It’s spooky season here in Greater Fort Lauderdale, so you know what that means…Pumpkins surrounding palm trees. Skeletons lounging on pool floaties. And witches brewing in the warm, fall weather!

In preparation for the big day, treat (don’t trick) yourself to a number of Halloween activities taking place all throughout our 24 miles of beaches — and beyond.

 

1. Take Things to the XTreme

Calling all thrill-seekers! Chills await at XTreme Action Park Nightmare Village. Get in the Halloween spirit with interactive experiences for the whole family at the largest indoor entertainment venue in Florida.

Encounter creepy strangers, killer clowns, zombies and more freakish delights in two new haunted houses: The Seventh Gate and Carnival of Carnage. After your mouths are dry from all the screaming and laughing, enjoy refreshments and make a haunting toast in a mystery speakeasy. Better get your tickets…this epic event is open all October long. 

2. Go Pumpkin Picking

It’s not Halloween without pumpkins! You can find patches all over, but the town of Davie is a go-to. Family Farms Fall Fest & Market makes for a family fun day with true cozy, autumn vibes. Picture this: twinkly lights shine from canopied trees over a mini marketplace with animals, vendors and a live band. You can take cute, social media-worthy pics at the pumpkin area, or go one step further to the sunflower field to truly blow your friends away. They’re even having a Halloween Party on Oct. 28-30, complete with a costume contest!

Another Davie Halloween staple is Flamingo Road Nursery. They host an Annual Fall Festival each year from the end of September to the first week of November, so there’s still time to go! Their 10-acre garden center transforms into a fall paradise that resembles New England, where you can pick pumpkins, ride an antique tractor, do kids crafts and, most importantly, eat. Each week has a different theme, so be sure to check it out!

3. Enjoy an Evening of Scary Classics

Savor Cinema

Nothing gets you in the Halloween mood quite like an eerie soundtrack: the spooky sounds of doors creaking, ghouls ghosting, and screams screeching. Music is a big part of the holiday, so head to Savor Cinema in Fort Lauderdale for a scary-good time! They are hosting “Candlelight Fort Lauderdale: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics.” A string quartet will be there to play songs from all your favorite Halloween movies and TV shows, from Beetlejuice to Stranger Things. Tickets are available now for the Oct. 28 event.

4. Party by the Beach

DUNE by Laurent Tourondel

Holidays are better with a view, and let’s just say Fort Lauderdale beach definitely has more sights than frights. On Sunday, Oct. 30 from 3-6 p.m., DUNE by Laurent Tourondel is hosting a beachside Halloween Tea Dance that you won’t want to miss. It’ll feature flowing music by DJ Alex Ferbeyre, a costume contest with first, second, and third place prizes, Halloween specialty cocktails and delicious sushi and bar bites. Make it a group date, and reserve beachside tables with bottle service. 

5. Attend the Wicked Manors Block Party

Wicked Manors

You may know Wilton Manors as the LGBT+ capital of Florida, but have you met Wicked Manors? Wicked Manors is THE Halloween event of the city, taking over Wilton Drive on Oct. 31. Thousands of party-goers flood the streets while businesses up and down the drive host special-themed events and parties, like drag shows, DJ gigs, and more. Costumes are a must…the more creative you are the more you’ll fit in!

6. Hit the Mall

Broward Mall

If you're a parent looking for fun options for Halloween instead of traditional door-to-door trick or treating, the Broward Mall in Plantation is the place to be. 

In partnership with the Young At Art Museum, the Broward Mall is hosting 'Mall-O-Ween,' a FREE indoor event in the JCPenney wing. Gather your kiddos in their costumes, and enjoy a family day of store-to-store trick or treating, a costume contest, shows and more on Saturday, Oct. 29 from 1:00-4:00 p.m. There will also be pumpkin painting, so you can take home a souvenir to remember this special, spooktacular day.

7. Enter Sleepy Hollow

Head to Gulfstream Park Village in Hallandale Beach for its FREE Sleepy Hollow Halloween extravaganza. Taking place Saturday, Oct. 29 from 6:30-9:30 p.m., the annual Halloween event has been reimagined with a new, spooky theme and plenty of thrills for guests of all ages. 

Bring your candy bags — there will be candy stations with approximately 2,000 pounds of candy, featuring music, lights, and live strolling performers to bring the holiday to life. There’s also a costume contest with a BIG prize, plus food trucks, live music, and more.

8. Become a Mad Scientist

Museum of Discovery and Science

Science can be spooky, too! Join the Museum of Discovery and Science in Fort Lauderdale for its “Spooktacular Science Weekend” on Oct. 29-30. Guests can dress in Halloween costumes and enjoy family-friendly activities all weekend long.

Science will be integrated into everything you do, from learning about the importance of creepy crawly critters to using engineering skills to a haunted house with dry ice and soap. Can’t forget dancing to the Monster Mash to wrap it all up. This event is free with museum admission, so get those brains thinking and start planning now.

9. Drive and Scream

Maybe you want to sit down, kick back, and dial up the adrenaline this Halloween. Well, start your engines and make your way to the Miramar Regional Park Amphitheater for Miramar’s Halloween Drive & Scream.

Experience drive-thru scare zones, marauding creatures of the night, a winding corn maze, a monster bounce house, carnival games, outrageous live music and more. There will be to-die-for food, drinks, beer and wine for purchase after your drive-thru experience.

10. Sip Beers for Fears

Finally, top off your Halloween festivities by cracking open a cold one, preferably pumpkin-flavored! The Visit Lauderdale Ale Trail Digital Passport can direct you to dozens of craft breweries in Greater Fort Lauderdale. 

One highlight is 26 Degree Brewing Company in Pompano Beach. They have a Pumpkin Amber ale with sugar and cinnamon on the rim. Have a sip, and savor a delicious end to one happy Halloween under the sun.