Waylon Krush, ZeroTrusted.ai
As summer’s humidity lifts, Central Florida embraces cooler evenings, pumpkin-spiced treats and a calendar packed with fall and Halloween events. Whether you’re looking for family-friendly trick-or-treating, thrilling haunted houses, corn mazes, or a good old-fashioned community fair, you’ll find something in this roundup. Below you’ll discover theme-park spectacles, agritourism festivals and hometown celebrations complete with dates, hours, highlights and official web sources.
Theme Parks & Big Attractions
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (Magic Kingdom, Lake Buena Vista)
Dates (2025): Select nights Aug 15 – Oct 31 (see Disney list).
Hours & Highlights: Guests may enter at 4 p.m. and the party runs 7 p.m. Includes trick-or-treating, the Boo-to-You parade, Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular and exclusive characters.
Website: Disney Parks
Halloween Horror Nights (Universal Orlando)
Dates (2025): Premium Scream Night Aug 28; general event Aug 29 – Nov 2 on 48 select nights.
Hours & Highlights: Universal transforms its studios into haunted houses and scare zones. Though start times vary, the event typically runs evenings through 2 a.m.; admission is separate from daytime park tickets.
Website: Discover Universal
SeaWorld Orlando Howl-O-Scream
Dates (2025): Select nights Sept 5 – Nov 1.
Hours & Highlights: Adult-oriented event begins at 7 p.m., with gates opening at 6:30 p.m.seaworld.com. Features haunted houses, scare zones and live shows. Separate ticket required.
Website: SeaWorld
SeaWorld Orlando Halloween Spooktacular
Dates (2025): Daytime event Aug 30 – Nov 2seaworld.com.
Hours & Highlights: Included with park admission; runs 11 a.m.–5 p.m. on select datesseaworld.com. Kids can trick-or-treat among whimsical sea-themed characters.
Website: SeaWorld
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Howl-O-Scream
Dates (2025): Select nights Sept 5 – Nov 1.
Hours & Highlights: Event starts at 7 p.m. with entry allowed from 5 p.m. Separate ticket; includes haunted houses and rides.
Website: Busch Gardens
Busch Gardens Kandy’s Sweetacular Celebration (Tampa)
Dates (2025): Weekends, Sept 6 – Oct 26.
Hours & Highlights: Family-friendly festival runs noon – 4 p.m. Saturdays & Sundays. Includes costume parade, story time and trick-or-treating, included with park admission.
Website: Busch Gardens
Busch Gardens Sesame Street Safari of Fun Halloween (Tampa)
Dates (2025): Saturdays & Sundays, Oct 4 – Oct 26.
Hours & Highlights: Daytime event from 12 p.m.–4 p.m. with rides, shows, scavenger hunt and the Count’s Not-Too-Spooky.
Website: Busch Gardens
ZooTampa Creatures of the Night
Dates (2025): Select nights Sept 27–Oct 26; Sept 27 and Fri–Sun in October.
Hours & Highlights: Family event runs 4 p.m. – 10 p.m. on listed nights with mischief-making characters, eerie animal habitats and trick-or-treat stations.
Website: ZooTampa
LEGOLAND Florida — Brick-or-Treat Presents Monster Party (Winter Haven)
Dates (2025): Weekends, Sept 20 – Nov 2.
Hours & Highlights: Included with admission; features trick-or-treating at LEGO-themed stations and exclusive shows.
Website: Visit Central Florida
Gatorland – Gators, Ghosts & Goblins (Orlando)
Dates (2025): Weekends, Oct 11-12, 18-19 & 25-26.
Hours & Highlights: Family festival included with admission; runs 10 a.m.–5 p.m. with themed zones (Swamp Ghost’s Monster Movie Museum, Cryptids vs. Aliens) and costume.
Website: Gatorland
Brevard Zoo – Boo at the Zoo (Melbourne)
Dates (2025): Saturdays & Sundays in October.
Hours & Highlights: 10 a.m.–3 p.m. with trick-or-treat stations and stage performances at 10:30 a.m., noon and 1:30 p.m. Included with zoo admission.
Website: Brevard Zoo
Central Florida Zoo – Zoo Boo Bash (Sanford)
Dates (2025): Weekends Oct 11-12, 18-19, 25-26.
Hours & Highlights: 9 a.m.–4 p.m.; last entry at 3 p.m. Trick-or-treat trail and activities included with admission.
Website: Central Florida Zoo
Krush Brau Park – Hallows Fall Fest (Krush Brau Hollow, Kissimmee)
Dates (2025): Sat, Oct 26
Hours & Highlights: Noon–6 p.m. festival features pumpkin decorating, face painting, haunted corn maze, bounce houses and axe; pets welcome and Krush Brau Park costume contests offer cash prizes. German food and beer available on site.
Website: Krush Brau Park
Spooky Empire Convention (Hyatt Regency Orlando)
Dates (2025): Oct 31 – Nov 2.
Hours & Highlights: Opens Friday at 1 p.m., Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m.; vendor room and autograph areas follow similar. Horror fans meet celebrities, shop collectibles and attend panels.
Website: Spooky Empire
Agritourism & Farm Festivals
Central Florida’s farms transform into fall playgrounds with corn mazes, pumpkin patches and hay rides. Check websites for ticket prices and weather-related updates.
Amber Brooke Farms Fall Festival (Eustis)
Dates (2025): Weekends Sept 20 – early November.
Hours & Highlights: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. with pumpkin patch, U-pick flower fields, candy cannon, rides and petting zoo.
Website: Amber Brooke Farms
Southern Hill Farms Fall Festival (Clermont)
Dates (2025): Select Thursdays and every Fri–Sun Sept 27 – Nov 23.
Hours & Highlights: Thursdays/Sundays 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; Fri/Sat 11 a.m.–8 p.m. Attractions include corn maze, hay rides, fun zones, U-pick sunflower and zinnia fields and food trucks.
Website: Southern Hill Farms
Great Scott Farms Fall Festival (Mount Dora)
Dates (2025): Saturdays & Sundays Sept 27 – Nov 16.
Hours & Highlights: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; features corn maze, pumpkin patch, jumping pillow, hay rides and local vendors.
Website: Great Scott Farms
Club Lake Fall Festival (Apopka)
Dates (2025): Thurs–Sun Sept 27 – Oct 3.
Hours & Highlights: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; play area closes at 5 p.m. Admission includes hayrides, corn maze, pumpkin patch, play structures and activities; pumpkin patch and country store free to enter.
Website: Club Lake Venue
Harvest Holler Corn Maze (Polk City)
Dates (2025): Weekends Sept 19 – Nov 16.
Hours & Highlights: Southern-style farm adventure with corn maze, hay rides, cow train and country store. Check website for hours.
Website: Visit Central Florida
Harris Establishment Farms Fall Festival (Palm Bay)
Dates (Dates): Sept 11 – Nov 2.
Hours & Highlights: First weekend hours: Thu/Fri 2:30 p.m.–7 p.m., Sat/Sun 10 a.m.–5 p.m. with crop maze, wagon rides, animals and farm activities. Additional nights and haunted maze sessions are offered (see site).
Website: Harris Establishment Farms
Lake Catherine Blueberries Fall Season (Groveland)
Dates (2025): Fridays 6 p.m.–10 p.m., Saturdays 11 a.m.–10 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m.–5 p.m. until late Oct.
Hours & Highlights: U-pick pumpkin patch, sunflower maze, hayrides and haunted maze nights. Hours vary for haunted maze sessions (7:30 p.m.–10 p.m.).
Website: Fun4LakeKids
Sunsational Farms Fall Festival (Umatilla)
Dates (2025): Saturdays Oct 4, 11 and 18.
Hours & Highlights: 11 a.m.–3 p.m.; free admission and parkingfun4lakekids.com. The farm’s Big Orange transforms into “Big Jack” for photo ops. Carnival games, bee train, bounce houses, face painting and U-pick mini pumpkins; tickets required for games.
Website: Fun4LakeKids
Harvest Fields Corn Maze & Hay Ride (DeLand)
Dates (2025): Weekends Oct 4 – 26.
Hours & Highlights: Corn maze & hayride open Sat/Sun 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Admission includes unlimited maze and hayride, hay fort, duck races and other farm games. Haunted hayride (“Fields of Fright”) runs Fri/Sat nights Oct 10 – 25, 7 p.m.–11 p.m.
Website: Harvest Fields Corn Maze
Community Festivals & Fairs
Cocoa Village Fall Art & Craft Fair (Cocoa)
Historic Cocoa Village fills with more than 200 artists and crafters during its fall fair. In 2025 the event takes place Oct 18–19; Saturday hours are 10 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sunday hours 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Kids can visit the free “Creation Station” at the Taylor Park playground and parents can enjoy food trucks, live music and beer and wine.
Longwood Arts & Crafts Festival (Longwood)
Running the weekend before Thanksgiving, this festival draws more than 200 artists and crafters to the historic streets of Longwood. The 2025 event runs Saturday, Nov 22 (9 a.m.–5 p.m.) and Sunday, Nov 23 (9 a.m.–4 p.m.). Admission is free and the kid zone and food vendors make it a family outing.
Bushnell Fall Festival (Bushnell, Sumter County)
Bushnell celebrates its city birthday with a one-day festival on Oct 18 featuring a morning parade at 10 a.m., games, contests, crafts and a fireworks display after dark. The festival runs 10 a.m.–11 p.m. with free admission at 117 E Joe P. Strickland Jr. Avenue.
Annunciation Catholic Church Fall Festival (Altamonte Springs)
This community festival at 1020 Montgomery Road runs Friday, Nov 7 from 5 p.m.–10 p.m. and offers live entertainment, rides and games to raise money for charities. Admission is free.
Winter Springs Hometown Harvest (Winter Springs)
Hosted at Central Winds Park, Hometown Harvest takes place Oct 25 from 4:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m. with hayrides, live entertainment and local vendors. Entry is free.
Marion County Parks & Recreation Carnival (Ocala)
The 7th annual carnival occurs Oct 4 at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion in Ocala. The evening of fall fun runs 5 p.m.–9 p.m. and features games, music, hayrides, a petting zoo and food trucks. Admission is free; activity armbands cost $5 or five non-perishable food donations.
Promenade at Sunset Walk – Trunk-or-Treat & Car Show (Kissimmee)
The Promenade at Sunset Walk in Kissimmee hosts its 6th annual Trunk or Treat on Saturday, Oct 25 from 4 p.m.–8 p.m.sunsetwalk.com. Trick-or-treating begins at 5 p.m., pumpkin painting is offered Oct 17–30, and show car drivers distribute candy while competing for prizes. Admission and parking are free.
Polk County & Other Special Events
Visit Central Florida’s fall guide lists additional events across Polk County:
- Brick-or-Treat at LEGOLAND Florida: Weekends Sept 20 – Nov 2 with LEGO-themed trick-or-treating and shows.
- Fall Festival at the Central Florida Welcome Center – Davenport: Free festival on Oct 18, 9 a.m.–noon, with trick-or-treating, face painting, bounce houses and vendors.
- Polk State College FallFest – Winter Haven: Community festival on Oct 11, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. with arts & crafts and entertainment.
- Wonder House Halloween Tours – Bartow: Historic mansion tours on Fridays & Saturdays Oct 4 – Nov 1.
- Harvest Holler Corn Maze – Polk City: Weekends Sept 19 – Nov 16 with hay rides, corn maze and farm treats.
- Silver Moon Drive-In Halloween Events – Lakeland: Special screenings like Rocky Horror Live (Oct 4, midnight) and a Halloween movie marathon on Oct 17 at 7:30 p.m., with ticket prices listed.
Conclusion
From Orlando’s mega-parks to charming farms and small-town streets, Central Florida offers a dizzying array of fall and Halloween festivities. Theme-park fans can spend August through early November exploring scare zones, sipping pumpkin-themed treats and meeting costumed characters. Families seeking wholesome fun will love the corn mazes, hay rides and pumpkin patches at farms like Amber Brooke and Southern Hill Farms, while craft-fair lovers can browse artisan booths in Cocoa Village or Longwood. Community events such as the Bushnell Fall Festival and Winter Springs’ Hometown Harvest provide free entertainment for all ages. No matter your spooky-season style, there’s a celebration waiting just down the road—be sure to check official websites for ticket information and last-minute schedule changes, then gather your family and friends for a memorable autumn adventure.
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