A look at 21 Halloween events, festivals and kid-friendly activities in Lake County

Who's your boo? We are, of course.

The Daily Commercial has curated a comprehensive guide to all the fun Halloween happenings in Lake County.

The entire area is under an All-Hallow's Eve spell. Bwahahaha.

Check out the variety of events happening in the coming days. You'll be cursed if you miss out on the fun because nothing's scarier than FOMO on Halloween!

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 25

Storytime & Tiny Tots Trick or Treat

Have pre-K kids at home? Bring the little ones to Town of Lady Lake Library in costume dress up to walk around to the trick-or-treat stations. 10:30 a.m. Visit mylakelibrary.org for details or check for updates on the library's Facebook page.

FRIDAY, OCT. 27

Halloween Spooktacular & Haunted Hayride

Take a haunted hayride and pass by ghosts and goblins along the way. Bring your Halloween buckets to trick or treat with the crafters and vendors. Costume contest, pumpkin decorating, raffles and more will be featured. $3 for a 15-minute hayride. Takes place 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27 through Sunday, Oct 29. A costume contest will judge the most original for adults and kids on Sunday at 2 p.m. Pet costume contest will be Sunday at 3 p.m. Takes place at Charming Shop, 15438 CR 450, Umatilla. Visit the Facebook event page for more information and updates.

After-Hours Halloween Mixer

Join the Leesburg Young Professionals and Adams Homes for an All Hallow's Eve party. Costumes are encouraged, and there will be several contests. Music, fun, dancing, food and drinks, prizes and more will be on tap. Open to adults younger than 40, and those pretending to be under 40. Takes place at Adam Homes on Lake Griffin Reserve, 1012 Anchorage St., Leesburg. Admission is free but advance registration is required. Visit the Leesburg Area Chamber of Commerce's website at leesburgchamber.com.

A Special Needs Halloween Party

The city of Eustis is hosting its first Halloween Party for adults with special needs ages 18 and older on Saturday, Oct. 27, from 6 to 9 p.m. at 601 Northshore Drive. The $15 admission includes food and dancing. Costumes recommended. Visit the city of Eustis recreation department's Facebook page at facebook.com/EustisParks for more information and updates.

Fruitland Park's Halloween Party

Bring the kids. Fruitland Park's Halloween Party is for all ages. Best part: It's free. Dance party, games, costume contest and a haunted house will entertain partygoers at the event on Friday, Oct. 27, from 7 to 9 p.m., at the Gardenia Center, 205 W. Berckman St. Call 352-360-6734 for more information.

Dr. Grimley's Haunted Trail

Head to Sunsational Farms to explore two themed trails and one that will have you rambling in the dark. The event offers four haunting experiences chock full of creepy clowns, a zombie army and other menacing surprises. From 8 to 9:30 p.m., attendees can navigate Cody’s Revenge and Amanda’s Army of Decay. After 9:30 p.m., the lights will be turned off for those brave enough to enter the trails for the ”Lights Out” experience with nothing but a tiny hand-held light the farms will provide to illuminate your way.

Parental discretion is advised. Be forewarned that loud and sudden sounds, low lighting, strobe and moving light effects, fog and other disorienting effects, and sudden motions will be used, and there will be mature subject matter. Wear appropriate clothing and shoes (and insect repellant) for navigating woods outdoors. For more information, visit drgrimleyshauntedtrail.com.

Haunted Mote-Morris House

The Leesburg Parks and Recreation Department hosts a Halloween attraction in a beloved historic landmark, the historic Mote Morris House at 1195 W. Magnolia St. — an estate so old that some might think that it is really haunted. Takes place Friday through Sunday, Oct. 27-29, from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Admission is $5 at the door, and organizers say it's appropriate for all ages. For more information, call the Leesburg Recreation Complex at 352-728-9885 or email them at recreation.dept@leesburgflorida.gov.

Haunting on the Emerald Cut

Something wicked this way rows ... this Friday and Saturday. Kayakers can launch from King's Landing and paddle upstream for just under a mile and once you arrive at the top, you can float through a haunted Emerald Cut. Bring your own vessel or rent a kayak for a fun spooky time on the water. Costumes encouraged; food truck will be onsite. The best dressed will receive a free 4-hour kayak rental for two. A bonfire follows the float. Takes place Oct. 27-28, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. $69 each for rental; $34 for those bringing their own vessel. For more information, visit kingslandingfl.com/thehauntingonemeraldcutevent.

Boo! Festival

The fun-filled annual Halloween tradition haunts downtown Tavares once again on Friday, Oct. 27, from 6 to 9 p.m. The fest includes a large Trunk or Treat spanning several blocks with loads of free candy, the "Creepy Tent" for kids, games, a kids' costume contest, movie in the park, DJ music, performers and more. Follow the Boo Fest Facebook event page for updates.

SATURDAY, OCT. 28

Lake Sumter State College Monster Dash

Do you know what's frightful? Sacrificing your good health to a preventable, chronic and possibly fatal condition. The Lake-Sumter State College Foundation presents the LSSC Monster Dash 5k/10k to get Leesburgers out to be healthy this Halloween on Saturday, Oct. 28, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. for a great cause — toward scholarships and tuition at Lake Sumter State College. Meet up at the college at 9501 U.S. 441, Leesburg. (Registration starts at 6:30 a.m.) Visit the foundation's Facebook page for information.

Groveland & Eustis kid-friendly celebrations

Look for the giant orange at 40541 Roger Giles Road, the landmark for Sunsational Farms, where a family-friendly tent-or-treat celebration entertains the kiddies from 3 to 6 p.m. this Saturday, Oct. 28. Down south in Lake County you're invited to let the "ghoul times roll" in Groveland from 4:30 to 7 p.m., also on Saturday, at Lake David Park, 450 S. Lake Ave. Tricked-out cars, tasty treats, spook awards and a family-friendly variety of entertainment can be enjoyed. Both events are free. Visit groveland-fl.gov for more information.

Haunted Halloween Maze & The Dark Forest

By day, you can participate in wholesome fun at Lake Catherine Farms. After dark, its woodsy lands become The Dark Forest, with creatures and other mysterious things emerging from the shadows to surprise and frighten.

A separate attraction, the Halloween Haunted Maze gets its inspiration from a spooky lost farm girl tale: “Catherine Returns,” inspired by 100 years of ghost stories about the farm and a little girl who disappeared a century ago.

Parking and admission to the blueberry farm at 5849 Lake Catherine Road, Groveland, are both free, but the Dark Forest admission is $26 per person. Takes place this Friday and Saturday, Oct. 27-28, from 7:30 to 10 p.m.

Sandals, flip flops and shorts are not recommended. You don't want a scary tick or spider bite. Also, the trail may be too intense for children and is not recommended for children 12 and younger. Children 15 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Admission to the Haunted Halloween Maze is $17 a person if purchased in advance online; $19 a person if purchased on the farm during hours of operation. Check out lakecatherineblueberries.com/dark-forest.html for more details.

Halloween pub crawls in Leesburg & Mount Dora

An event with spirit — and spirits, Leesburg's Halloween Pub Crawl will invade downtown with a zombie horde of revelers dressing up in costume, frequenting Main Street mainstays. Venues include McCracken's Irish Pub, Wolf Branch Brewing, Magnolia's Oyster Bar and several others.

Whether you are a drinker, former drinker, never-drinker or designated driver/schlepper, you can pop into the participating downtown haunts at your own pace.

The self-guided group crawl has no requirements. Come and go as you please. Wristbands cost only $5 and go to great cause, the Downtown Leesburg Business Association. What do you get? A hefty discount at each establishment, which will serve a special Halloween-inspired discounted drink just for the event. Of course, you must be 21 and older to participate. Visit tickets.leesburgpubcrawl.com for a full list of venues and to purchase tickets.

Head to the mountain, Mount Dora that is, to enjoy a teensy bit of elevation with your libation as you walk up and down the downtown streets to local bars and restaurants for Mount Dora’s Crawloween 2023.

Participating venues include The Funky Monkey – Gastrobar, Serendipity Brews, Wolfbranch Brewing, The Nest at Papillo, Maggie's Attic and more. It all happens Saturday, Oct. 28, from 8 to 11 p.m. Tickets are $5 plus tax and fee ($7.68 total).  A costume contest for a chance to win $200 for best individual costume and $400 for best group costume. Prizes will be announced at 10 p.m, at The Funky Monkey, 411 N. Donnelly St. Purchase tickets on EventBrite.com.

Costume Party w/Esther at Wolf Branch-Eustis

Join beloved beertender Esther Wilbanks for an evening of hoppy hellacious Halloween fun at Wolf Branch Brewing in downtown Eustis, 119 N. Bay St., the first of the many popular brewlings that have popped up across north central Florida. The fun starts at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28. For more information, visit their Facebook page or call 352-602-4564.

SUNDAY, OCT. 29

Scream Scenes: Abandoned

Fortunately, Lake Square Mall isn't one of those spooky overgrown abandoned malls, like the one in the Upside-Down in "Stranger Things." That said, Scream Scenes: Abandoned haunted attraction will invoke the horror by the Bath and Body Works at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 and $10 and the event takes place on Friday through Sunday, Oct. 27-29, and on Halloween evening. The mall is located at 10401 U.S. 441, Leesburg. Visit lakesquaremall.com/events for more information.

MONDAY, OCT. 30

Lake Port Square Trunk or Treat

Take your costumed offspring to Lake Port Square, an independent living community in Leesburg, for a family-friendly Trunk or Treat event on Monday, Oct. 30, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. All attendees, all ages are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes and join in the fun. Lake Port Square Health Center is located at 701 Lake Port Blvd.m Leesburg. For more information, visit lakeportseniorliving.com.

Chills in the Hills Haunted Mansion

Wander the halls of the Howey Mansion, the surrounding estate and more, where you can learn about the untold stories of the house's occupants. Wear appropriate shoes for walking on uneven surfaces, dirt and sand. Flashlights recommended. Drinks and snack items will be available for purchase on-site during the event. Arrive no earlier than 30 minutes prior to your entry time. Parking is limited. Takes place Monday, Oct. 30, 5-9 p.m. at 1001 Citrus Ave., Howey-in-the-Hills. Tickets are $35 plus tax and fees ($39.59 total). Register at tickettailor.com.

TUESDAY, OCT. 31

Paranormal author tells ghostly tales in Lady Lake

Retired, on vacation or have the day off? Visit the Lady Lake Library for real-life spooky tales as told by an award-winning author. John Russell shares his take on ghostly encounters and answers questions about his encounters while investigating several psychic and paranormal disciplines. He has been featured on more than 100 different radio shows and podcasts including Coast to Coast AM. Hear Russell speak on the second floor of the library at 2 p.m. Visit mylakelibrary.org for details or check for updates on the library's Facebook page.

Scooter's Monster Bash & Thrill the Villages

The free All Hallow's Eve fete, organized by DJ Scooter, takes place from 5 to 9 and will feature music, dancing, costume contests, trunk or treating and food/market vendors. You don't have to be a Villages resident to attend. Also at the bash, the Thrill the Villages ensemble will perform in the annual worldwide simultaneous dance to Michael Jackson's "Thriller" at 7:30 p.m. It all goes down at the Spanish Springs Town Square, 1181 Main St., The Villages. Proceeds from sales will go to the Humane Society of Sumter County. Visit thevillagesentertainment.com.

Halloween Dora Canal Tour

Ahoy, buccaneers! Prizes will be awarded for best pirate costumes during Rusty Anchor's Halloween Dora Canal Tour, which takes the grown-ups out and night into the foggy marshes and tributaries in Mount Dora from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 31, at 400 W. Fourth Ave., Mount Dora. A goodie bag is included. BYOB permitted. Tickets are $35 each. Visit Facebook.com/RustyAnchorMountDora.

Trick-or-Treat Mount Dora

If you don't have a neighborhood to trick or treat in, the Mount Dora Trick or Treat community-wide event invites kids in costume to hit up establishment owners who will be open late to hand out candy and other surprises. Takes place from 6-8 p.m. in the vicinity of Donnelly Avenue and Fifth Street. Visit the Historic Mount Dora Facebook event page for updates.

This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: Halloween events, kid-friendly activities in Lake County, Florida