Living in Central Florida has its perks, especially living centrally in Central Florida — way to go, Lakeland. This fall season, the local theme parks are alive with terrifying experiences, festive fall activities, and exclusive, special-ticketed events. Here’s how + where you can ring in the spooky season.
Legoland Florida Resort | Brick or Treat | Select nights through Oct. 31 | Bring the kiddos, and head down the road to Legoland for Brick or Treat. This kid-friendly event is included in the cost of your daily admission ticket + includes spooky meet-and-greets, LEGO Halloween monsters, festive eats, and a special fireworks show.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay | Multiple seasonal events | Various nights through Oct. 31 | If you want festive variety, Busch Gardens has you covered with Howl-O-Scream, Bier Fest, and the Sesame Street Kid’s Weekends. Bier Fest and the Sesame Street event are both included with regular park admission and are kid-friendly, while Howl-O-Scream is geared more towards adults and is a separately ticketed event.
ZooTampa at Lowry Park | Creatures of the Night | Select nights through Oct. 30 | This year’s event at the zoo holds 5 new attractions like the Voodoo Bar or the Ghosts of Gator Grove haunted house. Creatures of the Night is family-friendly, with frightful festivities for everyone on every corner. Ticks are purchased separately starting at $29.95 for non-members.
Walt Disney World | Multiple seasonal events | Through Nov. 12 | It’s no secret that the holidays at Walt Disney World are spectacular, even if you can’t get into a park, the festivities expand all over the property. And, while this year’s Boo Bash at Magic Kingdom is officially sold out for the season, visitors can experience fall decor, special food items, merchandise, and more at both Disney Springs and across all the other parks.
Universal Orlando | Halloween Horror Nights | Through Oct. 31 | Perhaps the most terrifying of events, Halloween Horror Nights is wall-to-wall frights with multiple haunted houses and scare zones like ‘Netflix’s Haunting of Hill House,’ or the ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre.’ The event requires a special, $70+ ticket.
Gatorland | Gators, Ghosts, and Goblins | Select nights through Oct. 31 | Slither on over to Gatorland for their Halloween event, perfect for the whole family. Here, guests can enjoy dressing up (in family-friendly costumes, of course), for haunted zones, spooky museums, interactive meet-and-greets, and devilishly delicious treats.
SeaWorld Orlando | Multiple seasonal events | Through Oct. 31 | Much like Busch Gardens, Seaworld also offers multiple events this season for those enjoying a fright, the kiddos, and visitors lookin’ to knock back a few brewskis. Howl-O-Scream launched at SeaWorld for the first time this year, followed by the kid-friendly Halloween Spooktacular, and of course, the Craft Beer Festival.
Did we miss something? Share your favorite theme park in Central Florida + the festive events you enjoy the most.
