Halloween Events and Fall Festivals in Polk County

By: Peyten Palo

Happy Fall, y’all! Summer has passed and cooler temperatures have arrived so get outside and enjoy some popular fall festivals and Halloween events in Polk County.

Fall Events in Polk County

Here’s a list of our favorite Halloween events and fall festivities for you to check out. Enjoy! Be sure to click each link for more information.

LEGOLAND Florida Resort Brick-or-Treat Presents Monster Party

September 16-17, 23-24, 30 & October 1, 7-8, 14-15, 21-22 & 28-29.

Florida’s greatest Halloween event for the little ones! During select weekends in September and October, your family can experience the spooky, kooky fun of one of the most popular Halloween Events in Central Florida. Visit LEGOLAND Florida Resort and enjoy neighborhood-style trick-or-treating, plus plenty of spook-tacular sweets and seasonal shows. Additionally, Brick-or-Treat presents Monster Party weekends include exclusive creepy-cool LEGO characters in the ultimate kids Halloween celebration. Brick-or-Treat presents Monster Party is included with regular day admission. Read our Halloween Time at LEGOLAND blog for more details!

Fall Festival at the Welcome Center

October 21, 2023 | 8:00-12:00 p.m.

child holding pumpkin outside of Central Florida Visitor Information Center during Ghosts, Goblins, & Goodies - an annual Halloween and fall festival event

Start your trick or treating at Central Florida’s Welcome Center‘s annual Fall Festival. This free family-friendly fall festival includes a trick-or-treating, BOGO Bok Tower Gardens tickets, face painting, and local seasonal vendors. Food and gifts will be available for purchase from local vendors. Most importantly, vendors will be passing out candy for the kids. Costumes are welcome.

The Haunting of River Ranch

Fridays & Saturdays starting September 29 – November 4 | 6-10 p.m.

Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo is hosting a thrilling event this Halloween season! Experience a haunted hayride that uncovers a bone-chilling tale never-before-heard at the ranch. Grab a friend and make your way, twisting and turning, through a haunted house. Then, visit a family-friendly county fair in your fall best to pose for pictures and pick out your favorite gourds. Book an accommodations package to receive discounted tickets and a $25 daily food & beverage credit.

Polk State College Annual FallFest

October 14, 2023 | 9:00-3:00 p.m.

Upwards of 100 locals, businesses, and College clubs will set up booths all throughout the Winter Haven Campus with exciting, seasonal, and innovative homemade arts, crafts, and products. The event will also feature family-friendly activities such as games, haunted houses, bounce houses, shows, and presentations from local law enforcement and EMS. Polk State College clubs and athletics programs will also participate in the event to raise money for their organizations by hosting different activities and food sales.

Harvest Holler Corn Maze

Weekends only starting September 15 – November 19, 2023.


Harvest Holler Corn Maze is fun for the whole family! This event features a corn maze, hayrides, farm animals, a pumpkin patch, and so much more! Located in Polk City, near Lakeland, Winter Haven, and Auburndale.

Wonder House Halloween Tours

Fridays – Sundays in October starting October 1 – 29.

Exterior of 3-story Wonder House in Bartow, FL

The historic Wonder House is offering day and nighttime Halloween Tours in October. During tours of this 5,700-sqr. ft. historic home in Bartow, guests will be entertained with ghost stories, sweet treats and personal oddity collections on display.

Silver Moon Drive-In Howl at the Moon 2023

Enjoy a series of Halloween events at Silver Moon Drive-In in Lakeland.

October 6 at 7:30 p.m. Halloween Movie Marathon

Featuring Hotel Transylvania, Labyrinth, Ghostbusters, Christine, I Know What you did Last Summer OR Corpse Bride, Gremlins, Little Shop of Horror, Lost Boys, Nightmare on Elm Street

October 14 at 11:00 p.m. Rocky Horror Live

Featuring Hell on Hells Shadow Cast

October 20 at 7:30 p.m. Halloween Movie Marathon

Featuring Megan, Black Phone, Belko Experiment, Split, The Hunt OR Dracula, Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein, Wolf-Man, Wolf-Man Meet Frankenstein

Tickets will be $25 per car per event or $60 for all 3 events.

The SUN ‘n FUN Spooktacular

Saturday, October 28th

Normally home to spectacular air shows and flying aces, every Halloween SUN ‘n FUN opens up for the spirts and the ghoulies at the SUN ‘n FUN Spooktacular. Take a camper for the weekend or just head over in the car on Saturday afternoon from 4-9 p.m. The woods will be decorated and there will be plenty of great spooky fun on offer including Ms. Pat’s Traveling Emporium of Horror, Camper-Treating festivities, and s’mores at the fire pit. And if you’re bringing a camper to the Haunted Campground, enter it in the People’s Choice Award for best decorated camper!

Sun 'n Fun spooktacular event logo

Fall into the Gardens

Visit Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales and let your imagination take flight this fall. The Central Florida attraction is offering a new season of educational programs, workshops, and special events. Explore how our connection to bees, butterflies, and birds powers the world around us. View all the upcoming fall events here!

Be sure to follow us on Instagram to keep up with all the spooky goings on this Halloween!

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