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Southwest Florida offers a variety of Halloween events, including haunted houses, corn mazes, and fall festivals. Events are taking place in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, and other parts of Lee County through Halloween. Many activities are family-friendly, such as pumpkin patches and costume contests, while others are for mature audiences. Theatrical performances and concerts with Halloween themes are also scheduled throughout the area. Halloween week is almost here, and there are lots of spooky things to do in Southwest Florida. Haunted houses. Creepy concerts. Fall festivals. Corn mazes. You'll find all those and more happening between now and Friday, Oct. 31. Here’s a list of some of the most spine-tingling events in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, Lehigh Acres and the rest of Lee County. This is just the best of the best. Check your favorite local bars, venues and other places to see what they’re doing, too. FORT MYERS HALLOWEEN EVENTS Farmer Mike's Fall Festival and Corn Mazes Celebrate the Halloween season with haunted and family-friendly corn mazes, a pumpkin patch, sunflower picking, games, food vendors, crafts and more. This year’s corn mazes have the themes “The Purging Fields” (haunted maze) and “Vikings Adventure” (family-friendly maze). Tickets are available in 30-minute time slots. Prices vary. 6-9:30 p.m. Fridays, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturdays, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays, now through Nov. 2. Farmer Mike's Farmer Mike’s U Pick, 8751 Gladioulus Drive, south Fort Myers. farmermikesupick.com Calusa Haunted Walk The annual Haunted Walk brings fear back to the dark, decorated trails at Calusa Nature Center. This year’s theme: "Terror in the Woods.” Not recommended for ages 15 and younger. 7:30-10:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday, now through Oct. 26. $20-$25. Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium, 3450 Ortiz Ave., Fort Myers. 275-3435 or calusanature.org Lab Theater’s ‘Grey House’ This creepy psychological thriller starts with a young couple crashing their car during a blizzard and seeking shelter in an isolated mountain cabin. They’re taken in by a mysterious woman and the three strange, hyper-intelligent children who live there. Trapped by the storm, the couple are forced to listen to twisted stories and take part in unsettling games. A Southwest Florida premiere. Now through Nov. 2. $32-$37 each ($10 for students with valid student IDs). The Laboratory Theater of Florida, 1634 Woodford Ave., downtown Fort Myers. 218-0481 or laboratorytheaterflorida.com Lakes Park Fall Festival and Scarecrows in the Park The festival returns with a pumpkin patch, the annual Scarecrows in the Park contest, hayrides, inflatables and the popular Halloween Express train ride. The Scarecrows in the Park display features scarecrows decorated in the theme “The Wild, Wacky, Weird World of Scarecrows in the Park.” 6-9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, now through Oct. 31. Free admission, but some activities and rides cost extra. Parking is $3 per vehicle. Lakes Regional Park, 7330 Gladiolus Drive, south Fort Myers. 533-7578 or facebook.com/LakesParkEnrichmentFoundation 13 Nights of Stage Fright at Alliance for the Arts Over 13 nights, the Alliance’s Foulds Theatre and surrounding campus transform into a “nightmare playground” with various haunted attractions, live shows, markets and interactive activities. The highlight is the new Curtain Call Carnage, a haunted maze featuring local actors and artists. Each night features a different theme and entertainment. The sprawling event helps celebrate the Alliance's ongoing 50th-anniversary year. Now through Nov. 1. Most events are free with a suggested $5 donation. Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd. Fort Myers. 939-2787 or artinlee.org ‘Wicked Walk’ at Davis Art Center Tour Davis Art Center for a spooky, immersive arts experience featuring music, dancing, art and theatrical performances — all from Lee County students. Tours take place 6-9 p.m. Thursday and 6:30-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23-24. $15 for adults, $5 for children. Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, 2301 First St., downtown Fort Myers. 333-1933 or sbdac.com/wicked Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics National concert organizers Candlelight bring another candlelight-illuminated string quartet show to The MACC. They’ve packed the one-hour Halloween concert with Halloween classics, including Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” the “Stranger Things” theme, Camille Saint-Saëns’ “Danse Macabre” and more. 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, $45-$72. Music & Arts Community Center, 13411 Shire Lane, south Fort Myers. 277-1700 or gulfcoastsymphony.org Gulf Coast Symphony's ‘Hogwarts Halloween’ Gulf Coast Symphony plays a not-so-spooky, kid-friendly Halloween concert featuring music from the Harry Potter movies. Audience members are encouraged to dress in their wizarding finest and compete in a 1 p.m. costume contest. The concert starts at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25. $41. Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 FSW Parkway, south Fort Myers. 481-4849 or bbmannpah.com CAPE CORAL HALLOWEEN EVENTS 'Young Frankenstein" at The Belle Theatre This hit Broadway musical is based on Mel Brooks’ 1974 movie spoofing classic Frankenstein films. The grandson of infamous mad scientist Victor Frankenstein (pronounced “FRONK-en-steen”) returns to Transylvania and soon finds himself following in his grandfather’s footsteps. Now through Oct. 31. $25. The Belle Theatre, 2708 Santa Barbara Blvd., Suite 135, in The Towers at Santa Barbara shopping center, Cape Coral. 323-5533 or thebelletheatre.com Bones & Bales Fall Festival at Gator Mike’s This new, family-friendly event celebrates Halloween all month long with 12 playful, Florida-themed skeleton scenes (vote for your favorite); a pumpkin-painting patch; food and craft vendors; circus performers; a trunk-or-treat station; field games; deejayed music for kids; a monster truck; and more. Bones & Bales replaces Gator Mike’s long-running Frightmare on 78 haunted attraction. Noon to 6 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday in October. $10 admission ($5 for ages 10 and younger). Gator Mike’s Family Fun Park, 35 N.E. Pine Island Road/State Road 78, Cape Coral. 574-4386 or gatormikes.com Cape Cafe Dessert Theatre’s ‘The Spirit of Bay Manor' The new community theater performs a stage thriller written by playwright and Cape Café founder Joe Simonelli. In “The Spirit of Bay Manor,” five people spend the weekend at an old New York manor house to determine if it’s haunted. The play runs every weekend, now through Nov. 2. $28 ticket includes coffee and pastries. Cape Cafe Dessert Theatre inside Durso's Delights Café, 110 N.E. Pine Island Road, Cape Coral. 363-0848 or capecafetheatre.com Mid-Cape Fall Fest at Mercola Market Celebrate autumn with this annual, family-friendly event that includes live music, food trucks, bounce houses, vendors, a craft market, character appearances and a pumpkin patch. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25. Free. Mercola Market, 125 SW Third Place, Cape Coral. mercolamarketcc.com Farmer Joe’s Fall Fest Celebrate the season with hayrides, an inflatable corn maze, pumpkin decorating, face painting, food, drinks, games, vendors and more. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25. Free. Farmer Joe’s, 1401 SW Pine Island Road, Cape Coral. facebook.com/farmerjoesofficial Boo Bash The annual event returns with food trucks, free candy and popcorn, face painting, games, meet-and-greets with costumed superheroes, music, raffles, prizes and more. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25. Free. Big John Plaza behind John Michael's Diamond and Jewelry, 1331 Cape Coral Parkway East, downtown Cape Coral. facebook.com/SJCTechnology Boo at The Belle The Cape Coral community theater invites you to take a spooky, family-friendly theater tour with live performers, fun treats, themed rooms and a mystery to solve — with a tasty surprise at the end of your adventure. 6:30-9:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, Oct. 27-29. $5 per person at the door, or $20 per family. All proceeds benefit The Belle's Theatre Education Scholarship program. The Belle Theatre, 2708 Santa Barbara Blvd., Suite 135, in The Towers at Santa Barbara shopping center, Cape Coral. 323-5533 or thebelletheatre.com Terror on 20th haunted house A private Cape Coral home transforms into a haunted house with pneumatic props, actors, monsters, chainsaws, smoke machines, music and scares around every corner. Guided tours are 7-10 p.m. Halloween night only (Friday, Oct. 31). Free admission with the donation of canned food for The Harry Chapin Food Bank. The haunted house takes place at 2812 SW 20th Ave., Cape Coral. facebook.com/TerrorOn20th Spooky Alley Halloween Yard Haunt The popular annual “yard haunt” won’t be happening this year, organizers said on Facebook. After 12 years in Cape Coral. the event is moving to a new location in North Central Florida (to be announced). facebook.com/SpookyAlley LYR's Sonic Masquerade at Nice Guys In this annual cover show, Southwest Florida musicians play full sets of songs from their favorite musical acts. This year's cover sets include Metallica, Weezer, Hole, Pat Benatar, Rage Against the Machine and Bloodhound Gang. Plus there's a costume contest with prizes. 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31. $12 at the door (cash only). Sonic Masquerade is a fundraiser for local nonprofit Love Your Rebellion (LYR). Nice Guys Pizza, 1334 Cape Coral Parkway E., downtown Cape Coral. facebook.com/loveyourrebellion BONITA SPRINGS AND ESTERO HALLOWEEN EVENTS Farmer Mike's Fall Festival and Corn Mazes Celebrate the Halloween season with haunted and family-friendly corn mazes, a pumpkin patch, sunflower picking, games, food vendors, crafts and more. This year’s corn mazes have the themes "The Classics Invade Farmer Mike's" (haunted maze) and "The Lost City of Atlantis” (family-friendly maze). Tickets are available in 30-minute time slots. Prices vary. 6-9:30 p.m. Fridays, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturdays, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays, now through Nov. 2. Farmer Mike’s U Pick, 26031 Morton Ave., Bonita Springs. farmermikesupick.com Trick or Treat Downtown Bonita Springs This "spooktacular" block party features a pop-up market, free candy for the kids and local vendors. Costumes are encouraged. 5-9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31. Free. Takes place on Old 41 Road between Wilson and Dean streets. facebook.com/events/777540348107074 NORTH FORT MYERS HALLOWEEN EVENTS Family Fall Festival at North Fort Myers Park This free family event celebrates the fall season with a costume contest, candy, games, a photo booth, a live DJ, prizes and more. 6-8:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 24. Free. North Fort Myers Park, 2000 North Recreation Park Way, North Fort Myers. 533-7200 or leeparks.org/nfm LEHIGH ACRES HALLOWEEN EVENTS Monster Mash Bash at Veterans Park Bring your "little ghouls" for music, games and the Trick or Treat Trail. 6:30-8:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 24. Free. Veterans Park, 55 Homestead Road South, Lehigh Acres. 533-7530 or leeparks.org/veterans SAN CARLOS PARK HALLOWEEN EVENTS Ghosts & Ghouls Candy Crawl and Costume Contest at Gulf Coast Town Center Trick-or-treat at businesses throughout the shopping center using a virtual map. Plus a Halloween party in the courtyard with a costume contest (preregistration required at tinyurl.com/557nmkp7), face painting, costumed characters and stilt walker/balloon artist Too Tall Torrie. 5-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25. Free. Gulf Coast Town Center, 9903 Gulf Coast Main St., San Carlos Park. 267-5107 or gulfcoasttowncenter.com/event/30461-ghosts-ghouls-candy-crawl Charles Runnells is an arts and entertainment reporter for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News. To reach him, call 239-335-0368 or email crunnells@gannett.com. Follow or message him on Facebook(@charles.runnells.7), Instagram (@crunnells1) and X (@CharlesRunnells).
