Essential fall bucket list things to do in Orlando

Haunting Nights at Leu Gardens

Sept. 29-Oct. 31
Haunting Nights offers an elevated, artful Halloween experience in Leu Gardens, complete with jump scares, a neon light maze and more. This event is recommended for those aged 13 and up (although Leu Gardens does offer a separate Halloween event fit for younger audiences).

Come Out With Pride Orlando Festival

Oct. 21
The City Beautiful celebrates Pride all October long, but the official Come Out With Pride Festival brings Orlando's LGBTQ+ and allied communities together to go all out in one spot. This year's festival happens Oct. 21 at Lake Eola Park with nothing but love and pride on everyone's mind.

Halloween Spooktacular at SeaWorld

Sept. 16-Oct. 31
SeaWorld's kid-friendly and no-so-scary Halloween Spooktacular gives guests the opportunity to enjoy the park in costume, with some special surprises and trick-or-treating as well. This is a daytime event perfect for kiddos not quite old enough for SeaWorld's Howl-O-Scream, happening at the park on select nights through Halloween.

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

Now through Nov. 18
The signature Epcot event started in July and is set to continue providing international sips and eats through mid-November. The extensive food-focused festival features more than 25 Global Marketplaces (food stalls) serving up international cuisine from six continents, including countries like Canada, Spain and India.

Brick-or-Treat at Legoland

Select weekends Sept. 16-Oct. 29
Brick-or-Treat at Legoland features trick-or-treating around the park, plus a new fireworks show, spooky Lego characters and limited-time Halloween food offerings. The party also includes a V.I.M. (Very Important Monster) Dance Party with Lord Vampyre and more live entertainment, featuring the new Lego Plant Monster and the Jammin’ Jacks singing jack-o'-lantern trio.

Mortem Manor

All year
This spooky experience may be open year-round, but fall is really its time to shine. Mortem Manor, located just outside of Orlando in Old Town, Kissimmee, offers its guests the chance to stroll through a two-story Victorian-themed haunted mansion. There are live scare-actors, animatronics and no shortage of creepy special effects.

Take advantage of slightly cooler weather on a local restaurant patio

As the summer fades away and our daily temperatures drop at least a little bit, fall is the perfect time to soak up some fresh air while patronizing your favorite local eatery. Tons of places, like Yellow Dog Eats (pictured), offer roomy patios, both covered and uncovered.

EDC Orlando

Nov. 10-12
The multi-day EDM extravaganza Electric Daisy Carnival draws massive crowds to town every year with live music, carnival rides and more. This year's lineup features 2AR, Afroki (AfroJack B2B and Steve Aoki), Alan Walker, Alesso, Alison Wonderland and that's just the letter A! Tickets are on sale now.

Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld

Sept. 8-Oct. 31
For the last couple of years, Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld has embodied the dark and disturbing aspects of the ocean and its lore, including creepy and grotesque sea creatures like mermaids and sirens. This year’s fright fest returns Sept. 8 and runs select nights through Oct. 31. Like Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights, Howl-O-Scream is for those who love to be scared.

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

Now through Nov. 1
This Halloween party is basically an explosion of colorful, kooky and slightly spooky shows; costumed characters; themed food and drinks; and trick-or-treating throughout the park. There’s the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular show on the Cinderella Castle stage and the grand finale Not-So-Spooky Spectacular fireworks and projection show. There’s also the famous Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade featuring beloved characters in their Halloween best, including some from Haunted Mansion and the Headless Horseman. Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is also a chance for everyone of all ages to dress up in costume and trick-or-treat around the park.

The Haunted Road

2023 dates not announced
This drive-through haunted house/theatrical experience takes place on real Florida farmland, offering guests a 30-minute drive-through of terror. Tickets to the Haunted Road also include admission to the afterparty, complete with music, pop-up performers, a Halloween-themed vendors market, a slaughterhouse-themed haunted house and a bar serving up themed cocktails as well as non-alcoholic drinks.

Orlando Beer Festival

Nov. 4
Beer, beer and more beer! Orlando Beer Festival happens every November and brings tons of brews and good times along with it. Keep up with the Beer Festival site for updates and ticket sales.

Halloween Horror Nights

Sept. 1-Nov. 4
Arguably Orlando's biggest Halloween event of the year, Universal's Halloween Horror Nights is back in town with all new and returning haunted houses and experiences. This year, the months-long event will feature 10 haunted houses and five scare zones, all themed after the terrifying worlds of Hollywood's biggest horror films and original shows. We're most looking forward to the new The Last of Us- and Stranger Things-themed haunted houses.

Visit a local pumpkin patch

A classic good time for all ages, pumpkin patches are set to open this fall throughout central Florida. Some offer the bare necessities (plenty of pumpkins to pick), while others go all out with hay rides, apple cider and entertainment.

Happy Frights at Leu Gardens

Sept. 29-Oct. 31
Free of any major scares, Happy Frights is a kid-friendly Halloween event at Leu Gardens, featuring a dancing bridge troll, garden of sunflowers, neon light maze, a Dia de los Muertos celebration and more.

Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food and Wine Classic

Nov. 10-11
For the 14th year, Walt Disney World is putting on the Swan and Dolphin Food and Wine Classic, offering its foodie guests the opportunity to experience a seemingly endless amount of gourmet bites, wine and live entertainment. The event happens only for one weekend, and tickets are guaranteed to sell out fast.

Gators, Ghosts and Goblins at Gatorland

Weekends Oct. 10-Nov. 1
Gatorland's Gators, Ghosts and Goblins is a family-friendly Halloween event filled with wildlife and spooky entertainment. This year's event promises the return of Swamp Ghost's Monster Museum complete with an all-new exhibit, all new haunt zones, the Cryptid Express ride, interactive characters, animal meet-and-greets, shows, vendors, a kids' Halloween costume party, an undead polka band and more festivities.

Central Florida Zoo Boo Bash

Weekends Oct. 14-29
The Central Florida Zoo is offering three weekends of wild Halloween fun onsite and alongside the animals. The not-so-spooky event invites kiddos of all ages to show up in costume to trick-or-treat and join in on some special Halloween activities. All Boo Bash activities and experiences are included with zoo admission.

FusionFest

Nov. 25 & 26
FusionFest is a nonprofit organization that aims to share and uplift the arts, cultures and foods of the world right here in Orlando. The organization's signature two-day festival event happens the Saturday and Sunday after Thanksgiving every year, drawing people from the more than 100 different cultures represented in Orlando to experience music, dance, food, visual arts, spoken word, games and interactive activities.

Scream-A-Geddon Horror Park

Sept. 8-Nov. 4
This intense Dade City horror park is gearing up for 2023. Previous events features six haunted house-style attractions plus a Monster Midway and Bonzo the clown’s beer garden.