Best Halloween events in Palm Beach County: From Fright Nights to fall festivals

Eddie Ritz, Palm Beach Post
·9 min read

Whether this time of year brings about yearnings for a quiet night with some candy corn and "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown," a  costumed pub crawl or a trip to a haunted house so scary that you wish you'd worn some protective undergarments, Halloween is here and ready rock your (under)world!

Here is a round up of the best Halloween events, festivals and haunted houses in Palm Beach County, listed from north to south:

"Spooktacular" Halloween Party and Costume Contest, Jupiter

Get wicked and take a down a Drunken Pumpkin cocktail at Topside at the Beacon.
Get wicked and take a down a Drunken Pumpkin cocktail at Topside at the Beacon.

Eat, drink and be scary! Enjoy Topside's special frozen Halloween cocktail, the Drunken Pumpkin for $10 and available for one night only! Dance the night away with a DJ and spectacular moonlight views of the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse. Don't forget to dress your best for Topside’s costume contest. The winner will receive a $150 gift card to spend anywhere at Charlie & Joe’s at Love Street.

The event is 8 p.m. to midnight Friday, Oct. 28. 1107 Love St., Jupiter. Information: https://www.topsidejupiter.com/

Halloween Skate Contest, Jupiter Skate Park

See incredible performances and great costumes during the Halloween Skate Contest at the Jupiter Skate Park on Oct. 29.
See incredible performances and great costumes during the Halloween Skate Contest at the Jupiter Skate Park on Oct. 29.

Prizes will be awarded to the top three contestants in each age division in both scooter and skateboard classes. Costumes are encouraged with a best costume contest. Participants cannot wear Halloween masks while skating or scooting and must be able to wear a helmet.

The event is 2 to 9 p.m. Oct. 29. 1501 W. Frederick Small Road, Jupiter. Entry fee $10, registration at park, day of the event. Information: 561-630-5684

Town of Jupiter Halloween Spooktacular

This family-friendly event will feature trick-or-treating, games, music, character visits (Spiderman and a princess), a live DJ and pumpkin decorating. Food will be available for purchase from food trucks including Kona Ice and Chick-Fil-A.

The event is 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 28. 200 Military Trail, Jupiter. Free. Information: jupiter.fl.us/651/Halloween-Spooktacular

11th Annual House of the Haunted Lodge, Jupiter

This haunted house is staged and decorated by 13 groups consisting of student, sports teams, Scouts, non-profit organizations, and Halloween enthusiasts volunteering for fun, community service hours, and competing to raise money for their school, team, troop, or organization.

The event is 7 to 10 p.m. Oct. 28 and 29. 10070 W. Indiantown Road, Jupiter. Information: jupiterelks.org/haunted-lodge

Links 5K, The Ghost Run, North Palm Beach

Explore the club's newly renovated Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course on this 3.1-mile route. Wear your best Halloween running outfit to participate in the costume contest as well. All finishers receive a collector's medal and breakfast courtesy of Farmer's Table. There will also be the Monster Miler and Lil' Goblin Gallop for kids. The event will also feature a DJ, food and more.

The event is 6 a.m., race start is 7:30 a.m. Oct. 29. 951 US 1, North Palm Beach. 5K race is $45. Information: npblinks5k.com

Halloween Festival, North Palm Beach

The library is hosting its third annual haunted house and is doubling down on the fright fun by combining with the Parks and Recreation Department to create a full fall holiday experience, including hay rides, a haunted trail (recommended for ages 8 and older), food, music, a petting zoo, and carnival games. Guests can bring jack o' lanterns for the pumpkin carving contest, get dressed up for the costume contest, and end the evening with a pie eating contest. See all contest rules online and to register.

The event is 4 to 8 p.m. Oct. 29. 603 Anchorage Drive, North Palm Beach. $15, three and under free. Information:village-npb.org/693/Halloween-Festival; 561-841-3383

Fright Nights, West Palm Beach

Have an incredibly fun time while simultaneously having the ever-living crud scared out of you at the ultimate Halloween event Fright Nights at the South Florida Fair.
Have an incredibly fun time while simultaneously having the ever-living crud scared out of you at the ultimate Halloween event Fright Nights at the South Florida Fair.

Celebrating 20 years of fears this month, the largest haunted house event in West Palm Beach will once again bring the horror. Named the "Top Haunted Attraction" four times by the Haunted Attraction Association, this year's event will feature three haunted houses including "Country Bill's Meat," "Dead of Winter" and "Siren's Revenge." Each will have its own maze of scares filled with creepy characters, scare zones and more. There will also be rides, live entertainment and food.

The gates open 6 p.m. Oct. 13-15; 20-22; 27-29. 9067 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach. Admission: $40 (include admission and 30 fright tickets). Each haunt requires 10 tickets. Tickets may also be used on carnival rides. Information: myfrightnights.com

Spookyville in Yesteryear Village, West Palm Beach

Spookyville in Yesterday Village at the South Florida Fairgrounds will run Oct. 21 to 23 and Oct. 29 to 31.
Spookyville in Yesterday Village at the South Florida Fairgrounds will run Oct. 21 to 23 and Oct. 29 to 31.

Presented by Ford, this is a fantastic event for kids 10 and younger. An old fashion Halloween for families and children there will be a full array of safe trick or treating, kiddie train, costume contests, games, and more. Live music at the Storm Tight Windows Pavilion.

The event is 5 to 9 p.m. Oct. 21, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 22 and 23; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 29 and 30; and 5 to 9 p.m. Oct. 31. 9067 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach. $10. Information: southfloridafair.com

Clematis by Fright, West Palm Beach

Clematis by Night with a Halloween twist, Clematis by Fright on Oct. 27 will offer up scary fun with trick-or-treat where kids can get candy from first responders, face painting, a costume contest with prizes, food vendors and music by The Spazmatics.
Clematis by Night with a Halloween twist, Clematis by Fright on Oct. 27 will offer up scary fun with trick-or-treat where kids can get candy from first responders, face painting, a costume contest with prizes, food vendors and music by The Spazmatics.

This frightful twist on the regular Thursday night event will feature trick-or-treat where kids can collect candy from first responders and public works vehicles, hayrides, face painting and a costume contest with prizes. Enjoy food from DaKing BBQ, Kobschie's Ice Cream and Uncle Louie G's Italian Ice and music by everyone's favorite 80s cover band The Spazmatics.

The event is 6 to 9 p.m.Oct. 27. 100 N. Clematis St., West Palm Beach. Free. Information: wpb.org

Undead and need a night out? Check out the 10th Zombie Crawl in downtown West Palm Beach and enjoy drinks at five separate locations while dragging your alive/not alive carcass through the city.
Undead and need a night out? Check out the 10th Zombie Crawl in downtown West Palm Beach and enjoy drinks at five separate locations while dragging your alive/not alive carcass through the city.

WPB Zombie Crawl X, West Palm Beach

Feeling undead? Good, as long as you're happy. Want to get happier? Take part in the 10th annual WPB Zombie Crawl! Enjoy five drinks from your own souvenir cup at multiple establishments throughout downtown including Lost Weekend, Banko Cantina, Clematis Social and more.

The crawl begins at  7 p.m. Oct. 28. 219 Clematis St., West Palm Beach. $10 for first 100 tickets sold. Prices increase after that. Information: wpbzombiecrawl2022.eventbrite.com

Cafe Centro's Halloween Party, West Palm Beach

Hosted by master showman and "Mr. Palm Beach," Rob Russell this music-event will feature Russell along with several surprise guests, all of whom will be accompanied on the piano by Kim Forman. Come dressed your ghoulish best as there will be prizes for Best Costume.

The event is 6:30 p.m. Monday, Halloween, Oct. 31. 2409 N. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach. RSVP at 561-514-4070. Don't wait, it will sell out. Information: www.cafecentrowpb.com

Trunk or Treat at Gaines Park, West Palm Beach

West Palm Beach families are invited to attend this Halloween celebration for an evening of safe trick or treating. There will be decorated vehicles, candy, music, refreshments, and fun games for the whole family. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

The event is 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 31. 1501 N. Australian Ave., West Palm Beach. Free. Information: https://www.wpb.org/Home/Components/News/News/3002/16

Little Scream, Lake Worth Beach

Featuring a children's costume contest, trunk or treating, a Screen on the Green movie and even a pet costume contest, this is the perfect event for all the junior ghouls, goblins, princes and princesses.

The screams run from 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 28. 100 S. Golfview Road, Lake Worth Beach. Free. Information: 561-586-1600; cityclerk@lakeworthbeachfl.gov

The Haunted Nature Preserve, Lantana

Get wicked in the wild with guided haunted trail tours, a hay ride, kids carnival games, a DJ dance party, costume contest and more.

The event is 6:30 to 9 p.m.Oct. 28. 400 E. Ocean Ave., Lantana. Free. Information: www.lantana.org/enjoy-lantana-events

Witches Brew, Delray Beach

This event is the signature fundraiser in support of the Witches Ride and will feature local celebrity John Brewer serving as DJ and host along with a silent auction, raffles and contests, food, drink, prizes for best decorated table and best dressed brew attendee and more.

The event is 5 to 9 p.m. Oct. 21. 2885 S. Federal Highway, Delray Beach. Information:  achievementcentersfl.org

“Ghoul’s Night Out,” Delray Beach

Whether you get decked out in full ghoulish glee or come as you are, enjoy the center's Haunted House Experience, complete with "witches brew" and some "light vampire bites."  It's a rain or shine event. Costumes are optional, but fun is mandatory at this event hosted by the Milagro Center in partnership with local marketing and advertising agency Rose Marcom. Established in 1997, Milagro Center is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to ensure the social and academic success of underserved children and youths through Cultural Arts, Living Values, Academic Support, and Mentoring.

The event is 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 21. 346 SW Sixth St., Delray Beach. $25. Information: milagrocenter.org

Witches of Delray Charity Bike Ride

11th Annual Witches of Delray Charity Bike Ride, which raises money for the Achievement Centers for Children and Families, will be held from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. Oct. 29 in downtown Delray Beach.
11th Annual Witches of Delray Charity Bike Ride, which raises money for the Achievement Centers for Children and Families, will be held from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. Oct. 29 in downtown Delray Beach.

Dressed up in their wicked best witch-ware and with bikes decorated to look like brooms, the witches ride through historic downtown Delray Beach on Atlantic Avenue to A1A. At the end of the flight/ride there is a contest for "Best Decorated Bike," "Best Witch Costume" and "Best Witch Cackle." The event raises money for the Achievement Centers for Children and Families.

The witches ride from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. Oct. 29. Must be 18 or older. For information or to register: witchesofdelray.org

Trick-or-Treating on the Avenue, Delray Beach

There will be multiple, free, all-ages Halloween events in downtown Delray Beach on Oct. 29 including trick-or-treating, a parade and Kidsfest at Old School Square.
There will be multiple, free, all-ages Halloween events in downtown Delray Beach on Oct. 29 including trick-or-treating, a parade and Kidsfest at Old School Square.

Take the little ghouls and goblins trick-or-treating along Delray's premier avenue at the doors of local businesses, during an event sponsored by the Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority.

The candy grab is from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 29. Atlantic Avenue and off of the Ave on NE/SE Second Avenue to NE/SE Seventh Avenue and over the bridge to East A1A. Information: downtowndelraybeach.com

60th Annual Halloween Parade, Delray Beach

Sponsored by The Rotary Club of Delray Beach this event invites everyone who dressed up to show off their Halloween costumes with a march down to Atlantic Avenue while enjoy the "oohs" and "ahhs" of the watching masses. The parade will end at Old School Square, where Kidsfest will be underway.  Parched participants will be treated to ice cream.

The parade begins at 1 p.m. Oct. 29. Atlantic Avenue and NE Fifth Ave., Delray Beach. Free. Information: downtowndelraybeach.com

Kidsfest, Delray Beach

Food, vendors, arts and crafts, and entertainment, brought to you by the City of Delray Beach Parks and Recreation Department.

The fest  is noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 29, 51 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach. Free. Information: downtowndelraybeach.com/events/halloween-festivities

Gotham at The Addison, Boca Raton

The Addison of Boca Raton will hold their Halloween event "Gotham" on Oct. 31. With a Batman/Gotham/Arkham Asylum theme, the event will feature an open bar, dancing and delicious catering.
The Addison of Boca Raton will hold their Halloween event "Gotham" on Oct. 31. With a Batman/Gotham/Arkham Asylum theme, the event will feature an open bar, dancing and delicious catering.

When the sun goes down, the "Rogues Gallery" of baddies roam the streets of the city the Caped Crusader calls home. See Arkham Asylum come to life at the Addison in this hauntingly fun evening featuring the Boca Raton landmark's delicious catering, full open bar, dancing and entertainment alongside the villains you love to hate.

"Gotham" opens its doors at 7 p.m. Oct. 31. Two E. Camino Real, Boca Raton. $150 per person, $250 VIP. Information: 561-372-0568; specialevents@theaddison.com; theaddisonofbocaraton.com

Eddie Ritz is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at eritz@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Best Halloween events, festivals, haunted houses in Palm Beach County