Gainesville's Halloween horrors are calling! Answer with our frightful event guide. For Gainesville natives and Halloween explorers, this guide is your broomstick ride to the city's seasonal magic.
Popular events this October include the spine-chilling Gainesville Fear Garden, where eerie attractions and creepy installations come to life. With a vibrant mix of haunted adventures, Gainesville's Halloween Pub Crawl offers an opportunity to explore spooky-themed drinks and nightlife. And don't forget, Trick or Treat on Main Street brings families together for an evening of candy, costumes, and festive fun. See more details on these and other exciting events and activities below!
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Top Halloween Events In and Around Gainesville
- Gainesville's Halloween Pub Crawl
- Gainesville Fear Garden
- Trick or Treat on Main Street (Alachua)
- Peanut Patch & Corn Maze Haunted Attractions
- Boo at the Zoo
- Balance 180's Annual Flip-or-Treat Event
- Monster Mash at The Oaks Mall
- Thornebrook Trunk or Treat
- Pumpkin Spice & Every
- Historic Micanopy Ghost Tour (Micanopy)
See these and even more events listed below!
Gainesville Area Haunted Experiences
Gainesville Fear Garden
What to Expect:
An immersive haunted house experience with AI-themed scares and sensory deprivation elements.
Description:
Gainesville Fear Garden is an experimental haunted house attraction that combines psychological science with horror-themed entertainment. Visitors can expect unconventional twists, including sensory deprivation and AI-themed scares. The event also features a horror-themed beer and wine garden, as well as a lounge with private experiments, horror movies, scary story bingo, and table games.
Where: Gainesville | More Info: Gainesville Fear Garden
Historic Micanopy Ghost Tour
What to Expect:
A guided tour led by a knowledgeable local guide, Megan Beckham, exploring the town's ghostly past.
Description:
Join Megan Beckham, a native of Micanopy and history enthusiast, on a 3-hour ghost tour through Historic Micanopy. Explore the town's haunted past, visit historic sites, and hear chilling tales of paranormal activities. The tour will cover about 10 sites with both historical and paranormal stories, making it a unique and thrilling experience.
Where: Micanopy | More Info: Historic Micanopy Ghost Tour
Peanut Patch & Corn Maze Haunted Attractions
What to Expect:
A variety of haunted attractions including a haunted house, haunted hayrides, and a haunted night maze.
Description:
Peanut Patch & Corn Maze Haunted Attractions offers a thrilling Halloween experience with activities like haunted night mazes, haunted houses, and haunted hayrides. Visitors can also enjoy a kids' play area, campfire, and food booth. This event is perfect for families and those who love spooky fun.
Where: Gainesville | More Info: Peanut Patch & Corn Maze Haunted Attractions
Family-Friendly Fall Activities Near Gainesville
Trick or Treat on Main Street
What to Expect:
A family-friendly trick-or-treating experience with local businesses and organizations participating.
Description:
Trick or Treat on Main Street is an annual Halloween event in Alachua where Main Street transforms into a pedestrian-only corridor for children to safely trick-or-treat. Local businesses and organizations line the street, handing out thousands of pieces of candy as families stroll along. This event is part of the larger Scarecrow Row festivities, featuring themed scarecrows along Main Street.
Where: Alachua | More Info: Trick or Treat on Main Street
Pumpkin Spice & Every
What to Expect:
The event offers an exclusive lightboard technology for easy tracing and custom artwork, making it a unique experience for participants.
Description:
Join us for a festive and fun Pumpkin-Spiced Eve Painting Class at Muse Paintbar in Gainesville, VA. Our artist instructors will guide you through a step-by-step painting process, perfect for all skill levels. Enjoy the fall spirit while creating your own masterpiece with our medium-bodied acrylic paint collection and exclusive lightboard technology.
Where: Gainesville | More Info: Pumpkin Spice & Every
Boo at the Zoo
What to Expect:
Halloween celebration in a zoo setting
Description:
Boo at the Zoo is a family-friendly Halloween event where the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo transforms into a multi-themed trick-or-treat wonderland. The event features live entertainment, animal encounters, and activities hosted by community organizations. Admission is one canned good or non-perishable food item per person, which supports local food banks. The event runs from 3 to 7 p.m. on October 31, 2024.
Where: Gainesville | More Info: Boo at the Zoo
Balance 180's Annual Flip-or-Treat Event
What to Expect:
A Halloween celebration with trunk-or-treating, gymnastics, and fall activities.
Description:
Balance 180's Annual Flip-or-Treat Event is a spooktacular evening filled with trunk-or-treating, games, activities, and gymnastics. The event features a costume contest, fall activities outside, and gymnastics inside the gyms. There will be a scavenger hunt, crafts, and delicious food trucks to satisfy your cravings. Additionally, every bag of candy you bring will earn you a raffle ticket for a chance to win a super special surprise gift.
Where: Gainesville | More Info: Balance 180's Annual Flip-or-Treat Event
Monster Mash at The Oaks Mall
What to Expect:
A fun-filled Halloween celebration with trick-or-treating and family-friendly activities.
Description:
Join us at Oaks Mall for a spooktacular Monster Mash and Trick or Treat event Enjoy a fun-filled evening with dancing, music, contests, and games. Trick or treat with participating mall tenants and create unforgettable memories with family and friends. This event is perfect for all ages, offering a delightful blend of Halloween festivities and community spirit.
Where: Gainesville | More Info: Monster Mash at The Oaks Mall
Thornebrook Trunk or Treat
What to Expect:
A festive Halloween celebration with local vendors showcasing their best spooky goods.
Description:
Thornebrook Trunk or Treat is a family-friendly Halloween event where participants can stroll through well-lit sidewalks of participating shops and vendors. Local vendors will showcase their best spooky goods, and Kiss 105.3 will bring fun and some spooky prizes. This event is a great way to gear up for Halloween with a festive atmosphere.
Where: Gainesville | More Info: Thornebrook Trunk or Treat
Halloween Food, Drink, and Parties Near Gainesville
Gainesville's Halloween Pub Crawl
What to Expect:
Embrace the scare with a self-guided pub crawl featuring express check-in, social media showdowns, and a variety of spooky activities.
Description:
Experience a frightfully fun night at Gainesville's Halloween Pub Crawl, where you can explore multiple venues, enjoy spooky drink specials, and participate in thrilling contests and photo opportunities. This self-guided pub crawl offers a unique blend of socializing, interactive games, and Halloween magic.