The sweat dribbles from your brow as “Monster Mash” blasts from the speakers.

Welcome to Halloween in Orlando. It starts in the heat of August and runs full throttle until the arrival of November, which is helping drive tourism in the No. 1 most-visited city in the United States.

Here are some ways to celebrate Spooky Season in Orlando.

Image via Disney

Disney World’s popular Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is back to the delight of adults and kids alike on select nights through Oct. 31. The Magic Kingdom gets transformed in the dark as the headless horseman makes his famous parade entrance. Other favorites, like the Sanderson Sisters in the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular at Cinderella Castle, are returning. Rides, including Space Mountain and Mad Tea Cups, get Halloween overlays to feel different on Party night. 

Image via Universal Orlando

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando Resort is celebrating its 35th year of scaring the crap out of you. This year, the event, which runs on select nights through Nov. 1, features 10 haunted houses as well as scare zones and live entertainment.  Universal is known for its attention to detail and its ability to create atmospheric terror to make the ultimate scare. This year, the houses feature one honoring the late Ozzy Osbourne and another themed from the Academy Award-winning movie “Sinners.”


Image via Gabrielle Russon

What makes SeaWorld Orlando unique is it offers two separate Halloween events — one daytime event aimed at the little ones and a scarier nighttime event for teenagers and adults. 

With regular ticket admission, kids can trick-or-treat around the theme park for Halloween Spooktacular during the day on select dates through Nov. 1. Smoke bubbles, whimsical haunted houses and silly pumpkins as well as fantastical characters to meet are spread throughout the trick-or-treat path.

New this year is a special ticketed Hotel Transylvania’s Monster Breakfast where families can eat a buffet breakfast, see a high-energy dance show and then meet the mummy and other characters from the kids’ beloved Halloween movie.

Then SeaWorld’s special ticketed nighttime Howl-O-Scream is set to return starting Sept. 11 with five haunted houses and six scare zones. The most anticipated house is based off the Halloween classic “I Know What You Did Last Summer.” The event for teens and adults runs on select nights through Halloween.

Image via Legoland.

Legoland Florida is also returning its popular Brick or Treat event this year on select dates in September and October. Trick or treating, live shows, special LEGO builds and Halloween characters are part of the festivities at the Winter Haven park. The grand finale is the Monster Skytacular drone show.

Need a break from the theme parks?

The Enzian Theater is showing 13 scary movies this October that are paired nicely with the specialty Halloween cocktails at the Eden Bar. On Halloween night, the Maitland theater is throwing a special ticketed party for those 21 and up.