As the summer days give way to cooler fall evenings, the Clearwater area turns into a spooky haven with a thrilling mix of frightening fun and charming seasonal festivities. Whether you’re a thrill seeker or a family looking for festive activities, there’s something for everyone when the witches, ghouls and ghosts come out to play.
With our Clearwater Beach vacation rentals, you’ll find the perfect home base for all these spine tingling festivities. Some are October only, while the ghost tours run all year, so this guide works whether you are here for Halloween week or a quiet November break.
We checked every date with the organisers on October 29, 2026. Halloween 2026 falls on a Saturday, and a few of this year’s events are in their final nights; we have noted which ones, and what to expect next fall.
| Event | When | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Howl-O-Scream, Busch Gardens | Select nights, Sept 11 to Oct 31, 2026 | Teens and adults |
| DK Farms Fall Fest, Largo | October, weekend extras through Nov 1 | Families |
| Silent Slayer Ghost Tours | Year round | Ghost hunters |
| St. Peter’s Ghosts | Every Friday, 7 pm | Adults and families |
| Roser Park Ghostfest | Late fall; 2026 date to be announced | History lovers |
Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens
Just a short drive from our vacation rentals takes you to the heart pounding excitement of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, where fear and fun collide at Howl-O-Scream. On event nights the park turns into a nightmare you won’t soon forget, with haunted houses, eerie scare zones and sinister shows.
In 2026 it runs on select nights from September 11 to October 31, starting at 7 pm, with the park gates open from 5 pm. It is a separately ticketed event, so a daytime park ticket does not get you in, and costumes are not allowed. The last nights this year are October 29 and 31, so if you are in town this week, book fast. It is intense, and better suited to teens and adults than young children. Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream.
Busch Gardens is about an hour from Clearwater Beach. For a daytime visit, see our guide to spending a day at Busch Gardens.
Fall Festival at DK Farms
For a family focused fall outing, head to the Fall Festival at DK Farms & Gardens, 1750 Lake Avenue SE in Largo, about 8 miles or a 17 minute drive from Pier 60. Picture a pumpkin patch ripe for picking, the scent of the farm’s famous donuts and kettle corn, fresh cider, and children bouncing in inflatable houses.
Hop on the hayride for a scenic loop past the water on the property, meet the farm animals, visit the rabbit touch area, try gem mining or challenge your friends on the 18 hole mini golf course. Pony rides, bounce houses and the pumpkin cannon are weekend extras, and after dark the farm hosts its Fearville nights for older thrill seekers.
In 2026 the fall festival runs every day in October, with weekend activities through November 1. Admission is from $22 before taxes and fees and includes a $6 activity ticket, and children 30 inches and under get in free. Pets are not allowed. DK Farms & Gardens.
Silent Slayer Ghost Tours
If your taste for the paranormal is insatiable, Silent Slayer Ghost Tours are calling your name. Founded in 2021 and based in nearby Safety Harbor, about 11 miles from the beach, the company runs guided walking ghost tours in Safety Harbor and Tarpon Springs, along with paranormal investigations at local haunted locations and themed bus tours.
Guides share spine chilling local tales, and on the investigations you get to try ghost hunting equipment yourself. Tours run all year, not just in October, so check the calendar for dates and book ahead. Call 727-686-1582 or see Silent Slayer Tours.
St. Peter’s Ghosts
Looking for a combination of eerie exploration and socializing? St. Peter’s Ghosts offers just that. This haunted history tour guides you through the streets of downtown St. Petersburg, telling the darker stories of the Sunshine City along a walk of about 1.3 miles, with three pub stops along the way.
Tours run every Friday at 7 pm. Tickets are $25 for adults, and children 10 and under go free, so families can come along too. St. Peter’s Ghosts. Downtown St. Pete is about 40 minutes from Clearwater Beach, so pair the tour with an early dinner nearby.
Roser Park ghost tours
Nothing quite captures the spirit of the season like a ghost tour, and St. Petersburg’s historic Roser Park neighborhood offers one that’s as spooky as it is educational. Its neighborhood association hosts Ghostfest, which in 2025 took place on November 15, from 4 to 9 pm, with trolley ghost tours led by local paranormal researcher Dr. Brandy Stark.
No date has been announced for 2026 yet, so keep an eye on the Historic Roser Park website if you are visiting in November. Roser Park is about 23 miles from Clearwater Beach, around 40 minutes by car.
Good to know: Earlier versions of this guide listed a Roser Park Halloween Block Party on October 19 with a market and a movie under the stars. That event is not on the neighborhood’s 2026 calendar, so we have replaced it with Ghostfest.
Closer to the beach: the Jolley Trolley also runs a Haunted Dunedin tour. Check its website for dates and prices.
Stay with Sunny Orange Stays this fall
Fall is one of our favorite seasons here: warm afternoons for the pool, cooler evenings for ghost walks, and quieter beaches once the summer crowds have gone. Here are three homes that suit a fall getaway. Flamingo Pool House in Clearwater has two bedrooms, sleeps five and has a private pool with a backyard bar. Sea Board Pool House, also in Clearwater, has two bedrooms, sleeps four and has a pool surrounded by palms. Coastal Breeze has four bedrooms, sleeps eight and has a private heated pool, about a four minute walk to the beach.
Flamingo Pool House
Sea Board Pool House
Coastal Breeze
Questions we get asked
When is Howl-O-Scream 2026?
Select nights from September 11 to October 31, 2026, from 7 pm, with gates opening at 5 pm. It is a separately ticketed event.
Are there ghost tours near Clearwater Beach after Halloween?
Yes. Silent Slayer Ghost Tours run all year in Safety Harbor and Tarpon Springs, and St. Peter’s Ghosts runs every Friday at 7 pm in St. Petersburg.
Is the DK Farms Fall Festival good for young kids?
Yes. Daytime activities include a pumpkin patch, hayride, farm animals and mini golf, with bounce houses and pony rides on weekends. Children 30 inches and under get in free.
Can you wear a costume to Howl-O-Scream?
No. Busch Gardens does not allow costumes at Howl-O-Scream.
Let’s plan it
Plan Your Fall Getaway
From haunted houses to pumpkin patches and ghost walks, fall around Clearwater Beach is full of frightening fun. Find your home base for the season.
See you on the sand.