Are you looking for all the fall fun this weekend through early November? You’ve come to the right place! Take a look at Polk County’s Halloween happenings and autumn festivities below.
Multiple-Date Events:
Friday, October 23-Saturday, October 24
2015 Polk County Sheriff’s Office Haunted Jail Tour
Where: Lawrence Crow Jr. Center, Bartow
Time: 6:00-11:00 p.m.
Details: This is a family-friendly event, and your chance to visit the “old jail” that’s haunted. Food and drink will be available for purchase. You’ll also find bounce houses, trick-or-treat locations, and fun for the whole family. Proceeds benefit the United Way of Central Florida. The cost is a $5 donation or $7 “kid’s package”.
Saturday, October 24-Sunday, October 25
Pioneer Days Festival
Where: Lake Wailes, Lake Wales
Time: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Saturday; 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Sunday
Details: There will be live entertainment on stage both days. Living history re-enactments, artisan and tradesmen demonstrations, pony rides, children’s activities, a Historic Architecture Carriage Tour, and an Antique Car Parade will showcase the weekend’s festivities.
Friday, October 30 and Saturday, October 31
Rocky Horror Picture Show
Where: Polk Theatre, Lakeland
Time: 12:00 a.m.
Details: Let’s do the TIME WARP again…
The Polk Theatre celebrates the 40th Anniversary of ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW. A portion of the proceeds from this event will go toward a dance scholarship for Florida Dance Theatre students. The cost is $15. Prop Bags will be available at the door for the same $5 price as previous years, and contain lots of fun stuff for audience participation during the movie. Doors open each night at 9:00 p.m. for music and pre-show activities. The movie starts at midnight. Costumes are encouraged, so come dressed as your favorite character!
Friday, October 30-Sunday, November 1
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Where: Theatre Winter Haven
Time: 7:30 p.m. Friday & Saturday; 2:30 p.m. Saturday & Sunday
Details: This suspenseful musical is filled with a variety of songs that fit the bill: “A Superstitious Yankee Folk,” “Ghost in the Graveyard” and of course, “The Headless Horseman.”
Friday, October 30-Sunday, November 15
Little Shop of Horrors
Where: Lakeland Community Theatre
Time: 7:30 p.m. Fridays & Saturdays; 2:00 p.m Sundays
Details: This PG-13 Lakeland Community Theatre production features the story of the meek floral assistant Seymour Krelborn who stumbles across a new breed of plant he names “Audrey II” – after his coworker crush. This foul-mouthed, R & B-singing carnivore promises unending fame and fortune to the down and out Krelborn as long as he keeps feeding it, BLOOD. Over time, though, Seymour discovers Audrey II’s out of this world origins and intent towards global domination!
Through Friday, October 30
Zombie Farm Paintball Hayride
Where: Smith Family Ranch, Lakeland
Time: 7:00-10:00 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays
Details: Zombie Farm Paintball is a 20 minute hayride, in the dark, that takes you through Zombie Farm’s infectious zones. There have been reports of the living dead lurking in the night, especially around swampy areas. The ranch will supply you with a paintball gun for your protection against these creatures. Admission includes live zombies to shoot at, use of a paintball gun, 200 rounds of ammo and a narrated hayride. The cost is $30 per person. www.smithranchlakeland.com/zombie-farm.html
Through Saturday, October 31
Brick-or-Treat
Where: LEGOLAND Florida, Winter Haven
Time: 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays & Sunday
Details: Ghouls, ghosts and goblins descend on Miniland USA transforming it into a haunted adventure with a scavenger hunt in search for these scary creatures that have invaded our famous cities. This spooky event takes place weekends in October, and features trick-or-treating along the brick or treat trail, super brick build activities, the largest LEGO Jack-O-Lantern in the world, Halloween entertainment and an all-kids costume contest with brick-tastic prizes! florida.legoland.com/planning-your-visit/special-events/brick-or-treat-event/
Through Saturday, October 31
The Shallow Grave
Where: Winter Haven
Time: 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday
Details: The Shallow Grave is a highly detailed spine tingling scarefest that brings the Central Florida area something they have been missing. An intimate in your face, fear filled environment with custom themes and movie quality sets to put you in the midst of terror unlike anything you have experienced before. The cost is $15-$40. www.theshallowgrave.com
Through Sunday, November 1
CornFusion Crop Maze & Fall Festival
Where: Smith Family Ranch, Lakeland
Time: 3:00-6:00 p.m. Saturdays, 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Saturdays, 12:00-6:00 p.m. Sundays
Details: Join the Smith Family Ranch for a fun-filled day at CornFusion Crop Maze & Fall Festival. where you will find about 20 acres of fun for all ages including a pumpkin patch, 8-acre Egyptian Wheat maze, corn box, corn cannon, country store, cow train, miniature mazes, pony rides, and farm animals. www.smithranchlakeland.com/cornfusion-crop-maze-and-fall-festival.html
Through Sunday, November 15
Harvest Holler Corn Maze
Where: 950 Tavares Road, Polk City 33868
Time: 4:00-8:00 p.m. Fridays; 12:00-8:00 p.m. Saturdays; 12:00-5:00 p.m. Sundays
Details: Admission includes an interactive corn maze, hayride, hay fort, corn cribs, tire swings, cow train, corn hole and pumpkin patch. The cost is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $8 youth (4-12 years). Kids 3 and under are free. www.harvestholler.com/
Single Date-Events:
Saturday, October 24
Ghouls’ Night Out
Where: Downtown Winter Haven
Time: 5:00-8:00 p.m.
Details: The City of Winter Haven will be hosting Ghouls’ Night out which includes candy from area businesses, a hayride, food vendors, a DJ, and lots of fun activities for people of all ages.
Halloween Water Ski Show
Where: Lake Silver, Winter Haven
Time: 8:15 p.m.
Details: Free Halloween-themed Cypress Gardens Water Ski Show immediately following Ghouls’ Night Out. Hot Food Concessions available from 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 25
Fall Festival
Where: Lake Eva Park, Haines City
Time: 3:00-6:00 p.m.
Details: You will still see your same favorite free elements and a few extras: inflatables, food, more games, train ride, Ident-A-Kid, Fire Department exhibits, demonstrations by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office SWAT and Rescue teams, and plenty of candy.
Thursday, October 29
73rd Annual Crickette Club Parade & Carnival
Where: Downtown Bartow & Mosaic Park, Bartow
Time: 4:00-8:00 p.m.
Details: Bartow’s favorite family tradition is now better than ever featuring new rides for tots and teens, expanded food selections including food trucks, new games, costume contest for store-bought and homemade, crickette club’s famous cake walk, drawing for $500, $300, and $100 Visa cards, Bingo and more. All proceeds benefit the Bartow area Girl Scouts and the Bartow Community. Parade is free with the Carnival to follow at Mosaic Park.
Safe Haven Halloween
Where: Freedom Park, Polk City
Time: 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Details: Spooky fun for the entire family featuring food, games, prizes and two Halloween classic cartoons for “Movie Night in the Park”.
Halloween Harvest
Where: Downtown Auburndale
Time: 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Details: Find entertainment, food, crafts, monster trucks, trick-or-treating and a costume contest at Halloween Harvest. The costume contest will begin at 6:00 p.m.
Friday, October 30
Boo! Bash
Where: Explorations V, Lakeland
Time: 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Details: Pre-school costume party with pumpkins, parade and carnival games perfectly sized for little hands and feet.
Fall Fest
Where: 601 Lemon Street, Auburndale
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Details: Find trunk-or-treating in a safe area to collect candy, games, booths, prizes, face painting, music, food, a bounce house, dunk tank, photo booth and cake walk.
Halloween Trick-or-Treat Party
Where: Wilfred Smith Resource Center, Winter Haven
Time: 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Details: Polk County Parks and Recreation presents this free Halloween party featuring music, light refreshments, arts & crafts, coloring contests and costume contests.
Saturday, October 31
Safe Place to Trick or Treat
Where: Lewis Matthews Complex/Gene Carroll Field, Davenport
Time: 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Details: Enjoy free hot dogs and drinks, cotton candy, popcorn, a haunted house, maze, costume contest and activities.
Annual Dundee Fall Fest
Where: Dundee Community Center
Time: 6:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
Details: Bring the family out for games, hayrides, food and candy.
Saturday, November 7
Kathleen Area Historical Society’s Fall Festival
Where: Heritage Park, Kathleen
Time: 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Details: Enjoy this longtime Kathleen area tradition. They may not do it the old-fashioned way with a horse or mule, but they still have a lot of fun preserving and promoting the pioneer skill of freshly manufacturing sugar cane syrup, which will be available for purchase. Entertainment will include Brian Bracey on trumpet (patriotic music in a Veteran’s salute), Dave Anderson (gospel and traditional), Green Swamp Cloggers, Union Academy Bluegrass Band, and The Sweet Teas. Other activities to be offered include:
Cane Grinding/Syrup Making; Pioneer Life Exhibit; Rummage Sale; Children’s Activities; Breakfast & Lunch; Cake Walk & Baked Goods Sale; Vendors and other non profit organizations will also be in attendance. FREE Parking & FREE Admission.
