Halloween Hauntings

Halloween events taking place along the Emerald Coast include the following. Area codes are 850.

Pumpkin Patch

The Butler Elementary pumpkin patch will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. There will be 2,000 pumpkins of all shapes and sizes to choose from, including Wee Bee Littles, Minis and Super Jumbos. The cost will range from 50 cents to $50 depending on the size of pumpkin, but most will sell for $10 to $20. Proceeds will benefit the PTO.

Pumpkin Festival

Bring the family and celebrate fall at a true horse ranch from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday in October at Gulfside Trail Rides, 613 County Rd. 393 S. in Santa Rosa Beach. Festival includes face painting, pumpkin painting, sand art, pony rides and hayrides, and hotdogs, cheese nachos, chips, cotton candy and beverages. Call 850-208-3114.

Haunted House – Panama City

The Panama City Jaycees present the 2011 edition of their annual Haunted House with more than 13 rooms, dark hallways and mysterious chambers at 7 p.m. Oct. 14, 15, 21, 22, 28 and 29 at the Panama City Marine Institute, 200 E. Beach Drive. Tickets are $7.

Proceeds benefit PCMI and other local charitable organizations. Call 763-8282.

Haunted House – Fort Walton Beach

The Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge presents their Sixth Annual Haunted House beginning at 7 p.m. Oct. 14, 15, 21, 22 and 29-31 at Uptown Station in Fort Walton Beach. Not recommended for small children. Admission is $8. 

Get Spooked on Jolee Island

From festive fall pumpkins and hayrides to a pirate themed island trail, Jolee Island at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort is the place to be from 6-9 p.m. Oct. 21, 22, 28 and 29.

Visitors will receive a map with landmarks to visit along the island’s outer trails. At the locations, scavenger hunt clues will be given and sweet treats for braving the dark and scary trails. Cost is $10/kids and adults with paying child and children 2 and under enter free. Call 267-7000.

Peanuts Halloween

Bring the kids and have a Peanuts Halloween as the Great Pumpkin comes to Bass Pro Shops with free kids’ activities. Events include trick-or-treating from 4-7 p.m. Oct. 28, 28 and 31. Look for the orange and black balloons to mark in-store locations that are passing out treats. Also, make a Halloween reflector necklace from 5-7 p.m. Oct. 21 and 28 and decorate a trick-or-treat bag from 1-4 p.m. Oct. 22, 23 and 31. Color a wood pumpkin from 1-4 p.m. Oct. 29 and 30.

Costume parades will be held from 6-7 p.m. Oct. 21 and 28 with small prizes awarded. Roast marshmallows and sample desserts Oct. 23 and 30.

Fall Festival Hayride and Fantasyland

Topsail Hill State Park’s Fifth Annual Fall Festival Hayride and Fantasyland will be held from 6-10 p.m. Oct. 21 and 22 at the Park on Scenic 30A in Santa Rosa Beach. Adults and older children can enjoy the narrated hayride. Cost is $5.

Carnival games with prizes, a costume spotlight, trick or treating, face painting, and expanded game area will be featured in Fantasyland. Cost starts at $1. Food and drinks will be available. All proceeds benefit The Friends of Topsail Hill Preserve State Park to support environmental education and conservation efforts at the park.

Haunted Trail

The Science & Discovery Center of Northwest Florida, formerly known as the Junior Museum, continues its long tradition of providing the ultimate Halloween experience for families from 4-10 p.m. Oct. 21 and 22 at the 12th Annual Haunted Trail & Pumpkin Patch. The Haunted Trail will feature all new creepy and scary Halloween scenes. Recommended for adults and children ages 7 and up. Children younger than 7 can experience the Peek-a-Boo Path. The Costume Contest starts at 5 pm each evening. Admission is $5.

Zombie Walk

The Fort Walton Beach Jaycees & the Downtown Merchants present the Third Annual Zombie Walk from 4-9:30 p.m. Oct. 22 at Fokker’s Pub in Fort Walton Beach. Zombies will register on Ferry street or at The Landing. Bring two can goods to donate for charity. Make-up artists will be on hand to zombify for a small donation.

Zombie Walk will conclude with a meandering of Zombies through Downtown to their final destination for Thriller Dance. Call 240-1857.

Boo at the Zoo

Enjoy events, rides, and games, such as an out of this world U.F.O. maze, a spooky freak show, haunted zoo, and a zombie train ride, at Boo at the Zoo from 6-10 p.m. Oct. 22, 28 and 29 at the Gulf Breeze Zoo. For the younger ghouls and goblins, visit trick or treat trail from 1-6 p.m. and trick or treat with the animals. Also, face painting, crafts, games and maze. Call 932-2229.

Fall Festival

The 11th Annual City of Destin Fall Festival will be held from 5-8 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Destin Community Center. Events will include a children’s costume contest, Jack-O-Lantern contest, cakewalk, and carnival games. Call 654-5184.

Town Hall Cemetery

Take a trip through the haunted cemetery in Rosemary Beach Oct. 26, 27, 28 and 29 and find out if you have what it takes to venture through the gates after dark.

Haunted History Tours

The City of Fort Walton Beach Heritage Park and Cultural Center presents the Fourth Annual Haunted History Tours based on authentic local history, folk stories and spooky downtown historic sites with tours beginning at 6:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 8:309 p.m. Oct. 28 and 29. Early sign-up and ticket purchase is encouraged. Pre-sale tickets are available during regular museum hours at the Indian Temple Mound Museum at a cost of $8/adult and $5/child (children must be accompanied by an adult). On tour nights, tickets can be purchased starting at 6 p.m. outside the entrance to the Indian Temple Mound Museum where tours will begin.

Harvest Market & Halloween Celebration

Enjoy the crisp, autumn air while perusing artist booths filled with paintings, pottery, jewelry and other handcrafted items at the Halloween celebration from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 29 at Harvest Market, North Barrett Square in Rosemary Beach. Trick or treating and a Kids’ Halloween Bash takes place from 3:30-5:30 p.m. in Town Center in South Barrett Square.

Bring the little ghosts and goblins for trick-or-treating through town center businesses and the Harvest Market artist's booths. Enjoy a pumpkin-carving contest with prizes, a moonwalk, face painting, games, music and more.  The event is free.

Pumpkinpalooza

Costume contests for children begin at 2 p.m. and adult contest begins at 9 p.m. Oct. 29 at HarborWalk Village in Destin. There will also be plenty of drinks and live entertainment to savor at this thrilling and chilling Halloween bash. Children can trick or treat with the Village merchants during business hours all day with pumpkin decorating, free crafts and face painting from 12-4 p.m.

Trick or Treat Street

Trick or treat through the Village streets and visit merchants as they provide you with Halloween treats from 5-7 p.m. Oct. 29 at the Village of Baytowne Wharf in Sandestin.

Halloween Haunt

Destin Commons will host its annual Halloween Haunt from 4-6 p.m. Oct. 29 with craft tables, free face painting, a costume contest and more. A freaky fireworks display will begin at 6 p.m.

McGuire’s Annual Halloween Walk/Run

McGuire’s 15th Annual Halloween 5k Walk/Run 10kRun begins at 9 a.m. Oct. 29 at McGuire’s, 33 U.S. 98 in Destin. Visit www.mcguiresirishpub.com for registration information.

Rocky Horror Picture Show

The annual late night showing of the classic movie, Rocky Horror Picture Show, begins at 10 p.m. Oct. 29 at Uptown Station in Fort Walton Beach. Throw rice, throw toast, squirt water, dance the Time Warp, shout at the screen, dress up and be outrageous. No glass containers or pets.

Monster Paddle

Paddle anything you want ... SUP, kayak, canoe, outrigger, dragon boat, rowboat, coffin ... at the 2011 Harry T's Monster Paddle at 10:45 a.m. Oct. 29 on the Destin Harbor. Check in at 9:15 a.m. This is the only costumed stand up paddle poker run in the United States. Make all five stops within the Destin Harbor and get one poker hand at the post-run party. Find the sixth location and get a second hand. Get the highest ranked poker hand and win a huge prize pack including a vacation stay at Emerald Grande, SUP equipment ... and the scariest trophy ever invented.

After the Poker Run, there will be a ghoulish BMX Style sprint race. Extremely short course in front of Harry T's. Limited to the first 25 racers who sign up at the 2011 Monster Paddle Poker Run. Great prizes for winner of the Demon Dash, including a vacation stay at Emerald Grande.

All paddlers must have leashes for SUP and PFD. All other forms of vessels must have PFD (personal floatation device) on board. Best costume also wins a prize.

Halloween Happening

The DBPA will host a Halloween Happening from 5-7 p.m. Oct. 31 on Baldwin Avenue in DeFuniak Springs to provide a safe holiday for local children.