US National Holidays & other notable dates
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| 12th |
On the second Monday in October, Americans celebrate Columbus Day for when Christopher Columbus landed in the New World on October 12, 1492. |
| 31st |
The last day of October is the traditional date of Halloween (All Hallows Eve) when children dress up in costumes and go trick-or-treating, house to house. Details of theme park Halloween celebrations can be found here. |
Theme Park Events
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| early July to November 30th |
The former Virgin Megastore at Downtown Disney has become the temporary home of DIANA-The People's Princess exhibit presented by The People's Princess Charitable Foundation, Inc. and features one of the largest collections of royal dresses and rare artifacts from the late Princess Diana.
Tickets are $14.50 (adults) and $5.00 (children ages 3-9). Opening hours are 11 am to 11 pm daily.
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| September 4th to November 1st |
The Annual Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party continues on selected nights from 7 pm to midnight. This is a separately ticketed event.
Dates from October are October 1, 2, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 18, 20, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31 and November 1 (disneyworld.disney.go.com).
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| September 25th to October 31st |
Universal's 19th Annual Halloween Horror Nights, Ripped from the Silver Screen continues on selected nights from 7 pm to midnight. This is a separately ticketed event.
Dates for October are October 1 to 4, 8 to 11, 15 to 18, 21 to 25 and 28 to 31.
This year features Saw, Chucky and The Wolfman (www.halloweenhorrornights.com).
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| September 25th to October 31st |
Busch Gardens are running their Annual Howl-O-Scream on selected nights from 7 pm to midnight. This is a separately ticketed event.
Dates for October are October 1 to 3, 8 to 10, 15 to 17, 22 to 24 and 29 to 31 (www.houseofvayne.com).
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| September 25th to November 8th |
The 14th Annual Epcot International Food and Wine Festival offers a range of activities for the whole family.
There are over 25 international food and wine marketplaces. This year, the festival will spotlight tastes from cities on six continents, including Bologna in Italy, Bangkok in Thailand, Wellington in New Zealand, Santiago in Chile, Marrakesh in Morocco, Shanghai in China and New Orleans in the USA.
For a small fee ($2 to $7) you can sample cuisine from around the world. Each year this event attracts over 1 million visitors (admission included with the standard Epcot ticket).
There are also special exhibits featuring fabulous cuisine and wine, culinary demonstrations, gourmet dining experiences and the Eat to the Beat concert series.
Continuing the concerts are Starship, Starring Mickey Thomas on September 30 to October 3, En Vogue on October 4 to 6, Better Than Ezra on October 7 to 8, Sister Hazel on October 9 to 11, Kool & The Gang on October 12 to 13, Spyro Gyra on October 14 to 16, Jon Secada on October 17 to 18, Sister Sledge on October 19 to 20, Vanessa Carlton on October 21 to 22, Taylor Dayne on October 23 to 25, Boyz II Men on October 26 to 28, John Waite on October 29 to 31, Taylor Hicks on November 1 to 2, Billy Ocean on November 3 to 5 and finally Los Lobos on November 6 to 8 (disneyworld.disney.go.com).
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| November 1st onwards |
Disney's Typhoon Lagoon water park is closed for its annual maintenance. Blizzard Beach will remain open during this time. |
Parades and Carnivals
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| 24th |
The 10th Annual Jacksonville Caribbean Carnival Street Parade and Festival includes a parade, live music, parties, Caribbean food, arts and crafts (www.jacksonvillecarnival.com). |
| October 23rd to November 1st |
If you cannot wait for Mardi Gras, then Fantasy Fest 2009 on the streets of Key West may be the answer with food, live entertainment, street parties, toga parties, pyjama and lingerie parties, wet t-shirt contests, tattoo contents and various masquerades where just about anything goes including the clothing optional rooftop bar at the Garden of Eden ! (www.fantasyfest.net). |
Sporting Events
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| 9th to 11th |
Florida's oldest and largest bicycling event is the Bicycle Festival in Mount Dora. Now in its 35th year, over 1,000 cyclists are expected (www.mountdora.com). |
| 15th to 18th |
The Daytona Fall Cycle Scene at the Daytona International Speedway features motorcycle sprint races from the Championship Cup Series and American Sportbike Racing Association plus the 4th Annual 8 Hours At Daytona SunTrust MOTO-ST Series race endurance series season finale (www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com). |
| October 23rd to November 1st |
The 4th Annual Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival takes place along 100 miles of canoe and kayak paddling trails between Bonita Springs and Pine Island Sound/Charlotte Harbor. Events include fishing tournaments, races, tours and the Bonita Springs River Fest and Pine Island Blueway Fest (www.calusabluewaypaddlingfestival.com). |
Concerts & Music Festivals
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| 2nd to 11th |
The 2009 Les DeMerle Amelia Island Jazz Festival on Amelia Island, this year features the Les DeMerle All-Stars, The TGIF Band, "New Generation" Jazz Band with Jawren Walton, 18-Piece US Navy Big Band Southeast, Bonnie Eisele, Sam Kouvaris, Impacto Latino, Bill Prince & the Amelia Island All-Stars plus David Sanborn in concert with "The Midnight Blue Band" (www.ameliaislandjazzfestival.com). |
| 9th |
At the Historic Bok Sanctuary they are honouring the founder with Edward W. Bok's Birthday Concerts (www.boksanctuary.org). |
| 24th |
Bok Tower hosts another Live at the Gardens Summer Music Series with Elvis impersonator Dwight Icenhower and the Repeatles bringing back the nostalgic 50s and 60s music of Buddy Holly, Elvis, the Everly Brothers, the Rolling Stones and the Beatles (www.boksanctuary.org). |
| 25th |
The 10th Annual Bright House Networks Festival Calle Orange is one of Central Florida's largest Hispanic festivals with four live sound stages across 10 city blocks of Downtown Orlando with music and food from 11am to 8pm (www.renesproductions.com). |
Arts, Crafts and Film Festivals
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| October 23rd to November 11th |
The 24th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival features over 175 movies from around the world being shown in theaters from Boca Raton to Miami (www.fliff.com). |
| 22nd |
The Art & Jazz on the Avenue at Downtown Delray Beach features art gallery showings, restaurant festivities and live entertainment (www.downtowndelraybeach.com). |
| 24th to 25th |
The Mount Dora Craft Festival sees over 300 crafters descending on the quaint town of Mount Dora (www.charmingmountdora.com). |
| October 31st to November 1st |
The 35th Annual Micanopy Fall Harvest Festival in the quiet town of Micanopy features over 200 local artists, crafters and musicians as well as other artists from across the southeast (www.afn.org). |
Car, Motorcycle and Boat Shows
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| 3rd |
Silver Springs hosts a combined 4th Annual All-G.M. Auto Show. See hundreds of classic and late model Chevrolets, Pontiacs, Buicks and Oldsmobiles (www.silversprings.com). |
| 15th to 18th |
The 17th Annual Biketoberfest® family friendly motorcycle rally takes place in locations throughout Daytona Beach and attracts over 100,000 bikers from across the USA and Canada.
There will be thousands of new, vintage and custom bikes in shows and rallies plus on-track action at the Daytona International Speedway, charity rides, street festivals, food and live music throughout the weekend (www.biketoberfest.org).
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| 17th |
The 13th Annual 8-Flags Car Show is on Centre Street in Fernandina Beach where you can see beautifully restored vintage cars hosted by the Amelia Cruizers Car Club (www.ameliacruizers.org). |
| October 29th to November 2nd |
The 50th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show is your opportunity to see over three billion dollars worth of superyachts, boats and accessories from all the major marine manufacturers worldwide.
The show is spread over six locations - Bahia Mar Yachting Center, Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center, Fort Lauderdale Grande Hotel and Yacht Club, Hyatt Pier 66 Hotel & Marina, Hall of Fame Marina and Las Olas Marina (www.showmanagement.com).
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Airshows and Rocket Launches
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| 3rd to 4th |
The Cocoa Beach Airshow features the F-22 Raptor, F-16 Viper Demo Team, F-18 Hornet Demo, C-17 Demo, U.S. Army Golden Knights, 920th Rescue Wing, USAF F-86 Heritage Flight plus a number of aerobatic pilots including GEICO Skytypers, Ed Hamill, Matt Chapman, Jason Newburg and John Black (www.cocoabeachairshow.com). |
| 17th |
The 66th Anniversary NAS Whiting Field's Air Show/Open House is at Whiting Field, Milton. |
| 27th |
NASA plan to initiate the first launch of the new Ares I-X Constellation launch vehicle on a sub-orbital test flight. The Ares programme has been designed to eventually return astronauts to the moon and replace the space shuttle. Read more on all launches... |
| 23rd to 25th |
The St. Petersburg Airfest takes place at Albert Whitted Airport, St. Petersburg. |
County Fairs & Festivals
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| 2nd to 3rd |
The 6th Annual Oktoberfest at Lyngate Park, Port Lucie celebrates German culture, authentic German Beer and food, crafts and live entertainment (www.cityofpsl.com). |
| 2nd to 4th |
The 31st Annual Destin Seafood Festivalgives you the opportunity to sample fresh local seafood, arts and crafts and live entertainment including Black Eyed Blonde, Survivor, Chuck Lawson, Tropical Island Music, The Forrest Williams Band, Ocean Street, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, The Sal Salaz Project and Stephanie Pettis RIO Band and Jones and Company (www.destinseafoodfestival.org). |
| 2nd to 10th |
This year for the 30th Annual Baker County Fair at Macclenny features an Antique Tractor Show and Pull, livestock shows and midway rides plus live entertainment (www.bakercountyfair.org). |
| 3rd |
If you like peanuts then you should not miss the 21st Annual Central Florida Fall Harvest & Peanut Festival at Williston. As well as a large assortment of peanuts and peanut products, there is also food, games, live music, horse-drawn trolley rides, horse shoe tournament, antique cars and entertainment including the Little Peanut King and Queen (www.willistonfl.org). |
| 5th to 10th |
The Central Panhandle Fair takes place at Panama City. |
| 6th to 10th |
The Jackson County Fair & Livestock Show is held at the Jackson County Agriculture Center in Marianna and features arts and crafts, livestock, live entertainment and a midway (jackson.ifas.ufl.edu). |
| 9th to 12th |
The 12th Annual Greek Festival is held on the Special Events Field in St. Augustine where you can sample homemade Greek food, pastries and beverages with live music and traditional Greek dancing by the Nisiotes dance troupe (www.stauggreekfest.com/). |
| 15th to 25th |
The Northeast Florida Fair at Callahan has livestock shows, arts and crafts, a midway, beauty pageant and talent show, a rodeo and petting zoo plus entertainment from Johnny Bulford, Moo-Mania Comedy Show and Ron Diamond, Magician & Hypnotist (www.neflfair.org). |
| 19th to 24th |
The Walton County Fair is at DeFuniak Springs and features a decorated pumpkin contest, a scarecrow contest as well as livestock shows, arts and crafts and a midway (www.thewaltoncountyfair.com). |
| 17th to 18th |
The 40th Annual Seafood Festival at Cedar Keys features local seafood and over 200 arts and craft exhibits plus live musical entertainment. It is also open house at the lighthouse on Seahorse Key, on the island 3 miles to the west of Cedar Key (accessible by shuttle boat) (www.cedarkey.org). |
| 17th to 18th |
The 43rd Annual Rattlesnake Festival takes place in San Antonio and as well as snake shows, also features gopher and turtle races, food, arts and crafts and live entertainment (www.rattlesnakefestival.com). |
| October 22nd to November 1st |
The 75th Annual Pensacola Interstate Fair is billed as the Big Fair and features musical artists including Saliva, Josh Gracin, Colgate Country Showdown State Finals, SpongeBob SquarePants & Patrick, Cowboy Troy, LoCash Cowboys, The Bar-Kays, Stephen Cochran, Lady Antebellum and Joe Nichols
There is also the Welde's Big Bear Show & Grizzly Falls and the Nerveless Nocks Stunt & Thrill Show (www.pensacolafair.com).
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| October 23rd to November 1st |
The 40th Annual Alachua County Fair is at the Alachua County Fairgrounds in Gainesville and features live musical entertainment as well as livestock shows (www.alachuacountyfair.org). |
| 24th |
The annual McIntosh 1890s Festival turns the clock back to Victorian times with arts and crafts, food and entertainment. Around 35,000 visitors are expected (friendsofmcintosh.org/). |
| October 31st to November 1st |
The 8th Annual Port St. Lucie Fall Festival will be held on Tradition Field in St. Lucie West with arts and crafts, food, a carnival and a haunted house each night (www.cityofpsl.com). |
| 23rd to 24th |
The Great American Cooter Festival takes place at Liberty Park on Lake Henderson in Inverness. There is live entertainment, food, arts and crafts, a carnival and Cooter (snapping turtle) races (www.cooterfestival.com). |
| 23rd to 24th |
The 54th Annual Florida Forest Festival is held in Perry and includes over 100 arts and crafts vendors, lumberjack competitions, pageant, car show, food and live entertainment (www.taylorcountychamber.com). |
| October 30th to November 7th |
The 55th Annual Columbia County Fair at Lake City includes midway rides, live entertainment and livestock shows (www.columbiacountyfair.org). |
Other Events
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| October 3rd to end of November |
An unusual attraction is Scott's Corn Maze at Long & Scott Farms, about 30 miles northwest of Orlando which is open weekends. This year the maze covers 6.5 acres and the theme is "Fishing for Kids" and there is also an adventure park with a 60 foot slide and hayrides (www.longandscottfarms.com). |
