St. Augustine is heading into Halloween with a packed calendar of ghost tours, historical programs and family events across the city and surrounding area.
Two studies cited by the St. Augustine Record place the city among Florida’s leading destinations for paranormal tourism. Nomad eSIM counted 17 haunted locations, 52 ghost tours and 1,110 monthly paranormal-related searches. A separate Vivint study ranked St. Augustine No. 14 among 74 U.S. cities in its 2026 Spookiness Index and the only Florida city in the national top 15.
The city’s frequently cited haunted landmarks include the St. Augustine Lighthouse, where stories connected to the drowning of the Pittee sisters have fueled reports of unexplained footsteps and mysterious figures, and the Old Jail, which is associated with tales involving former prisoners.
Several late-October events build on that history. Para4ce Investigations: Haunted St. Augustine runs Oct. 22–25, with investigations at haunted sites scheduled at 7 and 10 p.m. and midnight. Paranormal Investigation at the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument is set for Oct. 22–24 and 29–31, with 8:30 p.m. tours using equipment including EMF meters and spirit boxes; reservations are required.
Other nighttime options include the Creepy Crawl Haunted Pub Tour and the Original Ghostly Experience, both offered Oct. 22–24 and 29–31. The Dark of the Moon Ghost Experience at the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum is scheduled Oct. 23–25 and Oct. 30–Nov. 1, offering after-dark access to the Lightkeepers’ House and grounds; a lighthouse climb is weather permitting.
Families can find daytime choices, too. The free St. George Street Trick-or-Treating event is Oct. 24 from 1 to 4 p.m., with participating downtown businesses and a costume contest. The Ximenez-Fatio House Museum will hold a free Trick-or-Treating and Harvest Festival during the same hours, while its ticketed Mortality and Mourning: Women in Black candlelight tours run Oct. 23–24 and 30–31.
At the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park, Creatures of the Night is scheduled Oct. 23–24 from 5:30 to 8 p.m., with costumes, animal encounters and collectible creature cards. The broader fall lineup also includes Sykes Family Farms Crop Maze in Elkton through Nov. 1, with a corn maze, U-pick sunflowers, hayrides, playgrounds and farm animals.
