Hey you, it’s me! 💋
Halloween in Central Florida is its own kind of magic. Pumpkins, spooky nights, and costume parties, all while Florida is still pretending it is summer. Since Orlando is home, I wanted one easy place to find the big-ticket experiences and the little local adventures that deserve some love, too.
Whether you are taking the kids out, planning a date night, dressing up your dog, or treating yourself to a solo adventure, here is what is still on the calendar for the final stretch of spooky season.
And sweet friend, I am spending this weekend back in Austin, where I lived for four years, and I will be home in Orlando for Halloween.
Ready for spooky season? 🎃
Here are my 25 Halloween Finds Under $25: porch decor, spooky indoor touches, cozy movie-night pieces, treats, and costumes.
Shop My 25 Under $25Find your kind of Halloween
Open the menu, tap the kind of Halloween that sounds like you, and it will take you straight there.
Want more little adventures like these? Join me every Sunday morning in The Sunday Scoop 🗞️ for new guides, stories, and a little encouragement for the messy middle.
The big theme park experiences
Universal: Halloween Horror Nights
Halloween Horror Nights turns 35 this year, and it is the big one. It runs select nights through Sun, Nov 1, from 6:30 PM to 2 AM at Universal Studios Florida. Single-night tickets start at about $88 plus tax, and prices go up on the busiest nights.
This year brings 10 haunted houses, including Stranger Things 5, Hellraiser, Evil Dead Burn, Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness, and Jack & Oddfellow: Chaos & Control.
My tip: check the event calendar before you buy, because it does not run every night. Go on a weeknight if you can, and consider an Express pass if you want to see most of the houses in one night. Universal Orlando | TouringPlans
Disney: Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
The party at Magic Kingdom has four nights left: Sun, Oct 25; Tue, Oct 27; Thu, Oct 29; and Sat, Oct 31. It runs 7 PM to midnight, and guests can enter starting at 4 PM. Tickets have run from $119 to $229, and every remaining date is reported sold out, so check Disney’s site before you plan around it.
If the party is sold out, you can still enjoy the Halloween decorations at Magic Kingdom on a regular day ticket, book Minnie’s Halloween Dine at Hollywood & Vine in Hollywood Studios (through Nov 3), or stop by Jock Lindsey’s Halloween Hangar Bar at Disney Springs (through Nov 9). Disney Parks Blog
SeaWorld: Howl-O-Scream and Halloween Spooktacular
Howl-O-Scream runs every night through Sat, Oct 31. Gates open at 6:30 PM and the scares start at 7 PM. The Final Frenzy sale has single nights from $47.99 through Sun, Oct 25. After that, an Any Night ticket is $74.99. You will find 5 haunted houses, 6 scare zones, and 5 new themed bars.
For the little ones, the daytime Halloween Spooktacular runs select dates through Nov 1 and is included with park admission, with a trick-or-treat trail, a Sesame Street Halloween Parade, and Teal Pumpkin allergy-friendly treats. Howl-O-Scream tickets | SeaWorld Halloween press release
❤️ Halloween for couples
- OSC After Dark Halloween, Orlando Science Center: Sat, Oct 31, 8 to 11 PM, 21+. $50, or $35 for members, with an open bar included. A museum after dark is a fun date night that feels different. Orlando Science Center
- Wekiva Island adults-only Halloween party: Sat, Oct 24, 7 to 11 PM, with a costume contest at 8 PM. ClickOrlando
- Bar crawls, pop-up bars, and cocktails: see Halloween Cocktails, Pop-Up Bars & Spooky Date Nights.
- Nosferatu with live music: Sat, Oct 31, at 7 PM at the Dr. Phillips Center. See Arts and Culture.
Halloween Cocktails, Pop-Up Bars & Spooky Date Nights
Want a spooky night out without a haunted house? These are fun for date night or a night out with friends.
- Jock Lindsey’s Halloween Hangar Bar, Disney Springs: dressed up for spooky season through Nov 9. No theme park ticket needed.
- Howl-O-Scream’s themed bars, SeaWorld: 5 new themed bars this year, every night through Sat, Oct 31. Event ticket required.
- OSC After Dark Halloween, Orlando Science Center: Sat, Oct 31, 8 to 11 PM, 21+, with an open bar included.
- Wekiva Island adults-only Halloween party: Sat, Oct 24, 7 to 11 PM, with a costume contest at 8 PM.
- Downtown Orlando Halloween Bar Crawl: Sat, Oct 31, 21+. Check-in runs 4 to 6 PM, and the crawl runs until 10 PM. Tickets start around $20. Check your ticket for the check-in spot. The Orlando Guy
- Thriller Halloween Bar Crawl, Pointe Orlando: Sat, Oct 31. Visit Orlando
Pop-up themes and menus can change, so check with each venue before you head out.
🐶 Halloween for dog parents
Fall Dog Day at Harry P. Leu Gardens is Sat, Oct 31, from 9 AM to 5 PM. The costume contests start at 10 AM (Spookiest), 10:30 AM (Funniest), and 11 AM (Best Overall). Admission is $15 for adults, $10 for children, and $5 per dog. Kids 3 and under, members, and active military get in free. Dogs must stay on a leash. Leu Gardens
Pet-friendly planning tip: outdoor does not automatically mean dog-friendly. Check each venue’s pet policy, bring water, keep paws off hot pavement, and think about noise and crowds before you bring your pup.
And if your dog still needs a costume, check out my 25 Halloween Finds Under $25. 🎃
✨ A quieter Halloween
Not into jump scares or loud haunted houses? These are gentler ways to celebrate. Popular events can still be busy, so go early in the day when you can.
- Gators, Ghosts & Goblins at Gatorland: Sat, Oct 24, and Sun, Oct 25, daytime, included with admission. This is the final weekend. Gatorland
- Zoo Boo Bash, Central Florida Zoo in Sanford: Oct 24, 25, and 31, 9 AM to 5 PM, included with zoo admission. Central Florida Zoo
- SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular: daytime, select dates through Nov 1, included with park admission.
- Halloween on International Drive: Pirates of the Haunted Seas at SEA LIFE runs through Nov 1, and The Great Wax Heist at Madame Tussauds runs through Oct 31, both included with admission. Madame Tussauds Orlando
- Nosferatu at Enzian Theater, Maitland: Sun, Oct 25, at 2:45 PM, with a live score. About $35.
- Eolaween’s Quiet Zone: a sensory-friendly space at Lake Eola on Sat, Oct 24. See Halloween on a Budget.
- A pumpkin patch: see Pumpkin Patches and Fall Markets.
🏄♀️ Halloween for adventurous adults
- Costume paddle parade at Wekiva Island: Sat, Oct 31. It is free if you bring your own board. A costume paddle on the river is about as Florida-Halloween as it gets! The start time has not been posted yet, so check before you go. WFTV
- A Petrified Forest: outdoor haunted trails in the woods, open Oct 24, 29, 30, and 31 from 7 PM. Wed, Oct 28, is Total Eclipse Night, with the lights out and a waiver required. It is rated PG-13, and anyone under 16 needs an adult. The Orlando Guy
- Halloween Horror Nights or Howl-O-Scream: for the biggest scares. See the theme parks.
🕯️ Halloween for history lovers
Ghost tours are a fun way to learn the history of a neighborhood after dark.
- Orlando Haunts ghost tour: $20 for adults and $13 for ages 6 to 12.
- Sanford Ghost Tour: a 90-minute walk starting at 7 PM from 115 Magnolia Ave in historic downtown Sanford.
- Ghosts of Winter Park: a walking tour from $42.
Schedules vary, so book ahead for Halloween weekend. GottaGoOrlando’s Halloween guide
🎭 Halloween for arts and culture lovers
- Nosferatu with live music, Dr. Phillips Center: Sat, Oct 31, at 7 PM in Steinmetz Hall. Organist Cameron Carpenter plays a live score to the 1922 silent classic. WFTV
- REDRUM, Dr. Phillips Center: a parody musical inspired by The Shining in the Pugh Theater, for ages 16 and up. Shows are Oct 24 and Oct 30 to 31 at 7:30 PM, plus Oct 25 and Nov 1 at 2:30 PM. Dr. Phillips Center
- Spooky Empire horror convention, Hyatt Regency Orlando: Oct 30 to Nov 1. Day passes run $40 to $50. Visit Orlando
- Nosferatu at Enzian Theater: Sun, Oct 25, at 2:45 PM, with a live score.
💰 Halloween on a budget
- Eolaween, Lake Eola Park: Sat, Oct 24, 4 to 9 PM. Free. Trick-or-treating, a Fall Market, a sensory Quiet Zone, and Haunted Mansion on the lawn at 7:30 PM. City of Orlando
- Halloween at Old Town, Kissimmee: Sat, Oct 31. Free trick-or-treating from 5 to 7 PM, a classic car show at 1 PM, and a car cruise at 8:30 PM. WFTV
- Wekiva Island family Halloween: Sat, Oct 24. Free kids’ trick-or-treating from 2 to 3 PM for ages 13 and under, then a costume parade at 3 PM. ClickOrlando
- The Wekiva Island costume paddle: Sat, Oct 31, free if you bring your own board.
- Howl-O-Scream’s Final Frenzy sale: single nights from $47.99 through Sun, Oct 25.
💋 Halloween for solo adventurers
Solo adventures count! These are easy, comfortable outings to enjoy on your own.
- A ghost tour. You walk with a group, so it is easy to go alone and still feel part of the fun. See History Lovers.
- A show or a movie. Nosferatu, REDRUM, or a matinee at Enzian. See Arts and Culture.
- The Eolaween Fall Market on Sat, Oct 24, for a stroll around Lake Eola.
- A pumpkin patch morning at Southern Hill Farms or Great Scott Farms.
- Spooky Empire, where everyone is there for the same love of horror.
- Fall Dog Day at Leu Gardens, even without a dog, for a walk through the gardens and the costume contests.
So pick the experience that sounds fun to you, and go make a memory.
Pumpkin Patches and Fall Markets
Free fall market
- Eolaween Fall Market, Lake Eola Park: Sat, Oct 24, 4 to 9 PM. Free to stroll, with trick-or-treating and Haunted Mansion on the lawn at 7:30 PM. City of Orlando
Pumpkin patches and fall festivals (paid admission)
- Southern Hill Farms Fall Festival, Clermont: select Thursdays through Sundays through Nov 22. Tickets are required, so buy them online before you go. Southern Hill Farms
- Great Scott Farms, Mount Dora: Saturdays and Sundays through Nov 15, 10 AM to 5 PM. Admission is charged.
More family fun: SeaWorld’s Spooktacular, Gatorland, and Zoo Boo Bash are in A Quieter Halloween.
Planning a trip somewhere spooky next year? Read my 11 Best Places to Travel for Halloween in 2026.
One last Halloween weekend: Oct 30 to Nov 1
- Friday: a haunted trail at A Petrified Forest, REDRUM, Spooky Empire, or Howl-O-Scream.
- Saturday, Halloween: Dog Day at Leu Gardens or the Wekiva Island costume paddle in the morning, Old Town in Kissimmee in the afternoon, then OSC After Dark, Nosferatu, or a bar crawl at night.
- Sunday, Nov 1: the last night of Halloween Horror Nights and the last day of SeaWorld’s Spooktacular.
Tips from a local
- Check the calendar. Halloween Horror Nights and the Disney party only run on select nights, and smaller events can change with the weather.
- Bring water and wear comfortable shoes. October can still feel like summer here.
- Expect traffic around the theme parks, International Drive, and downtown on Halloween weekend.
- Look for quieter time slots and sensory-friendly spaces if big crowds or jump scares are not your thing.
Orlando Halloween FAQ
When does Halloween Horror Nights end in 2026? Halloween Horror Nights runs select nights through Sunday, Nov 1, 2026, at Universal Studios Florida.
What are free Halloween events in Orlando? Eolaween at Lake Eola on Oct 24, Halloween at Old Town in Kissimmee on Oct 31, and family trick-or-treating at Wekiva Island on Oct 24 are free.
Are there Halloween events for dogs in Orlando? Yes. Fall Dog Day at Leu Gardens on Oct 31 has three costume contests, and dogs get in for $5.
What can I do in Orlando for Halloween if I do not like haunted houses? Try Gators, Ghosts & Goblins at Gatorland, Zoo Boo Bash, SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular, a pumpkin patch, a ghost tour, or Nosferatu with a live score.
Two cities, one spooky season
If your adventures take you to Texas, I have a second bucket list waiting. Austin was home for four years, and I love sharing the places and traditions that make it special. Read the Austin Halloween Guide 2026
Tag me, sweet friend! 🎃
If you check something off this list, tag me on Instagram @justjennboard. I want to see your costumes, your pumpkin-patch photos, and especially your dogs dressed up for Halloween! And tell me your favorite Halloween tradition in the Pen Pal section of The Sweet Spot.
Before You Go…
Save this guide, or send it to the friend who always says, “We should do something.” More Central Florida holiday resources are coming soon, including Thanksgiving and Christmas ideas.
And if you like these little adventures and our midlife conversations, come sit with me on Sunday mornings. Subscribe to The Sunday Scoop 🗞️ for new resources, stories, and a little encouragement for the messy middle.
I was the woman who almost didn't speak. If you're still searching for your voice, Silent to Spoken is where I share how I found mine, and how you can find yours too.
Read Silent to SpokenUntil our next chat, just stay sweet!
I love you,
Jenn 💋
Dates, prices, and details were checked October 23, 2026. Events can change with the weather, so confirm on the official sites before you go.