Have a 'haunting' good Halloween (UPDATE)
Have a haunting good time celebrating the spookiest time of the year
Coast Guard Haunted House
The US Coast Guard Station in Destin hosts its Haunted House from 7-10 p.m. Oct. 23-25. The Haunted House will collect donations for Destin Harvest to purchase turkeys for feeding programs preparing and serving free Thanksgiving meals this holiday in Okaloosa and Walton Counties.
Haunted House at Destin Commons
The Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge Haunted House will open at 7 p.m. Oct. 24, 25, and 31 and Nov. 1 in the Hard Rock Café space at Destin Commons. Tiptoe through the horrifying maze of darkness and flee in terror as you are engulfed by the madness. This is not a haunted house for the faint of heart, not recommended for small children. Admission is $10 to benefit ECWR. For more information, visit www.ecwildliferefuge.com/events/hauntedhouse.
Fall Festival
Destin Elementary School will host its Fall festival from 5-8 p.m. Oct. 24. The family event features games and prizes, inflatables, a fire spinning performance, a DJ, a raffle and a silent auction.
Halloween Haunt
Destin Commons hosts a Halloween Haunt from 4-7 p.m. Oct. 25 in Center Plaza with spooky crafts, trick-or-treating, a costume contest for kids and dogs, and the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge’s blood-curdling haunted house. Costume contest registration at 4 p.m., contest starts at 5 p.m. and trick-or-treating begins at 6 p.m. Come dressed to impress and you might win a hauntingly awesome assortment of prizes. Abrakadoodle will be on hand with children’s fantasy face painting and creepy crafts.
Zombie Stomp
Eglin’s Third Annual Zombie Stomp, a 4.4-mile race complete with obstacles and plenty of zombies, begins at 2 p.m. Oct. 25 and includes an after party with food, drinks and music. Registration is required for runners and spectators at www.active.com. Visit www.eglinforcesupport.com for details or call 883-1682.
Pumpkinpalooza
Think innovation, because the winning stakes for most creative costume are high with HarborWalk Village as your destination for costume contests for both the little goblins and grown-up ghouls. Halloween bash starts Oct. 25 with the adult costume contest from 9-11 p.m. and continues beginning at 2 p.m. Oct. 26 with the children’s and 4-legged creatures costume contest.
WacoPumpkin Derby
The Walton County Pumpkin Derby will be held from 1-4 p.m. Oct. 25 at The Church at the Bay, 24388 Hwy. 331 South in Santa Rosa Beach. A craft fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the church.
GulfScarium
Kids will scream in delight, not fright, at GulfScarium’s Splash-or-Treat Spooktacular celebration from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 26 and 27 at Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park on Okaloosa Island. Family-friendly games and activities include a costume parade and contest with prizes, the Skeleton Scavenger Hunt, HallowGreen kids crafts and a bounce house. New this year is a magic show featuring Pittman Magic & Juggling Productions. Kids in costume get free admission into the park; limit two free kids per adult. Adults and additional kids pay regular admission, not to be combined with any other discount/coupon.
The fun continues from 4-6 p.m. Oct. 31 when children can trick-or-treat around the park, enjoy Halloween activities, and watch special dolphin and sea lion shows. Regular park admission closes at 3:30, separate entrance required for GulfScarium event. Kids 12 and under are $5, adults are free. For a complete schedule of events, visit www.gulfarium.com/halloween.
Fall Fest
The City of Destin’s 14th Annual Fall Festival will be held from 5-8 p.m. Oct. 27 at the Destin Community Center. Please bring one non-perishable food item for admission. There will be booths with games and activities, a cakewalk, a costume contest, a spacewalk/slide, food for sale, and candy for those just stopping by to Trick-or-Treat.
Tickets for games and food will be on sale for 4 for a $1 with most games costing one ticket. Registration for the costume contest is from 5-6 p.m. with judging at 6 p.m. Carved pumpkins for the Jack-O-Lantern contest must be dropped off before 3 p.m. Oct. 27. Judging is at 5 p.m. Call 850-654-5184 or email: ncoleman@cityofdestin.com for more information.
Trunk or Treat
Destin United Methodist Church Power Plant Kids’ Ministry hosts Trunk or Treat from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 29 at the Destin Life Center parking lot. Events include games, inflatables, food and more. To host a trunk or volunteer, contact Jenna Parish at jparish@destinumc.org or 850-837-2021. Trunks must be in place by 5:30 p.m.
Family Fall Festival
Destiny Worship Center in Miramar Beach will host its 10th annual Family Fall Festival from 6-9 p.m. Oct. 31. This is an outdoor family-friendly event that is open to the community as a Halloween alternative.
Halloween Murder Mystery
Enjoy a costume-party-redneck-themed comedy, Act4Murder’s “Redneck Rivalry,” and a three-course meal at 6 p.m. Oct. 31 at Coach ‘N’ Four Steakhouse in Fort Walton Beach. Call Coach-N-Four at 850-863-3443 or Act4Murder at 850-862-2885 for reservations.
Free doughnut
Visit Krispy Kreme in costume Oct. 31 and receive a free doughnut of any available variety, including Krispy Skremes, Halloween-themed Jack-o-lantern and Spider Web doughnuts, and the new Krispy Kreme Ghostbusters Doughnuts.