Orlando is preparing for a busy autumn, with 93 days of Halloween-themed events, food festivals, and cultural celebrations across the city. The lineup includes activities at major theme parks, culinary experiences, and local festivals aimed at visitors of all ages.
“From experiencing a taste of our dining scene at a discounted price to the Halloween thrills that you can only find in the Halloween Vacation Capital, Orlando offers something for every traveler this fall,” said Casandra Matej, president and CEO for Visit Orlando. “Lively local events, ranging from our local LGBTQ+ pride celebration to our Hispanic heritage celebration, round out the diverse offerings.”
Among the highlights are popular Halloween attractions at theme parks. Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World Resort runs on select nights through November 1 at Magic Kingdom Park. This event features entertainment such as Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular! at Cinderella Castle, Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular fireworks show, Disney Junior Jam for children, Mickey’s “Boo-to-You” Halloween Parade, trick-or-treat trails, costumed characters, and themed attractions.
Universal Orlando Resort will host its annual Halloween Horror Nights from September 1 to November 4. This year brings ten haunted houses inspired by movies and original concepts—including Stranger Things 4 and The Last of Us—alongside five scare zones and two live shows.
SeaWorld Orlando offers two seasonal events: Howl-O-Scream returns on select nights between September 8 and October 31 with haunted houses, scare zones, nighttime rides, an interactive bar experience, and a live show. For families with young children, SeaWorld Spooktacular runs weekends from September 16 to October 29 and includes trick-or-treating opportunities as part of regular park admission.
LEGOLAND Florida Resort presents Brick or Treat Monster Party on weekends from September 16 through October 29. Included with park admission are new shows featuring LEGO characters and a cinematic experience designed for families.
The city also features several food-related events this fall. Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining is back through October 1 with more than 130 restaurants offering three-course prix-fixe menus priced at $40 or $60 under a new tiered system; this year adds 22 new restaurants and eight recognized by the MICHELIN Guide.
SeaWorld Orlando’s Craft Beer Festival continues until September 4 with over 100 craft beverages alongside specialty food items paired with nightly fireworks displays during Ignite.
At EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival presented by CORKCICLE (running through November 18), guests can sample dishes from over twenty-five global marketplaces around World Showcase. New menu options debut on September 22 as part of Disney100—the centennial celebration of The Walt Disney Company.
Central Florida Veg Fest takes place October 28 in Orlando Festival Park near downtown. Now in its eighteenth year, it features educational exhibits focused on vegan cuisine along with over two hundred vendors and one hundred contributors presenting food demos and lifestyle ideas.
The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic returns November 10–11 for its fourteenth year. Attendees can enjoy unlimited tastings from award-winning hotel restaurants along with wine selections from around the world.
Several cultural festivals are scheduled throughout the season. Come Out With Pride Orlando marks its nineteenth year on October 21 at Lake Eola Park downtown; activities include live entertainment by local artists and celebrity headliners plus The Most Colorful Parade featuring over one hundred groups followed by a fireworks finale over Lake Eola.
Festival Calle Orange takes place October 27 as Central Florida’s largest Latino event covering ten city blocks downtown with four stages hosting musical performances highlighting Hispanic culture alongside authentic foods served by more than forty vendors.
Fall Fiesta in the Park celebrates its fifty-second edition November 4–5 at Lake Eola Park where hundreds of artists’ booths join food vendors live music acts—and kids’ activities surround visitors amid seasonal scenery.
The Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) returns to Tinker Field History Plaza November 10–12 bringing three days of electronic dance music acts—over one hundred twenty performers—plus carnival rides and art installations.
Visit Orlando serves as the official tourism association representing more than sixteen hundred member companies across Central Florida’s tourism sector; additional information about upcoming events is available online at VisitOrlando.com.
