Halloween in Paradise: Your 2026 Guide to Spooky Season in Naples & Bonita Springs
Sunshine, palm trees, pumpkin patches and just enough things that go bump in the night.
When you picture Halloween, Southwest Florida might not be the first place that comes to mind. There are no crisp autumn leaves crunching beneath your feet, sweaters usually remain optimistic closet decorations, and your pumpkin may be sitting beneath a palm tree.
But make no mistake: Naples and Bonita Springs know how to celebrate spooky season.
October 2026 is packed with Halloween events ranging from adorable trick-or-treating and pumpkin patches to haunted houses, nighttime corn mazes and a few experiences designed specifically for those who think sleeping peacefully is overrated.
So grab the costume, gather your favorite ghosts and goblins, and choose your preferred level of spooky.
🎃 LEVEL ONE: Pumpkins, Costumes & Family Fun
Boo at the Zoo | October 10–12, 17–19 & 24–26
Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens gets a Halloween makeover for three weekends in October.
This year's Boo at the Zoo brings movies and mythical characters to life throughout the zoo. Kids 12 and under can trick-or-treat while families encounter costumed characters, pirates, princesses, superheroes, dinosaurs, mini unicorns, live entertainment and more.
Best of all, Boo at the Zoo activities are included with regular zoo admission. Costumes are welcome, although the zoo has special costume guidelines designed to keep both young visitors and the animals comfortable.
Boo at the Zoo event information
Mercato Pumpkin Patch | October 17–25
Before Halloween arrives, Mercato will bring a little autumn to Naples with its annual Pumpkin Patch.
The patch benefits SNIP Collier and makes an easy October stop for picking out a pumpkin, snapping a few fall photos and pretending for a moment that the temperature outside requires a flannel shirt.
Haunted Hoedown at Mercato | October 20, 5–8 PM
Things get a little more spirited at Mercato on Tuesday, October 20.
The Haunted Hoedown includes trick-or-treating around Mercato, a dance party, pumpkin patch, face painting, a scarecrow stilt walker and costume contests for several age groups, including adults and groups.
Jack Skellington and Sally are scheduled to make an appearance, and the evening wraps up with an outdoor showing of Halloweentown in the Piazza.
Even better: the event is complimentary to attend.
Frights & Delights Trunk or Treat | October 23, 6–8 PM
East Naples Community Park joins the Halloween fun with a free Frights & Delights Trunk or Treat.
Families can wander among decorated trunks, enjoy activities and giveaways, and participate in a costume contest. Admission is free and the event is designed for all ages.
Boo-tanical Evening | October 23, 5:30–8:30 PM
In Bonita Springs, Wonder Gardens is getting into the spirit with its Boo-tanical Evening.
Expect Halloween decorations, photo opportunities, family games, face painting and special animal enrichment, with Wonder Gardens team members getting into costume too.
The event is included with regular paid admission or a Wonder Gardens membership, although certain activities may carry an additional fee.
First Naples Trunk & Treat | October 28, 6:30–8 PM
Another free family option comes from First Naples Church.
Its Trunk & Treat 2026 invites families to fill their candy bags, play games and wear their favorite non-scary costumes.
First Naples Trunk & Treat information
🌽 LEVEL TWO: Give Me Fall... Florida Style
Farmer Mike's 12th Annual Fall Festival & Corn Mazes | Through October 31
If you're looking for the closest Southwest Florida gets to a classic fall farm experience, Farmer Mike's U-Pick of Bonita Springs belongs on the October list.
The 2026 Fall Festival includes a five-acre family-friendly corn maze, pumpkin picking straight from the vine, sunflowers, wildflowers, food, vendors and plenty of fall atmosphere.
This year's family maze theme is Journey to the Center of the Earth, with 16 game stations hidden throughout the maze.
And when darkness falls, things change considerably...
Farmer Mike's 2026 Fall Festival information
Farmer Mike's Haunted Corn Maze | Select October Nights
This is where our spooky meter starts creeping upward.
Farmer Mike's nighttime haunted maze returns with the 2026 theme The Terrifying Strangers.
Haunted dates are scheduled for October 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 and 31.
If you'd rather explore without whatever may be waiting between the rows of corn, Sunday nights feature a flashlight maze without the haunted experience.
👻 LEVEL THREE: Now We're Getting Spooky
Happy Haunts in Downtown Bonita Springs | October 23–31, 7–10 PM
For more than a week leading into Halloween, downtown Bonita Springs transforms into a free immersive Halloween experience.
The city's Happy Haunts celebration features Halloween music, elaborate decorations, animated video projections on downtown buildings, dramatic lighting and plenty of photo opportunities.
It's family-friendly, free and open nightly from 7–10 PM.
One important distinction: nightly Happy Haunts does not include trick-or-treating. Save the candy buckets for Halloween night.
City of Bonita Springs Happy Haunts information
Moonlight Market at Mercato | October 27, 6–8 PM
This isn't exactly Halloween, but it's too perfectly timed to leave off the list.
Mercato's complimentary Moonlight Market brings aura photography, crystals, reiki, tarot, earth-centered gifts, art and atmospheric music to the Piazza.
For anyone who prefers their October evenings more mystical than monstrous, this might be your night. 🔮
😱 LEVEL FOUR: Nope. You Go First.
Galaxy Fright Nights | Every Friday & Saturday in October
If pumpkin patches aren't quite terrifying enough for you, the Collier County Fair & Exposition, Inc. becomes significantly less friendly after dark.
Galaxy Fright Nights returns to the Collier Fairgrounds with two completely new haunted houses for 2026.
Aliens vs. Clowns combines two fears that probably never needed to meet.
Then there's Last Call to Hell, a haunted saloon where every door leads into another nightmare.
For those traveling with younger children, or adults who suddenly discover they have somewhere else to be, there's also the new Beyond Wonderland Maze, a specifically non-scary immersive attraction with lighting, scenery, special effects and interactive surprises.
Galaxy Fright Nights takes place every Friday and Saturday in October, is indoors and operates rain or shine. Ticket pricing had not yet been announced as of late September.
Galaxy Fright Nights 2026 information
🍬 HALLOWEEN DAY: October 31
Halloween falls on a Saturday in 2026, and Naples and Bonita Springs are taking full advantage of it.
Stage Fright Walk & 5K | 8–11 AM
Start Halloween morning at Sugden Regional Park with The Naples Players and its inaugural Stage Fright Walk & 5K.
Costumes are highly encouraged, and participants can run, walk or simply embrace the theatrical Halloween atmosphere. Proceeds support The Naples Players and its arts and educational programs. Registration is listed at $35 before October 1 and $45 afterward.
Stage Fright 5K registration and details
Big Top Halloween | 11 AM–3 PM
The Perry Hotel Naples is turning Halloween into a circus.
Big Top Halloween combines pool access, magicians, circus entertainers, food and family-friendly Halloween activities. Costumes and swimsuits are both encouraged, which may be the most Southwest Florida Halloween sentence ever written.
Tickets are currently listed from $25–$55.
Paradise Coast Fall Fest | 1–4 PM
The sixth annual Fall Fest at Paradise Coast Sports Complex brings costume parades, arts and crafts, bounce houses, face painting, treat tents, RC cars and a spooky haunted-bus walk to Halloween afternoon.
There's even a Pumpkin Patio with seasonal food and drinks.
5th Avenue South Halloween Spooktacular | 3–8 PM
Halloween eventually makes its way into downtown Naples.
The Halloween Spooktacular begins at Cambier Park from 3–5 PM with family activities, live music, games, costumes and the Porsche Naples Trunk or Treat.
Then from 5–8 PM, the celebration moves onto Fifth Avenue South for Halloween Spooktacular Evening on Fifth, with live musical performances throughout the avenue.
5th Avenue South Halloween Spooktacular details
Trick or Treat on Old 41 | 5–8 PM
Bonita Springs saves plenty of candy for Halloween night.
The Downtown Bonita Alliance's Trick or Treat on Old 41 runs from 5–8 PM, while the city's Happy Haunts experience continues around downtown.
That means families can trick-or-treat and then stick around as the projections, Halloween lighting and music take over downtown Bonita after dark.
🎃 Halloween Looks a Little Different in Southwest Florida
Maybe we don't have falling leaves or chilly October nights.
What we do have is something uniquely ours.
We carve pumpkins beneath palm trees. We wear costumes with flip-flops. We can spend the morning at the zoo, wander through a corn maze after sunset, trick-or-treat downtown and still finish Halloween night sitting outside under the stars.
And looking at the October 2026 calendar, there really is something for everyone.
Whether your ideal Halloween involves pumpkins and princesses, wine and tarot cards, costumes and candy, or running through a haunted house wondering why you willingly paid someone to chase you, Naples and Bonita Springs have you covered.
Just remember one important rule:
If something moves in the cornfield...
I'm pretty sure you're supposed to run. 👻🌴
Event dates, times, pricing and programming can change. Check with each event organizer before heading out.
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