Deadly, giant spiders await visitors to Alliance for the Art’s annual Stage Fright Nights.
Provided by Alliance for the Art
USA TODAY Network, Reuters
Halloween is almost here, and you’ll find many spooky ways to have fun between now and Oct. 31 in Lee County.
Here are some of the best haunted houses, festivals, trick-or-treating events and other Halloween things to do in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs and the rest of Lee County:
FORT MYERS HALLOWEEN EVENTS
Calusa Haunted Walk
The annual Haunted Walk lets you face your fears on the dark, decorated trails at Calusa Nature Center. 7:30-10:30 p.m. every Friday through Sunday, now through Oct. 31. $20-$25 (or $100 for an Unlimited Fear Pass that gives you unlimited admission all season and lets you skip the line). Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium, 3450 Ortiz Ave., Fort Myers. 275-3435 or calusanature.org
Lakes Park Fall Festival and Scarecrows in the Park
The festival returns with a pumpkin patch, the annual Scarecrows in the Park contest, hayrides, inflatables and the popular Halloween Express train ride. The Scarecrows in the Park display features scarecrows decorated in the theme “Scarecrows at Work.” Now through Oct. 25. Free admission, but some activities and rides cost extra. Parking is $1 per hour or $5 all day. Lakes Regional Park, 7330 Gladiolus Drive, south Fort Myers. lakespark.org/scarecrows-in-the-park-2026
Stage Fright Nights at Alliance for the Arts
The Alliance’s Foulds Theatre and surrounding campus transform into a theatrical Halloween experience featuring various spooky events from now through Oct. 31. The terrifying centerpiece is séance-themed haunted house Summoning The Damned (Oct. 22-31), where various restless souls are brought to life by local actors, artists and designers. Stage Fright Nights also includes games, storytelling, live entertainment and other haunted attractions and events. Admission to Stage Fright Nights is $15-$20. Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd. Fort Myers. artinlee.org/experience/stage-fright-nights
Southern Fresh Farms Fall Festival
This weekly, kid-friendly event features hayrides, vendors, a pumpkin patch, live music, food trucks and more. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Saturday in October. Free. Southern Fresh Farms, 8500 Penzance Blvd., Fort Myers. Free admission and parking on site ($10 parking for overflow lot). 768-0309 or southernfresh.farm
‘Scream Time’ exhibit
This new art show displays haunting new works from artists Pamela Jones and Michael V. Santacroce. Jones’ award-winning assemblages use repurposed objects, including the vintage rubber clown heads in her creepy “Bad Clowns” series. Santacroce’s sinister, stream-of-consciousness ink drawings show twisted, unsettling creatures that represent his own personal demons. Now through Nov. 1. Free admission. DAAS CO-OP Art Gallery & Gifts in the Alliance for the Arts campus, 10051 McGregor Blvd., Suite 104, Fort Myers. 955-0422 or daascoop.com
‘Wicked Walk’ at Davis Art Center
Tour Davis Art Center for a spooky, immersive arts experience featuring music, dancing, art and theatrical performances – all from Lee County students. 6-8 p.m. Thursday, 6:30-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22-23. $15 for adults, $5 for children. Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, 2301 First St., downtown Fort Myers. 333-1933 or sbdac.com/wicked
‘Sloughwitched,’ a new Halloween adventure at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve
The Six Mile boardwalk transforms into a fun Halloween “walking play” where guests encounter “unimaginable alligators, owls and other creatures of the night.” No chainsaws or scary movie monsters. Just lots of spooky, suspenseful fun. 90-minute walks start between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 23-24. $38 admission includes a non-alcoholic beverage and a “witch-decorated cookie.” Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve, 7751 Penzance Blvd., Fort Myers. sloughpreserve.org
Frightfully FunFest
Family-friendly Halloween festival with trunk-or-treating, games, pumpkin decorating, a costume parade, a bounce house, food trucks and EMS and fire-truck demos. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24. Free. Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fort Myers, 13411 Shire Lane, Fort Myers. uucfm.org
Trunk or Treat at Wa-Ke Hatchee Park
Kids can dress in costume, collect candy and munch goodies from local food trucks at this annual family event. 3-6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24. Free. Wa-Ke Hatchee Park, 16760 Bass Road, Fort Myers. 533-6850 or leeparks.org/wake
Gulf Coast Symphony plays ‘Harry Potter’
The full orchestra plays a concert packed with songs from the wizarding world of the Harry Potter movies. 6 and 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30. $76-$86. Music & Arts Community Center (The MACC), 13411 Shire Lane, Fort Myers. 277-1700 or gulfcoastsymphony.org
CAPE CORAL HALLOWEEN EVENTS
Cape Coral Trunk Or Treat
The city holds its annual trunk-or-treating event at City Hall, including trick-or-treating at decorated vehicles, a spooky train ride, inflatables, a 7 p.m. movie (“Casper”) and an 8:30 p.m. Halloween drone show. 5-9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23. Free. Trick-or-treating for ages 5 and younger from 5-6 p.m.; or for all ages from 6-8 p.m. Bring your own treat bags, lawn chairs and blankets. Cape Coral City Hall, 1015 Cultural Park Blvd,, Cape Coral. facebook.com/CapeCoralParks
13th-annual South Cape Spooktacular Pub Crawl
Ride limo buses throughout downtown Cape Coral/South Cape and stop at different bars, restaurants and businesses for Halloween-themed drink samples and candy. Ages 21 and older. Costumes are encouraged. 7-11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24. $25-$30 ($20 for designated drivers). Check-in happens from 6-7:30 p.m. at Big John Plaza near Pinch-A-Penny (1221 Cape Coral Parkway E.) and Dolphin Key Resort (1502 Miramar St., Cape Coral, under the front awning). Late check-in until 10 p.m. at Dolphin Key Resort. facebook.com/SouthCapeHospitalityAndEntertainmentAssociation
KidsFest in Cape Coral
The annual family festival returns with more games, craft stations, costume contests, stage shows, vendors and food (including free hot dogs and chips for kids 16 and under, while supplies last). 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24 (postponed from Oct. 17 due to expected bad weather). Free admission. Cultural Park, 544 Cultural Park Blvd., Cape Coral. capecoralkiwanis.org/kidsfest
South Cape Business Trick-or-Treat
South Cape businesses hand out candy, trinkets, gift cards and more to trick-or-treaters at this eighth-annual event. Limo buses will transport children and their families across Cape Coral Parkway and back. Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24. Free. Downtown Cape Coral/South Cape. facebook.com/SouthCapeHospitalityAndEntertainmentAssociation
Terror on 20th haunted house
A private Cape Coral home transforms into a haunted house with pneumatic props, actors, monsters, chainsaws, smoke machines, music and scares around every corner. Guided tours are 7-10 p.m. Halloween night only (Saturday, Oct. 31). Free admission with the donation of canned food for The Harry Chapin Food Bank. The haunted house takes place at 2812 SW 20th Ave., Cape Coral. facebook.com/TerrorOn20th
BONITA SPRINGS AND ESTERO HALLOWEEN EVENTS
Farmer Mike’s Fall Festival and Corn Mazes
Celebrate the Halloween season with haunted and family-friendly corn mazes, a pumpkin patch, sunflower picking, games, food vendors, crafts and more. This year’s corn mazes have the theme “The Terrifying Strangers” (haunted maze) and “The Journey to The Center of the EARTH” (family-friendly maze). Tickets are available in 30-minute time slots. Now through Oct. 31. Hours are 6-9:30 p.m. Fridays, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturdays and 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Sundays. $16. Farmer Mike’s U Pick, 26031 Morton Ave., Bonita Springs. farmermikesupick.com
Happy Haunts Immersive Halloween Stroll
The City of Bonita Springs celebrates Halloween with decorations, video projections, photo opps and spooky music and lighting in downtown Bonita Springs. Happy Haunts isn’t a trick-or-treating event, and no candy will be handed out. 7-10 p.m. daily, Oct. 22-31. Free. Riverside Park and surrounding areas, 10450 Reynolds St., Bonita Springs. cityofbonitasprings.org
Boo-tanical Evening at Wonder Gardens
The Bonita attraction gets spooky with Halloween decorations, games, candy, face painting, photo opportunities and other family-friendly fun. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23. Included with regular Wonder Gardens admission of $14-$19 (free for ages 2 and younger). Some activities may cost extra. Wonder Gardens, 27180 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs. 992-2591 or wondergardens.org
Mall-O-Ween at Miromar Outlets
The Estero shopping center celebrates Halloween a day early with mall-wide trick-or-treating at participating businesses, Halloween music and costume contest for kids and pets. 5-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30. Free. Miromar Outlets, 10801 Corkscrew Road, Estero. 948-3766 or miromaroutlets.com
NORTH FORT MYERS HALLOWEEN EVENTS
Legends of Oblivion Haunted Attraction – Chapter 3: Queen of Serpents
Fort Myers native Wayne Anderson – now a special effects artist whose work has been featured in the TV show “Stranger Things” and elsewhere – returns to create another 17,000-square-foot haunted maze at the former Lee Civic Center. The event is billed as the largest haunted attraction in Southwest Florida. Expect lots of movie-quality monsters and special effects. 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Oct. 23-25. $28 general admission, $45 for VIP express lane, $69 for Queen of Serpents Experience (including front-line priority access, swag bag and access to secret rooms). $14 for ages 12 and younger. Mike Greenwell Regional Park (formerly known as Lee Civic Center), 11831 Bayshore Road, North Fort Myers. hauntedswfl.com
Family Fall Festival at North Fort Myers Park
The annual festival includes a costume contest, candy, games, music, prizes and more. 6-8:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 23. Free. North Fort Myers Park, 2000 North Recreation Park Way, North Fort Myers. 533-7200 or leeparks.org/nfm
LEHIGH ACRES HALLOWEEN EVENTS
Monster Mash Bash at Veterans Park
Bring your little “ghouls and goblins” for a night of spooky, free Halloween fun: A Trick or Treat Trail, live entertainment, music, games, food vendors and more. 6:30-8:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 24. Free. Veterans Park, 55 Homestead Road South, Lehigh Acres. 533-7530 or leeparks.org/veterans
SAN CARLOS PARK HALLOWEEN EVENTS
Ghosts & Ghouls Candy Crawl and Costume Contest at Gulf Coast Town Center
Trick-or-treat at businesses throughout the shopping center using a virtual map. Plus a Halloween party in the courtyard with a costume contest (preregistration required), face painting, a balloon artist and roaming costumed characters. 5-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24. Free. Gulf Coast Town Center, 9903 Gulf Coast Main St., San Carlos Park. gulfcoasttowncenter.com/events
Charles Runnells covers arts and entertainment for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News. To reach him, call 239-335-0368 or email crunnells@usatodayco.com. Follow or message him on Facebook (@charles.runnells.7), Instagram (@crunnells1) and X (@CharlesRunnells).
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Best haunted houses, Halloween events in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, SW FL
Reporting by Charles Runnells, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Fort Myers News-Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Ralph Fiennes as Lord Voldemort in a scene from the motion picture “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2.” Provided by Warner Bros. Picture USA TODAY Network, Reuters 
Two of the creepy creatures Wayne Anderson created for the 2024 Legends of Oblivion Haunted Attraction at Lee Civic Center. Provided by Legends of Oblivion USA TODAY Network, Reuters 
Artist Pamela Jones’ award-winning assemblages use repurposed objects, including the vintage rubber clown heads in her creepy “Bad Clowns” series. Provided by DAAS CO-OP USA TODAY Network, Reuters 
Students perform at the annual ‘Wicked Walk’ at Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center. Provided by Sidney & Berne Davis USA TODAY Network, Reuters
Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect
This story was originally published October 28, 2026 at 9:16 AM.