This fall, Orlando unveils a vibrant and diverse calendar of seasonal experiences, making it the ultimate destination for travellers seeking thrills, flavours and festivities. Beyond the spooky fun, the city is a must-visit for foodies, sports fans and festival lovers, offering a vibrant lineup of experiences for every type of traveller.

HALLOWEEN FRIGHTS & FUN 

From scream-worthy haunted houses to family-friendly trick-or-treats trails, the Halloween Vacation Capital will serve up fang-tastic seasonal activities for all ages.

  • Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World Resort (select nights, until Oct. 31) returns to Magic Kingdom Park with spooky entertainment, including a new dance party with the music and moves from “Zombies 4” and more “Zombies” fan favorites, along with the return of the “Hocus Pocus” Villain Spelltacular! at Cinderella Castle, Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular, Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade, the Trick-or-Treat Trail and more.
  • Universal Orlando Resort’s Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Florida (select nights, until Nov. 2) returns for 48 nights with 10 all-new, mind-ripping haunted houses inspired by “Terrifier,” “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” “Friday the 13th,” and more—plus sinister scare zones, outrageous live entertainment and after-hours access to some of Universal Studios’ most thrilling attractions.
  • At SeaWorld Orlando, guests can experience two Halloween-themed events:
    • Little ones can dress up in their favorite costumes and meet colourful Halloween characters at the SeaWorld Spooktacular (weekends, until Nov. 2), a family-friendly daytime event included with regular theme park admission. Guests can enjoy an exclusive Sesame Street Halloween Parade, Scarecrow Halloween Dance Party, Trick-or-Treat Trail and other themed activities.
    • Howl-O-Scream (select nights, until Nov. 1) returns for 28 nights of fully immersive fear, featuring spine-tingling scare zones, menacing haunted houses and heart-pounding thrill rides in the dark, plus interactive themed bars, electrifying live shows and more.
  • LEGOLAND Florida Resort’s Brick or Treat Presents Monster Party (select dates, until Nov. 2) is a signature Halloween event included with theme park admission where guests can swoop into the spellbinding spirit with ghoul-tastic shows and experiences, tidal waves of candy, wickedly delicious treats and exclusive LEGO character encounters.

FOODIE EVENTS

Orlando heats up with flavour this fall with a variety of food festivals and dining experiences that highlight the city’s vibrant culinary offerings, showcasing local chefs and global cuisines.

  • At the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival presented by CORKCICLE (until Nov. 22), guests can enjoy a global celebration of cuisine, culture and music as they explore a culinary adventure across six different continents around World Showcase. The festival, included with park admission, offers an array of Global Marketplaces serving delectable dishes along with a star-studded concert series featuring artists like The Fray, Smash Mouth, The Beach Boys, Bowling for Soup and more.
  • Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will host an out-of-this-world Taste of Space: Fall Bites! (Oct. 3 – Nov. 9) food event. Plus, on Oct. 3, the Taste of Space: Marstini Shake-Off, the adults-only, after-hours tasting at Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex, will offer guests a chance to mingle with astronauts, savour local bites and drinks, and vote for a favourite handcrafted “Marstini.”
  • Central Florida Veg Fest ​​Presented by Vegetarians of Central Florida (Oct. 25), a free family-friendly vegan event held at Orlando Festival Park near downtown Orlando, returns for its 20th year. The event will feature a day of educational exhibits and activities from diverse cross sections of vegan cuisines and lifestyles, including new products and ideas from over 200 vendors and 100 contributors, as well as a wide variety of food preparation demos, live music and an artist corner.
  • The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic (Nov. 14-15) will return for its 16th year, featuring live entertainment, culinary seminars, a fireworks show and unlimited food and drink tastings. Guests can enjoy a wide variety of dishes from the resort’s award-winning chefs paired with fine wines, beers and spirits from around the world.

FALL FESTIVALS & EVENTS

Orlando’s arts and culture flourishes this fall, offering immersive experiences that blend music, visual storytelling and cultural celebration.

  • Universal Volcano Bay Nights (Every Friday night, until Oct. 31) returns for an exclusive, limited-capacity, family-friendly event featuring after-dark access to the water theme park and an array of experiences including all-new fun with Scooby-Doo and the Gang, an in-park Beach Bash with live entertainment, specialty menu items and more.
  • Southern Hill Farms Fall Festival (Select dates, until Nov. 23) returns for its 10th  annual fall celebration, including fall-themed treats like apple cider donuts, pumpkin picking, s’mores by the fire, a kid zone, wagon rides, live entertainment and more.
  • Come Out With Pride Orlando (Oct. 18) marks its 20th anniversary with a high-energy celebration at Lake Eola Park in downtown Orlando. Guests can enjoy a full day of vibrant live entertainment from local talent and celebrity headliners; explore offerings from over 250 diverse vendors; and experience the iconic Most Colorful Parade. The festivities culminate in a show-stopping Fireworks Grand Finale over Lake Eola
  • Fall Fiesta in the Park, presented by the City of Orlando and Cox Media Group (Nov. 1-2), one of Central Florida’s longest-running traditions, will return for its 54th year to Lake Eola Park in downtown Orlando. Visitors and locals can celebrate the beauty of the season as hundreds of artist and crafter booths surround the park, along with a variety of food vendors, live entertainment and a kid’s zone.
  • The 52nd Annual Winter Park Autumn Art Festival (Oct. 11-12) returns to Winter Park’s Central Park, nestled along historic Park Avenue. This free, family-friendly event showcases exceptional visual art from talented Florida artists alongside lively entertainment for all ages.
  • Fiesta Calle Orange (Oct. 26), Central Florida’s largest Latino experiential event, will return for its 27th year, lighting up the streets of downtown Orlando with Latin flavor, rhythm and community pride. The family-friendly event features live performances from musicians and artists, showcasing Hispanic culture and vendors serving authentic food and drink offerings.
  • The Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) (Nov. 7-9) will return to downtown Orlando’s historic Tinker Field History Plaza, featuring three days of more than 100 electronic music artists, immersive art experiences, pyrotechnics and full-size carnival rides for one of the most vibrant and electrifying editions of EDC.
  • FusionFest (Nov. 29-30) returns for its 8th year at downtown Orlando’s Seneff Arts Plaza. This free, two-day celebration showcases global cuisine, live performances, an international market, fashion shows, family-friendly crafts, and more—highlighting the diverse cultures of Central Florida.

SPORTING EVENTS

Orlando showcases a collection of high-energy matchups and marquee events this season, highlighting the city’s dynamic presence across professional hockey, basketball and collegiate football.

  • Fresh off back-to-back playoff appearances, the NBA’s Orlando Magic will kick off their season with home games at downtown Orlando’s Kia Center this fall. Confirmed matches include facing off against the Miami Heat (Oct. 12) and New Orleans Pelicans (Oct. 16), with regular season matchups to be announced.
  • Camping World Stadium will host the Florida Blue Florida Classic (Nov. 22), the nation’s largest football game between two Historically Black College/University (HBCU) schools, featuring the Bethune-Cookman University Wildcats and Florida A&M University Rattlesnakes.

FALL CONCERT LINEUP

Orlando will welcome numerous national tours from every genre this fall that music lovers won’t want to miss.

Check out Visit Orlando for all your travel planning needs.

About the Author

Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist based in Toronto with a focus on tourism, lifestyle, entertainment and community issues. He has written several travel articles and has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with musicians, actors and other public personalities. He’s willing to take on any assignments of interest, attend parties with free booze, listen to rants, and travel the world in search of the great unknown. He’s eager to discover the new, remember the past, and look into the future.