JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Fall has finally arrived in Northeast Florida. Or at least that's what the calendar says.
That means it's time for two autumn traditions: Fall festivals and Halloween activities, and October is packed with both in the Jacksonville area. You'll find haunted houses, not-so-scary thrills at the Jacksonville Zoo, crop mazes, Oktoberfests, a dancing Dracula and two live "Rocky Horror" performances to choose from.
Haunt Nights
Oct. 4-5, 11-12, 18-19, 25-27, 30, Nov. 1-2 at Adventure Landing, Jacksonville Beach
They keep threatening to close this place, and it keeps coming back, like a zombie or something. Haunt Nights will have two haunted houses, Coven and The Sideshow in 3D. Info: hauntnightsjax.com
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13th Floor Jacksonville
Through Nov. 2 at 9230 Arlington Expressway. $19.99-$94.99.
If you're going to open a haunted house for screamin' season, Friday the 13th is the day to do it. They'll have four houses this year — The Nightwalkers, Lycans Curse, Craft of the Midnight and Clown Alley. Info: 13thfloorjacksonville.com.
‘Young Frankenstein’
Oct. 3-Nov. 2 at the Spotlight Events Center, Fleming Island
Mel Brooks’ twisted take on the Frankenstein legend. Info: spotlighteventscenter.com
HarFest 4
3 p.m. Oct. 4 at Sesquicentennial Park, 7 p.m. Oct. 4 on N. Main Street
Springfield is throwing two festivals in one. In the afternoon, it’s a family-friendly carnival at Sesquicentennial Park, then later it turns into a wandering block party with live music on Main Street between 7th and 8th streets. Info: givebutter.com
Amazing Grace Family Farms Fall Festival
Oct. 4-5, 11-2, 14, 18-19, 25 and 26 at Amazing Grace Family Farms, Green Cove Springs
Farm animals, pumpkins, cow train, corn crib, crop maze and fun activities for kids. Info: agcropmaze.com
Spooktacular
Oct. 4-6, 10-13, 17-20, 24-31 at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
The zoo reopens from 5:30-9:30 p.m., where the familiar walkways are transformed. Some of it is mildly spooky, but there shouldn’t be anything that freaks out the little ones too much. Info: jacksonvillezoo.org
Harvest Blast Trunk or Treat
Oct. 5 at North Hilliard Baptist Church
Church fall festival features games and costume contests. Info: facebook.com
Pioneers and Pumpkins
Oct. 5-6, 12-13, 19-20, 26-27 at Geiger Pioneer Farm
Florida’s oldest managed tree farm, on Dunn Avenue, holds a fest each weekend in October, with wagon rides, a mini crop maze, food trucks, pumpkins and kids’ games. Info: geigerpioneerfarm.com
Sykes Family Farm Crop Maze
Oct. 5-6, 11-13, 18-20 and 25-27 at Sykes Family Farm, Elkton
Nine-acre corn maze, plus hayrides, cow milking and live music. Info: sycofarms.com
Beaches Oktoberfest
Oct. 11-12 at Seawalk Pavilion, Jacksonville Beach
This is how an Oktoberfest really should be thrown, with polka bands, stein-hoisting and bratwurst eating competitions on one side, and live music from Gym Class Heroes, the Hip Abduction, Ballyhoo and others right next to the beach on the other side. Info: beachesoktoberfest.com
Tales from the Clink
Oct. 12 at the Historic Triangle, Green Cove Springs
Clay County’s Old County Jail and 1890 Courthouse have long been rumored to be haunted, and there’s good reason for that. Hear true tales of crime from the re-enactors portraying the people who were there. Info: exploreclay.com
‘Dracula’
Oct. 15 at the Florida Theatre
Dancers from the Florida Ballet bring the bloodthirsty Transylvanian count to the Jacksonville stage. Info: floridatheatre.com
‘The Rocky Horror Show’
Oct. 17-19 at Amelia Musical Playhouse, Fernandina Beach
Brad, Janet and the gang do the time warp again. Info: ameliamusicalplayhouse.org
Oct. 26 at the Florida Theatre
Face it, the movie’s terrible. But add in the right crowd, glow sticks, toilet paper and squirt guns, and it’s something else entirely. It is a historic theater, so no toast, hot dogs, rice, prunes or water cannons will be permitted. The event is hosted by Karissa Wade and the Carole Mayedo Band provides music. Info: floridatheatre.com
Flashlight Corn Maze
Oct. 18-19 at Conner’s A-Maize-ing Acres, Hilliard
They’ve cut a huge corn maze to celebrate Nassau County’s 200th birthday, and they’ll open it after dark for two nights in mid-October. Food trucks will be on hand, and they’ll offer nighttime wagon rides around the farm. Don’t forget your flashlight. Info: connerscornmaze.com
Creatures of the Night
Oct. 18-20 at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm and Zoological Park
Where else can you take a break from trick-or-treating to watch them feed a pool of hungry alligators? Info: alligatorfarm.com
‘Dracula’
Oct. 18-27 at the Island Theater, Fleming Island
The count from Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel was not a very nice fellow, so it’s no wonder everybody wanted to kill him. Info: theislandtheater.com
‘Jekyll & Hyde’
Oct. 18-Nov. 3 at Players By the Sea, Jacksonville Beach
Do you know why doctors aren’t allowed to perform experiments on themselves? Watch this and find out. Info: playersbythesea.org
Orange Park Fall Festival
Oct. 19-20 at Orange Park Town Hall
200 or so artists and vendors, plus two stages of live entertainment. Info: opfallfestival.com
Symphony of the Night: Vampire Masquerave
Oct. 25 at Underbelly
Grab your cape and fangs for a vampire-themed dance party and costume contest. Info: underbellyjax.com
Field of Screams
Oct. 25-26 at Conner’s A-Maize-ing Acres, Hilliard
Take a walk across the cornfield in the dark, if you dare. They warn that it’s not for the faint of heart, and flashlights are prohibited. Info: connerscornmaze.com
‘Bluebeard’s Castle’
Oct. 25-26 at Riverside Church
Bold City Opera presents the tale of a young bride who enters her new home to find seven locked doors. Sung in English. Info: boldcityopera.org
Headless Bangers Costume Ball
Oct. 26 at World Golf Village Renaissance St. Augustine Resort
Psychics, fortune tellers, and tarot card readers will be on hand to make the costume party just a little creepier. And no, you do not have to be headless to attend. Info: visitstaugustine.com
Trunk or Treat Car & Bike Show
Oct. 26 at Adamec Harley-Davidson of St. Augustine
Show off your ride at this family-friendly event, where kids will be able to trick-or-treat. Info: adamecharley.com
Murray Hill-o-Ween
Oct. 26 in Murray Hill
One of Jacksonville’s funkier neighborhoods throws a party with a parade, food and beer trucks and a pumpkin patch. Info: facebook.com
Halloween Doors and More
Oct. 26 at the Jacksonville Fairgrounds
For 20 years now, kids have been trick-or-treating at elaborately decorated 14-foot “fantasy doors.” There’s also a family disco and a makeover salon. The event benefits pediatric palliative and hospice care through Community PedsCare. Info: thefoundationcares.org
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp and Jax Melanin Market Fall Festival
Oct. 26 at 121 Financial Ballpark
They’ll play movies on the video board as kids enjoy craft tables, face-painters, balloon-twisters, bounce houses and a visit from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Mounted Division. Admission is free with a donation of a canned food item. Info: milb.com
‘Nosferatu’
Oct. 31 at Terry Concert Hall, Jacksonville University
The 1922 film was scaring people long before Bela Lugosi was, and it’s still effective. JU’s Ensemble X-55-Percussion provides the live soundtrack. Info: ju.edu
