Halloween 2026: Your Ultimate Guide to Spooky Fun Across Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice and Beyond
A community feature for October 2026 · Family fun, haunted attractions, trick-or-treating, festivals, costumes, pumpkins and Halloween nightlife
From the historic streets of downtown Sarasota to the family-friendly neighborhoods of Lakewood Ranch, the waterfront communities of Venice and Nokomis, and the growing town center of Wellen Park, Halloween season is bringing Southwest Florida a chance to celebrate with costumes, candy, pumpkins, spooky decorations and plenty of fall festivities.
Whether you’re looking for a safe place to take the kids trick-or-treating, a haunted attraction for a fright-filled evening, a fall festival with food and live entertainment, or a Halloween party with music and dancing, there are plenty of communities to explore across Sarasota and Manatee counties.
Halloween falls on Saturday, October 31, 2026, making this year’s celebration especially convenient for families, partygoers and anyone planning a full weekend of Halloween activities.
From Sarasota and Siesta Key to Bradenton, Venice, Nokomis, Englewood and Lakewood Ranch, here’s a community-wide guide to planning your Halloween adventure.
The biggest Halloween and fall events to put on your calendar
The following dates and activities are based on current local event listings. Confirm admission, schedules and availability with organizers before heading out.
- Fruitville Grove Pumpkin Festival — Sarasota
Family favorite
October 24–25 and October 31–November 1 · 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Pumpkins, hayrides, pony rides, crafts, children’s activities, live entertainment and a haunted-house attraction make this a classic fall outing. The farm’s Halloween weekend is a good opportunity to pick out a pumpkin, take photos and let the children enjoy the seasonal festivities.
7410 Fruitville Road, Sarasota
941-377-0896
- Hunsader Farms Pumpkin Festival — East Manatee County
October 24–25 · 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
One of the area’s signature fall traditions, this country-style festival features a corn maze, hayrides, craft vendors, farm animals, live music and seasonal food. Expect a full day of activities for families and groups.
5500 County Road 675, Bradenton/Myakka City area
- Wellen Park Spooktacular — Wellen Park
October 30
Friday · 4–7 p.m. · Free
Downtown Wellen Park turns into a Halloween gathering place, with trick-or-treat stations, pumpkin painting, a DJ, live music and family activities. With restaurants and shops nearby, it’s a convenient way to make Halloween an evening out for the entire family.
Downtown Wellen Park, 19745 Wellen Park Boulevard, North Port
- BooFest — Lakewood Ranch Main Street
October 30
Friday · Event listings advertise afternoon and early-evening festivities
Decorated streets, trick-or-treating, face painting, balloon twisting, inflatables, live music and family entertainment make BooFest a great stop for families who want to celebrate before Halloween night.
Arrive early if you want to take advantage of the activities and get your little ghosts and goblins ready for the candy trail.
Lakewood Ranch Main Street, Lakewood Ranch
- Downtown Halloween Strut — Venice
October 31
Saturday · 4–5:30 p.m.
Bring the costumes to historic downtown Venice for the annual Halloween Strut. Children, parents and residents of all ages can show off their outfits, visit participating businesses for treats and enjoy a community costume celebration.
The parade lineup begins at 3:45 p.m. near Nokomis Avenue and West Venice Avenue, according to the event listing.
Historic downtown Venice
Official Venice event calendar
- Lights at Spooky Point — Osprey
Selected evenings in October
Historic Spanish Point offers a different kind of Halloween experience: illuminated gardens, atmospheric lighting and a spooky nighttime walk through a historic landscape. It is an appealing alternative to a traditional haunted house for families and couples looking for an evening attraction.
Historic Spanish Point, Osprey
Visit Sarasota County event guide
More Halloween events throughout the Suncoast
Trick or Treat on the Lake — Sarasota
October 27 · Nathan Benderson Park
A community candy trail featuring themed booths, seasonal decorations and family activities. Check the organizer’s current schedule before attending, as this event takes place before Halloween weekend.
Visit Sarasota County event listings
Sarasota Fall Carnival — University Town Center
October 29–November 2
Carnival rides, midway games, fair food and seasonal entertainment provide another option for families looking for something beyond traditional trick-or-treating. Check the current schedule for the advertised trunk-or-treat activities.
Halloween at The Ringling — Sarasota
October 31 · Check current event hours
The Ringling’s Halloween listing highlights trick-or-treating, seasonal decorations, short Halloween animations and family activities. Verify the 2026 program and any admission or donation requirements before visiting.
Dracula — Sarasota Cuban Ballet
October 30–November 1 · Sarasota
For those who prefer theatrical chills to candy trails, the Sarasota Cuban Ballet’s listed production of Dracula offers a Halloween-season performing arts option. Confirm performance times and ticket availability directly with the company.
Where Halloween gets spooky after dark
Halloween isn’t only for little trick-or-treaters. Older kids, teens and adults can look for haunted attractions and ghost-themed outings across the region.
- Hollowgraves Haunted Manor, Sarasota: A walk-through haunted-house attraction associated with the Fruitville Grove Pumpkin Festival. Confirm its operating dates and age suitability.
- Bradenton haunted-history walks: Guided ghost tours explore local history, legends and reported hauntings around downtown Bradenton. Check the tour operator’s schedule and meeting location.
- Haunted Sarasota tours: Themed trolley experiences from local tour operators offer a theatrical way to explore the area’s darker stories. Check for Halloween-specific departures and reservations.
- Delirium Haunted Trail, Bradenton: A local haunted-trail listing describes a more intense outdoor scare experience. Verify that the attraction is operating for the 2026 season before making plans.
These are options to investigate, not a guarantee that every attraction will be running on October 31.
Sarasota, Siesta Key and downtown: Halloween meets nightlife
For adults, Halloween can mean a costume contest, a night of live music, themed cocktails or dinner with friends. Downtown Sarasota, St. Armands Circle and the Siesta Key entertainment district are natural areas to check for special events.
Look for announcements from local restaurants, bars and live-music venues about:
- Halloween costume contests and prizes.
- Live bands, DJs and themed dance parties.
- Restaurant Halloween specials and seasonal menus.
- Dog costume contests and family-friendly daytime celebrations.
- Ticketed ghost tours and other evening entertainment.
Specific parties, performers, cover charges and reservation requirements should be confirmed with each venue. A regular live-music schedule does not necessarily mean a venue has a special Halloween event.
Bradenton, Palmetto and Anna Maria Island
Manatee County offers a mix of country-style fall celebrations, waterfront outings and historic ghost stories. Hunsader Farms is a standout for daytime family fun, while downtown Bradenton’s historic streets provide a different atmosphere for evening ghost walks.
Visitors can also check Bradenton Beach and Anna Maria Island for Halloween-themed restaurant events, costume parties and seasonal activities. These island events are often organized independently, so confirm dates and details with individual businesses.
Venice, Nokomis, Englewood and South County
South Sarasota County has several ways to turn Halloween into a full weekend.
- Venice: The Downtown Halloween Strut on October 31 is a confirmed highlight in the current event calendar. The downtown art festival also runs October 31–November 1.
- Nokomis: Check community centers, churches, parks and neighborhood associations for trunk-or-treats and family costume events.
- Englewood: Look for seasonal celebrations around Dearborn Street, local businesses and community organizations. Verify any advertised event directly before traveling.
- Wellen Park: The October 30 Spooktacular is a particularly convenient option for families in North Port and South County.
Halloween weekend at a glance
| Date | Event | Location |
| Oct. 24–25 | Pumpkin Festival | Fruitville Grove, Sarasota |
| Oct. 24–25 | Pumpkin Festival | Hunsader Farms, East Manatee |
| Oct. 27 | Trick or Treat on the Lake | Nathan Benderson Park |
| Oct. 29–Nov. 2 | Fall Carnival | University Town Center |
| Oct. 30 | Wellen Park Spooktacular, 4–7 p.m. | Wellen Park |
| Oct. 30 | BooFest | Lakewood Ranch Main Street |
| Oct. 30–Nov. 1 | Dracula | Sarasota Cuban Ballet |
| Oct. 31 | Downtown Halloween Strut, 4–5:30 p.m. | Venice |
| Oct. 31–Nov. 1 | Downtown Venice Art Festival | Venice |
