Orlando Halloween 2025

Anyone arriving in Orlando this month can be forgiven for thinking they have arrived in Halloween Central rather than The City Beautiful. That’s because virtually everywhere has put up the pumpkins, gravestones and other horror-inspired decorations for an absolute spooky fiesta of the first order – and the whole family’s invited!

Yes, the annual sinister celebrations are now in full swing, and you’ll be hard pressed to find anywhere that isn’t turning on the Halloween style in one way or another. In all, Orlando has lined up a full 80 days of seasonal events and thrills for this year’s All Hallows Eve festival of the grim, gruesome and downright fun! This year’s lineup includes the country’s largest horror convention, extended Halloween events at the theme parks, interactive trick-or-treat trails, horror-inspired performing arts shows and even an elegant Vampire Ball.

As Casandra Matej – the president of leading tourism bureau Visit Orlando – explained: “As travellers increasingly look for destinations that offer more than just a day of Halloween fun, Orlando stands out with a full season of immersive experiences.” And then some. Here’s the full ghastly line-up:

Spooky theme park events

It all started a month ago with Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World  (a separately ticketed event on select nights from Aug 15 to Oct 31), which highlights an evening at the Magic Kingdom with a unique schedule of family-friendly spooky entertainment, including a new dance party with the music and moves of Zombies 4 and more fan favourites from the Zombies TV series, and the return of the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular show at Cinderella Castle. Other highlights include the special fireworks extravaganza of Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular and the superb Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade, as well as the obligatory – and hugely popular – Trick-or-Treat Trail.

By contrast, Universal Orlando Resort’s Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios (on select nights from Aug 29 to Nov 2) is back in town for 48 nights featuring 10 new haunted houses – including ones inspired by Terrifier and Friday the 13th – sinister scare zones and live entertainment, along with the thrill of some of the park’s top attractions. Like Disney’s, this is a separately ticketed event, but this is definitely not for all the family, as Universal rates it for those 14 and up only. Happy trick-or-treating this is not!

At SeaWorld Orlando, guests can experience no fewer than three Halloween-themed events:

Little ones can dress up in their favourite costumes and meet colourful Halloween characters at the SeaWorld Spooktacular (weekends from Aug 30 to Nov 2), a family-themed daytime event included with regular theme park admission. Guests will be able to enjoy an exclusive Sesame Street Halloween Parade, Scarecrow Halloween Dance Party, a Trick-or-Treat Trail and other themed activities. Then there is the more intense style of Howl-O-Scream (select nights, Sept 5 to Nov 1), which returns for 28 nights of fully immersive fear, featuring spine-tingling scare zones, menacing haunted houses and thrill rides in the dark, plus interactive themed bars, live shows and more. Finally, Howl-O-Sprint (Oct 2) is a unique nighttime 5K run featuring haunted scare zones, roller coasters and flickering shadows, plus interactive bars and ghostly hauntings. The dash concludes with a post-race celebration, with treats and live entertainment.

Back firmly in family-friendly territory, LEGOLAND Florida’s Brick or Treat Presents Monster Party (on select dates from Sept 20 to Nov 2) is their signature Halloween event, which is included with regular theme park admission. Here, guests can enjoy shows and experiences along with tidal waves of candy, wickedly delicious treats and exclusive LEGO character meet-and-greets.

Beyond the theme parks

These can again be grouped into Family Friendly and Grown-Ups-Only, starting at Walt Disney World’s Disney Springs, where Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar transforms its waterfront venue into a whimsical Halloween pop-up bar (now through October) with vintage vibes, festive décor and a menu of spooky sips and bites. Highlights include themed menu items like Zombie Eye Bites and Alien Invader Sliders, along with cocktails such as the Cauldron Cooler and Scarab Beetle Essence, plus family friendly mocktails like the Snake Egg Surprise!

In our favourite local suburb of Winter Garden, look out for The Haunted Mangoni taking over Mangoni Italian Market Pizza (now through October), with Haunted Mansion-themed decor throughout, the new Ghostly Margherita Pizza and chilling drinks like the Blood Bath. Every Wednesday, visitors can enjoy BOGO Vamp Night Martinis and, beginning September 24, visitors can step deeper into the shadows with complimentary tarot card readings.

Over at the Florida Mall, families should take note of Screamin’ Green Hauntoween at Crayola Experience (Sept 20 to Oct 31), which includes a themed scavenger hunt, spook-tastic crafts, character photo ops, weekend trick-or-treating, pumpkin decorating and slime making. And, new this year, little artists can paint spooky creations with melted wax at Meltdown.

In the world of Orlando’s dinner shows, the Pirates Dinner Adventure will transform its regular offering into the specially-themed “Vampirates” for the spooky season (select dates, Sept 25 to Oct 31), a Halloween-themed dining experience suitable for all ages. It will feature swordplay, stunts and dynamic duels, as well as the ghostly apparition of the pirate ship, The Dreadful.

Keeping the family-friendly vibe going, Gatorland’s Gators, Ghosts & Goblins weekends will run from October 11-26, marking the return of their Halloween celebration, which is also included with park admission. Here, guests can explore themed haunts like Swamp Ghost’s Monster Movie Museum, the Cryptids vs. Aliens Hauntzone and Cryptid Express, plus meet quirky characters like the Creepybaras, giant bugs at Bubba’s Bug-B-Gone and Gator Grotto. The event also features live entertainment, animal encounters, a kids’ costume parade with treat bags, games, candy giveaways and more.

More scares for grown-ups!

Ready to up the Halloween scare factor? Head to Altamonte Springs, where A Petrified Forest (select nights, Oct 3 to Nov 1) offers a series of trails with uniquely themed rooms and haunts around every turn, set in a genuinely spooky multi-acre forest. This annual Halloween event features three all-new trails and add-on experiences like the Immersive Theater and SCREAMPARK, as well as food concessions, local art vendors, laser tag, backstage tours and more.

For something different, don’t miss the big annual fun of Spooky Empire (Oct. 31 – Nov. 2), one of the largest horror conventions in the US, which returns for a weekend-long event at the convention centre of the Hyatt Regency hotel on International Drive. Halloween and rock ’n roll fans of all ages can meet TV stars, buy collectibles from more than 200 vendors, see new films and old favourites, join large Zombie Walks and get tattooed by top artists.

Finally, there is the Vampire Ball on October 30 at downtown Orlando’s wonderfully themed Cocktails & Screams nightclub and cocktail lounge. This year, join Eric & the Guilty Pleasures for the 90s Vampire Ball you’ve always dreamed of. Join in their tradition of a Blood Champagne toast and countdown to Halloween itself from 9pm. What more could you want of a Halloween spectacular?!

What’s your favourite Halloween experience? Tell us about it on our Facebook, X and Instagram pages.