The warmer climates of Florida and its many beaches are great places to get away any time of year. When fall cools temperatures in many other parts of the country, Florida’s welcoming warmer temperatures have tourists flocking to the area for a fall break. Add some sand and sun and you’ll be marking days off the calendar to your arrival. Make your fall getaway extra special this year by adding some spooky Sarasota Halloween fun to the agenda. There are plenty of family-friendly as well as scares for teens and adults only.
Fright Night on St. Armand’s
If you want to be at the main attraction on Anna Maria Island this Halloween, head to St. Armand’s Circle on October 31 at 6 p.m. The young and young at heart are invited to an evening of fun and fright during this 14th annual event. Storefronts will be decked out in their Halloween best, and you’ll want to watch out for spooky monsters and spirits on every corner. Bring the kids in their costumes for a fun evening of trick-or-treating throughout the Circle.
Trail of Treats
Anna Maria Island is the place to be this Halloween. Kids, aged 0-12 can show up in their costumes and trick-or-treat safely on the Trail of Treats. There is a costume contest at the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce and of course, trick-or-treating.
Bradenton Beach Ghost Tours
While not specifically a Halloween attraction, the Bradenton Beach Ghost Tours celebrate the island’s spooky past, including shipwrecks and ghost stories based on eyewitness accounts. The 90-minute tour starts at 8 p.m. on Bridge Street Tuesdays-Saturdays. Advanced tickets are required at a cost of $10-15.
Boo! At the Bay
The after-dark, “not-so-scary” evening boasts trick-or-treating, pumpkin picking, yard games, food trucks, prizes, and more! Wear your spooky – or not-so-spooky – costumes. The free event takes place at the Bay Park – Civic Green at 655 North Tamiami Trail in Sarasota and is part of the “10 Days at the Bay” series running October 14-23. Boo! At the Bay takes place on October 21. Special activities include a sensory-friendly experience from 5-6 p.m., the “Spooky Moonlight in the Mangroves Tour” from 6:30-8 p.m., and Family Movie Night (“Hocus Pocus”) from 7:30-9:30 p.m. All special events require advanced registration, available through their website, 10daysatthebay.org.
Haunted Houses
There are several haunted houses throughout Sarasota and the surrounding area. Many have special days and times that are family- and kid-friendly, while some are full of fright that is only appropriate for adults and older teens. Ask the staff about appropriate ages before entering.
Fruitville Grove Pumpkin Festival
This year’s 34th annual festival runs weekends throughout the month of October and ends on October 30. Where suitable costumes and come for food trucks, live music, the Kids Fun Zone, pony rides, or attend the craft show. You can hold a skunk, walk the Wildflower Maze, go to the petting zoo or have an Enchanted Unicorn Encounter. Take a horse-drawn carriage ride and enjoy the many other activities available. There’s a free children’s costume contest every Saturday at 2 p.m. See the Torres Family Circus and the Globe of Death with Extreme Riders for free on weekends at 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. The fun ends with a bang on October 30 with trick or treat at the festival vendor booths from 12-5 p.m. Most events are free, but some range from $1-10 for supplies. Parking is $5. The farm market and pumpkin patch are open during the week 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Sundays for shopping fall décor, fresh produce – including the pumpkin for your Jack-O-Lantern – and fall photos at the pumpkin patch.
Big Cat Habitat
The annual festival is a family-friendly Halloween event! The Big Cat Habitat hosts Wild-O-Ween, a festival filled with pumpkin painting, pumpkin bowling, mummy wrapping, costume contests, pony rides, prizes, face painting, and more! There will also be trick-or-treating stations throughout the park so the kids can take home some sweet treats. The event runs October 29 & 30 from 12-4 p.m. Stop by the show arena for presentations like a live bird show or animal demonstration, the mummy wrapping, and a costume contest. Wild-O-Ween is part of regular admission prices.
Halloween in the Florida Keys for Sarasota Halloween fun
Make your next Florida getaway full of water, sand, sun, and fright when you visit this Halloween. While you’re scheduling all the fun activities and attractions you’ll visit, don’t forget to book a vacation rental with Rent the Keys. Choose a one-bedroom unit for your small family or a frightful sweetheart getaway, all the way up to a six-bedroom for a Halloween haunt for your larger family or group. Cook up a favorite Halloween treat or meal in the fully equipped kitchen. Gather together in the open living area and tell ghost stories or watch a scary movie. Enjoy private outdoor spaces like patios, decks, or balconies. Close your eyes and take a nap or get a good night’s sleep before more spooky fun in a private bedroom. Choose a premium unit for upgrades like stainless steel appliances, wood floors, and more.
Contact us today to book your Sarasota getaway this Halloween!
