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Halloween used to be just for kids, but that ended years ago, once the kids grew up - but didn't outgrow their love of dressing up. Tampa Bay area toddlers, adolescents and adults can participate in the spooky holiday with a variety of events.
By SHANNON BREEN
© St. Petersburg Times, published October 26, 2000
WHERE: Lowry Park Bandshell, 7525 N Boulevard, Tampa.
WHEN: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday COST: Free
GIST: A safe, fun event sponsored by the Tampa Recreation Department featuring spooky games, face painting, magic, puppetry and storytelling. There will be a costume contest at 5 p.m. with prizes for winners in each age group. Concessions will also be available.
CALL: (813) 274-7723.
WHERE: WildLife On Easy Street (across from Citrus Park Town Center), 12802 Easy St., Tampa.
WHEN: 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., through Halloween.
COST: $5 and $10
GIST: Second annual haunted trail benefiting a non-profit big-cat sanctuary, dedicated to the care of more than 150 exotic cats that have been abused, neglected or retired from circus acts. Journey through a 3-acre forest as you encounter the horrifying effects of humans on the environment. It'll make you scream 'til it hurts, the promoters say.
CALL: (813) 920-4130; Web: http://www.wildlifeeasyst.com/ or e-mail at SaveTheCats@aol.com.
WHERE: Busch Gardens, 3000 E Busch Blvd., Tampa.
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. to midnight, Friday and Saturday.
COST: $25.95, regular park admission; $9.95 for annual pass holders; $12.95 plus tax for Florida Fun Card holders; sleepover for kids is $55 and $50 for annual pass holders; $20 for Serengeti evening ride.
GIST: Howl-O-Scream's pilot season in Tampa featuring three haunted mazes, with a Rat Lady in one of them. Yes, Rat Lady. She lies in a coffin with live rats crawling over her pale body. To see the other animals at night, Serengeti rides are available. During sleepover, Busch Gardens babysits your kids from dinner time through next-day breakfast, for a fee, of course.
CALL: (888) 800-5447, or for information about sleepovers, call (800) 372-1797, ext. 7.
WHERE: Lowry Park Zoo, 7530 N Boulevard, Tampa.
WHEN: From 7 to 10 p.m., runs until Tuesday.
COST: $6 adults, $4 children (ages 3-11) and free for children age 2 and younger.
GIST: Families can enjoy animal exhibits, a haunted hearse ride, trick-or-treat bags, children's ghoulish games area, a swamp stroll and lots more that will send the kids running to Mommy and Daddy's bed for a week.
CALL: (813) 935-8552, ext. 208; Web: http://www.lowryparkzoo.com.
WHERE: Florida Aquarium, 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa.
WHEN: 8 p.m. to midnight, Friday.
COST: $40 members, $50 non-members.
GIST: A night of live entertainment, food stations, games, raffles, an open bar, a cigar bar and an all-you-can-eat sushi bar. Proceeds benefit veterinary programs at the aquarium. Costumes are optional.
CALL: (813) 273-4568.
WHERE: The corner of Seventh Avenue and 20th Street, Ybor City.
WHEN: From 8 p.m. to midnight Wed.-Sat.; 7 p.m to 10 p.m. Sun.-Tue.
COST: $12 for adults, $9 for children.
GIST: Features Hollywood special effects, dazzling sets, live actors, a 20-foot "Vortex Tunnel," Gothic graveyards, leaping corpses and an 8-foot werewolf.
CALL: (813) 620-4320.
WHERE: Rotary's Camp Florida, 1 mile north of State Road U.S. 60 off Lakewood Drive, Brandon.
WHEN: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday COST: Free admission, tickets sold for food and activities.
GIST: An event to raise money for local charities. Carnival activities, costume contests, ghost stories, a haunted house, Casper's kids playground. This isn't Vegas, but Elvis is scheduled to gyrate his hips for the kiddies.
CALL: (813) 654-4042.
WHERE: The Event Factory in Town 'N Country Plaza, 7565 W Hillsborough Ave., Tampa.
WHEN: 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday; 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday.
COST: $6
GIST: Visitors are sent on a scary, graphic mission, "The Tower of Blood," by SPECTER Academy (the Society for Paranormal Energy Containment and Training of Experimental Researchers) to investigate the Von Essen Castle for rumors of paranormal activity.
CALL: (813) 806-0026.
WHERE: Tampa Skating Center, 5121 N Armenia Ave., Tampa.
WHEN: Friday through Sunday.
COST: $6 regular admission, $1 haunted house, free afternoon skating.
GIST: The haunted house opens Friday, costume contests Saturday and Sunday.
CALL: (813) 876-5826.
WHERE: Hillsborough River State Park, 15402 N U.S. 301, Thonotosassa.
WHEN: Friday and Saturday.
COST: $4 for a walk, $2 for a hayride, 25-50 cents for games.
GIST: A walk through the Haunted Woods, a visit to the Little Spooky House, a hayride on a mule-drawn cart, games and concessions.
CALL: (813) 987-6771.
WHERE: Tampa Theatre, 711 N Franklin St.
WHEN: 8 p.m., Friday.
COST: $4-$7.
GIST: A special Halloween showing of the cult classic featuring a performance by the Larger Than Life Cast V.
CALL: (813) 274-8981.
WHERE: Tampa Theatre, 711 N Franklin St.
WHEN: 3 p.m., Sunday.
COST: $4-$7.
GIST: Showing of the 1922 film version of Dracula.
CALL: (813) 274-8981.
WHERE: The streets of historic Ybor City.
WHEN: Guavaween Family Funfest from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; costume revelry begins at 4 and lasts until everyone goes home, Saturday. The costume contest begins at 8. The parade takes off down Seventh Avenue and 20th Street at 6:30.
COST: $2 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., free if you are a child in costume or have an Eckerd receipt for a Coca-Cola or Airheads candy purchase; $10 after 4. Shuttle service available for $6 or $13, including admission.
GIST: Tampa's Latin-style Halloween, complete with amusement rides, arts and crafts, entertainment, storytelling, trick or treating, scavenger hunt, costume parade, contest and live music. National acts including Destiny's Child, Godsmack, Fuel, Foghat and Latin sensations Barrio Boyzz are scheduled to perform. The costume contest awards a cash prize of $1,000 for first place, $500 for second place and bragging rights for third place. Plus, it's one of the few days of the year that open containers are tolerated.
CALL: (813) 248-0721; Web site http://www.cc-events.org.