Local haunts
A host of ghostly happenings in Tampa
There are plenty of South Tampa Halloween events to choose from, regardless of age, curfew or courage.
By Times Staff Writer
Published October 24, 2003
PARTIES
Florida Aquarium
The sixth annual Nauti-Night Masquerade, an adults-only costume party, is from 8 to midnight tonight at the Florida Aquarium, 701 Channelside Drive. Jerry Springer will host the costume contest. Entertainment includes a jazz trio performing in the Coral Reef Gallery and a DJ spinning tunes in Shark Bay. Tickets are $70. Call 273-4568 or visit www.nautinight.com
The aquarium is also hosting Guppyween from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 31. Free admission to every child in a costume accompanied by an adult. Enjoy trick-or-treating and Halloween-themed entertainment from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Call 273-4568.
Halloween Bash
13 Ugly Men present their annual Halloween Bash from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. Oct. 31 at the Rusty Pelican, 2425 Rocky Point Drive. No costume - no candy! This means you have to dress up. The party includes a costume contest with cash prizes, hors d'oeuvres, entertainment and a cash bar. Tickets are $20, available online or at the door. 21 and older only. Proceeds will benefit Seniors in Service of Tampa Bay. Call 281-1943 or visit www.13uglymen.com
Vampyre's Ball
Tampa Theatre hosts Vampyre's Ball at 8 p.m. Oct. 31 at the A La Carte Event Pavilion, 4050 Dana Shores Drive. The event features an open bar, entertainment by Blue Dice and Paul Wilborn, makeup demonstrations by Saks Fifth Avenue and a silent auction. Cost is $75 or $60 for theater members. Proceeds benefit the Tampa Theatre. Call 831-5390.
Guavaween
The 20th anniversary Guavaween party hits the streets of Ybor City on Saturday. Family Fun Fest runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Centennial Park, Eighth Avenue between 18th and 19th streets. Tickets are $3. A Night of Costumed Revelry starts at 3 p.m., with the Mama Guava Stumble parade down Seventh Avenue at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $12. The GuavaEve Masquerade Ball is from 7 p.m. to midnight tonight at 1320 E Ninth Ave. Tickets are $30 per person or $50 per couple. For more information, go to www.cc-events.org
ATTRACTIONS
Kid City
Kid City, 7550 N Blvd., is hosting its annual Halloween event, Sort-a-Spooky Days and Nights . . . a Visit to Sleepy Hollow, from 5 to 8 tonight and Oct. 31 with a costume parade at 7 p.m. The party featuring Ichabod Crane, Katrina Van Tassel and other residents of Sleepy Hollow continues from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, with costume parades at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Games, crafts and refreshments will be available. Watch out for a surprise visit from the headless horseman. Cost is $2 for members, $6.75 for nonmembers. Call 935-8441.
Busch Gardens
Experience a Howl-O-Scream Sleepover for seventh- through 10th-graders tonight and Oct. 31. Cost is $75 or $65 for passport members. The chaperoned sleepover includes front-of-the-line access to Howl-O-Scream's haunted houses, accommodations in Mzinga Lodge, a sunrise Serengeti Safari Tour and meals. Arrive at 6 p.m., depart at 8 a.m. For reservations, call toll-free at 1-877-248-2267.
Howl-O-Scream is open Thursdays through Saturdays through Nov. 1 with a new haunted house, Darkheart's Fear Fair. 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Thursdays; 7:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Admission is $49.95, plus tax.
Lowry Park Zoo
Halloween Fun Fest is 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the zoo, 1101 W Sligh Ave. Activities include entertainment at the bandshell, pumpkin patch and the Wizard's Tent, ghoulish games, magicians, jugglers, puppet shows and scary storytelling. A costume contest with prizes begins at 4 p.m. Free. Call 274-8615.
The zoo is also hosting Zoo Boo until Nov. 1 from 7 to 10 p.m. with three haunted houses: the Haunted Mansion, Haunted Swamp of Terror in 3D and Little Tyke Boo House. This year's Zoo Boo features two new attractions, Curse of the Mine and Spooky Trails: Ruins of Spooky Hollow. Visitors can also check out Fright Zone and the kids' area for games, rides and among other entertainment. More than 1,600 zoo animals will be on view each night. Admission is $10.50 adults, $8.50 ages 3 to 11. Children under 2 are free. Call 935-8552.
IN THEATERS
Gorilla Theatre
Gorilla Theatre, 4419 N Hubert Ave., presents a live stage version of Rocky Horror Picture Show at 7 p.m. Thursday and Nov. 6; 8 p.m. tonight and Oct. 31; 8 p.m. and midnight on Saturday and Nov. 1; and 3 p.m. Sunday and Nov. 2. Two young lovers find themselves in perverse peril at the hands of a rockin' band of sexy extraterrestrials. For mature audiences only. Outside items are not allowed, but props will be sold at the theater. Tickets are $20-$25. Reservations are required. Call 879-2914.
IMAX Theatre
Haunted Castle, a 40-minute film featuring horror, comedy and rock 'n' roll mythology airs through Oct. 31 at Channelside IMAX Theatre, 615 Channelside Drive. Young musician Jasper "Johnny" Steverlinck inherits a dark, scary house after the death of his mother, whom he did not know. She appears to him to deliver a warning. To make matters worse, Satan wants Johnny to sign a contract to sell his soul. Sparks, skeletons and singing monkeys enliven this 3-D trip. Showtimes are at 7, 8, 9 and 10 p.m. Tickets are $9.75 for adults, $7.25 for seniors, students and members of the military, and $6.75 for children. Call 221-0700.
Tampa Theatre
The Tampa Theatre, 711 Franklin St., will have two filmings of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, at 8 p.m. on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. The Larger Than Life Cast will be performing on stage with the movie. There will be a costume contest, so come dressed as your favorite character. No outside items will be allowed. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for seniors, students and members of the military. Call 287-8844 or visit www.ticketmaster.com
AT THE MALLS
WestShore Plaza
Join Radio Disney for trick-or-treating, games and giveaways from 5 to 7 p.m. on Oct. 31 at WestShore Plaza. Meet at Center Court to go trick-or-treating through the mall. Free. Call 286-0790.
Old Hyde Park Village
Kids can pick out a pumpkin or make a Halloween craft through Oct. 31. Village hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; Swann and Dakota avenues. Free. Call 876-4150. Hyde and Shriek, a trick-or-treating event for children, will be Saturday from noon to 2 p.m. There will also be costume contests and prizes. Call 251-3500.
OTHER EVENTS
Haunted House
The South Tampa Palma Ceia Lions Club is hosting a haunted house from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday at the club, 5251 S Hesperides St. Cost is a $2 donation to help blindness, drug abuse and diabetes awareness. Call 837-2575.
Graveyard Walk
Join historian and actor Maureen Patrick for the Gothic Graveyard Walk from 4 to 5 p.m. Oct. 31 at Oaklawn Cemetery, at Morgan and Harrison streets in downtown Tampa. Tour the Victorian-era graveyard founded in 1850. It is the final resting place of 13 mayors, veterans of seven wars and victims of five yellow fever epidemics. Patrick will appear in 19th century mourning attire in the character of Miss Prudence Fipwhistle (1855-1899). A $5 donation benefits the Tampa Historical Society. Call 831-5214.
Pet Costume Contest
Petco at the Town Square Center at West Shore and Kennedy boulevards is hosting a Pet Costume Contest from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday. All contestants will receive a Howl-O-Ween goody bag filled with surprises. The grand prize is a year's supply of Science Diet dog or cat food. Pets must be on a leash or in a carrier.
Autumn Fest
Davis Islands Baptist Church, 97 Biscayne Ave., is hosting the Autumn Fest from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Oct. 31. Visit the Fun Factory, the Jump Zone, Snackville and the Precious Pumpkin Patch. Costume contests, candy, carnival games, food, an obstacle course, an 18-foot slide and more.
Halloween Festivals
The NFL YET (Youth Education Town) Center at Jackson Heights, 3310 E Lake Ave., and the Loretta Ingraham Community Center, 4213 W Green St., are both hosting Halloween festivals on Thursday. The NFL Yet party is from 4 to 6 p.m. The Loretta Ingraham Center event is from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Activities include creepy crafts, face painting and refreshments. Free.
Hallelujah Party
Bayshore United Methodist Church, 3909 S MacDill Ave., is hosting its annual Hallelujah Party from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 31. An alternative to Halloween, the event includes food and games. Each child will go home with a bag full of candy. Cost is $3. Call 839-4297.
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