Halloween’s upon us and it’s time to scare up a little fun. Here’s a look at some of the spooky and not-so-spooky events available on The First Coast.
ST. JOHNS COUNTY
18th-century house offers frightfully fun events
The Ximenez-Fatio House Museum, 20 Aviles St., St. Augustine, is offering several Halloween-themed events. For information, go to ximenezfatiohouse.org.
Crop Maze & You Pick Sunflowers
It’s an autumn tradition to visit Sykes Family Farms, 5995 Brough Road, Elkton, and explore the corn maze, pick sunflowers, take a hayride and more. The farm is open 6-10 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 29. Admission is $19, $17 for military with ID and senior citizens (65+), free to children age 2 and younger. For further information, go to sycofarms.com.
Creepy Crawl Haunted Pub Tour & Paranormal Investigation
Tours begin at 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays at Tour St. Augustine, 4 Grenada St. Duration: 2 hours. For ages 21+. Admission is $25 per person. Advance reservations required. Go to supersaas.com/schedule/CityWalks/Creepy_Crawl_Haunted_Pub_Tour.
Moonlight Mysteries: Stargazing and Haunted History Boat Tour
Florida Water Tours, 107 Yacht Club Drive, St. Augustine, offers these immersive 90-minute guided cruises at 8:30 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays now through Nov. 17. Admission is $29 for anyone age 13 and older. For further information, go to floridawatertour.com/cruises/moonlit-mysteries-boat-tour.
History, Mystery, Mayhem & Murder Tour
City Walks & Tour St. Augustine offers these free, hour-long walking tours at 2 p.m. each Sunday in October. These tours explore the darker side of the town’s history and depart from 4 Granada St., St. Augustine. Advance reservations are required. For further information, go to StAugustineCityWalks.com.
Paranormal Investigation Tour of the Old Fort Grounds
This is an exterior tour on the grounds of the Castillo de San Marcos. Tours begin at 9:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and meet at the Old City Gates. Price is $35. Reserve at supersaas.com/schedule/CityWalks/Paranormal_Investigation. Anyone younger than 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Ghosts & Gravestones ‘Trolley of the Doomed’
Explore the darker side of the Nation’s Oldest City. Tours depart from the Old Town Trolley welcome center, 27 San Marco Ave., and run for about an hour. Times vary. Tickets are $30.15, and advance reservations are required. To book a tour, call 904-829-1122.
‘Ghost with the Most’ Cocktail Tour
The Tasting Tours, 24 Cathedral Place, St. Augustine, offers these 2.5-hour, spine-chilling adventures guided by ‘The Dead Guy’ himself on select weekends in October. Admission is $85 and tours visit four local venues. Tours depart at 7 p.m. For further information, go to thetastingtours.com.
Creatures of the Night
Meet eerie bugs and beasts while collecting creepy creature cards at The St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park, 999 Anastasia Blvd., St. Augustine. The event is offered 5:30 to 8 p.m. Oct. 20-22. Advance online tickets are required. Admission is $13 for adults, $11 for children ages 2-11. For further information, go to alligatorfarm.com.
Sheriff Hardwick’s Haunted Jail
This spine-chilling experience created by the employees of the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office returns Oct. 20, 21, 27 and 28. It is open each of those nights from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Admission is $23. Limited onsite ticket purchases are available, but entry times are not guaranteed. Children age 14 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. The “Haunted Jail” is located at 4025 Lewis Speedway, St. Augustine. For tickets or further information, go to eventbrite.com/e/sheriff-hardwicks-haunted-jail-tickets-718112111657?aff=ebdssbdestsearch. See a fun related video at floridashistoriccoast.com/events/sheriff-hardwicks-haunted-jail.
Halloween Spooktacular at Colonial Quarter
Presented by the St. Augustine Swashbucklers, this event starts at 6:30 p.m. each night, Oct. 27-29, with an adventure through the haunted grounds, past the skeleton ghost ship and up to the spider lair. The Colonial Quarter is located at 33 St. George St., St. Augustine. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children. The website is colonialquarter.com.
Boos and Brews 5K Race and Halloween Party
This chip-timed race begins at 5 p.m. Oct. 28 and includes a race shirt, finisher’s medal and after-party music. Registration is $25-$35. The location is Ancient City Brewing, 3420 Agricultural Center Drive, St. Augustine. For information or to register, go to runsignup.com/Race/FL/SaintAugustine/AncientCityBrewing.
Headless Bangers Costume Ball
This event will be held 8-11:30 p.m. Oct. 28 in the Legends Ballroom at the Renaissance Hotel and Conference Center, 500 S. Legacy Trail, St. Augustine, in World Golf Village. There will be live music, desserts, a costume contest with cash prizes, psychics/card readers, candy, a cash bar and more. Tickets are $40 in advance, $50 at the door. For further information, go to bedrockband.net/Shows.
The Ghost In You
The Ancient City Poets will present St. Augustine’s longest-running open mic poetry event from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 29 at The Waterworks, 184 San Marco Ave., St. Augustine. Share your poems at this free event. Books by local authors will be given away as prizes for best literary costume, most creative costume and best teen costume. For further information, go to facebook.com/ancientcitypoets.
Spectral tours in the Nation’s Oldest City
DUVAL COUNTY
Boos and Brews
Enjoy fall at the farm with live music, a pumpkin patch, wagon rides, a bounce house, beer, wine, cider, coffee and eats from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 21 at Congaree and Penn, 11830 Old Kings Road, Jacksonville. Farm passes may be purchased in person upon arrival. For information, go to congareeandpenn.com/boos-brews.
Halloween Lantern Festival
The Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens is planning a magical evening of Halloween-themed entertainment from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Oct. 27 and 28. There will be food trucks, music, a lantern parade, a silent disco and more. To purchase tickets, go to jacksonvillearboretum.org/eventsactivities.
Spooktacular
The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens will host this event from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. on select dates in October. This year, the scare zones are more spine-tingling with frightening fiends and sinister sights hidden around every corner. There will also be trick-or-treating at seven candy stations and three toy stations. Admission is $25-$30, free to children age 2 and younger. Scaredy Cat Necklaces, that will ensure the monsters pass you by, are $4.65. For further information and tickets, go to jacksonvillezoo.org/spooktacular.
13th Floor Haunted House
Jacksonville’s legendary Halloween venue is located at 9230 Arlington Expressway. Warning: Event may be too intense for children age 12 and younger. This year’s attractions include: The Deadlands, The Rot Shop, Depths of Darkness and Blackthorne Manor Book of Lost Souls. Visitors may also want to try out the mini escape games. Tickets available at 13thfloorjacksonville.com.
NASSAU COUNTY
Halloween Party
Emerald Goat, 96110 Lofton Square Court, Fernandina Beach, will have a Halloween party beginning at 7 p.m. Oct. 21.
3rd Annual Halloween Festival
This free event will feature trick or treating, carnival games, hayrides, pumpkin carving and costume contests. It will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 27 at the Yulee Sports Complex, 86142 Goodbread Road in Yulee. For information, call 904-530-6120.
Halloween Costume BYOB Cruise
This 21+ event will be 2-4 p.m. Oct. 29 at Amelia River Cruises & Charters, 1 N. Front St., Suite 3, Fernandina Beach. Cost is $50. There will be a pet food drive at the dock prior to boarding. Donations of wet or dry food for cats and dogs will be accepted. For more information or to book, go to ameliarivercruises.com, click “cruises” and select “specialty cruises.”
Terror on the Timber Farm Haunted Trails
North Florida’s premier haunted attraction will be held on select dates in October at Amelia Shotgun Sports, 86300 Hot Shot Trail, Yulee. For further information or to purchase tickets, go to terroronthetimberfarm.fearticket.com.
— Compiled by Shaun Ryan
