Halloween arrives early across Southwest Florida this weekend, with family festivals, haunted walks, costume events and trick-or-treating from Marco Island to Punta Gorda. There is plenty beyond the spooky season, too—including live theater in Naples, a mangrove adoption day on Sanibel, a fishing tournament on Fort Myers Beach and a waterfront stone crab celebration.
Here are some of the best things to do in Southwest Florida this weekend, organized by area.
Marco Island
Marco Island Halloween Spooktacular
When: Saturday, October 24, 4–6 p.m.
Where: Mackle Park, 1361 Andalusia Terrace, Marco Island
Admission: Free; food and drinks available for purchase
Music, games, treats and a costume contest make the city’s annual celebration an easy family outing. Costumes are encouraged. View event details.
YMCA 5K & Fun Run
When: Saturday, October 24; check-in at 7:45 a.m., race at 8:30 a.m.
Where: YMCA of Collier County South Campus, 101 Sand Hill Street, Marco Island
Admission: $40 for adults; fun run free for children 13 and younger
Start Saturday with a chip-timed 5K and a fun run for younger participants. A costume contest adds a seasonal twist. View event details.
YMCA Boo-tacular Open House
When: Saturday, October 24, 10 a.m.–noon
Where: YMCA of Collier County South Campus, 101 Sand Hill Street, Marco Island
Admission: Free
Stay after the morning race—or simply stop by—for a family-friendly Halloween open house at the Y. View event details.
Sanibel & Captiva
CROW-O-WEEN
When: Friday, October 23, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; owl presentation at 2:30 p.m.
Where: CROW, 3883 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel
Admission: Check with the organizer
Celebrate Halloween at the wildlife hospital with a scavenger hunt, games, prizes and a special chance to meet the owls. Costumes are welcome. View event details.
Adopt-A-Mangrove Day
When: Saturday, October 24, 10 a.m.–noon
Where: SCCF Mangrove Nursery, Sanibel
Admission: Registration information is available from SCCF
Pick up a mangrove seedling, learn how to care for it through the winter and return it in spring for a shoreline-restoration project. View event details.
Howl-O-Ween Pet Parade
When: Saturday, October 24, 2–4 p.m.
Where: Sanibel Recreation Center, 3880 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel
Admission: Advance pet registration required
Dress up your four-legged friend for Sanibel’s costumed pet parade and prize competition. View event details.
Naples
The World Goes ’Round
When: Opens Friday, October 23; runs through November 22
Where: Gulfshore Playhouse, 100 Goodlette-Frank Road S., Naples
Admission: Ticketed
Gulfshore Playhouse opens its season with a Kander and Ebb musical revue featuring songs associated with Cabaret, Chicago and more in an intimate jazz-club setting. View performances and tickets.
Boo at the Zoo
When: Saturday and Sunday, October 24–25, 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
Where: Naples Zoo, 1590 Goodlette-Frank Road, Naples
Admission: Included with regular zoo admission
Children 12 and younger can trick-or-treat through the zoo, meet costumed characters and enjoy pirate- and dinosaur-themed activities. The full final run continues through Monday, October 26. View event details.
North Collier Fire Halloween Party
When: Saturday, October 24, 5–7 p.m.
Where: Fire Station 45, 1885 Veterans Park Drive, Naples
Admission: Free
North Collier firefighters welcome families for their annual Halloween party, complete with candy and hot dogs. View event details.
Pinchers Tin City Stone Crab Fest
When: Sunday, October 25, 2–5 p.m.
Where: Tin City, 1200 Fifth Avenue S., Naples
Admission: Check with the organizer
Welcome stone crab season with a waterfront block party at Tin City, seafood and live oldies, classic rock and Motown. View event details.
Bonita Springs & Estero
BOO-tanical Evening
When: Friday, October 23, 5:30–8:30 p.m.
Where: Wonder Gardens, 27180 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs
Admission: Included with admission
Explore the gardens after hours with Halloween photo opportunities, family games, face painting and animal enrichment activities. View event details.
Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics
When: Friday, October 23, 6 p.m.
Where: FGCU Bower School of Music & the Arts, 10501 FGCU Boulevard S., Estero
Admission: Ticketed; ages 8 and older
A candlelit string quartet performs a Halloween program that includes “Thriller,” “Danse Macabre” and themes from Psycho and Ghostbusters. View event details.
Happy Haunts Halloween Stroll
When: Nightly through October 31, 5:30–10 p.m.
Where: Riverside Park, 10450 Reynolds Street, Bonita Springs
Admission: Free
Stroll through a transformed downtown park with Halloween music, video projections and festive photo spots. View event details.
Fort Myers Beach
Law Defined Reel Rumble
When: Captain’s meeting Friday, October 23, at 5 p.m.; fishing and awards Saturday, October 24
Where: Matanzas on the Bay, 414 Crescent Street, Fort Myers Beach
Admission: Registration required to compete; spectators can check with the organizer
This charity fishing tournament offers $10,000 in prizes and supports MADD Southwest Florida and Community Cooperative. Saturday’s weigh-in and awards wrap up the action. View event details.
Bayside Park Concert Series: Simply-Fi
When: Sunday, October 25, 4–7 p.m.
Where: Bayside Park, Old San Carlos Boulevard and First Street, Fort Myers Beach
Admission: Free
Close the weekend with an outdoor concert and bay views in the heart of Fort Myers Beach. View event details.
Fort Myers
“Sloughwitched”: Halloween on the Boardwalk
When: Friday and Saturday, October 23–24; departures every 15 minutes from 6:30–10 p.m.
Where: Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve, 7751 Penzance Boulevard, Fort Myers
Admission: $23–$42; ages 10 and older
Follow a guided, 90-minute Halloween play staged along the preserve’s boardwalk after dark. Admission includes parking, a drink and a cookie. View event details.
Fall at the Farm: Market & Music
When: Saturday, October 24, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Where: Buckingham Farms, 12931 Orange River Boulevard, Fort Myers
Admission: Free
Shop local vendors and enjoy food, pumpkins and trick-or-treating at this relaxed farm market. Live music runs from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. View event details.
Frightfully Fun Fest
When: Saturday, October 24, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Where: 13411 Shire Lane, Fort Myers
Admission: Free
This daytime community festival offers family-friendly Halloween fun in Fort Myers. View event details.
Halloween Spooktacular at Bell Tower
When: Saturday, October 24, noon–3 p.m.
Where: Bell Tower, 13499 S. Cleveland Avenue, Fort Myers
Admission: Free
Follow the trick-or-treat trail, meet costumed characters, browse craft vendors and catch family entertainment throughout the afternoon. View event details.
Fort Myers Halloween Bar Crawl
When: Saturday, October 24, 4–10 p.m.
Where: Downtown Fort Myers; check-in at The Firestone Skybar & Martini Bar
Admission: Ticketed; ages 21 and older
Costumes, participating downtown bars and drink specials come together for an adults-only Halloween crawl through the River District. View event details.
Cape Coral
Cape Coral Cyclones Fall Festival
When: Saturday, October 24, 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Where: Cape Coral Sports Complex, 1510 Sports Boulevard, Cape Coral
Admission: Check with the organizer
Spend the day enjoying games, food trucks, local vendors, raffles and a costume contest. View event details.
South Cape Business Trick-or-Treat
When: Saturday, October 24, noon–4 p.m.
Where: South Cape Entertainment District, Cape Coral
Admission: Free
Families can collect treats at participating businesses around South Cape, ride between stops and enter costume contests for cash prizes. View event details.
City of Cape Coral Trunk-or-Treat
When: Friday, October 23, 5–9 p.m.; ages 5 and younger from 5–6 p.m., all ages from 6–8 p.m., drone show at 8:30 p.m.
Where: Cape Coral City Hall, 1015 Cultural Park Boulevard, Cape Coral
Admission: Free
The city’s annual celebration includes decorated vehicles, inflatables, a spooky train ride, an outdoor screening of Casper at 7 p.m. and a closing drone show. View official event details.
Punta Gorda & Port Charlotte
Prana Farms Pumpkin Festival
When: Friday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–6:30 p.m.
Where: Prana Farms, 6026 Sweden Boulevard, Punta Gorda
Admission: $10; parking free
Pick pumpkins, visit the petting zoo and butterfly exhibit, and enjoy cider and ice cream during a classic fall day on the farm. View event details.
Prana Farms Haunted Walk
When: Saturday and Sunday, October 24–25, 7:30–10:30 p.m.
Where: Prana Farms, 6026 Sweden Boulevard, Punta Gorda
Admission: $12
After dark, venture onto a lantern-lit forest trail filled with spooky surprises. View event details.
Florida Cars South Auto Bash
When: Saturday, October 24, 6–10:30 p.m.
Where: Centennial Park, 1185 Centennial Boulevard, Port Charlotte
Admission: Check with the organizer
All makes and styles are welcome at this evening car meet, which also features food trucks, vendors, raffles and children’s activities. View event details.
Quick Answers for the Weekend
What are the best free family events in Southwest Florida this weekend?
Strong free options include the Marco Island Halloween Spooktacular, YMCA Boo-tacular, Happy Haunts Halloween Stroll, Halloween Spooktacular at Bell Tower, South Cape Business Trick-or-Treat and Cape Coral’s Trunk-or-Treat.
Where can families go trick-or-treating before Halloween?
Try Boo at the Zoo in Naples, Bell Tower and Fall at the Farm in Fort Myers, or the South Cape and City Hall events in Cape Coral. Age rules, admission and operating times vary by event.
What can adults do this weekend?
See The World Goes ’Round in Naples, experience “Sloughwitched” in Fort Myers, attend the Halloween candlelight concert in Estero or join the 21-and-older Fort Myers Halloween Bar Crawl.
Are there outdoor and nature-focused events?
Yes. Adopt a mangrove on Sanibel, attend the fishing tournament or bayfront concert on Fort Myers Beach, visit Prana Farms, or spend the day at Naples Zoo.
Make the Most of Your Southwest Florida Weekend
Whether your ideal weekend includes costumes and candy, a moonlit boardwalk, live theater, time on the water or a day at the farm, Southwest Florida has an outing for nearly every pace and age group.
Exploring the local lifestyle is part of finding the right place to call home. Visit John R. Wood Christie’s International Real Estate to explore homes and communities across Southwest Florida.
Event details can change, and some activities may require advance registration or sell out. Confirm times, admission and weather updates with the organizer before heading out.
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