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Orlando Fall Festivals, Trunk-or-Treats & Costume Events for Kids: October 2026
Includes Orlando, Longwood, Winter Park, Lake Nona, Sanford, Lake Mary, Oviedo and Winter Garden. Details checked October 10, 2026.
Some fall plans call for pumpkins and family pictures. Others call for a costume, a candy bag and a child who has been asking all week when they can finally wear their outfit.
This guide brings both together: community fall festivals, trunk-or-treats, daytime costume outings, an indoor creative option and free evening entertainment. You do not have to celebrate Halloween to enjoy October, and you do not have to buy theme-park tickets to make the season feel special.
If pumpkin shopping is your main goal, start with our best pumpkin patches near Orlando in 2026. This guide focuses on the events to put on your calendar.
Before you go: Dates, prices, registration and weather plans can change. Follow each linked event page for updates. “Not stated” means the source did not establish the detail—not that the event is free. Age-fit suggestions are our editorial recommendations unless an organizer's age range is specified.
Event | Area | Date and time | Cost |
Pumpkin Patch on Park | Winter Park | Oct. 10–25; Mon.–Thurs. 3–7 PM, Fri.–Sun. 9 AM–6 PM | Free admission; pumpkin purchases extra |
¡Viva Oviedo! Festival | Oviedo | Sat., Oct. 17, noon–9 PM | Free admission; budget separately for purchases |
Kiddie Academy of Winter Park Fall Festival | Winter Park | Fri., Oct. 23, 6–8 PM | Admission fee not stated; food and desserts for sale |
J. Douglas Williams YMCA Fall Festival & Trunk or Treat | Lake Mary / Longwood | Sat., Oct. 17, 10 AM–1 PM | Free; open to the community |
Longwood Truck or Treat | Longwood | Sat., Oct. 24, 3–6 PM | Free candy; admission fee not stated on the listing |
Seminole Harley-Davidson Trunk or Treat Fall Festival | Sanford | Sat., Oct. 24, noon–4 PM | Admission and registration not confirmed |
First Congregational Church of Winter Park Trunk or Treat | Winter Park | Sun., Oct. 25, 11:30 AM–3:30 PM | Admission not stated; confirm guest attendance |
Rock-O-Ween Trunk or Treat | Orlando | Wed., Oct. 28, 5–6:30 PM | Admission fee not stated |
Seminole County Sheriff's Halloween Safety Spooktacular | Seminole County | Wed., Oct. 28, 6–8 PM | Free; no tickets or purchase required |
Lake Nona YMCA Annual Spooktacular | Lake Nona | Thurs., Oct. 29, 5:30–7:30 PM | Free; open to everyone |
Oviedo Movie Night, Food Truck and Candy Crawl | Oviedo | Fri., Oct. 23, 5–9 PM | Admission fee not stated; food purchases extra |
Eolaween | Orlando | Sat., Oct. 24, 4–9 PM | Free event; food, purchases and any separately priced activities extra |
Graveyard Smash | Lake Nona | Sat., Oct. 24, 5–8 PM | Free parking; Boxi Park admission $5, children under 12 free for the Kids Zone per listing |
Zoo Boo Bash | Sanford | Oct. 17–18, 24–25 and 31, 9 AM–5 PM; last admission 4 PM | Paid special-event admission; annual passholders $5 per person named on the card |
Crayola Experience Screamin' Green Hauntoween | Orlando | Through Nov. 1, including all October; check daily attraction hours | Paid attraction admission; some extras cost more |
Winter Garden Halloween Light Shows | Winter Garden | Oct. 16–17, 23–24 and 30–31, 7–9 PM | Free |
Fall festivals and seasonal outings
Pumpkin Patch on Park
When: Oct. 10–25; Mon.–Thurs. 3–7 PM, Fri.–Sun. 9 AM–6 PM
Where:Â Winter Park City Hall lawn, 401 S. Park Ave.
Cost:Â Free admission; pumpkin purchases extra
Age fit:Â Toddlers and elementary children with an adult
A simple seasonal stop for pumpkin shopping, photos and a stroll on Park Avenue. The listing describes fall atmosphere rather than a Halloween party. Dress-up is not advertised, so ask before organizing a costume meetup.
¡Viva Oviedo! Festival
When: Sat., Oct. 17, noon–9 PM
Where:Â Oviedo Cultural Center & Amphitheatre, 357 Center Lake Lane
Cost:Â Free admission; budget separately for purchases
Age fit:Â Families interested in music and culture
Music, food, art and cultural performances celebrate Hispanic heritage. This is an October cultural festival, rather than a Halloween event, and a useful choice for families seeking community fun without that theme. Costumes are not an advertised activity.
Kiddie Academy of Winter Park Fall Festival
When: Fri., Oct. 23, 6–8 PM
Where:Â 420 S. Orlando Ave.
Cost:Â Admission fee not stated; food and desserts for sale
Age fit:Â Preschool and elementary families; editorial recommendation
The organizer welcomes families and community members for carnival games, a bounce house, face painting, a dunk tank and a pumpkin pie contest. Use the event sign-up form and confirm entry costs and costume expectations before attending.
Trunk-or-treat and truck-or-treat events
J. Douglas Williams YMCA Fall Festival & Trunk or Treat
When: Sat., Oct. 17, 10 AM–1 PM
Where:Â 665 Longwood Lake Mary Rd., Lake Mary
Cost:Â Free; open to the community
Age fit:Â Mixed-age families; editorial recommendation
Costumes, trunk-or-treating, crafts, face painting and local vendors make this a convenient daytime option. YMCA membership is not required by the listing. Although called a fall festival, it includes costume and candy activities.
Longwood Truck or Treat
When: Sat., Oct. 24, 3–6 PM
Where:Â Reiter Park, 311 Warren Ave.
Cost:Â Free candy; admission fee not stated on the listing
Age fit: Costume contest participants ages 0–12; other family activities
Children collect candy from trucks and other vehicles, with bounce houses, games and vendors. Costume contests cover ages 0–12: ages 0–1 at 3:30 PM, 2–5 at 4 PM, 6–8 at 4:30 PM and 9–12 at 5 PM. Allow time to arrive before your child's category.
Seminole Harley-Davidson Trunk or Treat Fall Festival
When: Sat., Oct. 24, noon–4 PM
Where:Â 620 Hickman Circle
Cost:Â Admission and registration not confirmed
Age fit:Â Age suitability needs organizer confirmation
The organizer's indexed calendar lists the event, date and time. The full page could not be accessed during this check; contact the venue for activities, admission and attendance requirements before making plans.
First Congregational Church of Winter Park Trunk or Treat
When: Sun., Oct. 25, 11:30 AM–3:30 PM
Where:Â 225 S. Interlachen Ave.
Cost:Â Admission not stated; confirm guest attendance
Age fit:Â All ages, according to the organizer
An all-ages church event with decorated trunks and treats. The page's RSVP instructions largely address families hosting a trunk, including setup and theme details. Check whether visiting families also need to RSVP and confirm the visiting window.
Rock-O-Ween Trunk or Treat
When: Wed., Oct. 28, 5–6:30 PM
Where:Â Rock Lake Neighborhood Center, 440 N. Tampa Ave.
Cost:Â Admission fee not stated
Age fit:Â Mixed-age families; editorial recommendation
The City of Orlando advertises treats, games and family Halloween activities, with appropriate costumes encouraged. Its shorter early-evening schedule may suit families who want an outing before a late bedtime.
Seminole County Sheriff's Halloween Safety Spooktacular
When: Wed., Oct. 28, 6–8 PM
Where:Â Seminole State College; confirm the exact campus and entrance
Cost:Â Free; no tickets or purchase required
Age fit:Â Families; exact age restrictions not advertised
The event partner's announcement lists free trunk-or-treating, snow cones and community partners. Costumes are encouraged. The announcement does not identify a campus address, so verify that detail with the Sheriff's Office before leaving.
Lake Nona YMCA Annual Spooktacular
When: Thurs., Oct. 29, 5:30–7:30 PM
Where:Â 9055 Northlake Pkwy., Orlando
Cost:Â Free; open to everyone
Age fit:Â Families; editorial recommendation
Trunk-or-treat, a DJ, crafts, games, giveaways, performances and costume contests are advertised. This is explicitly a Halloween celebration. Its YMCA location does not establish that the activities are indoors; check the setup if weather is a concern.
Costume celebrations and trick-or-treat outings
Oviedo Movie Night, Food Truck and Candy Crawl
When: Fri., Oct. 23, 5–9 PMWhere: Center Lake ParkCost: Admission fee not stated; food purchases extraAge fit: Candy activities for children; movie suitability to be checked
The DJ and candy crawl run 5–7 PM, the costume contest begins at 6:30 PM, and the movie starts at 7:30 PM on the amphitheatre lawn. The calendar does not name the movie, so check its title and suitability before deciding to stay.
Eolaween
When: Sat., Oct. 24, 4–9 PM
Where:Â Lake Eola Park, 512 E. Washington St.
Cost:Â Free event; food, purchases and any separately priced activities extra
Age fit:Â Mixed-age families; choose the activities that suit your child
Trick-or-treating, crafts, pumpkin decorating, inflatables, face painting and character visits fill the evening. A sensory-friendly Quiet Zone is advertised. Haunted Mansion screens outdoors at 7:30 PM; consider your child's comfort with spooky scenes before staying.
Graveyard Smash
When: Sat., Oct. 24, 5–8 PM
Where:Â Lake Nona Town Center, 13485 Veterans Way
Cost:Â Free parking; Boxi Park admission $5, children under 12 free for the Kids Zone per listing
Age fit:Â Families comfortable with a Halloween-themed evening
Trick-or-treat stations, inflatables, face painters, a DJ and themed entertainment are advertised from 5–8 PM. Check how Boxi Park admission applies to your planned activities; free parking is not the same as free entry to every area.
Zoo Boo Bash
When: Oct. 17–18, 24–25 and 31, 9 AM–5 PM; last admission 4 PM
Where:Â Central Florida Zoo, 3755 W. Seminole Blvd.
Cost:Â Paid special-event admission; annual passholders $5 per person named on the card
Age fit:Â Animal-loving children and families; editorial recommendation
Enjoy zoo animals alongside not-so-scary decorations, games and trick-or-treat stations. Costumes are encouraged for children and adults. Activities are included in event admission, but regular discounts and complimentary OCLS Local Wanderer admission do not apply.
Check the ticket page for current nonmember pricing.
Indoor creative fun
Crayola Experience Screamin' Green Hauntoween
When:Â Through Nov. 1, including all October; check daily attraction hours
Where:Â Crayola Experience Orlando at The Florida Mall
Cost:Â Paid attraction admission; some extras cost more
Age fit:Â Creative preschool and elementary children; editorial recommendation
An indoor option with seasonal crafts, a scavenger hunt and photo opportunities. Trick-or-treat stations operate on weekends, plus Monday, Oct. 12. The superhero theme runs Oct. 5–18, followed by Monsters & Magic Oct. 19–Nov. 1. Children may wear costumes, but costume masks are prohibited. Slime Lab has an additional fee.
Evening light shows
Winter Garden Halloween Light Shows
When: Oct. 16–17, 23–24 and 30–31, 7–9 PM
Where:Â City Hall, 300 W. Plant St.
Cost:Â Free
Age fit:Â Families comfortable with Halloween imagery and an evening outing
Outdoor projections and spooky music run on a continuous loop across City Hall's facade. The organizer describes it as family-friendly, but ghosts, witches and other Halloween imagery are part of the show. This is a viewing outing rather than a candy event.
Prefer fall fun without a Halloween theme?
Start with Pumpkin Patch on Park, the Kiddie Academy fall festival or ¡Viva Oviedo! The published descriptions emphasize seasonal or cultural activities. That does not guarantee that no attendee will wear a Halloween costume or that no seasonal decorations will appear; ask the organizer if particular imagery matters to your family.
Trunk-or-treat events and the YMCA costume celebrations still include dress-up and candy, even when “fall festival” is in the name. Crayola's superhero week offers a creative dress-up angle, but the attraction remains part of a Halloween-themed program.
For a broader seasonal outing, explore our Central Florida fall day trips for families. If you prefer a cozy day at home, our fall books for diverse kids can help you build a simple read-aloud afternoon.
What about book-character and homeschool dress-up events?
A book-character meetup is a lovely way to let children dress up while keeping the focus on imagination. Children can bring the book that inspired their outfit, share a few clues about their character and decorate a bookmark with stickers.
That is an idea for your own gathering, rather than a confirmed public event in this roundup. No independently verified book-character event was added simply to fill a category. Confirm your venue and invitation details before announcing a homeschool meetup.
How to choose an outing with little kids
For a free daytime start:Â The J. Douglas Williams YMCA event has a late-morning schedule and free community admission. Pumpkin Patch on Park offers more flexibility across several days.
For an indoor plan:Â Crayola Experience is the clearly identified indoor attraction here. Do not assume a YMCA or cultural-center event is fully indoors just because it is attached to a building.
For costumes and animals: Zoo Boo Bash combines the two, but price the special-event tickets first—even if you have a pass or normally use a discounted admission program.
For an evening without an all-night commitment:Â The Winter Garden light show loops throughout its advertised window. You can plan a shorter visit rather than waiting for one fixed performance.
For a mixed-age family:Â Choose one main activity and one optional extra. Candy collecting followed by a short playground or food break is often enough; the movie or second event does not have to be part of the plan.
Keep costumes comfortable—and ready to wear again
Take photos before snacks, face painting or crafts. For outdoor events, choose shoes children can walk in and avoid hems that drag. Bring a change of clothes for paint, slime, pumpkin decorating or inflatables, and follow the organizer's costume and activity rules.
Indoor does not automatically mean mess-free. Crayola's crafts and optional slime activities can be fun, but you can choose photo opportunities and scavenger hunting first if preserving the outfit is a priority.
Pack water, a treat bag, wipes and a lightweight change of clothes. For evening outings, add a stroller or carrier for younger children and decide on your leaving time before everyone gets tired.
Budget for the whole outing
Free admission can still mean spending on parking, food, pumpkins or souvenirs. Decide what you will buy before arriving. For paid attractions, compare the full family total and check special-event restrictions rather than relying on a regular admission discount.
For this list, the YMCA events, Eolaween, Pumpkin Patch on Park, ¡Viva Oviedo! and Winter Garden light shows explicitly advertise free admission. Several other listings do not state an entry price, so contact their organizers first.
Frequently asked questions
Are there free trunk-or-treat events near Orlando?
Yes. The J. Douglas Williams YMCA event on October 17 and Lake Nona YMCA event on October 29 advertise free community admission. The Sheriff's Safety Spooktacular on October 28 is also advertised as free by its event partner; confirm its exact campus location.
Where can children wear costumes during the day?
The Lake Mary YMCA, Longwood Truck or Treat and Zoo Boo Bash explicitly include costume activities. Crayola also welcomes children's costumes, with no costume masks allowed.
Is there an indoor Halloween option?
Crayola Experience's Screamin' Green Hauntoween is an indoor attraction with seasonal activities throughout October. It requires paid admission. Check its operating hours and activity schedule before booking.
Do I need to register?
Requirements vary. Kiddie Academy has an event sign-up form, while the Winter Park church page includes RSVP instructions for trunk hosts. Check each event's page and ask whether visiting families need to register.
Mama's Thoughts: Make one fall memory that fits your family
Choose the outing that works with your budget, your children's energy and the kind of celebration you want. A short pumpkin stop, a daytime dress-up event or a free light show can be enough.
For more outings beyond seasonal celebrations, browse our October Orlando family events and activities guide.
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