It’s finally that time of year – the air is a little cooler, the pumpkins are out, and everyone is searching for the best costume. As our town fills itself with ghouls and goblins galore, it’s time to decide how to celebrate this holiday. Luckily for us, Halloween festivities take place throughout the month of October, from costume contests, concerts, fall festivals, haunted tours, and much more. So whether you’re looking for a family-fun event, a good night out, or just trying to switch up your regular routine, our Ancient City offers plenty to do for this spooky holiday. You’ll be sure to find a celebration that suits you, so throw on your best costume and head on out because the fun is just getting started.
FAMILY FUN
Even though this holiday can be a little on the scary side, we know it’s all for the kids! So let the little ones join in all the not-so-spooky Halloween fun. From festivals and from to creatures and costumes, these are the family-friendly activities happening around town.
Holler-Ween Fest
Florida Agricultural Museum
October 18-19, 25-26 6:30-11pm
Hosted by the Florida Agricultural Museum, this year’s beloved Holler-ween Fest will feature the Slaughterhouse haunted house, a pumpkin patch, the Forbidden Forest Trail Ride, food, drinks, and plenty more fun for the whole family. Though not required, everyone is invited to come in costume. Sensible shoes are suggested for walking the trails. Tickets are $15.00 for adults (13 and over) and $10.00 for kids ages 4 to 12. Children 3 and under are free.
www.floridaagmuseum.org
Family Halloween Dinner at
St. John’s Golf & Country Club
October 24, 5:30-8:30pm
Get the whole family together for some delicious holiday fun. There will be a buffet for dinner, a DJ to start a monster mash, a Halloween costume parade, and a costume contest, so kids are encouraged to come dressed in their best costume! Tickets to the event are $15 for adults, and one free Kids Buffet is offered per adult ticket purchase (Age 12 and under). Additional kids are $6 (plus tax and gratuity).
www.stjohnsgolf.com/events/st-johns-golf-country-club-halloween-family-dinner-night-1
Creatures of the Night
The St. Augustine Alligator Farm
October 25-27, 5:30-7pm
The St. Augustine Alligator Farm and Zoological Park is hosting a weekend of festivities leading up to Halloween during their Creatures of the Night event. This event offers a fun and unusual way for both kids and adults to enjoy Halloween this season! Enjoy this evening of tricks and treats featuring creepy insects, and alligator feedings along the way. Kids will also have the opportunity to meet the animals at the farm and learn more about them by collecting informational cards as they trick-or-treat along the path. Don’t miss out on this family-friendly spooktacular event! Admission is $8 for children, and $10 for adults.
www.alligatorfarm.com
Ripley’s Wild and Weird Halloween Extravaganza
Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum
October 26, 11am-1pm
The local experts on all things wild and weird will be hosting a Halloween Extravaganza – complete with a number of not-so-scary events and exhibitions, costume contests, and a special appearance by Everglades activist Dusty Crum. The Pet Parade & Talent Show will offer prizes like “Most Original Costume,” “Scariest Costume,” “Best Group Costume,” and “Best St. Augustine Costume” and talent awards like “Weirdest” to “Most Original” and “Best Overall.” Get ready for lots of kids’ activities as well as prizes, a trunk or treat, and a showing of the movie Frankenweenie. Admission to the event is free.
www.ripleys.com/staugustine/halloween-pet-parade
Spooky Llama Halloween Party
Painting With a Twist
October 26, 1-3pm
Get creative this Halloween with more than just your costume! From little ones to adults, you can come paint your own spooky party llama and have some Halloween fun with friends. Treats and drinks will be in the studio along with fun prizes! Pre-registration is required for the event. Tickets are $30.
www.paintingwithatwist.com/studio/staugustine/event
Pumpkin Patch Takeover
World Golf Village
October 26, 2-8pm
Taking place at World Golf Village, this family-friendly event will include many activities including bobbing for donuts, cookie decorating, scarecrow stuffing, stencil painting, and pumpkin picking. You don’t want to miss this fantastic fall event!
www.worldgolfvillage.com
Howl-O-Ween Walk
Treaty Park
October 27, 2-4pm
Hosted by the St. Johns County Parks & Recreation Department, this annual event gets both humans and their furry friends dressed up and competing for prizes. Best dog costume and best team costume will be awarded a prize. There is a $15 entry fee for each family/dog that will be donated to the t. Johns County Animal Control Pet Center. Participants are also encouraged to bring donations of dog supplies for the center. The first 30 participants will receive a bandana for their pet. To register, email [email protected] or call (904) 669-6612.
www.facebook.com/events/treaty-park-st-augustine-fl/2019-howloween-walk
Halloween Costume Contest
Ancient City Tours, Frazier Plaza
October 27, 2-5pm
Hosted by Ancient City Tours, this delightful annual contest lets you show off your most fabulous costumes. The contest is divided into age categories, with judging for the Infant-Toddler category beginning at 2pm. Trophies for each category are awarded. The contest is free and open to the public.
www.ancientcitytours.net/costume-contest
St. George Street Trick-or-Treat
Participating Shops on St. George Street
October 27
If you’re not into neighborhood trick-or-treating or just want a fun community experience, spend your Halloweekend downtown! Every year, the merchants on St. George Street get their candy ready for a parade of Halloween costumes. Participating shops are marked with orange and black balloons on their doors.
www.ancientcitytours.net/costume-contest
Trick or Treat at Marineland
Marineland Dolphin Adventure
October 31, 9am-4:30pm
Celebrate your Halloween in the most Florida way possible – alongside some dolphins! Marineland Dolphin Adventure is hosting their annual Trick or Treat event on Halloween where families can come visit the exhibits, have some holiday fun, and get some delicious candy. Kids who wear costumes will receive free admission.
www.marineland.net/event/trick-or-treat
Trunk Or Treat
St. Augustine Shores United Methodist Church
October 31, 5-7pm
A family-friendly trick or treating event will be held at the St. Augustine Shores United Methodist Church for families to bring their kids for an evening of safe Halloween fun. Don your best costume and get ready for a bag full of candy!
www.shoresumc.org
Halloween at The St. Augustine Premium Outlets
St. Augustine Premium Outlets
October 31, 5-7pm
The St. Augustine Outlets is throwing a family-friendly trick or treating event on Halloween! Come participate in the fun – the first 150 children to check-in will receive a reusable Halloween tote and candy map.
www.premiumoutlets.com/outlet/st-augustine
ADULT ACTIVITIES
Even though the night is full of trick-or-treaters and candy, kids aren’t the only ones that get to have fun during Halloween. Special performances, Halloween cocktails, and just as much dressing up as the kids – these are the holiday events for the adults.
Trick or Treat Pub Crawl
The Tasting Tours
October 26, 7:30pm
This Halloween weekend, join the Tasting Tours as they ‘creep’ our way through the streets of St. Augustine and treat yourself to 5 of the cities top pub destinations. With prizes for best in show, you can dress to impress the judges with the most unique costume! Visit five local wine, beer or cocktail venues with a fun and unique “crawl” between locations. A drink in hand in downtown St. Augustine? The best way to spend the holiday. Tickets are $59 per person and include everything but host gratuity.
www.thetastingtours.com/walking-tours
Witches and Warlocks Evening SUP Session
Lighthouse Park
October 26, 6-8:30pm
Get spooky out on the water and have some unconventional Halloween fun! V-Star Fitness Group is hosting their first ever Halloween Special SUP session for witches and warlocks alike. All guests are invited to come in their favorite spooky costume. Paddle boards are available for rent for $40 per person, and rentals include all necessary gear and lighting. There is no charge for those who bring their own paddles, but a leash, PFD, and lighting are required. Reservations are only necessary for those renting a paddle board.
www.vstarfitnessgroup.com
Local Haunts Paranormal Halloween Investigation
Ripley’s Believe It or Not
October 26, 11:30pm -2:30am
There’s nothing spookier than a Halloween ghost hunt! Local Haunts will be hosting a Paranormal Halloween Tour at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! with Ripley’s Ghost Train Adventure. Join Steve Christian and Pamela Theresa for a lights out Paranormal Investigation starring YOU. Who knows what secrets you’ll uncover in the Nation’s Oldest (and some say most haunted) City.
www.localhaunts.show
A Moonlit Halloween Night
Painting with a Twist
October 28, 8-10pm
Get creative and crazy this Halloween with a spooky blacklight painting! Come dressed in your costumes (encouraged but totally option) while games are played and prizes are won. This event is 18+, and no observers are allowed. You can bring your own refreshments and light snacks, but drinks are beer and wine only.
www.paintingwithatwist.com/studio/staugustine
Twilight Tours
Ximenez-Fatio House Museum
October 29-30, November 1-2
Have you ever wondered about the darker side of the Ximenez-Fatio House Museum’s history? This Halloween season, for the first time, the museum will be offering evening tours. However, these tours will not just be the regular daytime tours given at night. These special tours will explore the House’s tragic past – learn the details of some of the thirteen deaths which have occurred on the property, as well as the tales of some of the spookier visitors. The Twilight Tours will take place on Tuesday, October 29th, Wednesday October 30th, Friday November 1st, and Saturday November 2nd, at 6pm, 7pm, and 8pm nightly.
www.ximenezfatiohouse.org
Trickz and Treatz Carny Party
Brewz N Dawgz
October 31, 7-10pm
Join Brewz N Dawgz for a special carnival-themed SpookToberFEST party that will feature lots of awesome props and drops along with cool prizes and surprises! They will have lots of new things for you to see and try – as well as drink specials, costume contests, candy and more…Cheers to that!
www.brewzndawgz.com
Ramona & Stranger Things Halloween
Colonial Quarter
October 31, 7-10pm
The Upside Down is making its way to St. Augustine! So don your vans and docs, your jean jackets and side ponytails – the Colonial Quarter is keeping it real 80s this Halloween and Ramona is ready to rock. Dance the night away like it’s 1989!
www.colonialquarter.com
Alchemy Halloween Festival of Frights
Shanghai Nobby’s
November 1, 9pm-2am
It might just be the spookiest night of Halloweekend – lots of frights, music galore, and plenty of spirits (of all kinds)! It’ll be a mix of classic and modern Goth, Industrial, Synthwave, and more, so come in your best costume and get ready for the fun.
www.nobbysfl.com
Here Come the Mummies “Dark Matter Tour”
Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
November 2, 8pm
Get a little spooky while you come and listen to this out-of-this-world eight-piece funk/rock band. Here Come the Mummies is a notable band partly because of their unique look but mainly because of their talented musicians and interesting sound. It’s a show you don’t want to miss out on.
www.pvconcerthall.com
FALL FESTIVALS
Halloween activities aren’t all ghosts and ghouls. If you lean more toward the pumpkin and hayride side of the season, there’s plenty of fun to be had at local fall festivals. So pull on something cozy instead of a costume and hit the farm (or the church parking lot) for fall fun that can last past the 31st.
Annual Fall Festival at Markland
Markland Florida
October 19, 10am-3pm
Markland residents, friends, and families from surrounding areas…everyone is invited to this free event open to the public! Celebrate fall with some fun activities for children and adults, like Crafts, Face painting, Carnival games, a Balloon artist, Food trucks, Live music, Local vendors, and much more!
www.markland.com
The Great American Scarecrow Festival
Simple Gestures
October 19, 11am-3pm
Bring your own clothing or use donated items to create and decorate your very own scarecrow! Throughout the day, you’ll also find pumpkin painting, apple bobbing, food, drinks, live music, and lots of other activities to celebrate fall. Proceeds benefit Pie in the Sky, a local nonprofit organization that assists local senior citizens.
www.pieintheskystjohns.org
Our Lady of Good Counsel Fall Festiv’all
Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church
October 20, 11am-4pm
Head over to Our Lady of Good Counsel for their Fall Festival event! The Annual Fall Festiv’All will include kids games, inflatables, Filipino & Festival Foods, Entertainment and a Classic Car Show.
www.olgc-church.org
NOCtoberfest
Nocatee, Ponte Vedra
October 26-27
There’s a new fall festival in town, and it’s bound to be a good one! In the hallowed tradition of Octoberfest, NOCtoberfest will feature live music all throughout the festival with Sister Hazel headlining. There will be food trucks, vendors, a kids’ zone with inflatables, bounce houses, rock climbing walls, a 110-foot ferris wheel, a Stein Hoisting Competition, a Cornhole Tournament, and several German cities with various German beers. Whew. We’ll definitely be there.
www.noctoberfest.org
Ancient City Baptist Church Fall Festival
Ancient City Baptist Church
October 31, 6-8pm
The Ancient City Baptist Church annual Fall Festival will take place at the Church’s playground on Halloween! Come celebrate the season with plenty of activities for kids of all ages, including a giant slide, and food for the whole family. This is event is free and open to the public.
www.ancientcitybaptist.org
Don’t see your event on the list? Let us know in the comments below!
