Enjoy Good Eats and Good Times at These Events in Tampa!

Hillsborough County

• Tampa Pig Jig - Saturday, Oct 21st, Meat up with your friends at Tampa’s biggest barbecue-centric festival! This Falltime favorite event is home to barbecue competitions, live music, and ice-cold beer. Better still, sales help raise money for NephCure, “the only nonprofit organization committed to supporting research, improving treatment, and finding a cure for the debilitating kidney disease, Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and Nephrotic Syndrome”.

• Senior Fun Fridays - Friday, Oct 20th, Bring along some friends or family for an extra fun Friday at Dedicated Senior Medical Center! This is a great place for seniors to make new friends while enjoying live music, interactive games, and great food.

• Gaspar’s Grotto 20th Anniversary Bash - Saturday, Oct 20th, Avast ye mateys! If ye be in the mood for a party head to Gaspar’s Grotto for a Roaring 20s blowout party to celebrate the infamous pirate bar’s 20th anniversary. Sample custom cocktails with some pirate flair and play loads of games! Keep in mind this event is not for the little ones!

• 7th Friends Buddy Walk - Saturday, Oct 21st, Join the 7th Annual Friends Buddy Walk, a heartwarming event by Friends and the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS). It's a chance to advocate and fundraise for our Down Syndrome & Special Needs community in 2024. Registered walkers enjoy a free lunch, music by DJ Mark Girdwood, and Mark Oliver as our MCEE. Kids can have fun with playground activities, bouncy houses, face painting, and meeting Star Wars characters. Bring lawn chairs and refreshments, or enjoy the provided lunch. Before the walk, we'll honor our teams with awards, Buddy Walk Medals, and Cow Bells.

• Guided Farm Tour - Weekly Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10am-11am, Join an exclusive behind-the-scenes farm tour where you'll discover our sustainability initiatives! The 1-hour guided walk explores our vegetable gardens, aquaponics system, farm animals, vermiculture, biodigester, beekeeping, microgreens production, wetland, coastal preservation areas, and more. After the tour, visit our cafe and marketplace to savor lunch and pick up local goods.

Pinellas County

• Clearwater Jazz Holiday - Oct. 19-22, Clearwater Jazz Holiday is back at The Sound, a cutting-edge music venue in Coachman Park. Don't miss the free Daytime Downtown Celebration on Oct. 21 and 22 from 11:30 am to 4:30 pm before the evening shows, featuring 18 bands in Coachman Park and downtown Clearwater.

• Dunedin Food Tour - Every Saturday and Sunday, Discover Dunedin on a delightful guided food tour. Experience a culinary journey, savoring house specialties from hog fish sliders to the "chef's daily creation" at 5-6 of Dunedin's beloved independent eateries and craft breweries. During your tour, immerse yourself in the history of Dunedin, a charming waterfront neighborhood with Scottish heritage, offering stunning views of Caladesi and Honeymoon Islands. Many of our stops boast patios along the Pinellas Trail, and each venue has its unique story to share, with passionate chefs and brewers eager to showcase their cuisine and craft beers.

• 7th Annual Pumpkin Fest at Florida Botanical Gardens - Saturday, Oct 21st, from 12pm - 4pm, At the Florida Botanical Gardens for pumpkin patch fun, scarecrow contests, kids' activities led by our Children's Garden Educator, and more! This event is part of Third Saturdays at Pinewood, in collaboration with Creative Pinellas and Heritage Village. Additionally, from 12 pm to 3 pm, visit Heritage Village for a Halloween-themed story walk with Largo Public Library and a puppy costume contest hosted by Pinellas County Animal Services.

• Long Center Festival of Fright - Oct 20th starting at 5pm, Come to The Long Center for a FREE and spooktacular family-friendly festival. The Festival of Fright offers a range of Halloween-themed fun, including carnival games, thrilling ride-on attractions, a spooky train ride, a friendly petting zoo, delectable food trucks, and a showing of the movie "Hotel Transylvania: Transformania."

Pasco County

• Pack the Park - Saturday, Oct 21st, Join the annual One Community Now Pack The Park For Pack A Sack fundraiser in support of the Pack A Sack Food 4 Kids program. This event will be held at Sims Park in Downtown New Port Richey. Everyone is invited to join this family-friendly gathering, featuring a fall festival, as we shed light on the issue of chronic hunger among school-aged children in Pasco County.

• The Rocky Horror Picture Show - Oct 20, 21, 27, 28 at 8pm, Join the Richey Suncoast Theatre for an engaging, interactive shadow cast rendition of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. This unique performance blends the film playing in the theater with live stage action, inviting the audience to dress up and fully participate in the fun! Seating is General Admission for this show, but please note that it is rated R for mature themes, suitable for those 18 and older.

• Scream-A-Geddon - All thrughout October, Scream-A-Geddon is a highly anticipated Halloween event located in Dade City, Florida. It offers a thrilling and immersive haunted experience for visitors seeking spine-tingling scares and entertainment. The event features a variety of haunted houses, scare zones, and interactive attractions that are sure to send shivers down your spine. With a reputation for being one of the region's premier Halloween attractions, Scream-A-Geddon promises a night of frights, screams, and unforgettable moments for those brave enough to attend.

• Friday Night Lights - Oct 20th from 5-9pm, Main Street Zephyrhills welcomes you to Friday Night Lights, a delightful event featuring a food truck rally featuring Tampa Bay Food Trucks, a Jeep show, Various vendors, Games and activities, Exciting prizes, and more!

Hernando County

• Stranger Springs - Oct 20-21 & 27-28 from 7pm - 11pm, Experience the spine-chilling Wild n' Wicked Nights: Stranger Springs 2023, presented by Friends of Weeki Wachee Springs State Park. Activities include the eerie "Stranger Springs" show at 8:00, 9:00, and 10:00pm, "The Weeki Lab" escape room (7:30 - 10:30pm, reservations needed), and spooky mazes like "Shadow Monster" and "Castle" (7:00 - 10:45pm). Catch the surreal "Stranger Lights" at various times, explore "The Woods," and let kids enjoy "The Strange Zone" bounce zone (7:00 - 10:30pm). There are costume contests too. For an extra $5, take a "Haunted Boat Ride" (ages 3+), but book on the event's website.

• Sweetfields Farm - Oct 20th-23rd, Join Fall Season Fun/Corn Maze at Sweetfields Farm 2023! Our working family farm offers all your fall season favorites, from pumpkins and corn mazes to hayrides and farm activities. Bring your family, friends, smiles, and cameras for a day filled with fun. Admission covers numerous attractions, including hayrides, mazes, a treehouse play area, and more. Additional costs may apply for pumpkins, flowers, food, and drinks.

• Brooksville Bites Nights - Oct 20th from 6-9pm, Come hangout at this free Food Truck Rally and support local vendors in the heart of downtown Brooksville! This event is family and pet-friendly, and there will be pony rides available for the little ones.

Sarasota/Manatee County

• Bradenton Public Market - Oct 21st from 9-2pm, The Bradenton Public Market is returning with an exciting new season, featuring fresh-grown produce, local art, live music, and much more. Presented by Realize Bradenton, this public market boasts a diverse array of over 80 local vendors. Farmers offer locally-grown fruits, vegetables, plants, organic goods, fresh seafood, and prepared foods, while artisans showcase their craftsmanship. It's a delightful experience for the entire community to savor.

• Hunsader Farms 32nd Annual Pumpkin Festival - Oct 14-15, 21-22, and 28-29, from 9am - 5pm each day, Join the 32nd Annual Pumpkin Festival! Admission is $15, parking is $5, and kids 10 and under get in FREE. It's a cash-only event, but some vendors accept cards. Enjoy a craft show, live music, pumpkin games, hayrides, sweet treats, and much more!

Polk County

• Guided Hike through Se7en Wetlands - Oct 21st from 8-10am, Join a guided hike through Se7en Wetlands, a chance to explore the diverse wetland and upland ecosystems and encounter the abundant wildlife that inhabit this unique environment. Space is limited to 20 attendees, so sign up now! Be sure to come prepared with a hat, sunscreen, a reusable water bottle, and comfortable walking shoes.

• Main Street Bartow's FRIDAY FEST! - Oct 20th from 6-9pm, Main Street Bartow invites you to a block party featuring live music, a beer, wine and soda tent, and lots and lots of vendors. You're gonna love this event that just keeps getting bigger and bigger every month.

• Fall Festival and Trunk or Treat at Shepherd's Community UMC - Oct 21st from 4-7pm, Gather family and friends for a fun Fall Festival and Trunk or Treat. There will be food trucks, vendors, games, hay rides & candy!

Citrus County

• Zombie Run - Oct 21st from 8-11am, Taking place in Downtown Inverness, this thrilling event offers four interactive zombie zones and lets you choose whether to be a Zombie or a Survivor. Don your zombie athletic gear and lace up your shoes for this undead adventure.

• Cootertober Zombie Prom - Oct 20th from 6-10pm, Get ready for an unforgettable night of dancing and zombifying at the Depot at Liberty Park. With DJ Trae providing the tunes, a zombie-makeup station, a selfie spot, food trucks, and more, this event promises to be a blast that even the undead would enjoy. Plus, no prom is complete without a Prom King and Queen, and we'll be crowning the best zombies by the end of the evening. So, come dressed in your spookiest zombie prom attire and join the fun!

  Lee County

• October Music Walk - Oct 20th from 6-10pm, The streets of downtown Fort Myers come alive for a one night only concert showcasing musicians of all talent levels and a variety of styles! Free to attend! Fun for all ages.

• Fort Myers Beach Market - Oct 20th starting at 9am, Every Friday the downtown Fort Myers Beach Market will offer fresh produce, artisan foods, arts, crafts, clothing and more. Located in Times Square next to Lynn Hall Park.

Charlotte County

• Halloween Notte at the Charlotte County Fairgrounds - Oct 20, 21, & 22nd from 5-10pm, Halloween Notte is a spooktacular "Jekyll and Hyde" festival that celebrates childhood imagination and all things eerie. During the day, families can enjoy pumpkin patches, a petting zoo, bounce houses, tricky mazes, games, and more from 5 to 10 pm on three weekends. But when night falls, haunted houses come to life, and the fear factor rises. Delicious food and creative brews will tantalize your taste buds. New additions include a Canine Costume Contest on October 29, along with contests for youngsters and adults. Safe Trick or Treating will also be available on October 31.

• Haunted Mystery Tour of Punta Gorda - Every Saturday from 6-8pm, Embark on a chilling journey with seasoned ghost hunters as you explore the realms of specters, mysteries, and chaos. Delve into true accounts of paranormal activity during a leisurely twilight stroll through historic downtown Punta Gorda. Your guides will lead you to locations with documented paranormal occurrences, sharing stories of town founders, showcasing authentic Victorian homes, and revealing secrets like the last artesian well and the majestic banyan tree. As you reach the tour's midpoint, prepare for a live demonstration of ghost-hunting technology and receive hands-on training in using dowsing rods and pendulums for spirit communication.