October may just be the happiest month of the year in Orlando. The Halloween Vacation Capital goes all out, and autumn brings a wave of festivals, food events, concerts and family fun across the city.
Halloween is everywhere this month. Families can pick Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World, SeaWorld Spooktacular or Gators, Ghosts and Goblins at Gatorland. Grown-ups get their chills at Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando and Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld.
Fall flavor is in the air too. Southern Hill Farms hosts its fall festival every weekend through mid-November with a corn maze, wagon rides, live music and u-pick flower fields. On October 24, the 4Roots Harvest Festival brings a pumpkin patch, crafts, a farmers market and costume contests for kids and pets to the farm campus near downtown.
Food lovers are in for a treat. The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival runs through November 21 with flavors from six continents, while Wine Bar George at Disney Springs serves up its October “Uncorked” series with wine dinners, tastings and a truffle-and-wine pairing workshop. On October 24, the free International Vegan Food Festival takes over Wall Street Plaza downtown.
Music fills Kia Center all month, from the Jonas Brothers on October 6 to Weezer, Journey and Teddy Swims. Sports fans can catch the Orlando Solar Bears’ season opener on October 18 and the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon weekend October 22-25. And there is plenty to enjoy for free: Come Out With Pride on October 17 at Lake Eola, a free Fall Family Day at the Art & History Museums of Maitland on October 3, and a free Orlando Philharmonic concert under the stars on October 10.
Photo: FusionFest (Thuyvi Gates), via Visit Orlando
