12 Things To Do With Your Kids This Fall In The Tampa Bay Area

Busy back-to-school schedules in the fall make it harder for Tampa Bay-area parents to spend meaningful time with their children.

It’s a matter of intentionally scheduling time. From seasonal harvest festivals to arts and crafts workshops to kid-friendly concerts and national tours, several upcoming events in the greater Tampa Bay area are perfect for creating fall traditions and lasting memories with the kiddos from Halloween events to Gulfcoast Pride to Island Fest on Honeymoon Island.

Are you planning an event this fall? Feature it, so nearby readers see it all across Patch — including in roundups like this!

Here are 12 upcoming kid-friendly events you shouldn’t miss:

Harvest Festival When: Every Saturday and Sunday in October, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.Where: Dakin Dairy Farms, Myakka CityWhat: This second annual Harvest Festival features “u-pick” sunflowers, a corn maze, lawn mower racing, food trucks, vendors, live music, calf cuddles, a pumpkin cannon, bounce houses and slides, and more. Island Fest When: Oct. 11, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Oct. 12, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.Where: Honeymoon Island State Park, DunedinWhat: This event celebrating the beauty and wonder of Honeymoon Island offers guided beach walks, family fun activities, interactive exhibits, an arts and crafts market, and food trucks. Howl-O-Ween When: Oct. 19, noon registrationWhere: Sparkman Wharf, TampaWhat: This popular dog costume contest is back with categories for best dressed pup and best human-dog duo. The contest starts at 1 p.m. on the lawn. Pied Piper’s Haunted Carnival When: Oct. 23-26 Where: Armature Works, Tampa What: This all-ages carnival and 18-and-older music festival features carnival rides and games, classic eats and fall treats, live music and other entertainment, a Kids Zone with pumpkin pumpkin, face painting, and other activities. Wesley Chapel Festival & Carnival When: Oct. 23-26 Where: The Grove at Wesley Chapel What: This family-friendly festival features carnival rides and games, live entertainment and community performances, food trucks, costume contests, a trick-or-treat stroll, a business expo, and a Kids Zone with bounce houses, face painting, pony rides, and pumpkin photo stops. Clearwater Greek Festival When: Oct. 24 and 25, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Oct. 26, noon to 6 p.m.Where: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, ClearwaterWhat: Stop by this festival for delicious Greek food, pastries, food demonstrations, music, Hellas Dancers, vendors, church tours and more. Guppyween When: Oct. 25 and 26, regular operating hoursWhere: The Florida Aquarium What: Get in the (un)spooky spirit at The Florida Aquarium. Dress up in your favorite costumes for this family-friendly event perfect for the littlest monsters and merfolk, pirates and princesses, and everything in between. Children in costume get free admission with a paid adult. Activities include trick or treating, animal encounters with creepy critters, costumed divers, underwater pumpkin carving, and Rock and Tango character appearances. Pack the Park for Pack a Sack When: Oct. 25, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Where: Sims Park, New Port Richey What: This family-friendly day features a dog costume contest, pumpkin and face painting, bounce houses and inflatables, live entertainment, a car show with a trunk-or-treat, food trucks, and local vendors. Gulfcoast Pride Festival When: Oct. 25, noon to 5 p.m. Where: Downtown Sarasota’s Rosemary District What: Local LGBTQ+ advocacy nonprofit Project Pride SRQ invites the community out to this free, all-ages festival, which will feature a street fair more than 100 local vendors, a drag show featuring Pork Chop from “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” food from local restaurants, a kids’ zone, an arts zone, a pet zone and pet pageant, and live music and performances. Sarasota Lantern Festival When: Oct. 25, 4 p.m. Where: Nathan Benderson Park, Sarasota What: This unforgettable evening brings people together for a celebration of light and community filled with tasty food trucks, fun music, activities, and thousands of lanterns lighting up the night with love, hope, and happiness. Halloween on Central When: Oct. 26, noon to 5 p.m. Where: Central Avenue in St. Petersburg’s Grand Central and Edge districts. What: This fifth annual event transforms 22 blocks of Central Avenue into a vibrant, family-friendly, car-free celebration with vendors, live music, business advocacy, immersive experiences and candy. Shopapalooza Festival When: Nov. 29-30, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.Where: Vinoy Park, St. PetersburgWhat: This festival features more than 350 local makers and small businesses, as well as live music and other entertainment, food trucks, kids zones and activities, and more.