St. Augustine, Florida, recognized as the oldest city in the United States, is offering a range of Halloween-themed activities throughout October. The city’s historic sites and centuries-old streets provide the backdrop for events focused on local legends and ghost stories.
Several guided tours will explore St. Augustine’s haunted history. Night Watchman Ghost Tours presents stories from the perspective of historical night watchmen, while Ghosts & Gravestones takes participants on a trolley ride to various sites in the downtown area. Other tours include St. Augustine Dark History Tour, Ghost Tours of St. Augustine, Old Jail After Dark, Nightly Spirits Ghost Tours, A Ghostly Encounter, GhoSt Augustine, and After Dark Investigations.
Florida Water Tours’ Moonlit Mysteries: Haunted History Boat Tour operates Thursday through Saturday evenings and explores supernatural tales along the water. The Beetlejuice Pub Crawl with Tasting Tours offers guided visits to haunted venues on Fridays and Saturdays.
Special events are also scheduled for specific dates in October. The Ximenez-Fatio House Museum hosts “Mortality & Mourning: Women in Black” every Friday and Saturday evening during the month, highlighting 19th-century mourning customs. The St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum holds its Dark of the Moon Ghost Experience each weekend night in October, allowing visitors to climb to the top after dark.
On October 18, Old St. Johns County Jail: A Haunting Experience will open its doors for an evening event at the former prison site. From October 24-26, EstuSCARY Haunted Trail at GTM Research Reserve invites guests to walk a decorated trail with themed scares.
Other activities include Sykes Family Farms Crop Maze open weekends from October 4-November 2; CROCtoberfest – Brew at the ZOO!, an adults-only beer sampling event; Improv Spooktacular at Third Space Improv running Saturdays from October 18-November 1; “Dark and Stormy Night” storytelling at Limelight Theatre on October 22; Jail Break 5K charity run on October 25; Scream City Con horror convention on October 25-26; Headless Bangers Costume Ball on October 25; Poetry Open Mic at The Waterworks on October 26; and Séance Sketches art workshop at St. Augustine Art Association.
Family-friendly trick-or-treating options are available as well. Creatures of the Night at St. Alligator Farm Zoological Park runs from October 24-26 with treats and animal encounters for children. Ximenez-Fatio House Museum hosts daytime trick-or-treating during its Harvest Festival on October 25. Additional events include Tricks and Treats at St. Augustine Beach Police Department (October 24), Hastings Trunk or Treat & Movie in the Park (October 25), and the annual St. George Street Trick or Treat where local businesses hand out candy.
Florida’s Historic Coast encompasses not only St. Augustine but also Ponte Vedra Beach, Hastings, Elkton, St. Johns, and over forty miles of Atlantic beaches between Daytona Beach and Jacksonville (www.FloridasHistoricCoast.com). Visitor information centers are located throughout these areas to assist travelers.
For more details about these events or travel planning resources for Florida’s Historic Coast region—including social media contacts—visitors can consult official tourism websites or contact Barbara Golden, Communications Manager for Florida’s Historic Coast.
