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Spooktacular Sights: A Review of Tampa’s Haunted River Tour

Author Meredith

If you love spooky tales especially during Halloween season then you’ll love Tampa‘s Haunted River Tour. I went aboard this very popular frightful tour last night with my family and had a fabulous time. The tour brings plenty of scary tales, ghostly encounters and lots of fun, all on the historic Hillsborough River. It’s very family friendly and if you have guests in town it’s the perfect activity that everyone will enjoy.

Tampa’s Haunted River Tour Is Back:

The Haunted River Tour is part of the Pirate Water Taxis owned by the Yacht Star Ship company. The boats are decked out in spooky decorations and supernatural encounters on board. Located behind the Tampa Convention Center in downtown Tampa, you can find parking easily at one of the parking garages or open lots. After walking a few blocks you’ll immediately see the boats adorned in scary spider webs and ghosts on board. The tour lasted 50 minutes and was filled with fun historical stories about the Hillsborough River mixed with many haunted stories.

The entire family had a great time including the grandparents who enjoyed the scenic views. If you get thirsty while aboard you can purchase an alcoholic beverage for adults or water. Besides the beautiful views our host Captain Jack II did a great job of informing everyone of Tampa’s history while engaging with all the children on board. Our favorite part was running into Captain Patchy’s Pumpkin Barge which is a floating pumpkin patch where children receive a pumpkin. You get to meet Captain Patchy and then they hand out other fun surprises and gifts out of their treasure chest. This is an affordable experience the entire family will love.

According to the Yacht Star Ship, “This year, the Haunted River Tours will take place aboard our largest taxi, Captain Jack II, featuring a special stop at Captain Patchy’s Pumpkin Barge. Children aboard the tour will receive a small pumpkin (while supplies last) and get the chance to meet Tampa’s grumpiest Tugboat Captain at the barge! Whether you’re a believer in the paranormal or just looking for a fun and festive night out, this cruise is sure to deliver a hauntingly good time for all.

@meredith.andrade

Tampa's Haunted River Tour #Tampa #haunted #scary

♬ Golden Hour: Piano Version - Andy Morris

Meredith’s outgoing personality has led to many other opportunities including being featured in the NY Post twice, Huffington Post, reality television shows, commercials, and magazines, and even earned a spot-on Dancing with the Stars Tampa edition. In her spare time, Meredith loves showing her support with local charities by hosting and attending community events and spending time with her family and friends. You can read Meredith’s content about local Tampa restaurants, crazy Florida man/woman stories, and recommendations of things-to-do.

13 Tampa Bay Fall Activities To Get You In The Spooky Spirit

  • Scream-A-Geddon

    If you love a good, scary haunted house then you must go to Scream-A-Geddon. The fully immersive Dade City attraction is totally worth the hype! This year it features 6 terrifying attractions including the popular Zombie Paintball Assault. Tickets can be purchased online for dates September thru October 31st.

  • Howl-O-Scream - Busch Gardens

    Tampa’s premier Halloween event! Howl-O-Scream is back at Busch Gardens with haunted houses, scare zones, sinister shows and more.

     

  • Undead In The Water

    Tampa’s ONLY nautical haunted attraction onboard a WWII cargo ship.

    In the fifth iteration of UNDead in the Water, a mysterious female apparition and her possessed cult threaten passengers across 60,000 square feet of cavernous cargo holds and open-air decks. Traverse multiple decks of this WWII ship and save your soul from the horror that awaits.
    [undeadinthewater.com]

  • Sir Henry's Haunted Trail

    Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail is an outdoor haunted trail located in Plant City with three different attractions. The trail is open from 7:30-11p.m. every Friday and Saturday September 27-November 2 & every Sunday from 7:30-9:30 p.m. starting October 6

  • Spooky-Themed Bars

    A new pirate-themed speakeasy recently opened up in Downtown Tampa. Morgan’s Cove is going to be a great place to spend a weekend night come Halloween time. Another option is to head to Dracula’s Legacy Wine Bar & Bistro where it’s spooky-season year round. They are located at 811 N Tampa St, Tampa

    https://www.instagram.com/p/C_tQUjVxxJP/

     

     

  • Tampa Riverwalk Trick-or-Treat - Downtown Tampa

    Tampa Bay’s Riverwalk is hosting a family friendly trick-or-treat event on Saturday, October 28 from 4pm-7pm. Show up in your best costume!

  • Haunted Tours - Pirate Water Taxi

    After taking a year off, Haunted Tours are back! The cruise will include terror filled-storytelling, ghostly horror, and haunted happenings on this 45-minute storytelling ride aboard one of Tampa’s most popular attractions. Running Friday-Sunday starting October 4. Click here for more info.

  • Spookala

    Think Comic-Con but for horror movies! October 4-6, actors, including Walton Goggins (Fallout), Howie Mandel (Gremlins), Anthony Starr (The Boys) and more will descend upon Tampa for Spookala. Click here to get more info!

     

  • Haunted Wharf

    Sparkman Wharf in Channelside has loads of Halloween themed events all throughout October. But everybody will be lining up for Haunted Wharf on Halloween Weekend. Sparkman Wharf will transform into a haunted pirate shipwreck with sinister surprises at every corner. Haunted Wharf is a free community event for all ages that will offer silly spooks for the kids and scary fun for the adults as the evening progresses. Enjoy entertainment, Halloween photo-ops and festive food and drinks!

  • An Eerie Evening at the Tampa Bay Hotel

    An Eerie Evening at the Tampa Bay Hotel will be held on October 27, 28, and 29, 2023. See the Museum in moonlight as you’ve never see it before and explore Victorian horror stories brought to life! Tickets are $35 for non members!

  • SpookEasy Lounge In Ybor

    All spirits welcome in the most haunted kava bar in the world! Serving up botanical teas, kava, and coffee, you can find some of the tastiest concoctions in this alcohol-free lounge. For Halloween themed alcoholic beverages, go downstairs to their Sister business – The Catacombs

  • Hyde Park Pumpkin Patch

    Get the perfect pumpkin for your front porch at the Hyde Park pumpkin patch! Bring the little ones for storytime in the patch this Thursday, October 5.

     

  • Fall Fest at Armature Works

    Bring the whole family to Armature Work’s annual Fall Fest taking place on October 22 this year. The event is from 12 – 5pm and will be held on the Pier, South Lawn and West Lawn. There will be bounce houses, face painting, live entertainment, a pumpkin patch, holiday-inspired treats, a petting zoo and more!

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