EVENT: Tampa Halloween Happenings

Don’t let the month of October be overshadowed by Oktoberfest events. There is an equally exciting excuse for drinking and screaming this Fall – Halloween. So get your costume ready and start making plans for where you are going to debut your Lady Gaga meat dress and Jersey Shore blowout.

And for kicks, check out some other events that don’t require costumes, face paint or any other Party City accessory, but might help to get you in the mood for Hallow’s Eve.

HALLOWEEN EVENTS

October 28 – Sinners and Saints Pre Halloween Bash at the Retreat – Take your costume out for a test run and hit up The Retreat from 9pm – close for $10 All You Can Drink (wells, domestic drafts and house wines), costume contests, goodie bags, giveaways and DJ Decon.

October 29 – 13 Ugly Men Halloween Freak Show – Get unpretty with the ugly guys at their 13th annual event held at the Sheraton Riverwalk Hotel. Sit back and enjoy the freakiest show on earth, bizarre decorations and all their twisted entertainment. Tickets are $20 for Ladies and $30 for Gentlemen in Advance. More event info.

October 29 – Escape from Zombie Island @ Jackson’s – Start your night off being scared the second you walk into the haunted entry into this waterfront venue. Tickets are $15 Ladies/ $25 Gents. More Info.

October 30 – Rock Your Horror Halloween Jam – Compliment your Halloween experience with some wild art and progressive rock and electro groves at the Rock Your Horror Halloween Jam in Ybor’s notoriously haunted Centro de Asturiano Building. The 3rd Annual Event includes a costume contest, music performances by Boombox, The Malah, DJ Craig Heneveld, and Labyrinth, and art shows from Tada Gallery of Arts, Ashley Niven, Brandon Paul, Joe Mills, David Diaz, Max Anderson, Ashley Cantero, and Becky Bump. Doors open at 8pm and tickets, which are expected to sell out because of the huge turnout to last year’s event, are on sale now for an advanced purchase price of $15. More Info.

October 30 – Guavaween: The 25^th Anniversary – 3pm – 3am – Tampa sure does love a good old fashion parade. Don’t miss the Mama Guava Stumble Parade ride through Ybor. Tickets are $17/person. More Info.

October 30 & 31 – MacDinton’s Halloween Party – 7pm – 3am – Dress for the occasion. A $500 cash prize will go to the best dressed of the night. No cover and drink specials that include $5 Vodka Red Bulls, $4 Amstel Drafts and Bottles, $4 Newcastle Drafts.

October 30 – Shepards’s Outbreak 2010 – If you are willing to make a drive to the beach for Shepard’s Halloween event you have a chance to win one of three $300 cash prizes for Scariest, Sexiest and Funniest Costume; 619 S. Gulfview Blvd. Clearwater

CANCELLED – October 30 – Haunted Heights Halloween Extravaganza – BEST BET – The event at the Heights Waterfront has been cancelled. Per their website ” Due to a ruling by the Fire Marshall, our Haunted Heights Halloween event has been shut down. We are very sorry that we cannot host the event for you. Our entire team is bummed and we thank everyone for their support. Please know if you purchased tickets, they are being refunded. Please keep checking out our Barkin HeARTs Facebook page as we look forward to putting on more events in the future for DOGMA! ” Find More Info On Their Facebook.

NO BRAINERS – Theme Park Events

Universal Studios In Orlando Halloween Horror Nights – Since the park feels just like a movie set, you will really feel like you are staring in your own nightmare through 8 Haunted Houses and 6 Live Scares Zones. October 14-17, 20-24, 27-31; Event starts at 6:30pm. More Info.

Busch Gardens Hallowscream – If the scares zones, haunted houses and freaky shows won’t scare you maybe one of the roller coasters will. Most of the main attractions of Buush Gardens come included with admission for H-Scream. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through Halloween; More Info. 

CATCH A GHOST – Ghost Tours

October isn’t the only time that Tampa is creepy. There are year round ghost tours that explore Downtown and Ybor. So learn some history about Tampa haunts and see if you can catch a ghost or a least a good story to tell your friends on H-Day.

History & Haunts Tour of Tampa Theatre – October 19 – 11am – 1pm – In the 84 years since its opening, Tampa’s historic theater has most certainly gathered some pretty creepy ghost stories. Staff and guests over the years have claimed to be witness to all sorts of paranormal activity and spirit unrest. The History and Haunts Tour will take you to the locations of the haunts while a creepy concert on the Mighty Wurliterz Theater Organ sets the mood. The tour includes an audio-visual presentation of historic photos and spectral evidence of electronic voice phenomenon. Can you feel the goose bumps already? $10 Everyone; $5 Tampa Theatre Members. More Info.

Ghost Party Haunted Tours – Haunted History Ghost Walk – 45 Minute tour through Ybor; Wednesday – Sunday; Tours start at 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 9:45pm. Ghost Investigation Tours – Use real paranormal activity monitors to catch the ghosts in action; Wednesday – Sunday; Tours start at 1, 6, 7:45pm; More Info.

Ghost Tour Tampa – Even if you don’t believe in ghosts, walking through downtown with a bunch of people carrying candles is pretty creepy. Ghost Tour Tampa hosts nightly candlelight walking tours through downtown Tampa; $15 person; 8:00 pm; 90 Minute tour; More Info.

Halloween Ghost Ship Raw – October 29th and 3oth – BEST BET – 7:30pm – 11:30pm – If you aren’t messing around and are trying to spot some real paranormal activity, the American Victory Ship is your best chance to see some real dead action. This boat (you may have seen it parked on the other side of the Florida Aquarium) once carried 134 deceased soldiers home during the Korean War. Many professional ghost investigators have claimed the creep on this boat to be the real deal. Experience it for yourself as the Paranormal Investigation Team teaches “Ghost Investigation 101” featuring tape recorders, EMF meters and infrared cameras. Ticket are $10. More Info.

GET LOST – Corn Mazes

Cornfields aren’t exactly South Tampa staples, but luckily you can find a few good fields if you are willing to take a trip out to the cows.

Scott’s Fall Corn Maze – 26216 County Road 448A, Mount Dora – Get lost in seven acres of corn then find your way back using clues scattered throughout the maze. Saturdays 10am – 5 pm and Sundays 1pm – 5pm through November 28; $10; More Info.

Sweetfields Corn Maze – 17250 Benes Roush Road, Masaryktown – This five acre field of confusion comes with an optional guide if you don’t think you can handle finding your way out on your own. Saturdays and Sundays 10am – 4pm; $8.50; More Info.

BEST BET – Pumpkin Festival and Corn Maze – 5500 County Road 675, Bradenton – Probably the best of the area’s Fall festivities, this seven acre maze is complemented by 100 craft booths, live country music, hay rides, chainsaw sculpting, pumpkin cannon firings, and a petting zoo. Check the website for more details about special events that include BMX/Motocross Stunt Shows, High-Wire Acts and Lumberjack Shows. Saturdays and Sundays October 16-31; $7 Admission; $5 Parking; More Info.