Should you find yourself in Orlando for Halloween, do not fear--the city offers plenty of ways to enjoy the spooky holiday without gorging on candy. In fact, many of Orlando's Halloween activities take place outdoors to take advantage of what is usually the city's first break from the sweltering summer heat.
Historic Downtown Sites
Orlando's history dates back to the 1800s, and the downtown historic district harbors many ghostly tales. The classic creepy setting for a Halloween adventure is a graveyard, and you can take the Orlando's Greenwood Cemetery tour, which covers four miles and stops at approximately 100 historic gravesites. Downtown's historic Harry P. Leu Gardens welcomes you to hear Halloween ghost stories and take a spooky stroll through the oak forest to a small family cemetery. Orlando's Historic Preservation Society offers walking history tours of downtown Orlando.
Wildlife Adventures
Venture outside downtown Orlando on Halloween and you'll find even more frights lurking in the cypress swamps, freshwater marshes and pine forests. The Tibet-Butler Preserve includes four miles of trails. An afternoon hike through this wildlife preserve makes for a quiet and somewhat spooky Halloween excursion. For a more structured adventure, Gatorland hosts an after-hours Halloween experience each year that features a spooky nature walk and a flashlight-guided haunted tour through Orlando's alligator-and-crocodile-filled swamps. Orlando-area ecotourism companies offer adventure packages such as the haunted zip-line tour.
Pumpkin Patches
Pumpkin patches, fall carnivals, corn mazes and hay rides are traditional Halloween events enjoyed for their simplicity. Orlando schools and churches commonly organize pumpkin patches and carnivals as fundraisers. Children enjoy choosing their own pumpkins as well as participating in the other activities typically offered, such as face painting and games. You can get lost in a confusing corn maze. The farms on the outskirts of Orlando organize the most authentic corn mazes and hayrides with enough space for you to wander for hours.
Brainy Activities
For a taste of calorie-free brain candy on Halloween, check out some of Orlando's museums. Many area museums organize special Halloween-themed events, such as the Orlando Museum of Art's 2010 Halloween exhibit on macabre author and illustrator Edward Gorey. The Orlando Science Center offers a children's workshop on "frightening facts" ranging from mummification to skeletons and an evening extravaganza that includes crafts and creepy science experiments. Some of Orlando's quirkier museums such as Ripley's Believe It or Not, are open until midnight and provide a great way to wrap up the evening by squeezing in one last fright.
Theme Parks
Most of Orlando's major theme parks host annual Halloween events, which are easily adapted to a healthy lifestyle. Universal Studios puts on Halloween Horror Nights, an over-the-top, adults-only experience with multiple haunted houses and scare zones to keep you walking, screaming and burning calories all night. SeaWorld and Disney World host events geared more toward families. When you visit theme parks, it's a good idea to eat a balanced meal before going, and pack a nutritious sampling of snacks to munch on so you can focus on the main event instead of spending your time standing in line for the numerous junk food temptations. Most parks permit you to bring in bottled water as well, but check beforehand.
References
- Orlando Sentinel: Entertainment and Going Out Guide, Halloween Events
- City of Orlando Families, Parks & Recreation: Moonlight History Stroll Through Greenwood Cemetery
- Pumpkin Patches and More.org: East-Central Florida's Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes, Hay Rides and More
- City of Orlando: Downtown Orlando Historic District Walking Tour
- South Florida Water Management District: Tibet-Butler Preserve
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