By Mariana Navarrete, Arts & Culture Editor
October is here and so is Halloween. The Campus Activities Board (CAB) of Saint Leo University has some events organized for this month with Halloween-related activities on campus. If you want to explore outside campus, there are some events around the Dade City-Wesley Chapel area too. It does not have to be Oct. 31 yet to go to a haunted house!
The annual three-day Family Fall Festival will be from Oct. 15-17 at the SCC Patio and Bowl. There will be a carnival with various rides and food, a tailgate, fireworks, and more.
On Thursday, Oct. 21, the CAB will host another carnival at the SCC Patio and Bowl. This carnival includes an interactive haunted house and numerous events inside and outside the Saint Leo dining hall. Some of the activities happening will be cake walks and various food trucks among others. The games and food will go from 4:30 p.m. –7 p.m. The haunted house will start at 6 p.m. and close at 9 p.m.
The Halloween Bingo will be on Tuesday, Oct. 26. It will be held on the Kirk lawn or the SCC Boardrooms depending on the weather conditions.
The CAB will organize one of the Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights for an outside Halloween trip on Oct. 22 and 29. Tickets will be launched soon, so watch out for the CAB Instagram page for updates or reach out to KJ Ryan via email at karl.ryan@email.saintleo.edu for more information.
If you want to explore off-campus events in October, some horror-themed parks and festivals range from 10 to 30 minutes away from Saint Leo. You do not have to drive all the way to Tampa to find some Halloween fun.
Scream-A-Geddon is a horror theme park with five haunted houses and zombie paintballs. It is located at 27839 Saint Joe Rd., Dade City. Admission costs start from $25.95 per person, but the price varies as Halloween gets closer. The general admission ticket includes unlimited access to all haunted attractions. It is open from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. during the week and until 1:00 p.m. during October weekends.
Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail is an outdoor trail between Tampa and Orlando. The trail is located at 2837 South Frontage Rd., Plant City. Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail offers different experiences for guests to satisfy Halloween and haunted house cravings. There are three haunted trails, an escape game, and laser tag, along with entertainment and food vendors. Tickets are online for $25. It is open Fridays and Saturdays from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., and Sundays from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
The 2nd Annual Pumpkin Festival will occur at The Grove in Wesley Chapel from Oct. 15 to Oct. 17. There will be a pumpkin patch, full carnival, food trucks, craft vendors, costume contest, dog costume contest, Mr. and Ms. Pumpkin, and Truck or Treat. Tickets can be bought online and in-person. They are worth $5 for the whole weekend. Events will take place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce presents the 17th Annual Wesley Chapel Fall Festival with an all-new location at Tampa Premium Outlets on Oct. 30 and Oct. 31. Everything will start at 11 a.m. and end at 6 p.m. each day. There will be three community stages, live entertainment, a pumpkin patch, and the Trunk or Treat. The World’s Largest Food Truck Rally will also be there with local and foreign food trucks. Tickets are $10 and can be bought online and in-person.
Whether you choose to stay on campus or look outside Saint Leo, there are plenty of Halloween-themed events you can enjoy and have fun with family and friends. Be aware of the events involving frightening activities! Know how much you can handle!
