Just because you are extending your summer adventures a little later into the next season, it doesn’t mean you won’t want to participate in the traditional fall holidays during your Sarasota getaway, especially at Halloween. We may be offering a paradise of white sand beaches, turquoise waters, and sunny days, but your kids won’t care one bit (and may even become a bit unpleasant to deal with) if trick-or-treating is not a part of this Halloween vacation equation! Today, we at RentTheKeys are taking our guests on a sweet journey that will help keep their child/parent relationships on an even quota with this guide to the best places to trick-or-treat in Sarasota.
Goblin Gathering at GT Bray Park, October 11, 5-8 PM
The fun thing about Halloween is it is a holiday that can, and usually is, celebrated all month, and if you traveling here on October 11th with your family, your littles will appreciate this first chance to try out their costumes and score some treats. This free event offers a costume contest, treats being passed out by local businesses, and even free admittance into a bounce house, ensuring that your first foray into the holiday will be a fun and exciting one for your tiniest travelers.
Haunted Trails at Oscar Scherer State Park, October 18-19, 1843 South Tamiami Trail in Osprey
A small road trip will bring you to a couple of nights of spooktacular fun, offering a kids’ trick-or-treat trail featuring booths, activities, and interactive games as well as candy for your costumed adventurers. The Little Monster Manor is a fun house providing spooky thrills for the pint-sized bunch, and the S’mores Station is destined to be your favorite part of the entire family. Also offering haunts and thrills for the older travelers, this wonderful event is a treat for the entire family!
Nathan Benderson Park Trick-or-treat on the Lake, October 29, 5:30-8 PM
Everyone is invited to participate in this fun trick-or-treating experience taking place on Regatta Island at Nathan Benderson Park. Offering a candy trail providing booths that provide games, crafts, and so much more, this event also features storytelling, live music, and a Halloween film being played on a large video screen. And because this is a children’s event, we can promise that the movie won’t be inappropriately gory or scary, as no one wants to traumatize any tiny tots, they just want to provide a safe and fun Halloween experience. This event is free but does cost $10 per car for parking.
Candy Carnival at Oasis Church, October 31, 6-8:30 PM, 5215 Lorraine Road in Bradenton
This next free trick-or-treating event, or in this case, trunk or treating, is a favorite for children of all ages, offering a huge selection of Halloween themed activities that celebrate the holiday the right way. Face painting, carnival games, and an interactive hayride are just some of the exciting activities you and your family can participate in between chowing down on popcorn and hotdogs, and its family photo booth will give you a souvenir of your Sarasota vacation that is so much better than key chains or coffee mugs. All the candy can give kiddos an extra dose of the wiggles, and that is ok, because the rock climbing wall, inflatable obstacle course, bungee trampoline, toddler bounce house, and inflatable slide will tire them out again, and we can almost promise that the drive back to your RentTheKeys retreat will be quiet as they will be asleep before you even start the engine.
Downtown Venice Halloween Strut, October 31, 4:30-6:30, Downtown Venice
Venice is known for its shark teeth beaches and this family friendly Halloween event in which all ages are invited to participate, dressing up in their favorite costumes to enjoy trunk or treating, kid friendly music provided by DJ Steve, games, candy, and so much more. And if you really want to celebrate right, arrive early, leave early, and head over to the Candy Carnival at Oasis (details above) for the second Halloween adventure of the night; the timing works out just about perfect, as the Halloween Strut ends about 30 minutes after the candy carnival begins.
Welcome to the Neighborhood
Many of our RentTheKeys sanctuaries are located in family neighborhoods, ensuring that little goblins and ghouls will be roaming the streets in search of treats, so why not join in the fun? Everyone knows the best candy is served by moms and dads who want to be known as the “cool house” on Halloween, and when the kids get tired and dad has to piggyback them home, their bedrooms are just a short walk away. Contact us and reserve your favorite holiday hideaway today!
