Ghosts, goblins and good times on the First Coast

Halloween is upon us and much of the spooky fun has already begun. But there’s plenty more to enjoy before the holiday is done. Here’s a look at some of the hair-raising events planned throughout the First Coast.

ST. JOHNS COUNTY

18th century house offers frightfully fun events

The Ximenez-Fatio House Museum, 20 Aviles St., St. Augustine, is conducting candlelight tours on select dates through Oct. 30. “Mourning and Mortality — A Century of Death” tours will be held at the circa 1798 house every Friday and Saturday at 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $15 per person and are available in advance. RSVP at ximenezfatiohouse.org/mortality-mourning. A combo ticket that includes “Everyday Life” daytime museum tours and the “Mourning and Mortality” tour can be pur­chased for $20 per person. Details at ximenezfatiohouse.org.

In addition, several spooky events are planned at the museum.

• A Night Among Ghosts will welcome members of the public to experience overnight paranormal investigations from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. on select dates throughout October. For tickets and details, go to theoddmacabre.com/category-halloween.
• A Night Among Ghosts will host a Victorian Parlor Night on Oct. 22. For details, go to theoddmacabre.com/category-halloween.
• Trick-or-Treating for children will be available from 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 29 and includes a courtyard Harvest Festival with crafts, games and a candy-apple bowl bar. Children can wear costumes and go trick-or-treating at every door of this three-story house. Admission is free. For more details, go to XimenezFatioHouseMuseum.org or call 904-829-3575.

Spectral tours in the Nation’s Oldest City

If you’re looking for ghostly tours, St. Augustine is the place to be. Here’s a look at some of the ways you and your friends can haunt the city that was founded more than 450 years ago.

• Ghost Tours of St. Augustine storytellers and guides will take you through the city’s historic district in search of ghostly experiences as you uncover haunting tales of the town’s dark history. Tours last about 75 minutes and depart nightly at 8 p.m. from the office at 4 Granada St. Price is $25 (free to children younger than 6). Space is limited and advance reservations are required. For more information, go to ghosttoursofstaugustine.net.
• ‘Ghost with the Most’ Cocktail Tour departs from 24 Cathedral Place, Suite 401. The 2.5-hour crawl visits four local venues and is fully guided by an otherworldly presence. Available on select weekends in October. Participants must be at least 21. Cost is $85. To reserve a place in the group, go to https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/thetastingtours/items/323618/calendar/2022/09/?flow=19280&full-items=yes.
• Ancient City Tours offers a couple of spooky 90-minute walking tours in the Nation’s Oldest City. Professionally licensed guides tell guests about the city’s strange and difficult past, discussing the Castillo de San Marcos, the City Gate, the Tolomato and Huguenot cemeteries and more during “A Ghostly Encounter.” Recommended for all ages. The tour departs nightly from 12 St. George St. For ticket information, go to staugustineghosttours.net. Also, “Paranormal Investigations” are offered at the Oldest Wooden School House on St. George Street. The price of the 60-minute tour is $45. For information, go to ancientcitytours.net/a-paranormal-encounter.
• The Old Jail After Dark is a chilling, 2.5-hour experience that allows visitors to participate in an actual paranormal investigation of what has been called “the city’s most haunted building.” The guided tours are offered nightly from midnight to 2:30 a.m. at the Old Jail, 167 San Marco Ave. Participants must be at least 13 years old. Tickets are $95.84 and reservations must be made in advance. For more information, go to https://www.trolleytours.com/st-augustine/old-jail-after-dark-tour
• Genteel & Bard’s St. Augustine Dark History & Ghost Tour is called the city’s “only luxury ghost touring experience.” Participants experience a highly curated, classic storytelling performance. Tours are about 2 hours long and cover about a mile of historic St. Augustine. They depart from 62 Hypolita St. Tickets are $30 per adult and $15 per child (ages 7-12), and reservations are required. Children age 6 and younger are admitted free. For information or to purchase tickets, go to https://genteelandbard.com/st-augustine-ghost-tour.
• Aboard the Ghosts & Gravestones Tours “Trolley of the Doomed” passengers will hear stories of spirits encountered, murder and mayhem, ghostly apparitions, hauntings and hilarious legends. Also, face your fears in a nighttime experience at Potter’s Wax Museum’s Chamber of Horrors. Tickets are $36.59 for adults, age 13 and older, $32.59 for children ages 4-12. Children younger than 4 are admitted free. For more information, go to ghostsandgravestones.com/st-augustine#about.
• In St. Augustine Lighthouse Dark of the Moon Tours, guests can tour the top of the tower and explore the eerie Keeper’s House. Tours begin at 8:30 p.m. on select dates. Tickets are $25, and reservations are required. The lighthouse is located at 100 Red Cox Drive. For information, go to staugustinelighthouse.org.
• GhoSt Augustine offers multiple types of ghost tours, haunted pub crawls and paranormal investigations. For more information, go to ghostaugustine.com.

Sykes Family Farms Crop Maze

This family-friendly tradition offers a 9-acre corn maze, a hayride, playground, farm animals to see, live music on select dates and much more. Hours are 6-10 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 30. Admission is $19, $17 for military and seniors age 65 or older, free to children age 2 and younger. The Sykes Family Farm is located at 5995 Brough Road, Elkton. For more information, go to www.sycofarms.com.

Creatures of the Night at the Alligator Farm

The St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park is offering three nights of treats, costumes and fun, 5:30-8 p.m. Oct. 21-23. Meet eerie bugs and beasts in this hands-on experience while collecting Creatures of the Night cards around the park. Bring your own bag for trick-or-treating. Admission is $13 for adults ($12 for members) and $11 for children ages 2-11 ($10 for members). Advance registration is required. To learn more or purchase tickets and sign up for a time slot, go to alligatorfarm.com/creatures-of-the-night. The St. Augustine Alligator Farm is located at 999 Anastasia Blvd., St. Augustine.

Pirate Halloween Party at St. Johns Golf Club

This swashbuckling evening includes a dinner buffet, a costume parade and other fun surprises from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 26. Admission for adults is $27, children (ages 5-12) $15.95, and free to children 4 and younger at St. Johns Golf Club, 205 St. Johns Golf Drive, St. Augustine. To learn more or register, go to stjohnsgolf.com/events/st-johns-golf-country-club-pirate-halloween-party.

Halloween Spooktacular at Colonial Quarter

The Halloween Spooktacular, presented by the St. Augustine Swashbucklers, will be held at 6:30 p.m. nightly, Oct. 28-30, at the Colonial Quarter. Explore the haunted grounds, walk past the skeleton ghost-ship and beware of the spider lair! Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children. The Colonial Quarter is located at 43 St. George St., St. Augustine.

Ghosts of St. Augustine's Past

St. Augustine welcomes all to celebrate with music, costumed events and spine-chilling storytelling. At various venues from Oct. 27 through 30. Come dressed in your favorite fashions of past centuries in St. Augustine, from the Gilded Age of Henry Flagler to Rococo style and, of course, pirates! Costumes are encouraged at all events. Here’s a look at all the fun:

• A Night at the Castle: Costumes and formal attire are required for this event at Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Guests will enjoy cocktails, music, small bites and dessert from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Oct. 27. Hosted by Jorge Rivera of “The St. Augustine Tonight Show.” Tickets are $85, and guests must be 21 years or older. For more information or to purchase tickets, go to ticketstripe.com/Ghosts-St-Augustine. Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Museum is located at 19 San Marco Ave., St. Augustine.
• Music and Moonlight: A free outdoor concert series at the gazebo in St. Augustine’s Plaza de la Constitucion. The Kilted Creature with Capn’ D Lucas and The Keeper will perform 6-8 p.m. Oct. 28; Let’s Dance! With Caribe Groove, 6-8 p.m. Oct. 29; and Ramona + The Riot, 5-7 p.m. Oct. 30.
• Steampunk St. Augustine Celebrating the Industrial Age: Enjoy live music, beer and wine at the Willie Galimore Recreation Center, 399 Riberia St., St. Augustine, on Oct. 30. Times for the event to be announced.
• Frightful Family Fun Fest: There will be scary storytelling by the Tale Tellers of St. Augustine and open mic performances (family friendly) hosted by Ancient City Poets, 2-5 p.m. Oct. 30, at the Waterworks, 184 San Marco Ave., St. Augustine. Admission is free.
• Tales of Pirates Past – Revolutionary Rogues: This free event presented by The Ghosts of St. Augustine will explore the Spanish-American pirates and privateers who tried to conquer Florida It will be held at 11 a.m. Oct. 29 at Colonial Oak Music Park, 21 St. George St., St. Augustine.

Boos & Brews 5K at Ancient City Brewery

Join the Ancient City Brewing Boos and Brews 5K Race and Halloween Party from 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 29. The 5K begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Ancient City Brewery, 3420 Agricultural Center Drive. This is a chip-timed race and includes a race shirt, finishers medal and after party music! For details, go to visitstaugustine.com/event/ancient-city-brewing-boos-and-brews-5k-race1-mile-fun-run.

DUVAL COUNTY

‘Ghost The Musical’

This musical, based on the hit-movie, follows Sam and Molly, a young couple with their whole life ahead of them. When Sam dies suddenly, he finds himself trapped between the land of the living and the dead, not willing to let Molly go. The show will be presented on select dates through Nov. 6 at Alhambra Theatre & Dining, 12000 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville. For tickets and information, go to alhambrajax.com.

Historic Springfield Bike-A-Boo

Meet at the Main Street Food Park, 1352 N. Main St., Jacksonville, at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 28 and ride your bicycle through the spooky streets of Springfield. For information, contact Springfield Preservation and Revitalization at 904-353-7727 or by email at Meghan.waters@sparcouncil.org.

35th Annual Spooktacular at the Zoo

Presented by Aquafina from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. on select dates throughout October at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, 370 Zoo Parkway, Jacksonville. Tickets are $30 ($25 for members) and must be purchased at shop.jacksonvillezoo.org/webstore/shop/viewItems.aspx?cg=EV&c=spkr. Admission is free for children age 2 and younger. For more information, go to jacksonvillezoo.org/spooktacular.

Casa Marina’s Annual Haunted Halloween Party

Tickets include a free drink voucher, live DJ EL, drink specials and a costume contest with prizes. The party will be held from 7 to 11 p.m. Oct. 27 at Casa Marina, 691 1st St. North, Jacksonville Beach. Must be at least 21 to attend. Tickets are $24.56. Go to eventbrite.com/e/casa-marinas-haunted-hotel-party-tickets-427387185577?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

2nd Annual Haunted 904 Pop Up

This free and pet-friendly event will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 30 at Seawalk Pavilion, 75 1st St. North, Jacksonville Beach. It will feature 200 local creatives and a food truck village. There will be trick-or-treating, a costume contest and more.

13th Floor Haunted House

There are several attractions at this scary venue at 9230 Arlington Expressway, Jacksonville: the “Chop House” featuring a maniac in a meat processing plant, “All Hallows Eve” with a cursed group of undead trick-or-treaters, “Legends of The Deep” starring a capsized steamship’s infected crew in a cosmic horror milieu, plus mini escape games and axe throwing. Caution: The event may be too intense for children 12 and younger. The 13th Floor Haunted House is open on select dates throughout October. For tickets, go to tickets.13thfloorjacksonville.com. For information, go to 13thfloorjacksonville.com.

5th Annual Halloween Bar Crawl

This event starts at Sneakers Sports Grille, 111 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville Beach. It begins at 4 p.m. Oct. 29 and ends at midnight. Tickets are $10-$15. For information or to purchase tickets, go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-5th-annual-halloween-bar-crawl-jacksonville-tickets-345674310167?aff=ebdssbdestsearch.

Halloween Bar Crawl

This event starts at 1 2nd Ave. North, Jacksonville Beach. It begins at 4 p.m. Oct. 29 and ends at 1 p.m. Oct. 30. Ticket prices vary. For tickets, go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/halloween-bar-crawl-jacksonville-tickets-264661498667?aff=ebdsoporgprofile.

Jacksonville Halloween Community Event

This free event features candy, music, a bounce house, food and treats, vendors and a charity raffle. Costumes are encouraged. I will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 30 at Riverwalk Art Square, 725 Riverside Ave., Jacksonville.

Halloween Party at the Bunker

The fun gets started at 6 p.m. Oct. 22. The theme of this year’s party is “Horror Films of the 1980s.” There will be prizes – including costume prizes, an axe throw, music, games and more. Entry fee is $5. The Bunker is located at 432 Cynthia St., Jacksonville.

NASSAU COUNTY

2nd Annual Halloween Festival

The biggest Halloween party in Yulee will be held from 5-8 p.m. Oct. 28 at the Yulee Athletic Complex, 86142 Goodbread Road, Yulee. Trick or Treat Alley is 5-7 p.m., costume contests will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Except for concessions, everything is free. For more information, call 904-530-6010 or email insider@nassaucountyfl.co

Downtown Trick or Treat

Fernandina Beach Main Street will once again hold a Downtown Trick or Treat event for Halloween. This year, it will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 28. Learn more at fernandinamainstreet.com/event-calendar/downtown-trick-or-treat

— Compiled by Shaun Ryan