Halloween gets a splash of sea life in Tampa this month. Guppyween, presented by BayCare Kids, returns to The Florida Aquarium from October 24 to 31, 2026, a family-friendly celebration made for the littlest monsters and merfolk, pirates and princesses, and everything in between.
Children in costume receive free admission with a paid parent or guardian, redeemable at the Aquarium ticket window. Complimentary trick-or-treating runs on October 24, 25 and 31, and the days are packed with animal encounters featuring creepy critters, appearances by Rocky, Tango and Xochi, and one of the event’s favorite sights: costumed divers carving pumpkins underwater.
Members get a head start with a free Member Guppyween night on Friday, October 23, from 6 to 9 p.m. On Sunday, October 25, an early Day of Discovery session from 8 to 9 a.m. adapts lights and sounds for guests with sensory differences and their families, with all the fun and none of the fright.
The Florida Aquarium, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit at 701 Channelside Drive, is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Costumes ready? The sea creatures are waiting.
Photo: MatthewHoobin / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
