April 8
Ghosts and Graveyards
Downtown Pensacola 1800 N. E Street Pensacola, Florida 32501 (850) 466-5220
Spooky Season in Pensacola
If you are fan of Halloween (and who isn’t, really?), this fun holiday – and the spooky season leading up to it – seems to get bigger and better every year. Whether you like to dress in costume, trick-or-treat with the family, visit haunted places, or just have an all-around good time, the opportunities are scary good in Pensacola.
Explore the Eerie with these events and activities
The fun begins in September, with tours that are equal parts fright-filled and educational.
The Pensacola Lighthouse has been called one of the most haunted in America. Find out for yourself as you hunt spirits in the historic Keeper’s Quarters, built in 1869. You can also climb to the top of the lighthouse for incredible views of Pensacola Bay, weather permitting. Featured on The Travel Channel and SyFy Network’s “Ghost Hunters,” the Pensacola Lighthouse and Museum is located at the Pensacola Navy base and open for ghost tours on select Saturday evenings. Admission is $30 and open to ages 15 or older. Tours fill fast. Public access to NAS Pensacola must follow current Dept. of Defense procedures. It is recommended you check the website for specific instructions before you visit.
Fall is a fitting time to take a tour of one of Florida’s oldest cemeteries. St. Michael’s Cemetery spans an eight-acre green space in Downtown Pensacola. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the cemetery’s approximately 3,200 raised grave markers date back to Pensacola’s Second Spanish Period (1781-1821). Part of the Pensacola Historic District, the cemetery is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
There are local tour options that include cemetery visits, too. Historic Pensacola offers annual Haunted House Walking and Trolley Tours.
At the Spirits of Seville Quarter Ghost Tour and Lunch, learn the history of this storied Downtown Pensacola establishment, where ghost sightings and paranormal activity have been reported for years. The experience is complete with ghost hunting equipment to use as you tour the restaurant and bar spaces, followed by lunch or dinner. Tickets are $50 each and include a $12 credit toward your meal. Offered Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays for all ages, Spirits of Seville requires a reservation: http://www.pensacolaghostevents.com.
Suit up in costume and hit the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk’s Beach-O-Ween Friday, Oct. 18, 4 to 8 p.m. Enjoy the coastal breezes as you enjoy activities for all ages – a costume contest, games, face painting, and hotdog eating. It is a free event, and the candy is plentiful.
Downtown Pensacola offers families a place to enjoy trick-or-treating at the October installment of Gallery Night, Friday October 18. Visit the businesses and exhibitors up and down Palafox Street for this monthly event that draws locals and visitors to the enclosed street for shopping, dining, art and live entertainment.
For adults, O’Riley’s Irish Pub Downtown hosts their Halloween Party and Costume Contest on October 26. The costume contest is serious business with a $1,000 cash prize.
The biggest party on Halloween night, October 31, is where else but the Flora-Bama Lounge, Package & Oyster Bar. The Perdido Key bar’s annual costume contest rewards cash prizes, and even if you don’t win, wearing a costume gets you free admission for the evening at this beachfront institution. Enjoy the live music and sip on a bushwacker to celebrate the spookiest night of the year.
Check out these spooky events!
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As the moon casts eerie shadows over Pensacola's historic streets, and the night air is filled with whispers of ghostly tales, this Halloween season promises to be a spine-tingling experience you won't soon forget.
Whether you're exploring haunted landmarks or attending thrilling Halloween events, Pensacola's spooky charm will leave you with lasting memories of a Halloween like no other.
