This October, the South Florida Fairgrounds offers two ways to celebrate Halloween: family-friendly fun at Spookyville in Yesteryear Village, or haunted thrills at Fright Nights.
Spookyville: Fun for the Whole Family
Spookyville invites families on Oct. 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 30 and 31, and brings the season to life at historic Yesteryear Village with trick-or-treating, costume contests, a petting zoo, live entertainment and family photo opportunities.
DJ Mark returns every day of the event, and a balloon twister will be on hand daily, giving kids their choice of a free balloon shape. Costume parades take place on Sundays, with food trucks and vendors rounding out the fun.
The family-friendly event runs Fridays from 5 to 9 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays (including Saturday, Oct. 31) from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. From Oct. 1-16, admission is $9 for adults and $13.50 for children, reflecting a 10 percent discount. Regular admission prices of $10 for adults and $15 for children begin Oct. 17 and will be available online and at the gate once the event opens. A $45 family package for two adults and two children is also available online and at the gate once the event opens. Children under age one get in free. Spookyville tickets and details can be found at www.southfloridafair.com/spookyville.
Fright Nights: The Haunting Details
When the sun sets, things get considerably scarier at Fright Nights, running Oct. 8-10, 15-17, 22-24, 29 and 30. The event features haunted attractions, carnival rides, live entertainment and a DJ, with 40 Fright Credits included in every admission for use toward attractions and rides.
Right now, the Fright Nights team is in full production mode, building the experience from the ground up and working long days to meet opening night. Once the gates open, the work continues from day into night as more than 150 members of the “family of freaks” get into full makeup and wardrobe and prepare to scare guests. Because at Fright Nights, the monsters don’t just appear — they take hours of work to create.
The midway and outdoor vendors open at 6 p.m., with three haunted houses opening at 7 p.m. Guests can stretch their visit further with special offers, including a Thursday BOGO deal for advance online tickets, an R.I.P. Experience upgrade with front-of-line access, R.I.P. Lounge access and scare-actor photo opportunities ($15 per haunt Thursdays, $20 Fridays and Saturdays), and the Dead Ringers Club, which offers VIP perks, expedited attraction access, free parking and exclusive merchandise for a limited number of guests each night.
Fright Nights vendors are serving up a lineup of spooky bites and sips, including the Scream Snack (crispy tater tots and fried pickles topped with roasted garlic aioli, sriracha and green onions), the Hellfire Chicken Philly, the Bat Breathe Burger and the smoked Walking Dead Leg. Guests can cool off with a Poison Apple Slushie or warm up with a specialty cocktail like the Pumpkin Pie Punch or the Black Cat Margarita.
For Fright Nights tickets and details, visit www.myfrightnights.com.
Both events take place at the South Florida Fairgrounds at 9067 Southern Blvd. Spookyville is located inside Yesteryear Village and is accessed via Gate 3 from Sansbury’s Way.
