Where To Trick-or-Treat & Find Spooky Family Fun This Fall

Planning a fa-boo-lous weekend away in Sarasota County this October with the family for a howling Halloween holiday? Rest assured, there is no shortage of community trick-or-treating events for the kids, spooky stories and eerie-sistible haunted trails, frightfully fun movie nights, family-friendly parades in costume and many spellbinding celebrations—everything to keep you and the kiddos stocked on candy and having a wicked good time. 

Fall Festival & Carnival, University Town Center

From October 15 - 27, head to the shopping and dining district of University Town Center to stock up on all your porch gourds! Pumpkin Patch on The Green (located in The West District at UTC) invites families to come pick out their perfect pumpkin, with all proceeds benefitting Nate's Honor Animal Rescue Center. Also in the lineup is Fall Festival & Carnival, rescheduled from its original October date to a rain date of November 16 - 17, starting at 6pm. Enjoy a fun (and free!) weekend of Dreamland Amusements carnival rides, live music, food trucks, beer, games and kid-approved activities such as face painting, bounce houses, pony rides and pumpkin photo stops. 140 University Town Center Dr, Sarasota, FL

Boo at The Bay! , The Bay Park

On Friday, October 25, from 6pm - 10pm ("sensory-friendly" hour 5pm - 6pm), The Bay Park will bring back its beloved Boo! at The Bay! on its waterfront lawn right outside of downtown Sarasota. After dark, celebrate a not-so-scary evening filled with yard games, photo ops, chances to win prizes, live DJ tunes and more. Costumes are encouraged for tick-or-treating, pumpkin decorating and the film showing of Despicable Me 4 to get you in the Halloween spirit (bring blankets or lawn chairs)! Delicious bites will be served by local food trucks, as well as lemonade and popcorn from The Bay's Nest Café. 655 N Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, FL

Monster Mash Dance Party, Evie's on the Bay 

As the holiday grows near, get ready to dance the night away at Evie's on the Bay. On Friday, October 25, 6pm - 10om, DJ Alpha will be spinning electrifying beats, along with all your favorite Halloween hits and party anthems. Bring your best costume for a chance to win eerie-sistible prizes for the costume contest, and enjoy festive Halloween-themed drinks at the Tiki Bar outside. Admission is free to attend the Monster Mash Dance Party, and the restaurant will be offering its full menu to keep you fueled for all-night grooving beside the moonlit bay! 135 Bayview Dr, Osprey, FL

Boo at the Bazaar, The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime

Trick or treat at The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime on Saturday, October 26, 11am-3pm. The community indoor market of art, gifts, home decor, clothing, collectibles and more doesn't care what age you are – just come in costume and have some fun. In between candy retrieval, shop the 40+ local creators and vendors. To make Boo! at The Bazaar even more enchanting, Belles Princess Parties will be bringing you and your kids' favorite Disney princesses and villains to the daytime event—perfect for photo opportunities that your children will cherish forever. 821 Apricot Ave, Sarasota, FL 

Wild-O-Ween, Big Cat Habitat

On Saturday, October 26 and Sunday, October 27, 12pm - 4pm, get the kiddos super stoked for a roaring good time at Big Cat Habitat & Gulf Coast Sanctuary. In between admiring the big cats and the other rescued Florida wildlife, the wildest family-friendly Halloween event in town will feature pumpkin painting, pumpkin bowling, a mummy wrapping contest, pony rides, wild prizes and face painting to help enhance whatever costume you come dressed in! And a lion costume wouldn't be a bad idea! Don't miss Wild-o-Ween's live Animal Adventure or Birds in Paradise presentations in between stocking up on candy. Ticketing for this event is regular admission. 7101 Palmer Blvd, Sarasota, FL 

Selby Spooktacular, Selby Gardens

If you're staying close to Downtown Sarasota, this is an easy and family-fun daytime event to get to on Sunday, October 27, 10am-1pm. The annual Selby Spooktacular at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is back for Halloween happenings such as trick-or-treating, arts and crafts, plus fun and educational activities. There will also be some frightening (but not too scary) options for the teens, which include an inflatable corn maze and storytelling. Costumes are highly encouraged, as ar trick-or-treat bags to collect your goodies. This is a free with paid admission to Selby Gardens.1534 Mound St, Sarasota, FL 

Trick or Treat on the Lake, Nathan Benderson Park

Get into the spirit by enjoying Halloween favorites for the entire family at Nathan Benderson Park's world-class Regatta Island on Tuesday, October 29, 5:30pm - 8pm. Come dressed in your costumes for the annual Trick or Treat on the Lake along a candy trail of themed booths decorated by community organizations. Expect themed children's activities of interactive play for the little ones, including storytelling, live music and lots and lots of candy. 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota, FL 34235

Downtown Halloween Strut, Downtown Venice

On Halloween, Historic Downtown Venice will host its annual Halloween Strut, 4:30pm - 6:30pm. Partake in a Trunk or Treat while enjoying kid-friendly DJ sounds, games, shopping the merchants of downtown and showing off this year's costume you've created, dug up or purchased. From little ones to seniors, all are invited to show off their holiday 'fits and mingle with the locals. 20 West Venice Ave, Venice, FL