Graveyard ghouls, pumpkin-eating gators and Dracula are focal points of Gatorland’s annual Halloween event returning this weekend.
The eighth annual “Gators, Ghosts and Goblins” is back this month at the attraction, featuring included-in-admission festivities for the whole family. Find character meet-and-greets, Frank N’ Steins Oktoberfest, tricks and treats, a literature-inspired haunted museum and the Cryptid Express train ride.
Young visitors are encouraged to come in family-friendly costumes.
“My favorite part is seeing the kids coming dressed up and excited to walk around, get candy and enjoy Gatorland,” said Brandon Fisher, Gatorland’s director of media relations. “It keeps getting bigger and better year after year.”
Other activities include a live DJ, specialty vendors, animal interactions, photo ops, a children’s costume parade and games. Guests can enjoy the attraction’s usual slate of daily shows, including the Gator Jumparoo (with pumpkins!), Alligators: Legends of the Swamp and Up Close Encounters.
Cyrus The Gravedigger, one of the spooky creatures at Gatorland’s 8th annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins event, welcomes guests Thursday. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
The fall-themed festivities are Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 25 and included with regular admission. Florida residents can get half-off single-day admissions this month.
Here’s what to expect from Gatorland’s Halloween hijinks and spooky storytelling.
The cryptid connection
Ever since making his debut as the “Social Distancing Skunk Ape” during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Florida-based cryptid has appeared at events, including those Halloween-related.
Skunk Ape and Eddie The Yeti, two of the spooky creatures at Gatorland’s 8th annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins event, welcome guests Thursday. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
“Everybody loves Skunk Ape; he keeps coming year after year. His favorite event is Gators, Ghosts and Goblins,” Fisher said. “He’s here with his cousin Eddie the Yeti, who decided to come on vacation to escape the cold and enjoy the Florida heat.”
Visitors can hop aboard the Cryptid Express themed train ride to see creatures including the Mothman, the Chupacabra and the Jersey Devil.
Scenes from the Swamp Ghost’s Monster Museum at Gatorland’s 8th annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins event, Thursday. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
A bloody good time
Gatorland’s haunted walk-through attraction, the Swamp Ghost Monster Museum, draws inspiration from the literary works of Bram Stoker, author of “Dracula.”
The first half of the haunt is more informative, delving into the lore behind Dracula, his assistant Renfield and mummies. There’s a halfway point to bail out before the scarier second half with more monsters and jump scares.
Scenes from the Swamp Ghost’s Monster Museum at Gatorland’s 8th annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins event on Thursday. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
See gothic ghouls, vampires, bats, werewolves and spooky spirits during the experience, which draws on animation and projection in some scenes while featuring live actors and scare-actors throughout.
There are spooky sets outside in the park, including the Gatorland Graveyard with photo ops and an interactive arrow-shooting game. This is where guests are most likely to encounter Cyrus the Gravedigger, one of the park’s funny Halloween fiends.
Seasonal treats can be found at Sweet Tooth’s Sweet Shop during Gators, Ghosts and Goblins at Gatorland on Thursday. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)
Tricks and treats
While Gatorland has plenty of tricks up its sleeve this Halloween season, it also has a number of treats to try.
Visit the Guzzlin’ Gator Craft Beer Bar & Waterin’ Hole, which opened in May, to see the venue transformed into Frank N’ Steins Oktoberfest. The venue has dozens of craft beers, ciders, wine, cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks to sample, including the Crooked Can Grinnin’ Gator lager exclusive to the attraction.
Frankenstein and his bride are roaming characters found at Frank N’ Steins Oktoberfest during Gators, Ghosts and Goblins at Gatorland on Thursday. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)
See Frankenstein and his bride wandering and sometimes performing musical numbers for guests.
Specials found on event days at Pearl’s Good Eats include gargoyle wings tossed in homemade black barbecue sauce and goblin ribs, which are pork ribs smothered in a sweet-and-tangy barbecue sauce.
Goblin ribs, which are actually pork ribs, are one special menu item during Gators, Ghosts and Goblins at Gatorland on Thursday. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)
Sweet Tooth’s Sweet Shop features the zombie cake, a triple-layered cake with chocolate buttercream frosting, a strawberry center and a gummy eyeball on top, and grave digger’s dirt and worms.
These à la carte menu items are in addition to complimentary candy and treats for kids.
Park director Mike Hileman and International Wildlife ambassador Savannah Boan feed pumpkins to jumping alligators at Gatorland’s 8th annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins event on Thursday. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Pumpkin eaters
“Alligators love pumpkins,” Fisher said shortly before Gatorland staff proved him right.
On event days, the Gator Jumparoo features mini pumpkins tossed to the gators, who leap up to devour them as a savory, fall-themed treat. The show usually involves feeding raw chickens to the gators.
Pumpkins act as a natural dewormer and anti-parasitic, according to Gatorland’s Savannah Boan. At the beginning of the month, Gatorland posted a video of “Pumpkin Crushing Day” featuring fall-themed enrichment for the attraction’s crocodiles.
Find me @PConnPie on Instagram or send me an email: pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com. Stay up to date with our latest travel, arts and events coverage by subscribing to our newsletters at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters.
If you go
Gatorland’s Gators, Ghosts and Goblins event is 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday through Oct. 25 at 14501 S. Orange Blossom Trail in Orlando. Tickets are $34.99 per adult, $24.99 per child age 3-12 and $31.99 per senior age 60+, with discounts available online. Florida residents get half off a single-day ticket in October, redeemable in person only. More information: gatorland.com