Where To Celebrate Halloween in Sarasota This Year

I can’t even believe we are discussing Halloween already. Even crazier, if you go into Target, Home Depot, or any other big box store they are already setting up Christmas decor! Goodness, where has the year gone? We all know we can’t slow time down so let’s enjoy it and on today’s blog, i’m discussing the best places to celebrate Halloween this year!

October 21, 2022

From 6pm–10pm ("sensory-friendly" hour 5-6pm), The Bay Park will be celebrating its 10-day grand opening with free and exciting experiences for all throughout the new waterfront park. After dark, celebrate a not-so-scary evening at Boo at The Bay!—filled with trick-or-treating, free pumpkin pickings, yard games, food truck easts, chances to win prizes and more. Costumes are encouraged, especially for the evening's special experiences—including Spooky Moonlight in the Mangroves Tour through the Mangrove Bayou Walkway to learn about the waterway's nocturnal creatures who come out to play at night! There will also be a Family Movie Night featuring PG-rated classic, "Hocus Pocus," sure to get you in the Halloween spirit! Make sure to sign up early for these special opportunities with limited attendance!

October 22-23, 2022

On the weekend of October 22nd & 23rd, head to the shopping and dining district of University Town Center for a family-free event! The Trunk or Treat Halloween Parade invites you and the family to dress up in your best costumes and enjoy a fun parade of floats and entertainment from the comfort of your vehicle in UTC's large grass parking lot. Activities will include free Trick-or-Treat bags to the first 500 vehicles, a Trunk-or-Treat decorating contest for a chance to win spooktacular prizes and a "not-so-scary" drive-in movie showing following the parade in the grass overflow lot on the southeast side of The Mall at University Town Center (closest to I-75 and Dillard's).

October 25, 2022

Trick or Treat on the Lake, Nathan Benderson Park

Join Nathan Benderson Park for a special evening of trick-or-treating the whole family will enjoy! Get into the spirit by enjoying Halloween favorites for the entire family by the lake on Regatta Island. Come dressed in your spookiest, silliest, star-studded costumes for an evening of trick-or-treating along a candy trail of not-too-spooky themed booths decorated by community organizations. Plus, there will be an area for interactive play, storytelling and live music, and “Hotel Transylvania” will play on their large video screen. The event is free, but parking is $10 per vehicle on Regatta Island.

Open All Season

If you’re looking to enjoy an afternoon picking pumpkins, taking hayrides, sipping apple cider and all of the other fall inspired things, make sure to check out these two spots:

Fruitville Grove: 7410 Fruitville Road in Sarasota, hosts its 33rd annual Pumpkin Festival with a pumpkin patch and other fall activities.

Hunsader Farms: 5500 C.R. 675 in Bradenton, hosts its 30th annual Pumpkin Festival Oct. 16-17, 23-24 and 30-31, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $12 per person and $5 to park. Children 10 and younger are free. The festival includes a pumpkin patch, craft show, live music and shows, hayrides, pony rides, a corn maze, a pioneer trades village, a petting zoo and more.

October 28, 2022

BooFest at Lakewood Ranch

BooFest is officially back on Lakewood Main Street! Join us for family-friendly fun including entertainment, food and drink vendors, and more.

Have your children bring their trick-or-treat bags to collect the many treats that will be given out from our generous sponsors and merchants.

Don’t forget to dress up for our children’s costume parade!

Get ready to get spooky, you’re bound to have a HOWLING good time!

October 29, 2022

Dog-a-ween Costume Party at Sarasota Farmers Market

Goblins and ghoulies, candy corn and cornstalks, doggie costume contests and parades: It’s time for dogs to get a scary groove on and don the Halloween garb.

The Annual Dog-A-Ween costume contest returns Saturday, October 29th to the Sarasota Farmers Market Halloween Festival. All proceeds benefit the Donte’s Den Foundation. Guest moderator: Tyler Butler with Out & About. After the event dogs in costume can go to Wet Noses with their human to pick out a free toy donated by Wet Noses.

Preregister on Saturday, October 22nd outside Wet Noses between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Pre-register online at DestinationDowntownSarasota.com
Fee: $15 (Thank you in advance for pre-registering to participate by Oct. 27th)

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29th
9:00 - 9:45 AM CHECK-IN and get your entry number at Lemon Ave. & 1st Street Downtown Sarasota.

Parking is available in Whole Foods Parking Plaza. Registration Address: 1451 1st Street Sarasota FL 34236

10 AM PARADE
10:15 AM CONTEST

RULES...
-- Dogs must be on a leash at all times
-- No retractable leashes allowed
-- Well behaved dogs please out of due caution and concern for safety
-- Have your dog go potty before arrival

When the contest is over, show off your pup in costume along Main Street, enjoy pet-friendly patios, indulge in sweet treats, and walk the beautiful Sarasota bayfront.

October 31, 2022

Fright Night on St. Armand’s Circle

Our fabulous Halloween event, in its 14th year, returns for the young, and spooky at heart.

Fright Night transforms St. Armands Circle from island sophistication to Halloween fun. Decorated store fronts set the stage for the wandering spirits of St. Armands past. Frightening characters appear around every corner. And statues adorned in the Halloween spirit cause a fright!

Adults and children trick-or-treat throughout the Circle with numerous retailers and restaurants contributing to the Halloween spirit with candy and customized promotions.

Hopefully you find this Halloween guide helpful and have a spooky good time!