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I honestly thought briefing you on each of these 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 girllll, 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!
Table of Contents
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 17th-November 14th; Fridays 4PM-8PM, Saturdays 12PM-8PM, and Sundays 12PM-5PM
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 September 25-November 7th
Cost: Age 3 and up: $9.75 + tax and online ticket fees
Tampa Oktoberfest
Come celebrate Tampa’s 11th Annual 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’s 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 8, 4PM-11PM, Saturday, October 9, 11AM-11PM, and Sunday, October 10 11AM-6PM
Cost: $10-25. 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 25 daily 9AM-9PM
Cost: Free entry, food, pumpkins, and other items for purchase.
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 6PM-10PM and Friday-Sunday 10AM-6PM
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 here! 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 2-November 7 Wednesday-Friday 10AM-2PM and Saturday and Sunday 10AM-5PM (open select evenings for flash light 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. 9, 9AM-5PM
Cost: Student: $5 Adult: $10
The Heights Fall Festival
Located at Armature Works— where you can always count on having a good time— the 3rd 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: October 10-11th from 10AM-5PM
Cost: Free! Food, drink, and pumpkins are available for purchase.
Hunsader Farms Pumpkin Fest
This festival has your typical fall shenanigans plus activities like a rock climbing wall, 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 16-31 9AM-5PM
Cost: Age 10 and up: $12, parking: $5.
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: Saturdays and Sundays October 9-30 10AM-4PM
Cost: $10, but 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! The Riverwalk also has a virtual Halloween Hunt (October 15-October 31) you can enjoy with the family! Solve riddles, puzzles, and tasks, and try to get 1st place! (A mobile app is needed.)
Location: Tampa Riverwalk, Tampa, FL 33602
Hours and Dates: Saturday, October 30th, 6:30PM – 9:30PM
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 23 & Sunday, October 24, 12PM- 4PM
Cost: $10 per pumpkin, age 5 and under: Free
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: Now-November 1: Sunday-Thursdays, 7:30PM-11PM and Saturday-Sundays, 7:30PM-1AM
Cost: Prices vary by day and are subject to change. Check out current ticket prices here.
Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens
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 10-October 31; Fridays & Saturdays 7PM-1AM, Sundays 7PM-12PM
Cost: $29.99 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 6:15PM, 7:15PM, 8:15PM, & 9:15PM
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, 7:30PM-11PM, and Sundays, 7:30PM-9:30PM
Cost: $25-$35. Laser tag and escape game tickets 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
The Haunted Tavern: A Dark Pop-Up Cocktail Experience
This is a 4-part interactive cocktail experience run by the descendants of Ichabod Crane. The tavern keeper will guide you through each part whilst telling dark tales that haunt the venue. Your ticket will include the immersive experience, as well as 4 themed cocktails, and live entertainment! This experience is 21+. Get your tickets here.
Location: CerealHolic Café and Bar 1909 N 15th St, Tampa, FL, 33605
Hours and Dates: Thursdays–Sundays October 1–31. Thursdays: 6pm & 8pm, Fridays: 6pm, 8pm & 10pm, Saturdays: 4pm, 6pm, 8pm & 10pm, and Sundays: 4pm, 6pm & 8pm. Duration is 90 minutes.
Cost: $55
SpookEasy Lounge
This speakeasy-style kava bar is actually open year round, but I’m sure it will be 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, and coffee.
Location: 1919 E 7th Ave, Tampa, FL 33605
Hours and Dates: Sunday-Thursday 12PM-9PM, Friday & Saturday 12PM-12AM
Cost: Free. Drink & food 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?
This is such a lovely time of year for things to do and Tampa has so much going on! We’re following along in the UK with more Halloween traditions and pumpkin patches each year and I love it
You had me at Oktoberfest! I love anything pumpkin / halloween / and Oktoberfest related, so these 22 things sound epic! We enjoyed St Petes on a recent holiday, so count me in for the ghost tour!
haha awesome!! I was surprised to find out about the ghost tour St. Pete has! They even do it year round!
Not a big fan of Halloween or anything spooky, but got to love those pumpkin patches! They do look like an amazing experience.
Haha yeah, I can’t really do spooky, but I love all things pumpkin! 🙂
omg love this! Halloween is my favorite time of the year! I love all the events and things to do!
I am right there with you! October-December has so many fun holidays and festivities!
These all sound like so much fun!! I especially love corn mazes and pumpkin patches 🙂
Yesss! So fun! And all of the fall foods go unmatched 🙂
This article has me so excited for Halloween! Also had no idea that Tampa is so nice at this time of year!
Yay! Yes it’s such a fun city!
Visiting the beach in the fall is always our favorite time to go! Love that there are still fall activities while you’re visiting the beach. Heading to destin in a few weeks and I can’t wait!
So fun! I haven’t been to Destin yet, but I heard it’s beautiful!
I would have had no idea about the huge variety of fun Tampa activities for fall. Between the pumpkin patches, spooky Halloween fun, and Oktoberfest!