Tampa's fall festivals: Taste of Latino in Ybor Oct. 25, Oktoberfest on the river Oct. 30 to Nov. 1, Creatures of the Night at ZooTampa and county Halloween events.

Last checked Oct. 14, 2026. This page is updated each year. Events come from the City of Tampa calendar, Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation and the organizers’ own pages.

Updated Oct. 14: Riverwalk Trick-or-Treat runs 4 to 9 p.m., per the organizers; West River Fall Festival added for Oct. 24.

Fall in Tampa means festivals on the river and in Ybor City, Halloween nights at the zoo and free county events in the parks. Here is what is on from mid-October into early November.

Who to call

Festivals

  • Taste of Latino Festival, noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, Centennial Park, 1800 E. Eighth Ave., Ybor City. The eighth annual festival marks Hispanic Heritage Month and is free. City listing.
  • Oktoberfest Tampa, Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, 600 N. Ashley Drive: 4 to 11 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1. City listing.
  • Tampa Pig Jig, 1 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park; a ticketed music festival. Pig Jig site.
  • West River Fall Festival, 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, 1502 W. Union St. Free, with registration requested. City listing.
  • Ghana Day in Tampa Bay, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, Rowlett Park, 2401 E. Yukon St. Organizer’s site.
  • Fall Plant Festival at the USF Botanical Gardens, 12210 USF Pine Drive, ran Saturday, Oct. 10, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Halloween nights

  • Creatures of the Night at ZooTampa: remaining nights are Friday to Sunday, Oct. 16-18 and Oct. 23-25, plus Friday, Oct. 30, and Saturday, Oct. 31. It is included with a Zoo Fun ticket or membership; ZooTampa also sells after-4 p.m. event admission. Zoo Fun tickets are blocked out on Oct. 17 and 24. ZooTampa page.
  • Spooktacular Science at MOSI, 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17. Tickets.
  • Riverwalk Trick-or-Treat, 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, Cotanchobee Park. Free.

For trunk-or-treats and trick-or-treating, see our trick-or-treat guide.

Free county events

Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation lists free Halloween events through Oct. 31, including trunk-or-treats at nine recreation centers, a Halloween movie at Kenly Park on Oct. 16, skate jams at Carrollwood Village and other parks, a costumed dog contest at Apollo Beach Dog Park and Halloween dances for adults with disabilities. County list.

Pumpkin patches

Neither the City of Tampa calendar nor Hillsborough County’s event list includes a pumpkin patch for 2026, so check with individual patches for dates and hours. Run one in Tampa? Send us the details through our contact page and we will add it.

What this means for you

  • Oct. 24 and 25 are the busiest weekend: Riverwalk Trick-or-Treat, ZooTampa and Taste of Latino.
  • Oktoberfest is at Curtis Hixon on Halloween weekend; check one.network for closures.
  • County park events are free; the zoo, MOSI and Pig Jig are ticketed.

Related: things to do this month and parks and trails.

Frequently asked questions

What fall festivals are in Tampa in October 2026?

The free Taste of Latino Festival is Sunday, Oct. 25, at Centennial Park in Ybor City, and Oktoberfest Tampa is Oct. 30 to Nov. 1 at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. ZooTampa runs Creatures of the Night on select October evenings.

When is Creatures of the Night at ZooTampa?

Remaining 2026 nights are Oct. 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 30 and 31. It is included with a Zoo Fun ticket or membership, with separate after-4 p.m. event tickets.

Are there pumpkin patches in Tampa?

Neither the City of Tampa nor Hillsborough County lists a pumpkin patch for 2026; check with individual patches for dates and hours.

Are there free fall events for kids in Hillsborough County?

Yes. Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation says all its Halloween events are free, including trunk-or-treats, skate jams and a Halloween movie in the park.