Grateful for our sponsor, Ivybrook Academy!
Ivybrook Academy is a half-day preschool for children from 18 months up to age 5. We offer a hybrid curriculum that takes a progressive approach to early learning while drawing from the Montessori and Reggio Emilia philosophies of early childhood education. Our program is a discovery-based, multi-sensory approach to learning and to create a strong foundation for a lifetime of learning.
Contact us today to schedule a tour! 941-216-5336
Ready or not, fall is upon us! I don't know about you, but I am looking forward to doing all things fall festivals, pumpkins and maybe, just MAYBE putting on a sweater and some boots in October. I hope you enjoy the annual fall events guide and that it helps plan out your fall family fun!
Sept 30-Oct 2 Oktoberfest at Sun Outdoors Prost! Celebrate Oktoberfest with pretzel races, axe throwing, stein relay race beer tasting. Guten Appetite!
Oct 1 Centerplace Health Fall Health Fair CenterPlace Health is hosting a Fall Health Fair Health Education, Games, Food, Photo Booth, Music and Face Painting, Community Vendors. 10AM-12PM
Oct 1 Family Fall Festival Englewood Community Coalition and Fellowship Church invite you to enjoy Games, Prizes, Hot Dogs / Snacks / Drinks, Pony Rides, Petting Zoo, and a fun Hayride with Pastor Garry Clark! Free! 10AM-1PM
Oct 7-9 Functober Fest at Sun Outdoors Enjoy a weekend of family fun at our Fall Carnival, painting pumpkins, or take a hayride! And the fun doesn't stop when the sun goes down! Dance to live music or take a walk through our haunted house!
Oct 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28 and 29 Desoto County Fair's Fall Festival There will be : Games, Costume Contests, Cook Offs, Pageants, Crafts, Races, and of course the ever popular DeSoto Spookyard has returned!
Oct 8 and 9
St Pete Pier Fall Festival Kick off the Fall Season on the St Pete Pier with the Fall Festival, featuring family friendly entertainment, activities, food vendors, games/rides, and the area's only waterfront pumpkin patch. Saturday October 8th, 11am to 9pm Sunday October 9th, 11am to 8pm
Weekends in Oct Fruitville Grove Pumpkin Festival Enjoy feeding goats, fall treats, local vendors, hay rides, and pick out a pumpkin! Children's Halloween Costume Contest every Saturday at 2pm.
Oct 14-16 Sarasota Rocktoberfest Paragon Festivals with the Downtown Sarasota Enrichment Association bring an authentic 3-Day Oktoberfest experience coupled with fantastic live musical performances to downtown Sarasota in JD Hamel Park. Admission to this family-friendly event is free! Festival goers will find a wide variety of food plus a German feast fit for King Ludwig himself!
Oct 14-16 Celtoberfest, a fantastic fusion of beer-swilling, kilt-sporting, lederhosen-loving merriment and live music throughout the weekend. We’ll have seven live bands, bagpipers, stein raise competitions, great food and drink specials, unique vendors, and more!
Oct 14 GT Bray's Goblin Gathering The spooktacular outdoor Goblin Gathering family event is back for the 20th year at GT Bray Park. Local businesses will be passing out “treats & sweets” to attendees, providing a safe alternative to trick-or-treating, and food trucks will be on site to provide a BITE. Event entry and trick-or-treating is free.
Oct 14-31 Lights at Spooky Point This new, Halloween-themed light show will transform our Historic Spanish Point campus into “Spooky Point,” where visitors will discover fantastic (but not too scary) creations around every turn.
October 15-16, 22-23, 29-30 Hunsader Farms 31st Annual Pumpkin Festival Enjoy live shows, kids pumpkin games, petting zoo, playground, train rides, corn maze, and so much more. Some activities are an extra cost in addition to admission. Cash only! Admission $15, Parking $5 || 9AM-5PM
Oct 18-31
Pumpkin Patch at UTC Pop by The Green from October 18 – October 31 to pick your perfect pumpkin. All proceeds will benefit Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue. Monday – Thursday 3pm-6pm; Friday 12pm-6pm; Saturday
10am-6pm; Sunday 12pm-5pm
Oct 21 Boo at The Bay (sensory friendly) Designed to be accessible and inclusive for those that prefer a less stimulating environment, this special hour includes all the thrills of Boo! At the Bay - just with reduced crowds, noises, and surprises. Activities include trick or treating, free pumpkin pickings, yard games, food truck feasts, chances to win prizes and more! Costumes are encouraged (but are not required) at this spooky special event. 5-6PM
Oct 21
Boo at The Bay! Join in after-dark for a not-so-scary evening filled with trick or treating, free pumpkin pickings, yard games, food truck feasts, chances to win prizes, and more! Costumes are encouraged at this not-so-spooky special event. Food trucks include Jak's Ohana, Siesta Pops, and more. Registration required. Extra activities include: Spooky "Moonlight in the Mangroves" tour and Family Movie Night (Hocus Pocus). 6PM-10PM
Oct 22
Pumpkin Splash Come take a swim and pick out your favorite pumpkin from our floating pumpkin patch and then decorate or carve your pumpkin. Bring your own pumpkin decorations or use decorations and carving supplies provided. Each participant gets to take their pumpkin home. $10 Registration is required 11AM-1PM
Oct 22 Pumpkin Spice Fest Bring the family and enjoy pumpkin painting, hayrides and delicious pumpkin-flavored loaves, cheesecakes and rice crispy treats. 9AM-3PM
Oct 22 Blaze of Hope's Fall Fest Games, Food Trucks, Raffles & Prizes, Pop-up Market, Kid Zone, and Live Music by Everyone Rocks.
Oct 22, 23, 29 and 30 The Pumpkin Patch Express is departing the station for a trip to the Museum’s very own pumpkin patch. Lots of activities are included with your ticket! Hay rides, arts and crafts, Lincoln log building, and games will be available. Children are invited to pick a pumpkin from the patch to take home.
Oct 22 and 23 The 2nd Annual Fall Festival at University Town Center Carnival rides, pumpkin patch, Lil Mr & Miss Pumpkin Pageant, Pet Costume Contest, food and beer trucks and more. TRUNK OR TREAT (October 23rd, 4pm-6pm).
Oct 27 Bark-o-Ween at Arlington Park is sure to be a howling good time. Dress up your dog and walk in the judged costume parade for a chance to win dog friendly prizes. Free. Registration required. 5:30-7:30PM
Oct 28
Core SRQ's Fall Fest and Trunk or Treat (south branch) FAMILY FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES INCLUDE:
Hay Ride • Face Painting • Field Games • Photo Booth. 6-8PM
Oct 29 Wild-O-Ween Join Big Cat Habitat for Pumpkin Painting, Pumpkin Bowling, Mummy Wrapping, Costume Contests, Pony Rides, Wild Prizes and More! Trick-or-Treat stations will be placed throughout the park!
Oct 31 Candy Carnival at Oasis Church Looking for a fun Halloween alternative? Join us for a fabulous Fall event for the whole family! Petting zoo, hay rides, trunk or treat, free dinner and lots more! 6-8:30PM
Oct 20 Manatee Co Sheriff's Office Spooktacular Night MCSO Units will have vehicles on display, activities for the kids, free food, and trick or treating at each unit's station from 5-8 p.m.
Oct 25 NBP Trick or Treat Around the Lake Join us for a special evening of trick-or-treating the whole family will enjoy! And it's FREE! Not only will parking be simpler (it's $10 per car), but there will be an area for interactive play, you'll find storytelling and live music, "Hotel Transylvania" will play on our large video screen, and — of course! — CANDY! 5:30-8PM
Oct 28
Core SRQ's Fall Fest and Trunk or Treat (south branch) FAMILY FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES INCLUDE:
Hay Ride • Face Painting • Field Games • Photo Booth. 6-8PM
Oct 28 BooFest at LWR Main St Join us for family-friendly fun including entertainment, food and drink vendors, and more. Have your children bring their trick-or-treat bags to collect the many treats that will be given out from our generous sponsors and merchants. 6-9PM
Oct 28 Inside Trick or Treat at Learning Unlimited and Manatee Learning Academy A fun family evening of SAFE inside trick or treating. The event runs through the entire inside of the main building. Each teacher will pass out a goodie/candy for each child. 6:30-8:30
Oct 28 Good Shepherd Lutheran School Trunk or Treat We are excited to host our Trunk or Treat again! Join us for a fun evening trick or treating from trunk to trunk! 6:30-8PM
Oct 26 Trunk or Treat! At the Robert L Taylor Community Complex Kids of all ages will enjoy a safe and spooky evening filled with fun, games, and candy! Prizes will be awarded for best costumes and trunk decorations. 5-7PM
Oct 26 Trunk or Treat 2022 A great night of family fun! Dress up, bring a Trick-or-Treat container, and get ready to be inundated with candy! 6:30-8:30 Colonial Baptist Church, Venice
Oct 29 Boo! At the Bazaar- Trick or Treating We don't care your age - just come in your Halloween costume and have fun with us. All our Bazaar Family will be giving out candy.
Oct 29
Dakin Dairy Trunk or Treat Come on out and bring the kids to trick or treat farm style! We will have food trucks, farm animals and fun! Cancelled : /
Oct 29 Wild-O-Ween Join Big Cat Habitat for Pumpkin Painting, Pumpkin Bowling, Mummy Wrapping, Costume Contests, Pony Rides, Wild Prizes and More! Trick-or-Treat stations will be placed throughout the park!
Oct 29 3rd Annual SCSO Halloween Drive-Thru We are back and promise to bring you an event that is better than ever. More details to come
Oct 29 Venice YMCA 3rd Annual Trunk or Treat Lots of games with Prizes, Popcorn for free, Face Painting
Food Trucks, Candy, Candy, and MORE CANDY! 5-7PM
Oct 29 Gulf Coast Church Trunk or Treat Come join us from 5-7pm for a fun time! We will be having our community trunk or treat outside in our parking lot followed by a time for your kids to play inside on our new three story play center! The middle youth and teens will also be having a Halloween party from 7:30 -9:30PM
Oct 29 Halloween Trunk or Treat at Iverness Farms, Venice Activities include a trunk or treat, raffles, horse and pony rides ($10), festive decorations, picture booths ($3), vendors, food trucks and more.
Oct 29 Sarasota Trinity Church Trunk or Treat Visit decorated trunks to play games and get CANDY! Plus hot dogs, games and a fall family photo booth. 4-6PM
Oct 29 Bedrock Church Trunk or Treat - Food Trucks, Video Game Truck and Candy! Hosted by Bedrock Church.
Oct 31 Annual Kids Halloween Parade Centennial Park, Venice Following the brief parade, children will be free to trick or treat for more goodies at participating locations along the avenues. 4:30PM
Oct 31 Fright Night St Armands Circle Decorated store fronts set the stage for the wandering spirits of St. Armands past. Frightening characters appear around every corner. And statues adorned in the Halloween spirit cause a fright! Adults and kids can trick or treat at local businesses. 6-8:30PM
Oct 31 Candy Carnival at Oasis Church Looking for a fun Halloween alternative? Join us for a fabulous Fall event for the whole family! Petting zoo, hay rides, trunk or treat, free dinner and lots more! 6-8:30PM
Oct 31 Light the Night Family Festival Church of Hope Attractions include massive inflatable games, bounce houses, preschool interactive games, trunk or treat and MORE! 6-8PM
Oct 31 Night of Light Tabernacle Church Enjoy a free family fall festival featuring inflatables, hayrides, games, archery, prizes and more. 6-8:30PM
Oct 31 Trunk or Treat Evie's on the Range Bring the kids dressed up to get some treats at Evie's on the Range! 6:30-9:00
Art and Educational Halloween Events
Oct 27 Eco Talk and Walk: Bats Perfect Halloween event! Join us for a discussion of one of our most misunderstood mammals: bats! We will start in the Venice Area Audubon classroom and discuss the natural history, fun facts, and beneficial aspects of bats. 5:45-7:15PM Registration Required
Oct 29 The Ringling's Halloween Art Explorers This free scavenger hunt is fun for the whole family! Solve riddles, find clues, and "draw" conclusions to help us solve a mystery hidden within our collection. This program is FREE, but tickets are required. 10AM-1PM
Oct 29 Pumpkin Carving Extravaganza Join us for a festive evening of carving and decorating pumpkins! Light your porch with a grinning jack-o-lantern or carve a spooky scene! We provide the pumpkin and carving tools, you provide the creativity. Registration Required | $10 Robinson Preserve 2-4PM
Haunted Halloween Events
Oct 21
Arlington Park Haunted Trail Carnival Join in on the frightfully fun games, tricks and treats during our Haunted Trail Carnival. Enjoy carnival games, a costume contest and parade, face painting, and much more
Oct 21
10th Annual HauntedTrails at Oscar Scherer State Park CANCELLED due to hurricane damage. Featuring multiple stations along the parks dark eerie haunted roadway trail full of props with plenty of scare. If you make it to the end of the road, Nokomis Volunteer Fire Department will be there to ramp up the scare. Must purchase tickets prior to event.Tickets sold online only. 8-10PM
Oct 31 Fright Night St Armands Circle Decorated store fronts set the stage for the wandering spirits of St. Armands past. Frightening characters appear around every corner. And statues adorned in the Halloween spirit cause a fright! Adults and kids can trick or treat at local businesses. 6-8:30PM
