by | October 7, 2026
What To Do This October in Florida
Cycle around Mount Dora, catch live shows from country music's heavyweights in Tampa, get up close and personal with the world's biggest bats in Gainesville and more
North
Cedar Key Seafood Festival
Cedar Key
Oct. 17–18
For a taste of Cedar Key, start with the seafood. Locally harvested oysters, farm-raised clams and more fill the menu at coastal City Park, while more than 100 vendors line 2nd Street with Floridiana and other goods. Then head waterfront for live music and a chance to support Cedar Key as it continues to rebuild after Hurricane Helene.
Tallahassee Film Festival 2026
Tallahassee
Oct. 8–11
Tallahassee gets its close-up during this four-day celebration of independent and Florida-made film. Among the highlights are a preview of “Just a Shot Away: Martin Scorsese’s Life in Film” and “Significantly Less Deceptive,” a live performance by Negativland in collaboration with live cinema visual artist Sue-C.
Florida Bat Festival
Gainesville
Oct. 24
Forget Halloween: Gainesville’s bats are getting their own party. Head to Lubee Bat Conservancy to meet some of the world’s largest bats and learn about efforts to protect them. New this year are baby bats and a themed scavenger hunt, plus a beer garden, live music from Gainesville indie band Aisle 14 and a bat chat at the education center.
Foo Foo Festival
Pensacola
Oct. 29–Nov. 9
Pensacola leans into its artistic side during this celebration of art, music and Southern sophistication. Look for “Lightspill,” an architectural installation that transforms historic Artel Gallery with hundreds of mirrored spheres, then catch the Night Moves music festival and other happenings around town. And for the foodies, local restaurants, bars, coffee shops and breweries will serve limited-time menus inspired by Pensacola as part of Foo Foo on the Menu.
Micanopy Fall Festival
Micanopy
Oct. 31–Nov. 1
Micanopy’s oak-canopied Cholokka Boulevard becomes an open-air marketplace on Halloween weekend during this annual celebration of arts and crafts. Browse 200 displays featuring everything from wood-carved American flags to fine-art wildlife photography, then stick around for the daily auction and a Halloween twist on the Mustang Cloggers, who’ll take the street dressed as zombies and skeletons. Grab a corndog or funnel cake and settle in for live music from the ShadeTree Band.
Central
Tampa Pig Jig
Tampa
Oct. 17
Fire up the grill and get ready to pig out: This waterfront barbecue bash pairs local eats with big-name music, including performances by Thomas Rhett, Midland, Sister Hazel and more. Best of all, the party supports NephCure’s mission to find a cure for rare kidney disease.
Biketoberfest
Daytona Beach
Oct. 15–18
Daytona Beach goes into high gear for four days of motorcycles, racing and live entertainment. The Biketoberfest lineup includes motorcycle racing at Daytona International Speedway, an auto-parts swap meet, stunt shows, a Bogator performance at Iron Horse Saloon and more.
52nd Annual Cycle Mount Dora
Mount Dora
Oct. 10–11
Think Florida is flat? Think again. All skill levels are invited to conquer Florida’s beloved “mountain town.” Participants can choose between cycling Sugarloaf Mountain, the Yalaha Half-Century, the Lake Harris Half-Metric Century and the Lake Dora Scenic Ride.
The Haunting of River Ranch
River Ranch
Sept. 25–Nov. 7
Things get eerie on the range at Westgate River Ranch resort. Wander through the Haunted Stables, brave the freaky walkthrough and scare zones, then refuel with themed bites and bevs. The Halloween rodeo adds trick riding, barrel racing and bull riding to the mix, making for a decidedly creepy take on cowboy country. Make it a weekend by booking a glamping tent or covered wagon suite.
South
Oktoberfest of The Palm Beaches
Lake Worth
Oct. 9–11 and Oct. 16–18
One, two, three, drink up, or “Oans, zwoa, drei, g’suffa!” as the Germans say. Get an authentic Bavarian experience by jamming out to live music by German band Froschhaxn Express and watching the Volkstanzgruppe perform folk dances. Toast “prost!” before slamming a Hacker Pschorr Gold Lager and bratwurst on a roll, preferably in your best lederhosen.
Reef Fest
Key Largo
Oct. 15–18
Party at the beach? More like party on the reef! This multi-day festival calls out to all ocean lovers to learn about reef conservation. Set out for a diving or snorkeling tour, take a lionfish jewelry-making class, bask in South Florida’s ample foliage at the Pennekamp Nature Walk and indulge in local craft beer while watching a signature Keys sunset at the For the Love of the Sea celebration.
South Beach Seafood Festival
Miami Beach
Oct. 21–24
Ever wanted to crack and chomp into a crab leg on Miami’s sandy beaches? Make the pilgrimage to this foodie’s mecca, voted as a Top 5 Best Specialty Festival in America by USA Today. Attend the VIP Chef Showdown to watch 18 chefs compete head-to-head in seafood showdowns, then sip, sample and cast your vote. Stick around for the Seafood Slam to sample dishes from the area’s top restaurants and munch on fresh stone crab while live music and DJs play.
Faces of Fitness
Miami
Oct. 24–25
Hundreds of mats unfurl on the Coconut Grove waterfront, and heartbeats move in sync while celebrity DJ Sam Feldt spins at this two-day celebration of movement. Sweat it out with classes led by Peloton stars and local studios like Barry’s and Mimi Yoga, or grab a spot in a one-of-a-kind training session with headliner and NBA champion Dwyane Wade.
The Coastal Corgi Classic
Hallandale Beach
Oct. 10
They’re off! Take a break from the horse racing program to catch “The Shortest Race on the Track.” Cheer on the short-legged speedsters as they dash for the title of fastest corgi, then judge as they strut their stuff in the Halloween costume contest to see who will take home the trophy for top dog.
