Fall has finally made its way around to Florida! Fall in Florida, meaning the occasional “cold fronts” that are more like weather hiccups where the temperature outside does not immediately cause heat flash, and also Hallmark starts putting pumpkins on their greeting cards and Hot Topic actually feels seasonably appropriate. Just because no one can tell the difference between autumn and summer here in Tampa, doesn’t mean there aren’t going to be some spectacular October events rolling around the pumpkin patch this month!
From screams and scares, to music, family fun in corn mazes (despite the fact that no one has seen a corn field ever in this state), festivals and much more! Here are some spectacular and perhaps a bit more obscure events going locally this month:
Scream-A-Geddon
Every year, it’s the same thing- October comes around and every teenager in a 100 mile radius. all collectively drag themselves out of their pubescent caves of axe body spray and angst to go to Howl-o-Screams. Howl-o-Screams, Howl-o-Screams, rinse and repeat every year until the body literally rejects the idea of walking around at 1 am at the same old overpriced amusement park with the same scares. However, those looking for a real fresh thrill and a new scene for a good scream, look no further than Scream-A-Geddon. Is the name cheesy? Of course. But one can hardly care when one is getting spooked out of their socks by Scream-A-Geddon’s 6 attractions, all in one place. Featuring demons, zombies, cannibals and the obligatory clown! And in addition to all the fear and fright, this attraction also offers some homey fire pits to share some food and drink with Satan and Hannibal Lecter’s Wanna-Be’s. Open from 7-11 pm, it’s a great change of pace for haunted house enjoyer’s, and tickets can be found easily on their website 8/10, a sure scream and a half.
The Summoning Music Festival; Halloween
Not into scares but still enjoy Spooky Scary Skeletons on Spotify each year? Then The Summoning Music Festival; Halloween is every music coward’s real scene this October. A one-day music festival on Halloween, appropriately enough, and one audience can take as an excuse to dress up, as it legitimately says, “costume party” on the tin for all participants, along with the music and multiple headlines, they also offer vendors and food and an allegedly haunted venue. The Summoning is a great place to listen to some seasonal music with friends and family, tickets on sale now, online. 10/10, a total jam to make others jelly!!
Fox Squirrel Corn Maze
Despite the fact that corn mazes might actually be a hoax and utter fabrication by the media, Florida brags its own maze of corn this year, along with a petting zoo, a pumpkin patch, food and family friendly festival at Fox Squirrel park. This place has it all, wholesome activities and cute animals plus a very kind staff to help guide participants, all for a very cheap price of 11 dollars for adults and 10 dollars for anyone under 18! 9/10, makes for great quality time with the kids and parents (also the ratio of kids that make it out of the maze unharmed)
The 2021 Annual Pumpkin Festival
And just when humanity couldn’t get enough of that fat orange gourd, there it is again. Cropping up in a whole new patch of itself and being widely celebrated for it. Type 2021 Annual Pumpkin Festival into a search engine and about a 100 variations of a pumpkin themes festival will crop up. But they all offer essentially the best of all worlds previously mentioned. The family friendly scene with food and drink and live music. And who could ask for more? 8/10
Consider the search for Fall over with these four amazing events going on in Florida locally this month! Happy Autumn and happy sweater season!!
Jaeda Solon//staff writer
