Celebrate Halloween with upcoming local events
Get into the spooky spirit of Halloween with these upcoming events and promotions, and read on for resources to help you have a fun and safe Halloween.
Not in Gainesville? Find events near you.
Events
Season of Screams | Sept. 26–Nov. 1 (Friday–Saturday only)
Hosted by the Peanut Patch and CornMaze
Corn Maze & Hayride | Sept. 27–Nov. 9 (Friday–Sunday only)
Hosted by Hollow Oaks
Fall Festival | Oct. 4–Nov. 2 (Saturday–Sunday only)
Hosted by Crossroads Farm & Apiary
Screaming for Safety | FREE | Oct. 9 at 4 p.m.
Hosted by Gainesville Fire Rescue
Wicked at Bo Diddley Plaza | FREE | Oct. 10 at 7 p.m.
Hosted by the City of Gainesville
The Great Pumpkin Bash | FREE | Oct. 11 at 7 p.m.
Hosted by the City of Gainesville
Pumpkin Festival | Oct. 11–12 at 10 a.m.
Hosted by Mayhem Ranch
40th Annual Fall Arts Festival | FREE | Oct. 11–12
Hosted by the Shoppes at Thornebrook
Adult Craft Club: Festive Fall | FREE | Oct. 17 at 2 p.m.
Hosted by the Alachua County Library District
Pop-up Museum: Not-So-Scary-Spiders | FREE | Oct. 13 at 4 p.m.
Hosted by the Florida Museum
Fall Crafts for Adults | FREE | Oct. 19 at 2 p.m.
Hosted by the Alachua County Library District
Bugs, Bones and Brews | FREE | Oct. 23 at 5 p.m.
Hosted by the Florida Museum
Pop-up Museum: Crepuscular Creatures | FREE | Oct. 23 at 6 p.m.
Hosted by the Florida Museum
Trick or Treat | FREE | Oct. 24 at 5 p.m.
Hosted by the Shoppes at Thornebrook
Pop-up Museum: Bats & Moths | FREE | Oct. 25 at 10 a.m.
Hosted by the Florida Museum
Florida Bat Festival | Oct. 25 at 10 a.m.
Hosted by the Lubee Bat Conservatory
Sparks & Spooks | Oct. 25 at 10 a.m.
Hosted by the Cade Museum
Halloween at Haile Equestrian | FREE | Oct. 25 at 1 p.m.
Hosted by Haile Equestrian Center
Gainesville Spook-tacular Craft and Vendor Market | FREE | Oct. 25–26
Hosted by Hometown Vendor Market
Spooktacular Fun at the Library | FREE | Oct. 25 at 2 p.m.
Hosted by the Alachua County Library District
O2B Spooktakular | Oct. 25 at 6 p.m.
Hosted by O2B Kids
Celebration Pointe Boo Run | FREE | Oct. 29 at 6 p.m.
Hosted by Fit2Run
The Spill: An Interactive Haunted Attraction | Oct. 29 at 6 p.m.
Hosted by Makerie Workshop and the Gainesville Fear Garden
Creepy Crafting Fun at the Library | FREE | Oct. 31 at 10 a.m.
Hosted by the Alachua County Library District
Banks, Books, & Boos | FREE | Oct. 31 at 2 p.m.
Hosted by the Alachua County Library District
29th Annual Boo at the Zoo | FREE with donation | Oct. 31 at 3 p.m.
Hosted by Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo, benefiting local food banks
Trick-or-Treat on Main | FREE | Oct. 31 at 5:30 p.m.
Hosted by the Alachua Chamber of Commerce
Halloween Ball Costume Contest | FREE | Oct. 31 at 7 p.m.
Hosted by First Magnitude Brewing Company, benefiting the Florida Park Service Ranger Association
Promotions
From theme park tickets and ghost tours to Halloween costumes, candy, decor and more, explore curated discounts from Tickets at Work for killer deals just in time for the spooky season! Create a free account and enter code UFLEDU to get started.
Are you a member of O2B kids? Enjoy free admission to the O2B Spooktakular for you and your registered child(ren). And don’t forget, UF faculty and staff can enjoy $100 off registration year-round through the GatorPerks discount program.
Sign up for our GatorPerks newsletter to stay up to date with new vendors and limited time promotions!
Resources
- Explore the spookiest spots at UF.
- Stop by Museum Road across from Lake Alice to watch more than 450,000 bats fly into the night from UF’s bat houses. To learn more, check out this From Florida podcast.
- Sugar, pumpkin spice and everything nice: Find out why the seasonal hype hits every autumn.
- Heading to the pumpkin patch? Explore tips on purchasing, carving and eating pumpkins. Learn how to get the most out of your pumpkins, and find more pumpkin recipes here.
- Explore GatorCare’s Food for Thought article to discover exciting and creative ways to celebrate Halloween without overindulging in sugary treats.
- Use these tricks to make your treats nutritious and safe.