One of Tampa’s sweetest fall traditions is turning 15. A Night at the Museum returns to the Tampa Bay History Center on Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 2:00 to 6:30 p.m. — an afternoon of family-friendly Halloween fun inside one of the city’s favorite museums, right on Water Street in downtown Tampa.
For 15 years, this celebration has brought the community together to trick-or-treat among the exhibits. Families can wander every floor collecting candy at trick-or-treat stations, meet costumed characters, join games and hands-on crafts, and enjoy entertainment and photo opportunities at every turn — all surrounded by the stories of Florida’s past, from pirates and pioneers to the Touchton Map Library’s treasures.
It is Halloween with a happy twist: costumes are welcome, the scares are nowhere to be found, and the history comes alive after hours in the friendliest way. Tickets are $20, and timed entry helps keep the afternoon relaxed for little ghosts and goblins — the History Center recommends choosing your arrival time when you book.
The Tampa Bay History Center, a nonprofit Smithsonian Affiliate on the Tampa Riverwalk, has made A Night at the Museum a rite of fall for local families, and its 15th edition promises the biggest candy haul yet. Costumes on, treat bags ready: Saturday, October 24 is the date.
Photo: James E. Scholz / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
