Halloween falls on a Tuesday this year, so there will be plenty of early parties and haunts over the two weekends leading up to the big night. Mark your calendars for some of our favorites that we’re about to share with you.
1. 13 Ugly Men Halloween Party: Always one of the best costume contests, Tampa Bay’s most beautiful people gather at the Ugly Men for the annual “Party with a Purpose.” This year, it will benefit Friends of Joshua House, which helps abused and abandoned children. The historic Cuban Club in Ybor City, which some claim is haunted, could end up being a hotbed of UFO activity. Unique, otherworldly indoor and outdoor spaces await you. The party lasts until 3am and begins Saturday (October 21) at 8pm. Cuba Club, 2010 N Avenida Republica de Cuba, Tampa. 813-248-2954. Tickets are $50 at eventliveus.com.
2. Halloween in Central: Approximately two miles of Central Avenue will be closed to traffic to allow for a family-friendly costume walk with entertainment, candy stations and a new four-block Voodoo Vendor Village between 16th and 20th Streets on Central become.there will be More than 100 local manufacturers and small businesses are participating. There will also be live performances, activities for dogs and families (like wiener dog races), and of course plenty of treats for trick-or-treaters of all ages. free. Oct. 29, noon-5 p.m., 1600-2400 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg.
3. Armature Works Haunted Carnival: Pied Piper Productions, one of the area’s largest Halloween party planners, is turning Oct. 26-29 into a four-day carnival with rides, a $10,000 costume contest, and Thursdays from 4 p.m. held a dog costume contest and a music festival featuring top artists. DJs like Diplo, Quavo, Above & Beyond, and Wuki. Carnival tickets start at $5. Tickets for the music festival start at $45. Thursday (October 26th) from 4pm to 11pm. Friday (October 27th) from 4pm to midnight. Saturday (October 28th) from noon to midnight. and Sunday (October 29) from noon to 11 p.m., Armature Works, 1910 N Ola Ave., Tampa. tixer.com.
4. Tarpon Springs Witch/Warlock Paddle Parade: This Florida-inspired Halloween event brings crowds of people decked out in wizard robes, pointy witch hats, and skeleton suits as they paddleboard and kayak down the Anclote River. Tarpon Splash Park launches are often a bottleneck with many participants launching at once, so it’s best to arrive early. Be ready to paddle at noon (10am departure time allows for unloading). Then, take a casual 2-mile (6-mile round trip) paddle along the historic Tarpon Springs Sponge He Docks village of restaurants and shops. The group will meander to the Victorian-lined bayou of Craig Park, take a lunch break, and then return. Please bring a life jacket, whistle, drinks, snacks, and lunch. Tarpon Splash Park (508 Live Oak St., Tarpon Springs) has free parking and restrooms. October 28th, 10am, free.
5. Creepy Night at the Tampa Bay Hotel: The Henry B. Plant Museum showcases its Victorian beauty with period lighting, candles, and artifacts, transporting guests back to the early 1900s with a rare opportunity to visit the museum after dark. The spooky Victorian Mourning Night and Ghost Story includes mysteries to solve from evidence and clues scattered throughout the room. $35, $25 membership. From October 27th to 29th from 2pm to 8pm. Henry B. Botanical Museum, 401 W Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. 813-254-1891.
6. Ghost Pier: Sparkman Wharf transforms into a haunted pirate shipwreck with silly ghosts for kids and spooky fun for adults. The evening will include DJ dancing, Halloween-themed entertainment, and photo props such as a siren swing, a jail cell, a drop-down scare window, and a decorated “Tampa” sign. Other Halloween events at Sparkman Wharf include: “There will be a Howl-O-Ween dog costume contest on Monday (October 23rd) from 7pm to 9pm, and a Ghostbusters costume contest will be held on Tuesday (October 31st) from 6:30pm. There will also be a free screening of Movies on the Lawn. free. Haunted Wharf is open October 27th and 28th from 5:30pm to 10pm. Sparkman Pier, 615 Channelside Drive, Tampa. 813-345-5881.
7. Huboween IV: Brave your way through a 45-minute drive-thru featuring nine scare zones. The first of his 500 cars will receive a free swag bag of candy. $20 to $25. October 27th and 28th from 6pm to 10pm. JB Starkey Wilderness Park, 10500 Wilderness Park Blvd., New Port Richey. 727-382-2710.
8. Field of Screams: The City of St. Petersburg’s TASCO youth program is in its 16th year of creating elaborate trails of terror in the woods. This year’s theme is “Beyond the Bayou,” which transports you to a swamp filled with rituals and whispers of spirits. Participants are exposed to darkness, loud noises, bright lights, wooded paths, and an intense fear zone. Not suitable for small children. $10 to $15. 7pm-midnight October 27th-29th and October 31st. Pinellas Pioneer Settlement, 2900 31st St. S., St. Petersburg. 727-892-5060.
9. Riverwalk trick-or-treating: Kids in costume can go trick-or-treating at more than 50 treat stations along the Riverwalk from Water Works Park to Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. free. October 28th from 4pm to 7pm. Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, 600 N Ashley Drive, Tampa.
10. Hocus Focus: Halloween Experience: The creative minds at art collective Fairgrounds of St. Pete have embarked on a fun and spooky adventure with Halloween games and merchandise. More creative than spooky, this limited-time spooky eyeball treasure hunt is fun for everyone. It runs from noon to 10:30 p.m. on Fridays, 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Sundays until November 6. Children ages 4 to 12 are $37 and $32, and children 3 and under are free. Fairgrounds St. Pete, 2606 Fairfield Ave. S., St. Petersburg. Tickets.Fairground.Art.