The 18 Most Florida Things You Can Do in the Sunshine State This Fall

• When:Ongoing
• Where:Neptune Memorial Reef off Key Biscayne, FL

Spooky season is prime time to visit a graveyard, but this year, don’t explore any old cemetery—make the trip to Neptune Memorial Reef. The 16-acre underwater “lost city” is guarded by stone lions, featuring a mix of concrete, bronze and steel architecture designed to serve as an artificial reef. It’s also a final resting place for some, and while visitors are allowed, the memorial reef staff asks that you’re respectful of the ashes preserved there. You can visit by boat or plan a dive trip with one of thecompany’s partners.

2.Take Part in the Tour de Trash

• When:Kickoff party on Sept. 2 at 4 p.m., additional beach cleanups every Saturday from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
• Where:Loggerhead Marinelife Centerin Juno Beach, FL

One of the big draws of visiting Florida is taking in itsbeaches—so why not lend a hand with keeping it clean? And enjoy a mini party while you’re at it? On Sept. 2, visit the Juno Beach Pier for the Tour de Trash Kickoff Beach Cleanup and Blue Market, for a festival on the pier, featuring local vendors specializing in sustainable goods, as well as a beach cleanup. The first 50 or so guests will score a free t-shirt too. After the kickoff, there will be different beach cleanups along the east coast of the state. Contactconservation@marinelife.orgfor more information.

• When:Sept. 9 through 11
• Where:Wynwood Marketplacein Miami, FL

Wynwood’s known for its street art (and art in general), but in early September, the area turns into a three-day party for Octoberfest. Held at Wynwood Marketplace, the event features seasonal beers, live music, games and all kinds of Bavarian food (giant pretzels included). It’s also dog-friendly, so bring your pup too.

• When:Dates vary throughout September/October
• Where:Throughout FL (see our picks below)

What, you thought Florida was all orange groves and strip malls? There are plenty of farms throughout the Sunshine State offering pumpkin patches, hayrides and corn mazes to traipse through. If you’re in the northern part of the state, check out thesetop spots in and around Jacksonville. Central Floridians, check outHunsader Farms’s Pumpkin Festivalin Bradenton; and Southerners, plan a trip toThe Berry FarminMiamiand revel in all of the sunflowers.

• When:Ongoing
• Where:St. Augustine, FL

If you’re going to go on a ghost tour, why not do it in the nation’s oldest city? St. Augustine hastons of optionsto choose from, whether you prefer a walking tour, a lighthouse visit, a pub crawl or a1920s-inspired adventure in a retro buggy. You’ll get a dose of history—and maybe a glimpse or two of somethingotherworldly.

• When:October 21 through 30
• Where:Key West, FL

Drop the kids off at their grandparents, because this 10-day costume party is strictly for adults (and yes, body paint counts as a costume, as long as you wearpasties). There are parades, boozy pool parties, hero-and-supervillain-themed races, burlesque parody shows, even a musical about Bum Farto, the infamous drug-running Fire Chief who mysteriously disappeared in the 1970s.

• When:Ongoing
• Where:Cassadaga, FL

Often referred to as the “psychic capital of the world,” Cassadaga is an unincorporated community in Volusia County. The town is home to several mediums, spiritual teachers and healers, including many who allow walk-in appointments. You can also visit the Southern Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp Meeting Association, though beforehand, you may want to scope out theevents calendarto take part in other activities, like going on a historical tour of the area, joining a meditation circle or taking part in a séance.

• When:Now through November 19
• Where:EPCOTat Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, FL

While the Food & Wine Festival started on July 14, let’s be real: You’re better off waiting until the summer travel crowds calm down and the weather turns a smidge more favorable. Now is your chance to eat around the world. We have it ongood authoritythat the Schinkennudeln (a cheesy ham and noodle bake) from the Germany booth, teriyaki chicken bun in Japan and crispy paneer with mango-curry ketchup at the India booth are all must-tries.

• When:September through October
• Where:Busch Gardens in Tampa, FL and Universal Studios in Orlando, FL

If you enjoy being pee-your-pants terrified, hit upBusch Gardens’s Howl-O-Screamand Universal Studios’s Halloween Horror Nights this year. Both feature over-the-top haunted houses, scare zones and creepy shows, though pop culture junkies may appreciate Universal Studios’s Michael Myers-themed house, as well as the chance to be stalked (and terrified) by The Weeknd in his“After Hours Nightmare” house.

• When:August 12 to October 31, from 7 p.m. to midnight
• Where:Magic Kingdomat Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, FL

There are trick-or-treat trails where kids can load up on sweets, Disney characters donning their own Halloween costumes, aHocus PocusVillain Spelltacular show, Halloween-y riffs on classic park rides and, naturally, an All Hallows Eve-inspired take on Disney’s famous parade and fireworks display. All of it, as the title suggests, not-so-scary, so even your littlest ones can take in the fun. (Psst: They can wear their costumes, too.) The only nightmare to be had is creeping down I-4 after the park closes.

• When:October 1 through 8
• Where:7275 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33140

Thiseight-day festivalcelebrates Greater Miami’s Hispanic and indigenous LGBTQ+ communities, featuring everything from Caribbean dance workshops to art exhibits and a formal gala. As fun as the events are, they also reveal how Hispanic and indigenous art has evolved and shaped South Florida.

• When:Ongoing
• Where:Skunk Ape Research Headquartersin Ochopee, FL

You’ve heard of Sasquatch, Bigfoot and Yetis—what about the Skunk Ape? The massive, hairy creature matches descriptions of Bigfoot, only it gets its name from the pungent odor some say accompanies sightings. While itsexistence has yet to be substantiated, it’s fun to visit theSkunk Ape Research Headquartersto search for the creature yourself (and take in the Everglades). You can also go camping at theTrail Lakes Campground, where the HQ is located, and visit the animal sanctuary.

• When:October 13 through 16
• Where:Daytona Beach, FL

Jump on your Harley and head to Daytona Beach for three days of motorcycle shows, races, scenic rides and live music. This year marksBiketoberfest’s 30^thanniversary, and bars and restaurants throughout the city are holding events to celebrate. Don’t forget your leather jacket.

• When:October 14 through 31
• Where:The Gardens Mallin Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Looking for a festive-yet-not-frightening way to entertain the kids around Halloween? Head to The Gardens Mall to visit Batty Manor, a semi-spooky cottage featuring arts and crafts, restaurant pop-ups and photo ops. Pro tip: Visit on the weekend between 1 and 4 p.m. to catch the Halloween stilt walkers.

• When:Ongoing
• Where:600 N Wales Dr., Lake Wales, FL 33853

如果你去中央Florida—say, to take in the beauty ofBok Gardensor visit a certain mouse—it’s worth a detour to Spook Hill. Park your car on the white line at the base of the incline, put it in neutral and marvel at how your ride seems to creep uphill on its own. Spook Hill is one of thecountry’s oldest gravity hills(aka magnetic hills), where the landscape creates an optical illusion that a downhill slope is actually upward. Trippy.

• When:October 29
• Where:TIAA Bank Field Stadium in Jacksonville, FL

Technically, this is a college football game, andtechnically, both schools would probably prefer you didn’t call it the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party, but University of Florida and University of Georgia fans are clinging hard to that moniker. It’s fitting, too, considering anestimated 150,000 peopleflood TIAA Bank Field Stadium in Jacksonville—a halfway-ish point between the two schools—and many never make it into the stadium. They’re just there to tailgate, and tailgate they do. People hire DJs, bring their own private Port-a-Potties, don costumes and grill all kinds of food.

• When:November
• Where:U-Pick Citrus Farm and Parkin Clermont, FL

While Florida does have its share of pumpkin patches, it’s far better known for its citrus. You’ll get the widest range of options in December, but late November is great for scoring red and yellow navel oranges, Early Pride tangerines, pomelos, lemons and both Persian and Key limes at U-Pick Citrus Farm and Park. It’s 25 minutes from Disney, and you can tack on amonster truck tourof the wildlife preserve there (where you can see zebra, water buffalo and alligators, among other animals) to really make a day of it.

• When:November 13 through 20
• Where:Miami Dade College’s Wolfson Campus in Miami, FL

More than 500 authors hit up Miami for lectures, readings and panels at Miami Dade College’s Wolfson Campus. There’s also a street fair, where you can pick up a few new reads—or that elusive first edition you’ve been searching for. (Or maybe just a snack, since there are plenty of food vendors there too.)