Fall fun: Crop mazes, haunted houses and other autumn-themed things to do in Jacksonville
Autumn in Florida isn't really like autumn in the rest of the country. Here, it's pretty much just like summer except we spend more time watching the Weather Channel.
But that doesn't mean there aren't fall-themed activities aplenty, so we compiled a list of fall-themed events — not things that are happening in the fall, but things that are happening because it's fall. We found haunted houses, Oktoberfests, crop mazes, scary theater productions, costume balls and pumpkin festivals to keep you busy until it's time to dig out your sweatshirts and brave Florida's winter months.
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Frightening experiences
13th Floor Haunted House
Sept 16-Oct. 31 at 9230 Arlington Expressway
13th Floor Jacksonville has four new haunts this season: The Deadlands, the Rot Shop, Depths of Darkness and Blackthorne Manor: Book of Lost Souls, plus escape games and axe-throwing. Info: 13thfloorjacksonville.com
Haunt Nights
Opening Oct. 6 at Adventure Landing
The Beaches waterpark is scheduled to close and be replaced with luxury condos, but they are planning to sneak in one more Haunt Nights before the wrecking balls show up. Last year they had two haunted houses. Info: hauntnightsjax.com
Haunted Trail
Oct. 27-28 at Conner’s A-Maize-ing Acres in Hilliard
No flashlights allowed and anyone 16 or under has to be accompanied by an adult, so you know they aren’t kidding around about the “extreme haunted trail through the corn field.” It runs two nights, from 7-10 p.m. Reservations required. Info: connerscornmaze.com
Crop mazes
Conner’s A-Maize-ing Acres
Sept. 30-Oct. 31 at Conner’s A-Maize-ing Acres in Hilliard
Corn maze in the shape of a giant teddy bear, hay maze, cow train, pumpkin patch, duck races, tractor-seat see-saws. Night-time wagon rides and flashlight maze on Oct. 14 and 21. Info: connerscornmaze.com
Amazing Grace Crop Maze
Oct. 6-28 and Nov. 3-4 at Amazing Grace Family Farm, Green Cove Springs
Dreams Come True-themed crop maze, pumpkin patch, corn crib, cow train and farm animals. Info: agcropmaze.com
Sykes Family Farm Corn Maze
Oct. 7-29, at Sykes Family Farm in Elkton
Nine-acre corn maze featuring country singer Reba McEntire, plus hayrides, cow milking station, duck races, cow train and farm animals. Info: sycofarms.com
More things to do this month: 100 fun things to do in Jacksonville in September
Events
Wizard Fest
Sept. 14 at Underbelly
Traveling show celebrates magic, witches and wizards with cosplay, games, trivia and specially concocted libations. Info: wizardfest.com
Pumpkin Festival
Sept. 30 at Wesley Wells Farm, St. Augustine
Pick out a pumpkin, take photos with animals, stroll through the sunflowers and see what local vendors and food trucks have to offer. Info: visitstaugustine.com
Almost Fall Craft and Vendor Festival
Sept. 30 at the Junior Women’s Club of Keystone Heights
Fall festival returns for a second year. Info: exploreclay.com
Atlantic Beach Fall Festival
Sept. 30 at Gail Baker Community Center
Family-friendly event features games, live music and fall fun. Info: coab.us
Oktoberfest with Wunderbar
Oct. 1 at Friday Musicale
Local band plays German favorites. Info: fridaymusicale.com
Beaches Oktoberfest
Oct. 6-7 at Seawalk Pavilion, Jacksonville Beach
Two days of live music, cold beer and German food. Info: beachesoktoberfest.com
Croctoberfest Brew at the Zoo
Oct. 7 at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm
Live music, lawn games and local brewers, surrounded by every variety of alligator, gharial and crocodile you’ve ever heard of. Info: alligatorfarm.com
Community Halloween Bash
Oct. 7 at the World Golf Village
Fifth annual Halloween party with trick-or-treating, live entertainment, food trucks and bounce houses. Info: jacksonvillebusinessconnections.com
Spooktacular
Oct. 13-19, 19-22, 26-31 at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
The zoo gets mildly spooky after hours for the 36th annual Spooktacular. Kids can trick-or treat at seven candy and three toy stations, and “scare zones” are sprinkled around the zoo grounds. Info: jacksonvillezoo.org/spooktacular
Redneck Olympics
Oct. 14 at Conner’s A-Maize-ing Acres in Hilliard
A full day (10 a.m. to 8 p.m.) of family-friendly farm-themed games. You can register on-site to participate. Info: connerscornmaze.com
Fall Festival
Oct. 14 at HorsePlay Therapy Center, St. Augustine
Fund-raising festival for the center that uses horses in speech, physical and occupational therapy includes a pumpkin patch, pony rides, food trucks, petting zoo and food trucks. Info: facebook.com/horseplaytherapycenter
Oktoberfest Beer and Brats 5K
Oct. 14 at San Marco Square
Male runners are encouraged to dress in lederhosen, females in dirndls for a 5-kilometer fun run, followed by beer and brats in the square. Info: 1stplacesports.com
Halloween Doors and More
Oct. 14 at the Jacksonville Fairgrounds
Fund-raiser for Community PedsCare features 14-foot “fantasy doors” where kids can trick or treat, plus live performances and creepy makeovers. Info: thefoundationcares.org
Old Fashioned Farm Day
Oct. 14 in Penney Farms
Antique farm equipment and classic cars will be on display, along with carnival games, food trucks and old-fashioned crafts. Info: exploreclay.com
Stories for Kids by Kids: Spooktacular
Oct. 15 at Jacoby Symphony Hall
Students from Duval County Public Schools wrote scary stories that were set to music and will be performed in a kid-targeted concert by the Jacksonville Symphony. Info: jaxsymphony.org
St. Augustine Orchestra: Halloween Spooktacular
Oct. 20 at Tocoi Creek High School
Semi-spooky Halloween favorites from all-volunteer musical group. Info: staugustineorchestra.com
Creatures of the Night
Oct. 20-22 at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm
Trick-or-treating and creepy displays – just don’t wander too far off the paths. Info: alligatorfarm.com
Boos & Brews
Oct. 21 at Congaree & Penn
Fall festival features a pumpkin patch, wagon rides, food and drink and live music from the Junco Royals, Benders Duo and Rambler Kane. Info: congareeandpenn.com
Orange Park Fall Festival
Oct. 21 at Orange Park Town Hall
Artists, vendors, entertainers and food trucks pack the grounds at U.S. 17 and Kingsley Avenue for the 41st annual fest. Info: exploreclay.com
Hops Hounds and Halloween 5K
Oct. 22 at Kanine Social
The dog park/craft brewery/coffee bar is holding a dog-friendly 5-kilometer run, complete with dog lanes and water stops. There’s also a costume contest for dogs, followed by a party and awards ceremony. Info: kaninesocial.com
Ghost of JU Write-a-Thon
Oct. 25 at the Council Building Courtyard, Jacksonville University
Three students will take 15-minute turns, building on one another’s work and writing the 7th annual tale of the Ghost of Jacksonville University. Last year’s event raised $1,200 for literacy and scholarship programs. Info: ju.edu
Tides & Tails
Oct. 26 at One Ocean Hotel & Resort, Atlantic Beach
Halloween-themed pet party benefits the Jacksonville Humane Society. Info: jaxhumane.org
Haunted History Tour
Oct. 27 at the St. Marys Little Theatre in St. Marys, Ga.
Eight venues in downtown St. Marys will be populated by costume characters from nightmare and legend. Info: stmaryslittletheatre.com
Creepin’ It Real
Oct. 27 at the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
Family-friendly scavenger hunt and treats at the Riverside Avenue museum. Info: cummermuseum.org
‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’
Oct. 28 at the Florida Theatre
The historic downtown venue has been shut down all summer for renovations and they’re choosing to reopen with the campy film where audiences are notorious for shooting squirtguns and throwing rice and toast at the screen. (For the record, no rice, toast, hot dogs, prunes or outside food will be permitted in the theater.) Info: floridatheatre.com
Halloween Trunk or Treat
Oct. 28 at 4852 Town Center Parkway
Duval Car Club Cancer Awareness is teaming up with Mission BBQ for its fourth annual Halloween event, with decorated cars, a visit from the Roar of the Jaguars cheerleaders and trick-or-treating for kids. Info: dccca23.org
Dab Day: Halloween Edition
Oct. 28 at the Glass Factory
Medical marijuana-themed Halloween party, with art, DJs, live music and vendors on hand for ages 18 and older. Info: 710dabday.com
Headless Bangers Costume Ball
Oct. 28 at World Golf Village Renaissance Resort
Costume party for ages 18 and older, with live music, psychics, card readers and costume contest. Info: visitstaugustine.com
Historic Springfield Bike-a-Boo!
Oct. 29 at the Main Street Food Park
Pumpkin patch and decorated bicycle tour of one of Jacksonville’s most historic neighborhoods. Info: sparcouncil.org
Jacksonville Halloween Community Event
Oct. 29 at Riverwalk Art Square, under the Fuller Warren Bridge
This will be the second year for this event, held in the Riverside Arts Market space off Riverside Avenue. They’ll have candy, live entertainment and arts-and-crafts vendors. Info: facebook.com
Evergreen Pumpkin Run
Oct. 29 at Evergreen Cemetery
5-kilometer and 10-mile races through a historic cemetery, with the 10-miler counting as part of the Jacksonville Grand Prix. Info: 1stplacesports.com
Two Girls One Ghost
Nov. 4 at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
The hosts of the popular Two Girls One Ghost podcast discuss their paranormal investigations. Info: pvconcerthall.com
Veterans Day Parade
Nov. 11 in downtown Jacksonville
The annual parade will wind its way through downtown streets starting at 11:01 a.m. Info: specialevents.coj.net
Fall Garden Concert
Nov. 18 at the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
The Band Be Easy performs in the riverfront gardens. Bring your own blankets, chairs and picnic supplies. Info: cummermuseum.org
Theater and dance
‘Jekyll and Hyde: The Musical’
Oct. 13-22 at St. Mary’s Little Theatre in St. Marys, Ga.
Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic horror tale is set to music. Info: stmaryslittletheatre.com
‘Roberto Forleo’s Dracula’
Oct. 13-14 at the Moran Theatre
Who knew the Fanged Wonder could dance? The Florida Ballet opens its 45th season with a spooky performance, accompanied by the Jacksonville Symphony. Info: jaxevents.com
‘The Rocky Horror Show Live’
Oct. 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 and 28 at Alhambra Theatre & Dining
Brad, Janet, Riff Raff, Eddie and the whole castle gang take a jump to the left then a step to the right live on stage. Info: alhambrajax.com
‘Skele-Tones Halloween Spooktacular’
Oct. 14-21 at the Spotlight Events Center, Fleming Island
Kid-friendly Halloween-themed musical starring the Skele-Twins. Info: spotlighteventscenter.com
‘Night of the Living Dead’
Oct. 20-29 at the Island Theater, Fleming Island
Patrons would be well-advised to leave their brains at home, what with all the zombies wandering around the stage. Info: theislandtheater.com
‘The Addams Family’
Oct. 20-Nov. 5 at Players By the Sea
They’re creepy and they’re kookie and, well, you know the rest. Info: playersbythesea.org
‘The Rocky Horror Show’
Oct. 26-28 at the Amelia Musical Playhouse, Fernandina Beach
The classic camp tale plays out live on stage. Info: ameliamusicalplayhouse.com
‘Spookley the Square Pumpkin'
Oct. 28-29 at the Limelight Theatre in St. Augustine
Kid-friendly musical about a pumpkin that just doesn’t fit in. Info: limelight-theatre.org
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Top Fall festivals, haunted houses, pumpkin patches in Jacksonville
