FLORIDA, USA — (Note: The video above is from a previous report.)
Spooky season is officially here!
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of our traditions and the ways we celebrate special occasions have changed. But, the second pandemic-era autumn and Halloween season on the First Coast will be full of opportunities for families to get festive.
Here is a list of Halloween events, fall festivals, haunted houses and pumpkin patches across Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia.
We will continue to update this story as we learn about more events.
Friday, Oct. 29
Colonial Haunt: The Lost Garrison
- The Colonial Quarter Experience, 14 S. Castillo Drive, St. Augustine, FL 32084
- Celebrate Halloween in the "most haunted city in America," St. Augustine with a "spooktacular" 20-minute walkthrough event enticing visitors to experience how the colonists might fare in a haunting invasion
- 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., with tours every 10 to 20 minutes
- Cost: $15 per victim
- Ticket info available here
Halloweek
- Downtown Jacksonville
- Halloween Hunt, a QR Code Scavenger Hunt; "Spooky Szn" Selfie Spots featuring three devilishly decorated photo ops with themes for all ages; Halloween characters and candy in James Weldon Johnson Park; participating businesses will be getting into the Halloween spirit by decorating their storefronts to create additional spooky photo opportunities
- First 100 participants to hunt and gather QR Codes from 10 participating businesses will receive a $20 DTJax e-Gift Card redeemable at participating businesses including: Chamblin's Uptown, Cypress, Desert Rider, Jacob's Jewelers, Happy Grilled Cheese, Maddy D’s, Sweet Pete’s Candy Co., the UPS Store and Wolf & Cub
- Cost: Free
- More information is available at DTJax.com/Halloweek.
Historic Springfield Bike-A-Boo
- Main Street Food Park, 1352 North Main St., Jacksonville, FL 32206
- A leisurely ride as a group through the spooky streets of Springfield. Costumes and bike decorations are encouraged! All ages and skill levels are welcome, with appropriate safety gear encouraged
- Quicklink Cycling Solutions will be there with their mobile bicycle repair shop, so you can get your bike tuned up before the ride
- 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Cost: Free
- More information here.
Spooktacular
- Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, 370 Zoo Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32218
- Dress in family-friendly costumes, go trick-or-treating at scattered candy stations, visit the reimagined scare zones (not for the faint of heart), shop bewitching gifts and devour scary-good food and drinks, while taking in most animals looming before sunset. There will be a "frightening" amount of music, entertainment and photo ops, and you can download an app for digital ghost hunting at Phantom Forest!
- Activities at the Town Square Festival include a hay maze, duck race and more
- 6 to 10 p.m.
- Cost: $15 for members, $25 for non-members; children 2 and under are free
- For more information, click here.
Trunk or Treat
- Kernan Boulevard Baptist Church, 4000 Kernan Blvd. South, Jacksonville, FL
- Bring the kids out for a fun night of candy, games, food trucks and bounce houses
- 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
- Cost: Free
- More information here.
Yulee Halloween Festival
- Yulee Sports Complex, 86142 Goodbread Rd., Yulee, FL 32097
- Nassau County Parks & Recreation's first ever Halloween festival! Games, trick-or-treat alley, costume contest, bounce houses, face painting, concessions and hay rides, followed by a screening of Hocus Pocus at 7:15 p.m.
- 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Cost: Free to attend, concessions available for purchase
- More information available here.
Ximenez-Fatio House Museum: Fatal Folklore
- Ximenez-Fatio House Museum, 20 Aviles St, St. Augustine, FL 32084
- Twilight tour of the haunted history of Miss Fatio’s Boarding House
- Reservations are required
- Tours start at 6 p.m., 7 p.m., 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays
- More info here.
Saturday, Oct. 30
Ancient City Brewing Boos and Brews 5K Race and Halloween Party
- Ancient City Brewing, 3420 Agricultural Center Drive, St. Augustine, FL 32092
- The race includes a race shirt, finishes medal and after-party music. You can pick your swag up on race day beginning at 5 p.m.
- 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Cost: $25 to $35
- Sign up here!
Celestial Farms Trunk or Treat - Fall of Fantasy
- Celestial Farms, 13958 Duval Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32218
- Local vendors, decorations, costume contests, treats, farm animals that are too cute to spook, community and more
- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Cost: Celestial Farms runs 100% on donations
- More information here.
Colonial Haunt: The Lost Garrison
- The Colonial Quarter Experience, 14 S. Castillo Drive, St. Augustine, FL 32084
- Celebrate Halloween in the "most haunted city in America," St. Augustine with a "spooktacular" 20-minute walkthrough event enticing visitors to experience how the colonists might fare in a haunting invasion
- 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., with tours every 10 to 20 minutes
- Cost: $15 per victim
- Ticket info available here
Hallow's Eve: A Frightfully Funky Festival
- James Weldon Johnson Park, 135 West Monroe St., Jacksonville, FL 32202
- Spooky decor, costumes and tricks and treats for kids of all ages!
- Brews and potions (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) available for purchase
- "Dance the demons away to the groovy sounds of Asheville's Appalachian Funk band, Dr. Bacon, as well as St. Augustine's Stephen Pigman Vibrations!"
- 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Cost: Free for general admission; VIP Tickets $25 and include two drink tickets, access to a shaded area close to the state with air-conditioned port-a-jon, premium seating, private bar, a JWJ Park koozie and more
- Masks and social distancing encouraged
- More info available here.
Spooktacular
- Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, 370 Zoo Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32218
- Dress in family-friendly costumes, go trick-or-treating at scattered candy stations, visit the reimagined scare zones (not for the faint of heart), shop bewitching gifts and devour scary-good food and drinks, while taking in most animals looming before sunset. There will be a "frightening" amount of music, entertainment and photo ops, and you can download an app for digital ghost hunting at Phantom Forest!
- Activities at the Town Square Festival include a hay maze, duck race and more
- 6 to 10 p.m.
- Cost: $15 for members, $25 for non-members; children 2 and under are free
- For more information, click here.
Ximenez-Fatio House Museum: Fatal Folklore
- Ximenez-Fatio House Museum, 20 Aviles St, St. Augustine, FL 32084
- Twilight tour of the haunted history of Miss Fatio’s Boarding House
- Reservations are required
- Tours start at 6 p.m., 7 p.m., 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays
- More info here.
Sunday, Oct. 31
Colonial Haunt: The Lost Garrison
- The Colonial Quarter Experience, 14 S. Castillo Drive, St. Augustine, FL 32084
- Celebrate Halloween in the "most haunted city in America," St. Augustine with a "spooktacular" 20-minute walkthrough event enticing visitors to experience how the colonists might fare in a haunting invasion
- 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., with tours every 10 to 20 minutes
- Cost: $15 per victim
- Ticket info available here
The inFESTation - Local Music Resurrection
- Colonial Oak Music Park, 21 St. George St., St. Augustine, FL 32084
- Local artists and vendors, as well as music from Bonnie Blue, the Space Heaters, the Bryce Alastair Band and the reunion of St. Augustine's the Whigs
- Costume contest with cash prizes!
- 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Cost: $20 per victim, which includes admission for Colonial Haunt: The Lost Garrison
- Ticket info available here
Spooktacular
- Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, 370 Zoo Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32218
- Dress in family-friendly costumes, go trick-or-treating at scattered candy stations, visit the reimagined scare zones (not for the faint of heart), shop bewitching gifts and devour scary-good food and drinks, while taking in most animals looming before sunset. There will be a "frightening" amount of music, entertainment and photo ops, and you can download an app for digital ghost hunting at Phantom Forest!
- Activities at the Town Square Festival include a hay maze, duck race and more
- 6 to 10 p.m.
- Cost: $15 for members, $25 for non-members; children 2 and under are free
- For more information, click here.
Swamp Monsters Spooktacular, Family-Friendly Night!
- 5700 Okefenokee Swamp Park Road, Waycross, Georgia 31503
- A family-friendly, walk-through experience through Mummy's Marsh, Werewolf's Den, the Spider's Nest, the Witching Well and more, including candy and photo zones throughout the entire park. There will also be food trucks by the Monster Mash Dance Floor. For the first time ever, visitors to the park will have the opportunity to hear the untold spooky tales of the swamp through guided haunted boat or train tours (VIP experience only).
- From 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., children with special or sensory needs and their families are invited to attend without the sensory overload and candy alternatives.
- 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Cost: $5
- More information available here
Friday, Nov. 5
Ximenez-Fatio House Museum: Fatal Folklore
- Ximenez-Fatio House Museum, 20 Aviles St, St. Augustine, FL 32084
- Twilight tour of the haunted history of Miss Fatio’s Boarding House
- Reservations are required
- Tours start at 6 p.m., 7 p.m., 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays
- More info here.
Saturday, Nov. 6
Ximenez-Fatio House Museum: Fatal Folklore
- Ximenez-Fatio House Museum, 20 Aviles St, St. Augustine, FL 32084
- Twilight tour of the haunted history of Miss Fatio’s Boarding House
- Reservations are required
- Tours start at 6 p.m., 7 p.m., 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays
- More info here.
Pumpkin Patches and Crop Mazes:
Amazing Grace Family Farms
- 2899 Wisteria Farm Rd, Green Cove Springs, FL 32043
- Fall season: Oct. 1 through 30
- Fridays, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Closed Sunday through Thursday
- Tickets $13.95 online, $17.95 at the gate
Ticket includes fall fun pumpkin patch, crop maze and sunflower field (weather dependent), plus access to select attractions, like a jump pad, playground, farm animals and more. Click here for more information.
First United Methodist Church of Macclenny Pumpkin Patch
- 95 N. 5th St., Macclenny, FL 32063
- Monday through Friday, 3 p.m. until dark; Saturday, 9 a.m. until dark; Sunday, 1 p.m. until 6 p.m.; Special Saturday events, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Click here for more information.
Jacksonville Pumpkin Patch
- Isle of Faith United Methodist Church, 1821 San Pablo Road South, Jacksonville, FL 32224
- Donation-based pumpkin patch with free entry
- For more information, click here.
Lord of Life Lutheran Church Pumpkin Patch
- 276 Roscoe Blvd N, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
- Huge assortment of white, cream, gray and orange pumpkins outside plus mini pumpkins, swan gourds and others inside the pavilion along with fresh-baked pumpkin pies and other goods
- Weekends will include hayrides and face painting, and a photo station will be set up in the field for selfies or family photos
- Starts Sunday, Oct. 10, through Sunday, Oct. 31
- Sundays: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Monday through Friday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Mandarin United Methodist Church Pumpkin Patch
- 11270 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32223
- 11:30 a.m. through 8:30 p.m., seven days a week
- More information available here.
The Maze at Sykes Family Farms
- Sykes Family Farms, 5995 Brough Road, Elkton, FL
- Maze, live music, games, animals and more
- Days of Operation
- Friday: 6 p.m. - 10 p.m.
- Saturday: 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.
- Sunday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- Ticket Prices
- General Admission (3-64 years old): $15
- Seniors & Military/Veterans: $13
- Children 2 & Under: Free
- More info here.
Middleburg United Methodist Church Pumpkin Patch
- 3925 Main St., Middleburg, FL 32068
- Open Oct. 1 through 31, Monday through Friday, 3:30 to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sunday, 12:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Special events:
- Fall Fun Day, Oct. 16, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Chili Night, Oct. 20, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Trunk or Treat, Oct. 28, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Click here for more information.
Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church Pumpkin Patch
- 8523 Normandy Blvd., Jacksonville, FL
- Pumpkin patch, food, games and horse rides
- Open Saturday, Oct. 9, through Oct. 31
- Saturdays, noon to 7:30 p.m.; Sundays, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Monday through Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Ortega Pumpkin Patch
- Ortega Church, 4807 Roosevelt Blvd., Jacksonville, FL
- Open Wednesday, Oct. 6, through Oct. 31
- Monday through Thursday, noon to 7 p.m.; Fridays, noon to 8 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- More information available here.
Shepherd of the Woods Pumpkin Patch
- 6595 Columbia Park Court, Jacksonville, FL 32258
- Sundays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Great selection of pumpkins, plus lots of photo ops, and picnic tables by the lake
- More information available here.