Can’t-Miss Tampa Bay Fall Festivals and Events 2023

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I honestly thought briefing you on each of these Tampa fall festivals was going to get repetitive, but each of them actually brings some sort of unique fun to the table! So get your calendar out! Because you’ve got A LOT of fall festivities in Tampa Bay comin’ your way!

As the great Colin Nissan so eloquently stated, “It’s fall, f*****. You’re either ready to reap this freaky-assed harvest or you’re not.” I don’t know about you, but I’m ready!

Pumpkin patches & fall festivals

Harvest Holler Corn Maze

An interactive corn maze, a hayride, a pumpkin patch, mini golf, tractor rides, and activities for the whole family can be found here. And when you’re done, head to Paw-Paw’s Vittles for a snack and some Southern sweet tea and lemonade. Make sure you save room for some cobbler from Maw-Maw’s Country Store!

Location: 950 Tavares Rd, Polk City, FL 33868

Hours and Dates: Weekends September 15th-November 12th; Fridays 4 PM-8 PM, Saturdays 12 PM-8 PM, and Sundays 12 PM-5 PM

Cost: Adults: $15, seniors, military, and children 3-12: $12.

Sweetfields Farm Fall Maze

Sweetfields is the perfect place to get yourself into the fall spirit! A corn maze, a pumpkin patch, hay rides, and apple cider are all waiting for you at the farm! Along with the fun fall activities, they also have cute farm animals, food vendors, and photo ops! Most activities are included in the admission, however pumpkins and produce must be purchased. They also have pumpkin painting for an additional cost. Pre-purchased online tickets are required!

Location: 17250 Benes Roush Road, Masaryktown, FL

Hours and Dates: Friday-Sundays October 6th-November 5th

Cost: Age 3 and up: $9.75 + tax and online ticket fees

Tampa Oktoberfest

Come celebrate Tampa’s Octoberfest! You know if there’s one thing Tampa knows how to do, it’s celebrate. Live music, Bavarian games, dirndls, lederhosen, and of course beer! There are going to be fun challenges like the Beard and Mustache competition, Mr. and Mrs. Oktoberfest, Tug-O-War, and more! So check out all of the fun while taking in the city views at the city’s largest waterfront beer garden!

Location: Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park

Hours and Dates: Friday, October 13, 4 PM-11 PM, Saturday, October 14, 11 AM-11 PM, and Sunday, October 15, 11 AM-6 PM

Cost: $10-20. Free for men and women of the Armed Forces (active or retired) and any first responders of the City of Tampa (TPD, TFR, EMS) for you and your spouse. Simply show your proper ID at the entry gate.

Gallagher’s Pumpkins and Christmas Trees

This family-owned pumpkin and Christmas tree farm is a must-stop. The cutest photo ops, delicious locally sourced pies for sale, and usually some fun furry friends wandering around! So stop by, grab a pumpkin, get some cute pics, and support this lovely local spot!

Location: 7401 4th St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33704

Hours and Dates: September 26 daily 9 AM-9 PM

Cost: Free entry, food, pumpkins, and other items for purchase.

If you love free things, check out this list of 20+ Free Activities in Tampa Bay!

Hyde Park Village Pumpkin Patch

Grab a pumpkin and support a great cause! Proceeds from the Hyde Park Village Pumpkin Patch benefit The Humane Society of Tampa Bay. Hyde Park Village is actually one of my favorite day trips! There are so many awesome restaurants and fun shops to check out in this area, so make a day of it while you’re over there. Here are some of my favorite things to do in the area!

Location: Hyde Park Village

Hours and Dates: October 1-31 Monday-Thursday 6 PM-10 PM and Friday-Sunday 10 AM-6 PM

Cost: Pumpkins and gourds cost anywhere from $1-20

HarvestMoon Fun Farms Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch

There are SO MANY family-fun activities and games at the HarvestMoon Fun Farm! Play on a 70-foot jumping pillow, catch candy from the candy cannon, ride the cow train, or pet some of the adorable farm animals! This is really just the tip of the iceberg of the fun this place has to offer!

They even have Flashlight Nights for the maze and expanded Haunted Trail on select Friday and Saturday nights for those who aren’t afraid (count me out— I’m a wuss). But you can catch me there at the food vendors tasting their BBQ and grilled cheese!

Location: 15990 Stur St, Masaryktown, FL 34604

Hours and Dates: October 1-November 6 Wednesday-Friday 10 AM-2 PM and Saturday and Sunday 10 AM-5 PM (open select evenings for flashlight and haunted trail nights)

Cost: Age 3 and up: $13.95+tax on weekends, $9.95+tax on weekdays

Flash Light Night & Haunted Trail Admission: $22.95-27.95+tax per person ages 3 & up, or $13.95 for Flash Light Night only 

Scarecrow Fest Dade City

Make your own scarecrow, enter the costume contest, or enjoy live entertainment at this celebration! This year’s entertainment includes Blaise Bubble Magic (as seen on America’s Got Talent), Soccer Collies, and Florida Skunk Rescue— they’re actually so adorable! There will also be carnival games and plenty of food vendors to enjoy!

Location: Pioneer Florida Museum & Village @ 15602 Pioneer Museum Road, Dade City, FL 33523

Hours and Dates: Saturday, Oct. 14, 9 AM-5 PM

Cost: Student: $5 Adult: $10

The Heights Fall Festival

Located at Armature Works— where you can always count on having a good time— the 5th annual Heights Fall Festival will include a pumpkin patch, live music, a craft beer corner, and photo ops galore! Even more than fun seasonal activities, this fall festival has something extra special to be a part of— a food drive! Donate 5 or more non-perishable food items, and you get a voucher for a complimentary 818Bay beer 🙂

Location: Armature Works @ 1910 N Ola Ave, Tampa, FL 33602

Hours and Dates: Weekend days October 15-23 from 10 AM-5 PM 2023 date TBD

Cost: Free! Food, drink, and pumpkins are available for purchase.

Hunsader Farms Pumpkin Fest

Hunsader Farms Pumpkin Fest has your typical fall shenanigans plus activities like a rock climbing wall, a craft show, live music, a petting zoo, a dog show, and even a chainsaw sculptor! You’ll probably work up an appetite after doing all of those fun activities, so check out all of the food vendors, which offer everything from farm-roasted sweet corn to homemade ice cream! Pumpkins and produce will also be for sale, as well as some fun kiddie rides for an additional cost!

Location: 5500 CR-675, Bradenton, FL 34211

Hours and Dates: Saturdays and Sundays October 14-29 9 AM-5 PM

Cost: Age 10 and up: $15, parking: $5. CASH ONLY

DK Landscaping Farm Festival

This celebration features hay ride canal tours, goat feeding, pony rides, pumpkin cannons, AND laser tag!! There is so much family fun to be had here! Along with activities, there are plenty of food vendors, photo ops, and craft vendors as well!

Location: DK Landscaping & Farm @ 1750 Lake Avenue Southeast, Largo, FL 33771

Hours and Dates: Weekday and weekend tickets available September 30-October 29 10 AM-4 PM

Cost: $10, but the ticket covers both weekend days

Riverwalk Halloween Lighted Boat Parade

Come enjoy all of the fun, festively decorated boats as they parade down the river!

Location: Tampa Riverwalk, Tampa, FL 33602

Hours and Dates: Saturday, October 28th, 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM

Cost: Free

Pumpkin Fest at Florida Botanical Gardens

Enjoy a festive walkthrough of the gardens along with a scarecrow contest and pumpkin patch! Pumpkin-carving templates and decorating kits will also be for sale.

Location: 12520 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL 33774

Hours and Dates: Saturday, October 22 & Sunday, October 23, 12 PM- 4 PM 2023 date TBD

Cost: $10 per pumpkin, age 5 and under are free

Savor St. Pete

This isn’t exactly fall-themed, but we need something to get us through that time between Halloween and Thanksgiving, right? Enter Savor St. Pete. Savor St. Pete is an annual weekend-long event that showcases foods, wines, craft beers, and a culinary experience you’re sure to remember. It’s common knowledge Tampa Bay is full of foodies, and ya know we love our breweries! So this is the perfect event to hold your tastebuds over until Thanksgiving!

Your admission includes unlimited tastings! Beer, wine, and food sampling is all-inclusive in the ticket price.

And did I mention a portion of ticket sales from the event benefits the Children’s Cancer Center? So you’re also supporting a great cause!

Location:

Hours and Dates: November 5-6. VIP 12 PM- 4 PM and GA 1 PM-4 PM 2023 date TBD

Cost: GA is $95 +tax and VIP is $125 +tax. Get your tickets here. Use code: SAVORBYDESTINY for $15 GA off now through November 4!

Theme park events

Scream-A-Geddon

This is a Halloween horror event park like no other. I am honestly going to have nightmares just from looking at their website. If you love all things creepy, spooky, and terrifying, this is the place for you. It has seven terrifying attractions in one location, along with food vendors and drinks from Bonzo’s Beer Garden.

Location: 27839 St Joe Rd, Dade City, FL 33525

Hours and Dates: September8-November 4: Sunday-Thursdays, 7:30 PM-11 PM and Saturday-Sundays, 7:30 PM-1 AM

Cost: Prices vary by day and are subject to change. Check out current ticket prices here.

Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens

This is one of the most popular October events in Tampa! Experience Busch Gardens’ thrilling rides at night while venturing through scare zones and haunted thrills! Instead of their typical indoor haunted houses, they have created open-air scare zones this year— make sure you check out all 10!

Location: Busch Gardens Tampa Bay @ 10165 McKinley Dr, Tampa, FL 33612

Hours and Dates: Weekends September 8-October 31; Fridays & Saturdays 7 PM-1 AM, Sundays 7 PM-12 PM

Cost: $42.99 and up

Creatures of the Night at ZooTampa

This one is a super fun, family-friendly Halloween event! Enjoy animal exhibits as well as Halloween-themed activities, experiences, and characters. Returning favorite activities and experiences include Pumpkin Palooza and Twisted Tales, along with four totally new ones, like Sirens Song and Dinos Out of Time.

Location: ZooTampa at Lowry Park @ 1101 W. Sligh Avenue, Tampa, FL, 33604

Hours and Dates: Every Friday and Saturday night in October

Cost: $24.95 and up

Spooky activities

Haunted River Tours with Pirate Water Taxi

Enjoy a glass of wine while you listen to ghost stories and tales of Tampa’s haunted history. You will most definitely love this 45-minute haunted cruise along the Hillsborough River!

Location: Channelside Bay Plaza @ 333 S Franklin St, Tampa, FL 33602 

Hours and Dates: Fridays-Sundays in October with cruise times at 6:15 PM, 7:15 PM, 8:15 PM, & 9:15 PM

Cost: $25 for adults, $15 for kids

UNDead in the Water at American Victory Ship & Museum

This is Tampa’s very own nautical-themed Halloween event. More specifically, you will be immersed in an interactive zombie apocalypse experience. You must avoid being eaten by the infected zombie stowaways and fight for humanity’s survival!

Location: Sparkman Wharf @ 615 Channelside Drive, Tampa, FL 33602

Hours and Dates: Friday & Saturdays in October, as well as October 28 & 31

Cost: $17.50

Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail

Experience three different themed haunted trails, live entertainment, and food vendors. They also have laser tag and escape games! For trail options, you have Candy Tree, Marionette of the Dead, or Midnight Slaughter. Which will you choose?

Location: 2837 S. Frontage Rd, Plant City, FL 33566

Hours and Dates: Weekends in October: Fridays & Saturdays, 7:30 PM-11 PM, and Sundays, 7:30 PM-9:30 PM

Cost: $25-$35. Laser tag and escape game tickets are purchased separately.

St. Pete Ghost Tour

Indulge in the mysteries and haunted tales of the Sunshine City on this 75-90-minute candlelight walking ghost tour!

Location: Sweet Divas Chocolates @ 181 4th Ave NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701

Hours and Dates: Select dates & times year round— check out dates and times here.

Cost: $20

Hocus Pocus Event

You are going to love this Hocus Pocus themed event hosted by The Beauty Boost Tampa! The Beauty Boost Tampa is a community for women to feel healthy, empowered, and beautiful through monthly events.

Your ticket price includes a spooky yoga flow dance party, sound bowl meditation, tarot card readings, oracle reading, a braid bar, Beauty Counter samples and consults, and so much more!

Upon arrival, you’ll get a trick-or-treat bag and have the opportunity to win prizes! Get your tickets here. Use code “FULLMOON” for 50% off your ticket!

Location: Zydeco Brew Werks in Ybor City

Hours and Dates: Sunday, October 16, 6:30 PM-9 PM 2023 date TBD

Cost: $22

SpookEasy Lounge

This speakeasy-style kava bar located in Ybor City is actually open year-round, but it is especially fun to check out around Halloween time!

Feel all of the spooky vibes while sipping on a Jekyll & Hyde or Vampire Blood. NOTE: This is an alcohol-free lounge. They offer botanical teas, kava, coffee, and more. Peep my Reel on this awesome spot!

Location: 1919 E 7th Ave, Tampa, FL 33605

Hours and Dates: Sunday-Thursday 12 PM-9 PM, Friday & Saturday 12 PM-12 AM

Cost: Free. Drink & food are available for purchase.

I am honestly so in the fall and Halloween spirit after reading about all of the awesome events Tampa Bay has! Which one are you most looking forward to? Follow me on Insta @guidedbydestiny for more Tampa Bay content!

Also if you are looking to take a fun fall road trip be sure to check out my New England fall road trip itinerary, southeast USA road trip itinerary, and Arizona road trip itinerary for some fun options!