Halloween Happenings #3

by Adele Woodyard
So far you know what scary happenings are in the Sarasota-Venice area, and the big theme parks. This week we’ll look at what some Florida state parks have for October’s Halloween family fun. For more information: http://www.floridastateparks.org
Sat. Oct. 13: Ghost Walk and History Tour at Camp Helen St. Pk. Panama City Beach. Spooky stories make you shiver from 5:30-8 p.m. Refreshments available to calm the nerves $5 donation adult, $3 children.
Fri. & Sat. Oct. 19, 20: 20th Annual Haunted Woods, Hillsborough River St. Pk. Thonotosassa, 6-10 p.m. Spooky displays, tram rides and a haunted trail can give you a fright, a kids coloring contest may give you a prize. $5 person.
It’s the 4th Annual Howling Hammock Adventures at Hugh Taylor Birch St. Pk. in Fort Lauderdale. Same nights 7-11 p.m., but here it’s a scary 2-mile carriage ride adventure with Giant Bugs and other stations along the way.. $7 adult, $5 ages 12 and under. 954-564-4521.
Sat. Oct. 20: Jonathan Dickinson St. Pk, Hobe Sound, puts on a Fire Fest from 1-9 p.m. Besides fire demos, and hands-on activities, there’s a spooky trail, hayride, swamp buggy and horse buggy tours, and more. FREE park admission, fee for activities.
3-6 p.m. at Enchanted Ravines, Ravine Gardens, St. Pk. Palatka is a magical place, with fairies, real and imaginary princesses, pirates and more. More fun with a wagon tour, kids games, hands-on crafts and more. $3 person, Free for 3 and under.
Fri-Sun. .Oct. 19-21: Alligator Warrior Festival at O’Leno St. Pk. isn’t very Halloweeny but you get a whole day, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. to enjoy Native American dancers, musicians, artisans and traders. A living history event includes a re-enactment of an 1836 Seminole Indian War battle at San Felasco Hammock. $5 per carload (up to 8 people).
Fri Sat., Oct. 26-27: Haunted Halloween, Crystal River Preserve St. Pk. 7-11 p.m. is Haunted Tram Trail time, or you can walk through Swamp Trail to get a boat trip back to safety. Kids activities are on Sat. 3-6 p.m. with contests for costumes and pumpkin decorating. $5 person, FREE ages 12 and under. 352-563-0450.

Finding your way through a cornfield maze can be scary too. Here’s a couple to try:

Weekends, Oct. 19- Nov. 25: The Maize, 13444 Morris Rd. Lakeland Fri. 2 p.m.-dusk, Sat. 9 a.m.-dusk, Sun. noon-dusk Besides maze, farm animals include Ruby the Buffalo! No pets allowed. Dates/times depend on weather, call.863-859-6472. http://www.themaize.com
Oct. 13-Nov.4: Sat.-Sun. 10 a ,m- 5 p.m. Sweetfields Corn Maze. Masaryktown has a 5-acre labyrinth to get lost in. $8.50 adult, $4.50 ages 3-11 Cash only. 17250 Benes Roush Rd. 352-279-0977.

Halloween Fun and Frights

by Adele Woodyard
Trick or Treat and creepy costumes. October ends with a 3-day and night weekend of family fun and sometimes fright. We’ll start with a Freebie in Palm Beach county where costumed kids can look for spooky night creatures in Dapperwing Nature Center on Friday, Oct. 28. Halloween activities, crafts and the “Boo”ardwalk runs from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Bring flashlight and bug spray to Boca Raton’s South County Regional Park. 561-629-8760. http://www.co.palm-beach.fl.us

Pumpkin patch with or without corn maze is a popular attraction in the Fall. Click on http://www.pumpkinpatchesandmore.org to find a number around the state; call to make sure they’ve been updated. Here’s a few along Florida’s west coast:
Hunsader Farms, Bradenton has a full-blown festival with over 100 craft booths, pony and hayrides, live country music, and more with their 7-acre corn maze. Admission: $8, Parking $5.Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat. and Sun. 5500 C.R. 675; 941-322-2168.
Long & Scott’s Farms, Mount Dora adds a 60-ft slide and a “jumping pillow” bounce house to their 7-acre corn maze. Clues and games increase the interest as you try and find your way amidst stalks taller than you are. Admission: $11 adult, $9 ages 3-16; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat. 1-5 p.m. Sun. 26216 C.R. 448A; 352-383-6900.
Ride the Pumpkin Patch Express from the Florida Railroad Museum, Parish to pick your own pumpkin, take a hayride and more. Train leaves at 9 a.m., noon, and 3 p.m. Sat. – Sun. Coach tickets $18 adult, $14 ages 1-11; Excursion: $4 more. 12210 83rd St. E; 941-776-0906. http://www.frrm.org

Wild & Wicked Nights is the annual Freak Show presented by the mermaids at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, Spring Hill. There’s also a haunted forest, mazes, costume and scream contests and more. Starts 7 p.m. 10/28, /29. $5 adult, 3 ages 6-12. 352-592-5656.
It’s “Adults only” at Guavaween, Ybor City’s annual Halloween Street Party on Saturday, Oct. 29. Once again motorized floats filled with bead-throwing, costumed revelers will follow Mama Guava down 7th Ave. Live entertainment still being scheduled but $12 advance tickets are available now. Party from 3 p.m. until early morning hours. Suggested parking: Ft. Brooke, downtown Tampa and take TECO Line streetcar. 813-241-8838. http://www.ybor.org
For a real scare, forget the horror films and end the weekend with a live, bloodthirsty Dracula at Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center. The classic 1897 tale by Bram Stoker now sports a more civilized monster who has a thing for young maidens’ necks. Vampire lovers in the audience will feel transfused. Oct. 28-30; 8 p.m. Fri and Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. $20, $17 students and members. 304 Pine St. 727-942-5605. http://www.tarponarts.org

Family Frights Are Fun

by Adele Woodyard

Ever tried finding your way through a corn maze? Or how about Halloween in the woods after dark? From the Panhandle to Key West, you’ll find some Florida State Parks http://www.floridastateparks.org where the spooks may lurk behind trees to jump out and say “Boo” as you pass by. Either way, unlike some scary events I reported earlier, kids don’t have to be older than 10 or even 13 to have a fright-ful good time.

Panhandle:
Florida Caverns State Park, Marianna. If you haven’t been deep underground when they turn off the lights, you’re in for a real fright. All of a sudden you’re in total blackness, literally can’t see your hand in front of your face. Now that’s scary! And when we went, it wasn’t even Halloween. But there’s also kids games if the “haunted” Spirit of the Caverns tour sounds too fright-ful.. 6-10 p.m. Oct. 29. 850-482-9598

Northeast:
Big Shoals State Park, White Springs. Put on a costume and bring a pumpkin to decorate and maybe win a prize (two contests) at the 2nd Annual Pumpkin Fest. 3-6:30 p.m. $2 person, or $4 for vehicle up to 8 people. 386-397-2733

Ravine Gardens State Park, Palatka has an Enchanted Forest to walk, or Enchanted Ravines for a wagon tour among their activities. 3-6 p.m. Oct. 23 386-329-3721.

Northwest:
Crystal River Preserve has a haunted house and spooky movies to make you shiver at their Haunted Halloween. Plus tram rides, kid’s activities and more. 7-10 p.m. Oct. 22 & 23, 29& 30. $5 per vehicle, $5 for haunted house. 352-563-0450.

Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park takes you on a Haunted Tram Ride along Pepper Creek Trail. A haunted house, costume contest and more add to the fun. 6-11 p.m. Oct. 29. $5 adult, $3 ages 12 and under. Haunted House $2/person. 352-628-5343

Sweetfields Corn Maze, Masaryktown has guides to help you find your way through 5 acres of corn ‘high as an elephant’s eye’, if clues are too well hidden. Hayride and a corn cannon add extra fun. 10 a.m.-4 p.m, weekends only, now through Nov. 7. $8.50 adult, $4.50 ages 3-1, 2 and under Free. Cash only. No pets. 352-279-0977. http://www.sweetfieldsfarm.com

East Central:
Deleon Springs State Park , Deland has haunted trails where you collect treats along the way. Storytelling and more for fun. 6:30-9 p.m. Oct. 23. $3 age 7 and older, 6 and under Free. 386-985-4212

It’s Barkoween for dogs at Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area , Flagler Beach. Dog costume contest, tricks for treating and a doggie nature walk start at 4 p.m. Oct. 29. Bring your dog, a lawn chair and $10 per registration. 386-517-2086

Central:
Silver River State Park, Ocala presents their annual Phantoms of the Forest in the Cracker Village. 7 p.m. Oct. 30. FREE with a non-perishable food donation. 352-236-7148

Scott’s Fall Corn Maze, Mount Dora has you looking for games as well as clues to find the exit from 7-acres of winding paths. A hayride, 60-foot super slide, kids’ zipline and more will keep you busy for hours. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays, 1-5 p.m. Sundays, now through Nov. 28. $10 adult, $8 ages 3-16, 2 and under Free. No pets. 352-383-6900. http://www.longandscottfarms.com

West Central:
Hillsborough River State Park, north of Tampa, offers tram rides and a spooky , haunted trail and more during the 18th Annual Haunted Woods Events.6-10 p.m. Oct. 22 & 23. $5 person. 813-987-6771

Honeymoon Island State Park, Dunedin has a haunted house and a scary trail for older kids, games, face painting and storytelling for little ones on the 13th Annual Halloween in the Park. Don’t forget a flashlight and bag for candy 6-10 p.m. Oct. 22-23. $10 donation per vehicle includes 10 free game tickets. 727-469-5942.

Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park, Port Richey has two trails, one spooky, one for tots, plus (separate fees) for hay rides, bounce house, and refreshments. 6-10 p.m. Oct. 29-30. $2 adult, $1 kids. 727-816-1890

South:
Hunsader Farms, Bradenton offer a Pumpkin Festival and 7-acre Corn Maze with many extras, set to live country music. Over 100 craft booths, pony and hayrides, a pioneer village and even a petting zoo will fill the day. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekends only, Oct. 16-31. $7 adult, FREE for ages 12 and under. 941-322-2168. http://www.hunsaderfarms.com

Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, Fort Lauderdale guides families through a Howling Hammock trail of ghouls, critters and frights. Wear a costume and bring you own pumpkin to carve. 7-10 p.m. Oct. 22-24. $3 per person, or $10 for family up to four people. 954-564-4521.

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, Key West becomes a Haunted Fort to celebrate All Hallows Eve. 8-11 p.m. for three days over Oct. 22-24, and 28-31. $13 adult, $10 military, $8 ages 5-8, under 5 Free. 305-292-6713. .

Next week it’s BIG PARTY TIME