov 1

CREATURES OF THE NIGHT  ZooTampa at Lowry Park returns with spooky scares and unforgettable eerie frights for ghouls and goblins of all ages.  The mostly outdoor event is themed around campfire tales and features several new outdoor Halloween experiences and spooky characters. Tickets start at $24.95 per person.  SELECT DATES IN OCT 

LEGOLand's BRICK O TREAT This October experience the spooky, kooky fun of one of the only kid-friendly Halloween Events in Central Florida! Enjoy neighborhood-style Trick or Treating with plenty of spooktacular sweets plus seasonal shows and exclusive creepy-cool LEGO characters in the ultimate kids Halloween celebration– all included with regular day admission. WEEKENDS IN OCTOBER 

SESEAME STREET KID'S WEEKENDS AT BUSCH GARDENS TAMPA BAY  Kids can enjoy family contactless candy stations, live shows and fall fun with their favorite Sesame Street characters.  Included with the price of admission.  SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS OCT 3-21


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