Weekly guide

Florida Weekend Events Guide

October 30 - November 1, 2026

Every week I scout the best events in Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Sarasota and Jacksonville, verify them against official sources, and leave them here in English and Spanish. No fluff: date, time, place, cost and the official link for every plan.

Updated October 28, 2026

A Florida city skyline at dusk with palm trees
Five cities, one great weekend
Miami · Orlando · Tampa · Sarasota · Jacksonville

City 01

Miami

Miami closes the month loud and colorful: a haunted warehouse rave, a film score live, free street parties on both sides of the causeway and the Dolphins at home.

An outdoor electronic music festival at an industrial Miami warehouse at night with purple and orange beams through haze

Hocus Pocus 2026: Dystopia Halloween

  • Date: Friday, October 30 through Sunday, November 1
  • Time: Evenings; gates open after dark
  • Place: Factory Town, 4800 NW 37th Ave, Miami
  • Cost: 3-day pass from about $185; 21+

Three nights, five stages and more than a hundred artists turn an industrial Miami warehouse into a dystopian dance floor.

Official page
A symphony orchestra on a modern concert hall stage under warm golden light with a glowing screen above

Ghostbusters in Concert

  • Date: Friday, October 30
  • Time: 8:00 PM
  • Place: Knight Concert Hall, Adrienne Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd, Miami
  • Cost: From about $41

The Arsht Center shows the 1984 classic on the big screen with a live orchestra playing Elmer Bernstein's score.

Official page
An arts-district Halloween block party at night with graffiti walls, string lights and costumed dancers

HalloWYN 2026

  • Date: Saturday, October 31
  • Time: 7:00 PM to 3:00 AM
  • Place: Wynwood Marketplace, 2250 NW 2nd Ave, Miami
  • Cost: Free (optional paid open bar)

Miami's biggest free Halloween block party returns to Wynwood with local DJs and a city full of costumes.

Official page
A palm-lined Miami Beach pedestrian street at dusk decorated with glowing pumpkins and string lights

Lincoln Road Halloween Block Party

  • Date: Saturday, October 31
  • Time: 5:00 PM to 2:00 AM (trick-or-treating 5:30-7:30 PM)
  • Place: Lincoln Road, Miami Beach
  • Cost: Free

Lincoln Road closes to cars for an open-air Halloween party with trick-or-treating for kids and dancing for grown-ups.

Official page
A tropical island haunted attraction at night with glowing carved pumpkins and fog along a jungle path

The Horrorland at Jungle Island

  • Date: Friday & Saturday, October 30-31 (final weekend)
  • Time: 7:00 to 10:00 PM
  • Place: Jungle Island, 1111 Parrot Jungle Trail, Miami
  • Cost: General admission from about $40

Haunted houses, carnival rides and scares across a tropical island, open at night for its final October dates.

Official page
A packed NFL stadium on a sunny afternoon with teal and orange end zones and bright green turf

Patriots vs. Dolphins (NFL Week 8)

  • Date: Sunday, November 1
  • Time: 4:25 PM kickoff
  • Place: Hard Rock Stadium, 347 Don Shula Dr, Miami Gardens
  • Cost: Ticketed

NFL football under the South Florida sun as the Dolphins host the New England Patriots at home.

Official page

City 02

Orlando

Orlando goes all out for Halloween weekend: Horror Nights' final nights, a horror film with live orchestra, a big horror convention and family-friendly park fun.

A gothic haunted house facade at a theme park at night with glowing jack-o-lanterns and fog

Halloween Horror Nights 35: The Final Nights

  • Date: Friday, October 30 through Sunday, November 1
  • Time: Nightly, about 6:30 PM to 2:00 AM
  • Place: Universal Studios Florida, 6000 Universal Blvd, Orlando
  • Cost: From about $100

Horror Nights closes its season with ten haunted houses, scare zones and live shows, so this is the last chance in 2026.

Official page
A symphony orchestra in a grand theater under a dark movie screen with deep blue and crimson lighting

The Ring in Concert with the Orlando Philharmonic

  • Date: Friday, October 30
  • Time: 7:00 PM
  • Place: Walt Disney Theater, Dr. Phillips Center, 445 S Magnolia Ave, Orlando
  • Cost: Ticketed

A horror movie night done right: The Ring on the big screen while a live orchestra plays the score.

Official page
A busy horror convention hall with glowing vendor booths, comic art and costumed visitors in the aisles

Spooky Empire Horror Convention

  • Date: Friday, October 30 through Sunday, November 1
  • Time: Fri 1-9 PM; Sat 11 AM-8 PM; Sun hours vary
  • Place: Hyatt Regency Orlando, 9801 International Dr, Orlando
  • Cost: From about $40

Florida's big horror convention brings celebrity guests, vendors, tattoo and film events and costume contests.

Official page
A seaside theme park plaza on a bright autumn day with candy stations, pumpkins and families walking under palms

Halloween Spooktacular at SeaWorld

  • Date: Friday & Saturday, October 30-31 (closing weekend)
  • Time: Daytime, from about 11:00 AM
  • Place: SeaWorld Orlando, 7007 Sea World Dr, Orlando
  • Cost: Included with park admission

Trick-or-treating, sea-themed treats and family-friendly Halloween fun across the park for its final weekend.

Official page
A shipping-container park at dusk decorated with glowing pumpkins and string lights with families on the lawn

Boxi Park Boo Bash

  • Date: Friday, October 30 through Sunday, November 1
  • Time: Hours vary by day (Sunday 12-9 PM)
  • Place: Boxi Park Lake Nona, 6877 Tavistock Lakes Blvd, Orlando
  • Cost: Free

A free four-day Halloween party with live music, glow parties and family fun at Lake Nona's container park.

Official page

City 03

Tampa

Tampa turns downtown into one big celebration: a waterfront biergarten, two arena concerts, a haunt at Busch Gardens and the Bucs at home.

A waterfront park biergarten at golden hour with long wooden tables, steins, string lights and a downtown skyline

Oktoberfest Tampa

  • Date: Friday, October 30 through Sunday, November 1
  • Time: Fri 4-11 PM; Sat 11 AM-11 PM; Sun 11 AM-6 PM
  • Place: Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, 600 N Ashley Dr, Tampa
  • Cost: GA from $10; ages 12 and under free with a parent; 21+

Tampa's waterfront turns into a biergarten with German beer, schnitzel, stein hoisting and music by the river.

Official page
A Latin pop concert on a large arena stage with warm golden spotlights and confetti in the air

Chayanne: Bailemos Otra Vez Tour

  • Date: Friday, October 30
  • Time: 8:00 PM (doors about 6:30 PM)
  • Place: Benchmark International Arena, 401 Channelside Dr, Tampa
  • Cost: From about $79

The Latin pop legend brings his Bailemos Otra Vez tour to Channelside for a night of hits and dancing.

Official page
A high-energy hip-hop concert in a modern arena with deep red and purple stage lights and haze

Nightmare on Channelside

  • Date: Saturday, October 31
  • Time: 7:00 PM
  • Place: Benchmark International Arena, 401 Channelside Dr, Tampa
  • Cost: Ticketed

A Halloween hip-hop blowout headlined by 21 Savage with Kodak Black, Meek Mill and DaBaby on the bill.

Official page
A theme park plaza at night transformed with horror decor, glowing pumpkins and fog around carnival rides

Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens

  • Date: Saturday, October 31 (final night)
  • Time: Gates 5:00 PM; haunt from about 7:00 PM
  • Place: Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, 10165 McKinley Dr, Tampa
  • Cost: Ticketed

The park's signature Halloween event closes its season on Halloween night with haunted houses and scare zones.

Official page
A packed NFL stadium on a sunny autumn afternoon with red and pewter team colors on the field

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Atlanta Falcons

  • Date: Sunday, November 1
  • Time: 1:00 PM kickoff
  • Place: Raymond James Stadium, 4201 N Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa
  • Cost: Ticketed

NFL football returns to Tampa as the Bucs host the Falcons in a big NFC South matchup.

Official page
Gourmet food trucks lined up in a waterfront park at dusk with warm string lights and autumn decorations

Haunted Bites: Food Truck & Vendor Festival

  • Date: Friday, October 30 through Sunday, November 1
  • Time: 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily
  • Place: Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, 600 N Ashley Dr, Tampa
  • Cost: Free (RSVP appreciated)

Food trucks and local vendors line the riverfront all weekend with spooky bites and fall flavors.

Official page

City 04

Sarasota

Sarasota keeps it classic and cozy: opera, the pops orchestra, a farm pumpkin festival, a carnival at the mall and a free music fest by the bay.

A grand historic opera house interior with gilded balconies, red velvet seats and a golden chandelier

Hansel & Gretel at Sarasota Opera

  • Date: Friday, October 30 and Sunday, November 1
  • Time: Fri 7:00 PM; Sun 1:30 PM matinee
  • Place: Sarasota Opera House, 61 N Pineapple Ave, Sarasota
  • Cost: Ticketed (family packs available)

The opera house opens its fall season with Humperdinck's fairy tale, a lovely first opera for little ones.

Official page
An orchestra on a performing arts stage with playful purple and orange Halloween stage lighting

Hocus Pocus Pops II

  • Date: Friday, October 30
  • Time: 7:00 PM
  • Place: Riverview Performing Arts Center, 1 Ram Way, Sarasota
  • Cost: $35-$65

The Pops Orchestra plays a bewitching Halloween program of favorite film and television themes.

Official page
A rustic farm pumpkin patch on a bright autumn day with hay bales, a red barn and sunflowers

Fruitville Grove Pumpkin Festival

  • Date: Saturday & Sunday, October 31 - November 1
  • Time: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
  • Place: Fruitville Grove, 7410 Fruitville Rd, Sarasota
  • Cost: About $5 at the gate; ages 6 and under free

The 38th annual festival closes its season with hayrides, pony rides, crafts and a farm full of pumpkins.

Official page
A carnival with a glowing ferris wheel and rides at a modern shopping plaza at twilight

Sarasota Fall Festival & Carnival at UTC

  • Date: Thursday, October 29 through Sunday, November 1
  • Time: Thu-Fri 5-11 PM; Sat 12-11 PM; Sun hours vary
  • Place: The Mall at University Town Center, 140 University Town Center Dr, Sarasota
  • Cost: Free entry; ride tickets from about $1.50

A full carnival of rides, games and fair food sets up right at the mall for its final weekend.

Official page
An outdoor music festival on a waterfront park lawn by the bay with a small stage and picnic blankets

Best of The Bay Music Fest

  • Date: Sunday, November 1
  • Time: 1:00 to 7:00 PM
  • Place: The Bay Park, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts, Sarasota
  • Cost: Free

The Bay ends its anniversary celebration with a free waterfront music festival, food trucks and bands all afternoon.

Official page

City 05

Jacksonville

Jacksonville pairs spooky with symphonic: gospel at the arena, silent-film chills, zoo Halloween nights, hockey, a harvest festival and the Jags.

A gospel concert in a large arena with soft white and gold stage light and choir silhouettes

CeCe Winans: COME WORSHIP! Tour

  • Date: Friday, October 30
  • Time: 7:00 PM (doors 6:00 PM)
  • Place: VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, 300 A Philip Randolph Blvd, Jacksonville
  • Cost: Ticketed

The 12-time Grammy-winning gospel artist brings her tour to the arena with special guests on the bill.

Official page
A grand gothic concert hall stage with a pipe organ, cool blue lighting and a glowing film screen

The Phantom of the Opera (1925) with Live Organ

  • Date: Friday, October 30
  • Time: 7:30 PM
  • Place: Jacoby Symphony Hall, Jacksonville
  • Cost: Ticketed

The silent horror classic gets a live organ treatment at Jacoby Symphony Hall for a proper Halloween chiller.

Official page
A zoo entrance decorated for Halloween night with glowing pumpkins along a tropical path and warm lanterns

Spooktacular at Jacksonville Zoo

  • Date: Thursday through Saturday, October 29-31 (final nights)
  • Time: From 6:00 PM
  • Place: Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, 370 Zoo Pkwy, Jacksonville
  • Cost: From about $35 advance; ages 2 and under free

The zoo reopens at night for trick-or-treating, glowing displays and family Halloween fun.

Official page
Two hockey players battling for the puck on crisp white ice with an energetic crowd under arena lights

Jacksonville Icemen Halloween Game

  • Date: Saturday, October 31
  • Time: 3:00 PM puck drop
  • Place: VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville
  • Cost: From $10.31 (costumes welcome)

Hockey meets Halloween: the Icemen host the Atlanta Gladiators in a costume-friendly matinee.

Official page
An autumn harvest festival at a rustic farm with tables of persimmons and a small music stage in the distance

6th Annual Persimmon Festival

  • Date: Sunday, November 1
  • Time: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
  • Place: Eat Your Yard Jax farm, 6500 Utsey Rd, Jacksonville
  • Cost: $25; kids 10 and under free with a ticket

Taste fresh persimmons, shop local vendors and join workshops at this family-friendly harvest fundraiser.

Official page
A packed NFL stadium on a sunny afternoon with teal and black team colors and crowded stands

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts

  • Date: Sunday, November 1
  • Time: 1:00 PM kickoff
  • Place: EverBank Stadium, 1 EverBank Stadium Dr, Jacksonville
  • Cost: Ticketed

The Jags return home for an AFC South battle against Indianapolis downtown on the river.

Official page

A note from Ruth

Details can shift from day to day, so check the official page before you head out. And if you are thinking about moving to any of these cities, write to me: I will give you the real read on the market, in English or Spanish.

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Events verified against official sources on October 28, 2026. Prices and times can change. Photos are illustrative; see each event's official page for exact details.