Halloween Happenings 2007
Pinellas prepares for holiday fun
By SUZETTE PORTER AND LEE ZUMPE
Article published on Saturday, Oct. 20, 2007  |
PINELLAS COUNTY – As Halloween 2007 nears, communities throughout Pinellas and beyond play host to horrifying haunted houses, fiendishly fun festivals and tantilizing trick-or-treating.
Following is a list of scheduled activities:
Haunted house
PINELLAS PARK – A haunted house is open through Oct. 31 at 9945 66th St. Hours are Thursdays and Sundays, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays, 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. The haunted house is in its fifth year of operation. Admission is $6 a person. Food and drinks are available. Proceeds benefit the Pinellas Park Police Explorers Post #912.
ZooBoo
TAMPA - Come see what lurks after dark at ZooBoo, Oct. 18-21, 24-28, at Lowry Park Zoo. The zoo comes alive and transforms into a family-friendly fright zone. Beware of things that go “bump in the night” as you meander through the shadowy darkness of haunted houses and spooky trails or find a haunting good time for little ones with free unlimited zoo rides all evening. General admission is $16 for adults and $13 for children. Annual Zoo Pass holders receive discounted admission. The zoo is located at 1101 W. Sligh Avenue in Tampa, one mile west of I-275 (exit 48). Parking is free. Visit www.lowryparkzoo.com or call 813-935-8552 for more information.
Haunted house
YBOR CITY - Terror Theatre, Ybor City’s premiere haunted house and bars, bring madness, mayhem, horror and all out terror to those who dare to visit Oct. 24-27 and 30-31 at the Ritz Ybor, 1503 E. 7th Ave. Within the walls of the 90 year old theatre is two equally terrifying trails of horror and suspense. One path drags you through the terrors of a deranged serial killer and the other sick and twisted path will force people to confront their deepest fears.
In addition to the haunted house, Terror Theatre also offers two bars with live entertainment featuring Drew Street Mary & Boney Fiend on Oct. 24; Nervous Turkey & Experimental Pilot on Oct. 25; Knowing Stu & Some Dancing Skeleton on Oct. 26; Everlife (daytime only) on Oct. 27; Mojo Gurus & Blind Buddy Moody on Oct. 27; TBA on Oct. 30; and The Funeral Dazies and more on Oct. 31. Please check website for updated lineup.
The haunted house will be open on Oct. 24-26 from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Oct. 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.; Oct. 30-31 from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. For more information, visit www.terrortheatre.ritzybor.com.
Halloween Spooktacular
CLEARWATER – A Halloween Spooktacular is coming to the Countryside Recreation Center, 2640 Sabal Springs Drive, on Friday, Oct. 26, 6 to 8 p.m. Enjoy carnival games, special arts and crafts projects, trick or treating, and a costume contest. Costumes are optional, but encouraged. The event is free. For ages 13 and under. Call 727-669-1914 for more information.
Parent’s Night Out Halloween Party
CLEARWATER - Parent’s Night Out Halloween Party is set for Friday, Oct. 26, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Morningside Recreation Center, 2400 Harn Blvd. Enjoy ghostly crafts, the Frankenstein boogie, pizza, ghoulish prizes, and some good old Halloween fun. Pre-registration is required. For children in kindergarten through 8th grade. Fee is $6 with Play Pass, $8 with Recreation Card, $10 without card per person. Call 727-507-4064 for more information.
Fright Night
CLEARWATER – Fright Night is scheduled on Friday, Oct. 26, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., at the Ross Norton Recreation Complex, 1426 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. Fright Night is a Halloween carnival with candy, games and activities for ages 6 to 11. Free with Play Pass, $1 with Recreation Card, $1.25 without card per person. Call 727-462-6025 for more information.
Halloween Scare-tacular
ST. PETE BEACH – The Recreation Division is hosting a Halloween Scare-tacular on Friday, Oct. 26, 6 to 8 p.m., at the community center, 7701 Boca Ciega Drive. Cost is $5 with a city recreation card; $6.25 without. Organizers promise a night full of scary costumes, a haunted maze, safe trick-or-treating and a multitude of carnival games. Parents are asked to stay with their children for this event. Call 727-363-9245.
Creaky Bones 5K Run and Trick-or-Treat Trot Kid’s Run
ST. PETERSBURG - The Arthritis Foundation will host the Creaky Bones 5K Run and Trick-or-Treat Trot Kid’s Run on Friday, Oct. 26, 7 p.m. at The Pier. The family-oriented event will include a 5K timed run, 1-mile fitness walk and a children’s fun run for ages 12 and under. The event also will feature a costume contest for both adults and children with prizes. Following the run, a party will include music, trick-or-treats, free food and beer with proper identification. Registration fee for the 5K and 1-mile is $20 online or by mail, or $25 on race day. The Trick-or-Treat Trot is $10. Call 813-968-7000 or 800-850-9455 or visit www.active.com.
Treasure Island Spooktacular
TREASURE ISLAND – The city’s recreation department annual children’s Halloween Spooktacular is Friday, Oct. 26, 6 to 9 p.m., at the Treasure Bay Golf and Tennis facility at 10315 Paradise Blvd. Activities will include a costume contest, carnival games, moonwalk, entertainment, refreshments, such as hot dogs, chips and drinks, and a haunted hayride with a spooky cemetery. Entertainment includes a story teller, face painter, magician, caricature artist, fortune teller and more. Judging for the costume contest begins at 6:30 p.m. for the 2-year-olds and under group. The haunted hayride and cemetery will be open at about 7 p.m. The event is free for the public. Call the recreation department at 547-4575, ext. 237.
Halloween Party
BELLEAIR - The Belleair Civic Association and Recreation Department will host the annual Halloween Party on Saturday, Oct. 27, 5 p.m., at the Belleair Recreation Center (Dimmitt Community Center), 901 Ponce de Leon Blvd. The event will include pizza, salad and spinach rolls; a costume judging contest, Halloween hayride and a haunted house. Dinner is free for children in costume and $3 for adults.
Halloween Enchanted Forest
CLEARWATER – A Halloween Enchanted Forest provides a non-scary alternative to the holiday on Saturday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m., at Moccasin Lake Nature Park, 2750 Park Lane Trail. Enjoy a night hike along the nature trails and learn about the creatures of the night. Afterwards, enjoy marshmallow treats and entertainment by the campfire. Cost is $6 for ages 13 and up; $4 for ages 3 to 12; and $2 for children under age 3. Pre-registration is suggested. Call 462-6024.
Pumpkin Festival
CLEARWATER – Heritage United Methodist Church, 2680 Landmark Drive, is hosting a fall festival on Saturday, Oct. 27, 10 a.m. The festival will include face painting, inflatables and other carnival games and a hay maze.
Halloween Party with Stormbringer
CLEARWATER - Halloween Party with Stormbringer, Saturday, Oct. 27, 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., at Two Buks, 1915 N. Hercules Ave. Call 442-0812 or visit www.twobuks.com.
Halloween Happenings
DUNEDIN – A variety of Halloween Happenings are planned for Saturday, Oct. 27, 5:30 to 10 p.m., at Highlander Park, off Michigan Boulevard near Highland Pool. Activities include carnival games, haunted hayride, haunted house, “Boo in the Zoo,” storytelling, pony rides, moonwalk, inflatable slide, Halloween crafts, train rides, pumpkin carving and concession food for sale. Free costume contest will take place between 6 p.m. and 9:45 starting with ages 1 and younger and ending with ages 14 to 17. Call 812-4530 for more information. Tickets are 50 cents each or $10 for a bonus pack of 22. Admission to the haunted house or hayride is $3 each or eight for $20. Proceed benefit the Dunedin for Youth Fund.
Halloween Party with Radio Crime
DUNEDIN - Halloween with Radio Crime, Saturday, Oct. 27, 9 p.m., at Cricketers British Pub & Restaurant, 2634 Bayshore Blvd., Dunedin. Call 736-1322 or visit www.cricketerspub.com.
Pumpkin Carving Contest
INDIAN ROCKS BEACH – A Pumpkin Carving Contest and Haunted House is set for Saturday, Oct. 27, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for ages 4 to 12. Sign up at Indian Rocks Beach Library, 1507 Bay Palm Blvd., or at Beach Art Center, 1515 Bay Palm Blvd.
Haunted House
INDIAN ROCKS BEACH – The Civic Auditorium will transform into a Haunted House on Saturday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m. The event will feature games, costume parade and a haunted house. Call 517-0404. The auditorium is at 1507 Bay Palm Blvd.
Halloween party
MADEIRA BEACH – The American Legion Auxiliary Unit 273 will have a Halloween party Saturday, Oct. 27. Dinner begins at 6 p.m. Activities include costume contests, door prizes, drink specials and music by Keith Carter. All proceeds benefit the All Children’s Hospital. Call 397-4484.
Halloween Spooktacular
LARGO - The Recreation, Parks and Arts Department presents Halloween Spooktacular on Saturday, Oct. 27, 4 to 10 p.m., at Largo Central Park, 101 Central Park Drive.
The event will feature inflatables, teen activities, a rock climbing wall and a giant slide. There will be a free Trick-or-Treat Path from 4 to 8 p.m. Wristbands for the Haunted CarnEvil cost $5 with a recreation card, $6 without a card or $7 the day of the event. Call 587-6775 or visit www.largo.com.
Halloween party
MADEIRA BEACH – The American Legion Auxiliary Unit 273 will have a Halloween party Saturday, Oct. 27. Dinner begins at 6 p.m. Activities include costume contests, door prizes, drink specials and music by Keith Carter. All proceeds benefit the All Children’s Hospital. Call 397-4484.
Halloween Party with Stones Throw
MADEIRA BEACH - Halloween Party featuring Stones Throw, Saturday, Oct. 27, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., at Daiquiri Deck, 14995 Gulf Blvd. Call 393-2706 or visit www.daiquirideck.com/madeira.
Haunted Circus
PALM HARBOR - A haunted circus offers a fun-filled evening of Halloween events on Saturday, Oct. 27, 6:30 p.m., at the Palm Harbor Community Activity Center, 1500 16th St. Appropriate for ages 8 to 18, all adults must have a child present in order to be admitted. The event is not for young children who frighten easily. Children can enjoy inflatables for $5, a haunted trail for $2 and a haunted hayride for $1. Admission to the circus is a $3 donation. Children will be able to trick-or-treat for free.
Guavaween Family FunFest
TAMPA – Guavaween Family FunFest offers unique activities for people of all ages on Saturday, Oct. 27, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., on Seventh Avenue. Daytime spectators will enjoy Safe Trick-or-Treat, Spooky Story Time, the Children's Costume Parade and Contest, the Pet Costume Contest presented by Mix 100.7, multiple stages of Entertainment and more.
Admission is $5 between 10a.m. and 2 p.m. Children under the age of 10 in costume are free with a paying adult.
Beginning at 10 a.m. continuous free entertainment will be presented on the Mix 100.7 Stage at Seventh Avenue and 18th Street; the Daytime Entertainment Stage presented by Relevant Church at Seventh Avenue and 15th Street; and the Gaspar's Grotto Stage, located in the Gaspar's Grotto Courtyard at Seventh Avenue and 18th Street. Enjoy performances by Jump 5, Cali, Mr. Bones, local dance groups and area schools, Veggie Tales and more. For complete Family FunFest stage schedules, visit www.cc-events.org/gw.
Family FunFest not only features multiple stages of entertainment, but also boasts Safe Trick-or-Treat, Spooky Story Time (also featuring Miss Deaf Florida, Kim Wright), Hands-on Activities, Pumpkin Giveaway, Terror Theatre - Ybor's Haunted House, appearances by Tampa Bay Buccaneer Cheerleaders, Children's ID Services and Safety Education by TPD, exhibits and demos by area attractions, the Mix 100.7 Pet Costume Contest, the ever loved Children's Costume Parade and Contest at 2:30 p.m. and more.
A Guavaween Bus Shuttle will be available beginning at 10:00 a.m. at the Florida State Fairgrounds and offers round trip daytime service.
Guavaween
TAMPA – Get your Freak on at Guavaween, Halloween Street Party and Music Festival, on Saturday, Oct. 27. The evening kicks-off with the 'Guava Love It!' Cooking Contest at 4 p.m. on the Mix 100.7 stage at Seventh Avenue and 18th Street. At 8 p.m., the Mama Guava Stumble Parade marches down Seventh Avenue to take the bore out of Ybor City and at 10 p.m. the Features Costume Contest takes place on the local entertainment stage. The contest is presented by MORE – TV 32 and will award $2,000 cash to the best costumed reveler.
Guavaween rocks with fabulous concert performances on multiple stages. 98 Rock returns to Seventh Avenue and 14th Street, featuring national headliners Hellyeah, Nonpoint, Skindred, Ankla and Karnivool, presented by Budweiser and Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Old Schoolers unite as 95.7 The Beat presents the hip-hop classics of Biz Markie, Chubb Rock and UTFO on the stage located at Seventh Avenue and 18th Street. For more information, visit www.cc-events.org/gw or www.myspace.com/guavaween.
Haints, Legends and Tall Tales Storytelling
TAMPA - Bring the family to hear four traditional Florida folk tales and enjoy an evening tour of Cracker Country on Saturday, Oct. 27. Each tour is about 45 minutes and begins at 6:15 p.m., 7:15 p.m., and 8:15 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and children ages 6 to 12, and free for children 5 and under. Combo tickets are available for both the Rural Life Festival and Storytelling Events. Ticket prices are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and children ages 6 to 12; free for children 5 and under. Parking is free for this event; visitors should enter the Fairgrounds via the Orient Road entrance. For more information, visit www.crackercountry.org or call 813-627-4225.
Halloween Party
ISLAND ESTATES - Kids Halloween Party is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 28, 3 to 5 p.m., at St. Brendon Catholic Church, 245 Dory Passage, Clearwater, in the social hall. Enjoy candy, games, party favors, magicians, music, fun, hot dogs, soda, cotton candy and more. Prizes will be awarded for funniest and most beautiful costumes. Organizers say no scary costumes, please. Admission is $2 for kids, adults with children free. For more information, call Leeley Myers at 403-9952.
Halloween Carnival
CLEARWATER – A Halloween Carnival is scheduled on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 6 to 8 p.m., at the Clearwater Beach Recreation Center, 69 Bay Esplanade. Enjoy carnival games, light refreshments and other fun activities. Game tickets are 10 for $1, and each game requires one ticket. Admission is free. Call 727-462-6138 for more information.
Children’s Costume Parade
CLEARWATER – A Children’s Costume Parade is happening on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 3 p.m., at the Clearwater Main Library, 100 N. Osceola Ave. Wear a costume and gather in the Youth Department for a parade and trick or treating around the library. Free. Call 727-562-4970, ext. 5244 for more information.
Boo Bash
CLEARWATER – Come out and enjoy Boo Bash on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., at Bright House Networks Field, 601 Old Coachman Road. There will be candy stations, games, a haunted house, hayrides, a costume contest and inflatable rides. Free. Call 727-712-4300 or 727-562-4800 for more information.
Trunk or Treats
CLEARWATER – The fourth annual Trunk or Treats celebration will be on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 6 to 8:30 p.m., at Skycrest Baptist Church, 125 N. Belcher Road. Youngsters are invited to dress up in costumes and receive candy or small prizes from church members’ decorated car trunks in the church’s campus parking lot. The event also will feature three inflatables including a 22-foot slide, face painting, crafts, food and a hay ride. Call Lesley Shaw at 224-2821 or e-mail lesleyshaw@skycrestfamily.org.
Halloween Costume Ball
GULFPORT – All guys and ghouls are invited to put on their best costumes and dance to the midnight hour at the sixth annual Halloween Costume Ball on Wednesday, Oct. 31, at the Gulfport Casino Ballroom, 5500 Shore Blvd. S. Enjoy a swing dance lesson from 7 to 8 p.m., no partner needed, followed by swing music and dancing to midnight. Door prizes and prizes for best costume will be awarded. Small children are not eligible for top costume prizes. Costume categories include: best, scariest, sexiest, funniest, swingiest and most original. Enjoy loads of chocolate, candy and trick-or-treating goodies. Monster shim sham and bonus dance plus a dancing costume parade. Admission is $7. For information, call 813-274-4950 or visit www.SwingTime.info.
Frightfully Rockin' Spook Show
NEW PORT RICHEY - Halloween Frightfully Rockin' Spook Show with Berwich, The Sterling, Autumns Threshold on Wednesday, Oct. 31, at Bourbon Street Night Club, 4331 U.S. 19. Doors open at 8 p.m. Show starts at 9 p.m. Cover $6. The club is at Call 727-843-0686 or visit www.clubbourbonstreet.com.
Creepy Critters and Boo Time Stories
TARPON SPRINGS – Creepy Critters and Boo Time Stories is coming on Halloween night, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 7 to 8:30 p.m., at Brooker Creek Preserve, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs. Bring the whole family to learn about Halloween favorites like owls, spiders and bats. Take a short evening hike along the boardwalk to look and listen for common creatures of the night. End the evening with a fun boo time story. Best for families with children 5 years or older. Free. Space is limited. Registration required by calling 727-453-6800.
Halloween Party
TARPON SPRINGS - Double M Band, 7 p.m., Halloween Party, Saturday, Oct. 31, at the Tarpon Springs Yacht Club, 350 N. Spring Blvd., Tarpon Springs. Call 934-2136.
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Article published on Saturday, Oct. 20, 2007
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