Jacksonville’s weekend calendar for Oct. 23-25 includes Halloween gatherings, fall festivals, outdoor markets, concerts and family activities across the city and nearby beaches.
Friday’s options include BOOOval Trunk or Treat from 5 to 8:30 p.m. in Lot Z at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena and Spooktacular at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens from 6 to 10 p.m. The zoo event has timed entry windows, and advance tickets are available online. The Jacksonville Symphony will perform Music of the Knights: Elton, McCartney & Lloyd Webber at 7:30 p.m. at Jacoby Symphony Hall.
Saturday brings several free daytime events, including Festa Italiana from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Italian American Club of Jacksonville, Riverside Arts Market from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. beneath the Fuller Warren Bridge, and STEM on the Lawn from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the University of North Florida. Jacksonville Beach will host the Beaches Green Market at Penman Park and the Jax Beach Arts Market at Latham Plaza and Seawalk Pavilion.
Families can also find Hodges Fall Festival, JaxPAL Fall Festival at Ed Austin Regional Park, and the Lights of Independence: Spirit of the ADA Festival & Parade at RiversEdge Park on Saturday. The ADA event runs from 4 to 9 p.m. and includes an adaptive arts and resource festival, followed by a 7 p.m. parade.
Saturday evening choices include Murray Hill-O-Ween, a block party and Halloween parade along Edgewood Avenue; a Fall Garden Concert with The Billie Monarch Band at the Cummer Museum and Gardens; and a costume-welcome screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Florida Theatre. Spooktacular returns at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens Saturday night.
On Sunday, Geiger Pioneer Farm will hold its Pioneers and Pumpkins Fall Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is listed at $15.99. Other Sunday events include Zion Hope Church’s free fall festival, Trunk or Treat with 1Bridge Connect, and the Florida Bridal & Wedding Expo at the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center, where free passes are available.
The Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens will close out the weekend with its Fall Festival from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday. The event includes a pumpkin patch, trunk-or-treating and a nature-themed trail experience; general admission is $3. Organizers note that times, ticket prices and admission policies can change, so visitors should confirm details with the relevant venue before leaving.
