Things To Do
2019 Guide to Tampa Bay Family Fall Events for Older Kids
Halloween can be fun for the whole family and a good excuse to get your teens to hang out with you. Here are some spooky events sure to keep your teens on their toes and provide some Halloween fun for you too!
If you’re looking for events for younger kids check out our other guide. We also have guides to Pumpkin Patches and Corn Mazes.
Best for Older Kids/Teenagers:
Screen on the Green – Saturday Movies!
Cost: Free
Dates: October 26, 7-10 PM “Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride”
Location: Water Works Park, 1710 N Highland Ave., Tampa, FL
Food truck and concession will be available.
Ybor City Ghost Tour
On the OFFICIAL Ybor City Ghost Tour, you will hear spine-tingling stories about real people, history, folklore, and the ghosts that have made Ybor City their playground. We are the perfect choice for night time family entertainment with a twist you’ll always remember. Our tour takes approximately 120 minutes and is an easy walk with frequent stops along the way.
Rated #1 Haunted Tour in the US by US City Traveler
Cost: $25.00 for Adults. $10 for Children 8-12. The tour is not open for children under 5 years of age. Under 16 MUST be accompanied by an adult.
Dates: See website for dates and reservations: http://www.yborghosttour.com/tickets/
Location: Tours will meet at King Corona Cigars, 1523 East 7th Ave., Ybor City, 33605
Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail (For children 13+)
Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail is an outdoor haunted attraction located in Plant City, Florida. Featuring 2 horrifying walk-through trails, there is almost 1 mile of pure terror to experience. Trek your way through woods that the legendary phantom Sir Henry haunts as he looks for the murderer of his Bride. But Sir Henry is not the only monster you have to worry about. If you’re lucky you might make it out alive…
Cost: For Tickets: http://www.sirhenryshauntedtrail.com/about
Dates: 7:30-10:00 PM, Oct. 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27
Location: 2837 South Frontage Road Plant City, FL 33566
CLOSED-TOE SHOES RECOMMENDED – MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN UNDER 12
Howl-O-Scream 2019
Howl-O-Scream®, Tampa Bay’s premier Halloween event, is back select nights from September 20 through November 2, 2019,* with tormenting surprises around every corner and unexpected scares.
Unexpected terrors lurk around every corner, including hundreds of roaming creatures, new haunted houses, and exciting live, interactive entertainment. As if that wasn’t enough, Busch Gardens’ Howl-O-Scream is the only place to scream your way through Florida’s top thrill rides in the dark. Get ready for guts, gore, and seriously sinister fun!
Cost: Ticket prices vary. See website for details. https://buschgardens.com/tampa/events/howl-o-scream/
Dates: Howl-O-Scream starts at 7:30 p.m. each event night. Select nights from September 20 through November 2, 2019,* For a list of dates and times:
Location: Busch Gardens, 10165 N McKinley Drive, Tampa, FL 33612
Creatures of the Night at Lowry Park Zoo
This new Halloween event will offer a wide range of activities for all. From youngsters to teens and adults, find eerie adventures for the whole family. Wander into scare zones or encounter animals at night. Party the night away at a ghoulish dance party. No horror or gore just scares and startles for one and all.
Cost: A variety of event admission options are available:
ZooTampa members receive unlimited FREE admission to all days of the event
Pay for a Day, Get Rest of 2019 Free ticket holders, receive complimentary admission the first weekend (Friday, October 4 and Saturday, October 5) and every Friday in October, plus a special $10 rate for Saturday nights.
Guests with a daily admission ticket on event dates receive admission for a full day including the event.
Creatures of the Night admission is included in all Zoo Memberships with no blackout dates! Don’t miss out on unlimited access to Creatures of the Nights.
After 4 PM tickets to the seasonal events will also be available at the gate and online.
Dates: Fridays and Saturdays, in October, After 4 pm
Location: Lowry Park Zoo, 1101 W Sligh Ave, Tampa, FL 33604
Oktoberfest 2018 (3 Day event)*
Join us at the largest Oktoberfest celebration in Tampa. Celebrate with German cheer, dancing and singing to cooler weather and colder beer along the Hillsborough River in downtown Tampa at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park.
Oktoberfest Tampa is a family-friendly event and offers FREE admission to kids 12+ under. We have a kids zone area with kid-friendly games until 8pm on Friday and Saturday and 6 pm on Sunday.
Cost: Kids 12 and under are free, Adult General Admission $8 for a one day pass
Dates: Friday, Oct. 11 4-11 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 12 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 13 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Location: Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park
601 N. Ashley Street
John’s Pass Seafood Festival*
John’s Pass Seafood Festival has always been a celebrated event. For 38 years, the community has come together, utilizing hundreds of local volunteers in support of the vision. John’s Pass Seafood Festival is currently the second-largest Seafood Festival on the East Coast.
Cost: Free admission
Dates: Friday-Sunday October 18-20.
Fri, Oct 18th: 3 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Sat, Oct 19th: 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Sun, Oct 20th: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Location: John’s Pass Village, 12902 Village Blvd., Madeira Beach, FL 33708