Embrace the eerie in Sarasota with our guide to all things Halloween. Longtime Sarasota witches and aspiring warlocks will find plenty to bewitch them in our Halloween guide.
Popular events this spooky season include the Haunted Sarasota Trolley Tour, which whisks you through the city’s most haunted spots while sharing chilling tales. Additionally, Halloween Notte presents Toyland Terror, offering a fantastical twist on traditional Halloween fun with its uniquely themed experience. And the Halloween Bar Crawl 2024 is something you definitely don't want to miss, inviting participants to explore local haunts in a festive atmosphere. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Halloween Events In and Around Sarasota
- Halloween Bar Crawl 2024
- Haunted Sarasota Trolley Tour
- Sarasota's Fall Festival & Carnival at The Mall at UTC
- Halloween Notte presents Toyland Terror (Port Charlotte)
- Trick or Treat on the Lake
- Ohana Halloween @ PG Historic District (Punta Gorda)
- SENSORY-FRIENDLY Boo at The Bay
- Historic Spanish Point "Spooky Point" (Osprey)
- Selby Gardens Spooktacular
- GT Bray Park Halloween Event (Bradenton)
See these and even more events listed below!
Sarasota Area Haunted Experiences
Haunted Sarasota Trolley Tour
What to Expect:
A 75-minute, air-conditioned nighttime tour featuring historical ghost stories and surprise guests.
Description:
Step aboard the trolley for a thrilling and historical musical journey through Sarasota's eerie past with Lady Melody & Mystery Spirits Hear stories about famous murders, visit haunted buildings, and explore unsolved crimes during this 75-minute, air-conditioned nighttime tour. Sit back and listen as our entertaining ghost hostess Lady Melody brings the rich history of Sarasota to life, keeping an eye out for surprise guests along the way.
Where: Sarasota | More Info: Haunted Sarasota Trolley Tour
Halloween Notte presents Toyland Terror
What to Expect:
Immersive haunted house experience with a haunted hayride and live entertainment.
Description:
Halloween Notte presents "TOYLAND TERROR" is a haunted event featuring a dimly lit, sprawling mansion where forgotten playthings from eras past come to life in eerie splendor. The event includes Haunted Toyland, the Haunted Hayride, and live entertainment shows. Visitors can enjoy the Halloween atmosphere, delicious food, and drinks from various vendors.
Where: Port Charlotte | More Info: Halloween Notte presents Toyland Terror
Family-Friendly Fall Activities Near Sarasota
Sarasota's Fall Festival & Carnival at The Mall at UTC
What to Expect:
A weekend packed with family-friendly activities, including carnival rides, live entertainment, and a kids' zone, making it an ideal event for all ages.
Description:
Join the festive spirit of fall at Sarasota's Fall Festival & Carnival at The Mall at University Town Center. Enjoy a weekend packed with fun, family-friendly activities including carnival rides, live entertainment, food trucks, and a kids' zone featuring bounce houses, face painting, and pony rides. Don't miss out on costume contests for both kids and pets, and the Trunk or Treat event on Sunday. This event promises an unforgettable community experience with over 20,000 local fans expected.
Where: Sarasota | More Info: Sarasota's Fall Festival & Carnival at The Mall at UTC
Trick or Treat on the Lake
What to Expect:
A family-friendly Halloween celebration with a candy trail, interactive play, storytelling, and live music by the lake.
Description:
Trick or Treat on the Lake is a family-friendly Halloween celebration at Nathan Benderson Park. Enjoy trick-or-treating along the candy trail, interactive play, storytelling, and live music. Come dressed in your spookiest costumes for a fun evening by the lake.
Where: Sarasota | More Info: Trick or Treat on the Lake
Ohana Halloween @ PG Historic District
What to Expect:
Trick-or-treating at spookily decorated historic homes and mansions.
Description:
Join thousands of locals for a spookily decorated Halloween celebration at the Punta Gorda Historic District. Trick-or-treat at historic homes and mansions, making it a fun and memorable experience for all ages.
Where: Punta Gorda | More Info: Ohana Halloween @ PG Historic District
Selby Gardens Spooktacular
What to Expect:
A family-friendly Halloween celebration with traditional activities like trick-or-treating and arts and crafts.
Description:
Join us for Selby Spooktacular, a family-friendly Halloween-inspired event at the Downtown Sarasota Campus. Enjoy traditional wholesome Halloween activities like trick-or-treating, arts and crafts, and storytelling. Children are encouraged to dress in costume and bring their own trick-or-treat bags. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.
Where: Sarasota | More Info: Selby Gardens Spooktacular
Historic Spanish Point "Spooky Point"
What to Expect:
A Halloween-themed light show featuring botanically-inspired decorations and a spooky atmosphere suitable for all ages.
Description:
Historic Spanish Point "Spooky Point" is a Halloween-themed light show that transforms the campus into an eerily lit path filled with fantastically fun creations and botanically-themed decorations. The event is designed for all ages, offering a mix of campy, creepy, and cute elements. Guests can follow the illuminated path through the wooded campus and past historic structures, encountering spectral "ghost orchids," giant "Dracula orchids," and colorful "spider orchids."
Where: Osprey | More Info: Historic Spanish Point "Spooky Point"
SENSORY-FRIENDLY Boo at The Bay
What to Expect:
A sensory-friendly Halloween celebration with reduced crowds and noises.
Description:
Join in the fun of SENSORY-FRIENDLY Boo at The Bay, a special Halloween experience designed to be accessible and inclusive for those who prefer a less stimulating environment. Enjoy trick-or-treating, free pumpkin pickings, yard games, and more, all with reduced crowds and noises. This event is part of The Bay's Second Anniversary Celebration and includes activities like pumpkin decorating, games, and a movie showing of Despicable Me 4.
Where: Sarasota | More Info: SENSORY-FRIENDLY Boo at The Bay
Mr. Stevey & Friends Halloween: Embrace your Fears
What to Expect:
A unique blend of mindfulness activities, art projects, and free educational resources for children.
Description:
Mr. Stevey & Friends Halloween: Embrace your Fears is a free community event designed for pre-school and elementary-aged children and their families. The event features art activities, music making, and read-aloud sessions with a mindful moment. Participants will engage in mindfulness activities, create art projects, and enjoy a free, healthy lunch. Each child will receive free books to help build their home library, and there will be a special prize to take home at the end of the day.
Where: Sarasota | More Info: Mr. Stevey & Friends Halloween: Embrace your Fears
Hunsader Farms Pumpkin Festival (Haunted Attractions)
What to Expect:
The unique feature of Hunsader Farms Pumpkin Festival is its diverse array of activities, including live music, thrilling performances, and a variety of seasonal treats and attractions.
Description:
Hunsader Farms Pumpkin Festival is a family-friendly event filled with autumnal delights. Enjoy live music, craft shows, and thrilling performances like motorcycle stunts and dinosaur encounters. Explore the Pioneer Trades Village, where you can experience hayrides, pony rides, and a corn maze. The festival also features a petting zoo, homemade ice cream, and pumpkin pie. With activities for all ages, this event is perfect for a fun-filled day amidst the fall festivities.
Where: Bradenton | More Info: Hunsader Farms Pumpkin Festival (Haunted Attractions)
Mr. Glen's Exploding Pumpkins
What to Expect:
A fun-filled hour of spooky science demonstrations featuring exploding pumpkins.
Description:
Mr. Glen's Exploding Pumpkins is a spectacularly spooky science event designed for all ages. Join Mr. Glen for a fun-filled hour of Halloween activities that celebrate the fall season with explosive pumpkin demonstrations. This event is perfect for families and those looking to enjoy some spooky science in a festive atmosphere.
Where: Bonita Springs | More Info: Mr. Glen's Exploding Pumpkins
GT Bray Park Halloween Event
What to Expect:
A family-friendly Halloween celebration with various activities including bounce houses, face painting, and a petting zoo.
Description:
The Goblin Gathering at GT Bray Park is a family-friendly and fun event for all ages. This spooktacular outdoor event features local businesses passing out "treats & sweets," bounce houses, face painting, costume contests, a petting zoo, and magic. The event provides a safe alternative for families to trick-or-treat, with free entry and trick-or-treating.
Where: Bradenton | More Info: GT Bray Park Halloween Event
Venue Live Oak Trick or Treat Station Host
What to Expect:
A community-driven Trick or Treat event where neighbors can host and decorate their own stations.
Description:
Join Venue Live Oak for a spooktacular Trick or Treat Station Host event on Saturday, October 26, 2024, from 5 PM to 9 PM. Host a Trick or Treat station and provide candy for your neighbors of all ages. Decorate your station with family-friendly themes and participate in a contest where neighbors can vote for their favorite station. The event will also feature some candy to get you started and a chance to win a great prize.
Where: Sarasota | More Info: Venue Live Oak Trick or Treat Station Host
HalloWeeding Coastal
What to Expect:
A hands-on educational workshop dedicated to tackling the issue of invasive plants in Florida landscapes.
Description:
Join HalloWeeding Coastal for a fun and educational Halloween-themed event focused on hands-on plant identification. Learn about Florida's invasive plants and gain the skills needed to identify, manage, and remove them from your outdoor spaces. This field-trip style event is perfect for all participants looking to contribute positively to their environment.
Where: Sarasota | More Info: HalloWeeding Coastal
Sharktoberfest at Mote Marine Aquarium
What to Expect:
A craft beer festival held in an aquarium setting with live entertainment and educational activities.
Description:
Sharktoberfest at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium is a unique craft beer festival that takes place in the aquarium after hours. On October 5, 2024, from 7 to 10 p.m., guests can enjoy local and regional breweries offering staple and seasonal brews. The event includes live entertainment, food stations, merchandise vendors, and special experiences provided by Mote’s Education department. Each guest will receive a commemorative tasting glass for sampling.
Where: Sarasota | More Info: Sharktoberfest at Mote Marine Aquarium
Autumn Harvest Dinner at All Faiths Food Bank’s Warehouse
What to Expect:
A long-table dinner featuring an exquisite farm-to-table menu by Michael's on East.
Description:
Join All Faiths Food Bank for the Autumn Harvest Dinner, a unique farm-to-table experience hosted by Michael's on East. The event takes place on Saturday, October 5, at 6:30 p.m. in the All Faiths Food Bank warehouse. Guests will enjoy an exquisite dinner while supporting programs that provide fresh produce to neighbors struggling with hunger.
Where: Sarasota | More Info: Autumn Harvest Dinner at All Faiths Food Bank’s Warehouse
Halloween Food, Drink, and Parties Near Sarasota
Halloween Bar Crawl 2024
What to Expect:
Enjoy complimentary welcome shots and exclusive drink specials at multiple bars, with a chance to win prizes in the costume contest.
Description:
Experience Sarasota's premier Halloween Bar Crawl, hosted by Downtown Crawlers. Enjoy complimentary welcome shots, exclusive drink specials, and a costume contest with wicked prizes. Join the 4th annual MEGA CRAWL, featuring 5+ participating bars and party venues, all while making new friends and discovering new places.
Where: Sarasota | More Info: Halloween Bar Crawl 2024
Magically Mystic Halloween Masquerade
What to Expect:
A Halloween celebration featuring wine cocktails, lite bites, and a mystical setting with music, magic, and fortune telling.
Description:
Join us for a spooktacular night of mystery and enchantment at the Magically, Mystic Halloween Masquerade. Enjoy wine cocktails, lite bites, and a mystical setting filled with music, magic, and fortune telling. Don't forget your mask as we award prizes for the best costume. This event promises to be a bewitching evening you won't want to miss!
Where: Sarasota | More Info: Magically Mystic Halloween Masquerade
Mellow Mushrooms 3rd Annual Halloween Bash
What to Expect:
A night of spooky cocktails, wild games, and a haunted drag show.
Description:
Mellow Mushroom's 3rd Annual Halloween Bash is a spooky celebration featuring creepy cocktails, wild games, a haunted drag show, and killer prizes. The event includes a costume contest with prizes for the fiercest monsters in the room and a variety of party games like Bingo and Halloween trivia. This is one Halloween party you won't want to miss.
Where: Sarasota | More Info: Mellow Mushrooms 3rd Annual Halloween Bash
October Drag Queen Bingo (Halloween T-Shirt Edition)
What to Expect:
A Halloween-themed bingo game with a twist, featuring a celebration of spooky season with a focus on Halloween t-shirts.
Description:
Join Georgia Moore for a fabulously fun night of Drag Queen Bingo at Mellow Mushroom Sarasota. This Halloween T-Shirt Bingo Bash is not your average bingo game, featuring tons of laughs, wild prizes, hilarious callouts, and spontaneous dance-offs. Wear your favorite horror-themed t-shirt for a chance to win a prize. This event is designed for a mature crowd and is advised for those 18 years and older.