The Ultimate Guide to Your Most Spook-tacular Sarasota Halloween Ever
Stories, Shipwrecks and Spirits on Anna Maria Island
Oct. 1-31, 2025, at 7 p.m.
Sarasota Suncoast Tours, 110 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, sarasotasuncoasttours.com
Sarasota Suncoast Tours leads this 75-minute walking tour on Bridge Street that explores the spirits and stories of the island, including the Bride of Bali Hai, George Emerson Bean, Al Capone, the gruesome stories of the bridges that connect the island, and more. Bring a camera to check for orbs and other signs of ghostly activity. Tickets are $29.95; book here.
Spirits & Stories on Old Main Street
Oct. 1-31, 2025, at 4 p.m.
Sarasota Suncoast Tours, Old Main Street, Bradenton, sarasotasuncoasttours.com
Take a two-hour walking tour of Old Bradenton and learn about the area's mayhem, murders and ghostly phenomena alongside food and drink from local restaurants. Tickets are $67.95; reserve here.
Family Friendly
Lights at Spooky Point
Oct. 3-Nov. 1, 2025, 6:30-9 p.m.
Historic spanish point, 401 n. tamiami trail, osprey, selby.org
After being cancelled last year due to damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Selby Gardens' popular Halloween-inspired light show returns, transforming Historic Spanish Point into "Spooky Point." Follow an eerily lit path dotted with fantastical creations and botanical decorations—including Dracula, spider and bat orchids—and enjoy games, food and drinks, too. Get tickets at selby.org.
Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show at Venice Theatre
Oct. 3-Oct. 5, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays, with a closing performance on Oct. 25 at midnight
140 Tampa Ave. W., Venice, venicetheatre.org
Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show will do the time warp again in Venice Theatre's Pinkerton Theatre. Caught in a storm, a young couple seeks help at Dr. Frank ’N’ Furter’s castle, leading to wild (mis)adventures. The show explores love, identity and lust through ‘n’ roll, humor and bold experimentation. Take note: Strobe lighting and fog will be used in this show. High school students must show ID at door; the midnight show on Oct. 25 is adults only. Tickets: $40 for adults, $28 for college students/educators, $18 for high School students with IDs. Click here for more info.
Family Friendly
37th Annual Fruitville Grove Pumpkin Festival
Oct. 4-5, 11-12, 18-19, 24-25, 2025, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
7410 Fruitville Road, Sarasota, fruitvillegrovefarm.com
The popular Fruitville Grove Pumpkin Festival returns for its 37th year every weekend in October, featruing a petting zoo, playground, live music, performances from the Torres Family Circus, wandering magicians and balloon animal artists, themed photo opportunities, costume contests, pony rides, hayrides, a plethora of pumpkins and more—including the new Hollowgraves Haunted Manor, a walk-through haunted house with live actors for those ages 8 and older. Word to the wise: many vendors only accept cash. Click here for more info.
Haunted Sarasota Tour
Oct. 10-31, 2025, at 8 p.m.
1826 Fourth St., Sarasota, discoversarasotatours.com
Hop on a trolley for Discover Sarasota's Haunted Sarasota Tour, a spooky, historical, musical journey through Sarasota’s eerie past. You'll hear stories about infamous local murders, visit haunted buildings and learn about unsolved crimes during the 75-minute, air-conditioned nighttime tour. Prizes are awarded for best costume; the tour includes complimentary beer or wine for guests 21+ at the Trolley Cottage Tiki Bar before boarding. All guests must be 12 or older. Tickets are $75; purchase here.
Family Friendly
Haunted Sarasota Children's Tour
Oct. 11-31, 2025, at 6:30 p.m.
1826 Fourth St., Sarasota, discoversarasotatours.com
Hop on board the Discover Sarasota Trolley for a 45-minute family-friendly, musical Halloween party hosted by "Witchy Poo" as she hunts for her beloved missing pumpkin all around downtown Sarasota’s historic landmarks. Costumes encouraged; tickets include complimentary soft drinks before the tour.
Family Friendly
Hunsader Farms Pumpkin Festival
Oct. 11-12, 18-19 and 25-26, 2025, 9-5 p.m.
5500 C.R. 675, Bradenton, hunsaderfarms.com/pumpkin-festival
Now in its 34th year, this super-popular weekend event includes a craft show, live music, pumpkins, games, hay rides, pony rides, scarecrow displays, a petting zoo, barnyard playground, face painting, a corn maze, train rides and more. $15 for ages 10 and older, $5 for ages kids 5-9, free for kids under 5. Parking is $5. Cash only. For more information, click here.
Family Friendly
Boo! at The Bay
Oct. 18, 2025, 6-8:45 p.m.
1055 Boulevard of the Arts, Sarasota, thebaysarasota.org
Join in the fun at the fourth annual Boo! at The Bay—a not-so-scary evening filled with trick-or-treating, free pumpkin picking, yard games, a decorated trail, screening of A Minecraft Movie, and more. Costumes are encouraged; pumpkins are available on a first-come, first-served basis to the first 1,800 kids. Click here for more information.
Family Friendly
Pumpkin Plunge
Oct. 18, 2025, 9-11 a.m.
North Port Aquatic Center, 6205 W. Price Blvd., North Port, northportfl.gov
At the North Port Aquatic Center's Pumpkin Plunge, families can pick a pumpkin from a floating pumpkin patch and decorate it at one of the aquatic center's craft stations. Plus: seasonal games, activities and more. Tickets are $15. Register here.
Family Friendly
Monster Mash Splash
Oct. 18, 2025, NOON-5 P.M.
North Port Aquatic Center, 6205 W. Price Blvd., North Port, northportfl.gov
The North Port Aquatic Center will be transformed into a Halloween space filled with spooky characters and festive fun, including water slides, the "Relaxahatchee" lazy river and the Pelican Playground. Included with daily admission fee ($8-$15). Click here for details.
Family Friendly
Halloween Soiree and Young Entrepreneurs Market
Oct. 19, 2025, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
5041 Ringwood Meadow, Building G-2, Sarasota
Head to the Meadows Market for trick-or-treating, costume contests, food, music, a spooky tea party, a performance of the "Thriller" dance by Thrill Sarasota, garden activities (including flower planting), a photo booth and more. The market is free to attend, but tickets are required for certain activities. Click here for more info.
Family Friendly
Boo Fest on Main Street
Oct. 24, 2025, 6-9 p.m.
8100 Lakewood Main St., Lakewood Ranch, lakewoodranch.com
This family-friendly Halloween celebration typically attracts more than 6,000 attendees each year thanks to a vibrant kids' zone filled with inflatables and interactive activities, food from local vendors, festive photo ops and popular Trick-or-Treat Street, where vendors hand out candy to attendees. Click here for more info.
Family Friendly
Trick or Treat at City Center
Oct. 24, 2025, 5-8 p.m.
City Center Front Green, 4970 City Hall Blvd., North Port, northportfl.gov
At Trick or Treat at City Center in North Port residents can participate in an evening of costumes, candy and community spirit with festive displays and Pumpkin Candy Trail vendors popping up with kid-friendly dispalys and plenty of candy. A sensory-friendly option will also be available from 4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. for those who may benefit from a quieter environment. For more information, click here.
Family Friendly
Sarasota Farmers Market Halloween Festival and Dog-o-Ween Costume Contest
Oct. 25, 2025, 9-11 a.m.,
North Lemon Avenue, Sarasota, sarasotafarmersmarket.org
Family Friendly
Fall Festival at Palmetto Marriott
Oct. 25, 2025, 2:30-6:30 p.m.
600 U.S. 41, Palmetto
The Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa will host its first annual Fall Festival in its open-air Yard, a family-friendly event with live entertainment, fall-inspired activities and seasonal treats, including costume contests, a pumpkin patch and photo ops, candy trail, fall-themed games, food trucks and local vendors, trunk or treat, a DJ and live entertainment throughout the afternoon, and face painting and balloon art for kids. For more information, click here.
Family Friendly
Boo! at the Bazaar
Oct. 25, 2025, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
821 Apricot Ave., Sarasota
Head to the Bazaar at Apricot & Lime for shopping, free trick-or-treating with 40-plus local creators, plus princesses from Belle's Princess Parties—including Glinda and Elphaba—handing out goodies. Costumes are encouraged. For more information, click here.
Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics
Oct. 25, 2025, at 8 p.m.
St. Boniface Episcopal Church, 5615 Midnight Pass Road, Siesta Key
Candlelight brings an immersive, sensory musical experience to Siesta Key with its Halloween program. Over the course of the hour-long performance, a live string quartet will perform Halloween and scary-movie classics surrounded by thousands of candles. The repertoire includes "Thriller" by Michael Jackson, "Tubular Bells" (the theme from The Exorcist), Bernard Herrmann’s "Prelude" from Psycho, the theme from Stranger Things, Camille Saint-Saëns’ "Danse Macabre" and a medley from The Nightmare Before Christmas, among others. Tickets: $44-$71. Purchase here.
Sarasota Boos & Booze Halloween Bar Crawl
Oct. 25, 2025, 3-10 p.m.
RAFFURTY'S, 1888 Main St., Sarasota, raffurtyssrq.com
Dare to (pub) crawl through six haunted hot spots in downtown Sarasota while summoning spirits, dancing with the undead and competing for cash in a costume contest. Tickets include two complimentary shots and drink specials; participating bars include Raffurty's, The Office, Evie's Tavern and Molly's Pub, Joe's on Main and Fat Rabbit. Tickets are $25.36. Register here.
Family Friendly
Streets of Paradise Halloween Party
Oct. 26, 2025, 2-5 p.m.
8251 15th St East, Unit 1, Sarasota
This free, all-ages celebration at Streets of Paradise's Resiliency Hub includes games and activities, trick-or-treating, music, snacks, drinks and dancing.
Family Friendly
Trick or Treat on the Lake at Nathan Benderson Park
Oct. 28, 2025, 5:30-8 p.m.
5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota, nathanbendersonpark.org
Put on your Halloween costume and head to Nathan Benderson Park for a free family-friendly evening of trick-or-treating on Regatta Island. An array of vendors will be on hand to hand out candy, and there will be interactive activities, storytelling and live music. Click here for details.
Family Friendly
Hocus Pocus Pops
Oct. 30, 2025, at 7:30 p.m.
Riverview performing arts center, 1 Ram Way, Sarasota, thepopsorchestra.org
Kick off Halloween weekend with The Pops Orchestra of Bradenton and Sarasota and its family-friendly presentation of popular Halloween-themed music, including "Thriller," the themes from Ghostbusters and Beetlejuice, "Black Magic Woman," "Superstition" and more. Costumes welcome. Tickets: $35-$65. Purchase here.
Family Friendly
Fright Night on St. Armands
Oct. 31, 2025, 6-8 p.m.
St. Armands Circle, starmandscircleassoc.com
Now in its 17th year, this popular (and free!) event transforms St. Armands Circle into a Halloween lover's dream, with decorated storefronts, wandering spirits, trick-or-treating, games, sales and more. For more information, click here.
Family Friendly
Downtown Venice Halloween Strut
Oct. 31, 2025, 4:30-6:30 p.m.
200 W. Venice Ave., Venice, visitvenicefl.org
Halloween celebrants of all ages are invited to show off their costumes in downtown Venice for the annual Halloween Strut. Enjoy trick-or-treating at participating locations on Tampa Avenue West, West Venice Avenue, Miami Avenue West, and Nokomis Avenue, and groove to kid-friendly music with DJ Steve while trunk-or-treating in the Merchants of Venice building parking lot. Click here for more information.
Hollywood After Dark Halloween Party at Café on St. Armands
Oct. 31, 2025, 6 p.m.-midnight
431 St. Armands Circle, Sarasota
After the family-friendly Fright Night on St. Armands Circle wraps up, the lights go low and the cameras flash for Hollywood After Dark, the ultimate Halloween after party in the Wet Bar at Café on St. Armands. Guests will step into a world where red carpet glamour meets graveyard intrigue, with live entertainment, haunting cocktails, and a costume contest worthy of the silver screen. Click here for more information.
Family Friendly
Fall Festival & Carnival at University Town Center
Oct. 31-Nov. 3, 2025, 11 a.m-11 p.m.
uNIVERSITY town center, 140 university town center drive, sarasota
Enjoy trunk-or-treating, food trucks, live music, fall-themed photo ops, a pet costume contest and more at this free family-friendly event at University Town Center. More info here.
