October is one of the best months on the Emerald Coast: the water is still warm, the crowds are gone, and nearly every town throws a Halloween party. Most of them are free and built for kids, from trunk-or-treats and costume parades to zoo nights and a pet parade on 30A. Here are the best Halloween events on the Emerald Coast for 2026, town by town, with dates, times and prices.
Quick answer
- Free beach party: Beach-O-Ween on the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk, Friday, October 16.
- Trick-or-treat on Halloween night: Tricks and Treasures at The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island, with fireworks, or Seaside’s Wizard of Oz trick-or-treat on 30A.
- For animal lovers: Boo at the Zoo at the Gulf Breeze Zoo on October weekends.
- For dogs: the Seaside Halloweener Derby and Alys Beach Howl-O-Ween.
- Grown-ups only: Noche de los Muertos at Alys Beach, 21 and up.
Destin and Miramar Beach
- Haunted Library Party: Tuesday, October 6, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Destin Library. Free.
- HarborWalk Village Halloween Spooktacular: Saturday, October 24, 3 to 10 p.m., on the Destin Harbor. Free.
- Boo Bash at Destin Commons: Sunday and Monday, October 25 and 26, noon to 8 p.m. Free.
- City of Destin Fall Festival: Monday, October 26, 5 to 8 p.m., Destin Community Center. Free.
- Halloween Hike: Wednesday, October 28, 10 to 11 a.m., Destin Library. Free, and a good pick for preschoolers.
- Movie on the Lawn: Hocus Pocus: Friday, October 30, 6:30 p.m., Village of Baytowne Wharf in Sandestin. Free.
Fort Walton Beach and Okaloosa Island
- Zombie Walk Trick or Treat: Saturday, October 10, 4 to 8 p.m., downtown Fort Walton Beach and The Landing. Free with a donation of two or more canned food items.
- Tricks and Treasures at The Boardwalk: Saturday, October 31, 5 to 8 p.m., The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island. Free, with a fireworks finale.
30A
- Alys Beach Howl-O-Ween & Pet Parade: Friday, October 23, at Fonville Press. Free.
- Seaside Halloweener Derby and Dog Costume Contest: Saturday, October 24, Seaside Amphitheatre lawn. Free.
- Rosemary Beach Monstrous Halloween Bash: Monday, October 26, East Long Green Park. Free.
- The Big Chill 30A Halloween Party: Friday, October 30, 5 to 9:30 p.m., Inlet Beach. Free to attend, with fees for crafts.
- Noche de los Muertos: Friday, October 30, Caliza Pool, Alys Beach. Ticketed, 21 and up.
- Seaside Trick-or-Treat: The Wizard of Oz: Saturday, October 31, Seaside Town Center. Free.
Pensacola, Gulf Breeze and Pensacola Beach
- Boo at the Zoo: October 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25 and 31, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (4 p.m. on Halloween), Gulf Breeze Zoo. Adults $29.95, children $22.95, and zoo members need a $10 event ticket.
- Beach-O-Ween: Friday, October 16, 4 to 8 p.m., Pensacola Beach Boardwalk. Free.
- Gallery Night: Ghoul-ery Night: Friday, October 16, 5 to 9 p.m., Palafox Street. Free.
- Palafox Market Halloween Market: Saturday, October 31, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Palafox Market in downtown Pensacola. Free.
Panama City and Panama City Beach
- Not-So-Fright Night: Saturday, October 17, 6 to 9 p.m., The Portal in downtown Panama City. Free.
- Spooky Science: Saturday, October 24, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Science and Discovery Center of Northwest Florida. $6 per person, for kids up to age 12.
- Little Boo Bash: Saturday, October 31, 11 a.m., Mochas & Minis. $12 for members, $25 for non-members.
- Zoo Boo at ZooWorld: Saturday and Sunday, October 31 and November 1, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Adults $25.95, children $19.95.
Crestview
- Emerald Coast Zoo Trick or Treat: Saturdays, October 24 and 31, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Children $9.95, adults $14.95.
- Downtown Crestview Fall Festival: Saturday, October 31, noon to 5 p.m., Main Street. Free, with a trunk-or-treat.
Tips for Halloween on the coast
- Plan for warm weather. Late October days are often still in the 70s or 80s, so pick costumes kids can wear in the heat.
- Double up on Halloween night. Several events wrap up by late afternoon, so you can hit a daytime zoo event and an evening trick-or-treat.
- Check before you go. Times can change and outdoor events may move for weather, so confirm with the organizer on the day.
Halloween on the Emerald Coast FAQ
Where can kids trick-or-treat on the Emerald Coast? Tricks and Treasures at The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island, Seaside Town Center on 30A and the Downtown Crestview Fall Festival all have trick-or-treating on Halloween, and the Zombie Walk in downtown Fort Walton Beach is on October 10.
Are there free Halloween events near Destin? Yes. The HarborWalk Village Spooktacular, Boo Bash at Destin Commons, the City of Destin Fall Festival and both Destin Library events are free.
What is Beach-O-Ween? A free Halloween party on the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk, this year on Friday, October 16, from 4 to 8 p.m.
See every event on our Halloween and trunk-or-treat events page, and plan the rest of the trip with the best time to visit the Emerald Coast.