Tampa Ranks Among Top U.S. Halloween Destinations
Tampa knows how to celebrate Halloween. With options like haunted ships, ghost tours by water taxi, a massive horror-themed park, and Nightmare on Franklin Street, this year promises even more Halloween excitement. Last year, WalletHub named Tampa one of the top cities to celebrate the spooky season.
WalletHub evaluated cities based on Trick-or-Treater friendliness, the variety of Halloween-related events for both kids and adults, and Halloween weather. With last year’s largest Florida pumpkin at Bearss Groves and enjoy eerie movies under the stars in a pumpkin patch, it’s easy to see why Tampa made the top 30.
WalletHub assessed 100 of the most populated cities across three categories for these rankings. Trick-or-treater friendliness includes factors such as walkability, pedestrian safety, population density, and the number of potential trick-or-treaters.
The study also considered the number of amusement parks per capita, pumpkin patches per capita, the presence of candy/sweet shops, and forecasted Halloween precipitation. The forecast suggests perfect conditions for trick-or-treating along the Tampa Riverwalk.
Check out the full ranking here.
The Halloween season is in full swing in the Tampa Bay area.
Hyde Park Village’s Pumpkin Patch is back for October. All proceeds from pumpkin sales will benefit The Humane Society of Tampa Bay. It runs from Oct. 7-28: Mondays through Thursdays from 3 to 6 p.m., and Fridays through Sundays from noon to 6 p.m. at Hyde Park Village, 1602 W. Snow Ave.
From September 27 to October 27, ZooTampa is hosting its annual Creatures of The Night event, featuring multiple Halloween scare attractions. Reservations and tickets, starting at $35, must be purchased in advance.
Tampa’s nautical zombie apocalypse event is making a return. Navigate through The SS American Victory Ship’s decks of terror while avoiding undead stowaways. UNdead in the Water runs on weekends throughout October, with tickets available in advance at American Victory Ship & Museum, 705 Channelside Drive.
Join the Pirate Water Taxi aboard the Captain Jack II for a haunting tour of the Hillsborough River. This 45-minute tour offers Tampa’s spookiest ghost stories and most chilling history. Tours run Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights in October, with departures at 7, 8, and 9 p.m. from Tampa Convention Center, 333 S. Franklin St.
An Eerie Evening at the Tampa Bay Hotel will take place on October 18-20 and 25-27. Experience the Museum by moonlight in a way you’ve never seen before, diving into 19th-century death and funerals, mourning practices, and spiritualism. The atmosphere will be set with period lighting, candles, and artifacts for a “truly spooky experience.” This special event offers a rare chance to explore the Museum after dark.
