Halloween in Miami: Things to Do and Places to Go

By Admin

It’s hard to tune out the noise during Halloween in Miami.  Endless review sites and paid event promoters create special guides to tell you the “the top things to do in Miami during Halloween.”  In the end they have a special interest to deliver for their client (or audience), so—regardless of how big or small the event is—they clutter their “Miami Halloween event calendars” with “Halloween happy hour” at pretty much every bar in Miami and drop a few gems here and there of actual relevant content.  What you are most likely looking for is a real, fun and unique Halloween experience; maybe even one that you can consider year after year or one that you can recommend to your friends visiting from out of town as guaranteed Halloween fun in Miami.  Well, needless to say, bogo drinks at xyz bar are not necessarily here to stay--and it’s likely that xyz bar is not either.  Plus, some of these sites forget that searchers may want to find events that they can attend with their families, so family friendly events are a must for a site that recommends Halloween events.  We’ve come up with a nice list of things to do and places to go during Halloween in Miami that include something for everyone along with transportation tips to help you get there sooner.  These are established South Florida Halloween events that aren’t going anywhere and if they ever do, we’ll remove them ;-) 

Skip Ahead:

• • Halloween Events for Grownups Only
• • Kid Friendly Halloween Events
• • Other Ideas
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Transportation: A Word of Advice Before Sending You Off into Halloween Bliss

Miami may be a city full of things to do on Halloween, but it is definitely not the easiest to navigate.  The fact that there are so many events means LOTS of people on the streets.  Before proceeding with this valuable Halloween event list, we wanted to give you a few tips to avoid getting trapped in traffic for the whole night—because it is that serious!  Consider traffic going ANYWHERE on Halloween in Miami; you may even find residential areas to be difficult to drive through due to the influx of children in costumes trick-or-treating through the once quiet neighborhood streets.  If you manage to make it out of the neighborhood in time to take a trip to a Miami Halloween hot spot, be prepared to face long lines of traffic as you approach your destination.  It is bad enough for us to suggest camping out by the event site like a fan boy outside a Star Wars movie premier, but maybe there is a better alternative (no, definitely).  Though Miami is not known for its efficient public transportation, there is more access when traveling to popular are like some of the ones where big Halloween events are held.  The Miami-Dade Metrorail is a great place to start.  Just drive or take the bus to the nearest station and your route will branch out from there.  See the map of the Miami-Dade Metrorail and Tri-Rail extension below for reference.

The Metrorail has a stop at almost every major hot spot of the city from South Miami all the way to Hialeah.  Then there is the extension of the Tri-Rail which has service going up to Broward and the Palm Beaches which have exciting Halloween events as well.  When you get off at your desired station you can always walk, take a bus or hitchhike to your Halloween destination (just kidding, not recommended!). 

If you are not a fan of public transportation, there is another “loophole” to avoid traffic on Halloween night.  Get a friend or relative—who doesn’t celebrate Halloween—to drive you as close as possible to the event until traffic does not allow efficient travel, and walk the rest of the way from there.  The latter seems to be a popular option as it allows you to parade around in your costume while you get to your event.     

The South Florida Party Life: Halloween for Grownups

We start off our list with places for the grownups, because believe it or not, Halloween is becoming quite popular among adults.  As we talked about in a recent blog, more and more adults are shopping for costumes online, which means that even if you see the local costume shop flocked by children eager to celebrate Halloween, they are not the only ones having fun.

Coconut Grove 

The Grove is a popular South Florida destination known for its nightlife and party scene.  With plenty of restaurants, bars and nightclubs to visit, it is inevitable that Coconut Grove turns into an adult Halloween paradise every October 31st.  The great thing about Coconut Grove on Halloween night is that you don’t necessarily have to spend a single dime to have fun!  Coconut Grove is a great place to walk around, enjoy the beautiful Miami weather and people-watch.  This gets most interesting on Halloween since the majority of visitors wear costumes to attend extravagant Halloween parties or just to showcase their costuming talent.  However, beware that as the night progresses things start to get racier, which is why we have placed Coconut Grove in the category of Halloween events for adults.  There is a lighter, kid-friendly side to the Grove, but more on that ahead.  See “CocoWalk Spook-Tacular” in the kid-friendly section.  

Here’s a very good sample of what it’s like:

Halloween Party Boats

Miami, boats and partying – three words that are often associated and you can now add ‘Halloween’ in the mix.  Party boats run all year from the Bayside Marketplace but Halloween party boats are special as you are encouraged to wear costumes onboard while enjoying drinks and lively music.  There are many party boats to choose from but you may want check with each company to make sure that they have special Halloween themed boats.  Check out the Bayside Marketplace website for more information.

Halloween on Lincoln Road Mall

Lincoln Road Mall is always an interesting place; just like most popular hot spots in Miami, it’s full of shops, restaurants and colorful people.  Come Halloween, Lincoln Road Mall is the best place to see the most extravagant costumes in Miami Beach.  During the day it’s a family friendly place where kids can go trick-or-treating, but at night things get wild.  Tough you may spot the occasional child roaming around with a “free spirited parent,” night time on Lincoln Road Mall during Halloween is best suited for adults—lots of drinking, partying and sexiness.

Halloween at Seminole Paradise

Remember that Metrorail/Tri-Rail map we showed you earlier?  This is where it may come in handy—if you don’t want to take the hour + drive to Broward with traffic.  The Seminole Paradise is an outdoor shopping and entertainment complex surrounding the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.  Though it is not in Miami, it is still part of the South Florida nightlife and many Miamians gladly take the drive on Halloween.  Again, lots of clubs, restaurants and party venues, and just like the prior places mentioned, Seminole Paradise is an excellent place to watch fervent Halloweeners parade in costumes while having a party-hopping good time.  You can partake in the action or just be a spectator.  Find other ways to get there at the Hard Rock casino’s site. 

Hallowyn: Wynwood’s Halloween Block Party

Halloween has never been so hip!  Wynwood, Miami’s newest artistic hub is celebrating Halloween every year with a grand block party that embraces ingenuity.  You can expect to see truly unique and artistic Halloween costumes at this event.  Enjoy food from Wynwood’s renowned army food trucks and music from a live DJ that will be spinning all night!  You can tone it down for a special movie showing at midnight.  If cosplay is your thing, enter the Hallowyn costume contest where you can wyn (purposely misspelled) cash prices!  Visit their site for more information. 

Vizcaya - The Annual Halloween Sundowner

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is an antique Estate in Miami with a rich historical background.  Is it possible that this old mansion is haunted?  Who knows, but even if it is not, “it is” every Halloween.  If you are at least 21, you will have the chance to visit Vizcaya for the Annual Halloween Sundowner: a rather upscale Halloween party for adults to enjoy the night with their very own treats—food, cocktail drinks, and music.  It would not be a classy Halloween party without elegant costumes, so make sure to dress in your best.

Kid Friendly Halloween in Miami

Word has been going around that adults have taken Halloween from kids.  This could not be further from the truth.  The way we see it, adults are just joining in on the fun.  The above mentioned events are for those grownups who don’t have kids, but if you do, there are endless ways for you to celebrate Halloween with the little ones.  We have hand-picked the absolute best. 

Bayside Marketplace on Halloween

Bayside Marketplace is one of Miami’s touristic anchors.  You know that place we mentioned earlier where adults can catch a party boat to Halloween bliss?  Well, that’s not all there is to see.  Bayside is actually a vast shopping complex overlooking the beautiful Miami bay on one side and the picturesque downtown Miami skyline on the other.  Because of its very-Miami ambiance and selfie-worthy scenery, Bayside is filled with tourists from all over the world who come to enjoy music, food and shopping.  If you happen to visit on Halloween, you and your family are in for a real treat.  Bayside hosts fun Halloween events, trick-or-treating and live Halloween themed performances.  Costumes are strongly encouraged as they only add to the fun.  See their event site for details.   

CocoWalk Spook-Tacular

Much like Bayside, CocoWalk is touristic destination for shoppers and foodies in the heart of Coconut Grove (which we talked about earlier) in Miami.  While Coconut Grove gets racy during Halloween at night, CocoWalk by day is a family friendly place for families to enjoy Halloween costume contests, dancing to Halloween themed music, and kid friendly activities that stay PG.  Though you probably want to head out of the area before dark (if you have kids), you will still be able to spend a good part of the day having some old-fashioned Halloween family fun.  Get more info about CocoWalk.    

Halloween in the Jungle at Jungle Island

Jungle Island in South Beach holds a wholesome Halloween experience for children and adults alike.  Kids can trick-or-treat in costumes around the Jungle and participate in crafty Halloween themed activities that will keep them busy while the adults explore the dark side of Terror in the Jungle: a frightening haunted house not suitable for children 12 and under.  You will love knowing that Jungle Island offers $5 child care while you are enjoying the jungle scare!      

Halloween on the Mile

Miracle Mile is Downtown Coral Gables’ upscale shopping district.  With so many stores and place to eat, Miracle Mile attracts millions of visitors every year as it has become the center of special art festivals, music events and holiday parties.  Halloween at the Mile is one of the most recognized events held in this family friendly area.  Kids and adults can wear their favorite costumes to go trick or treating around the blocks of the historic area.  This is a day time event that includes games, music and Halloween activities as part of the festivity.  Learn information about the event on the Mile’s blog.

House of Horror Amusement Park in Doral

This is probably the most frightening Halloween experience that you can safely expose you kids to in Miami.  The House of Horror Amusement Park is a huge haunted house in Doral, FL.  Around Halloween, the haunted house is surrounded by creepy amusement park rides as well as games, food stands and live music.  The park allows all ages to enter.  For full information, visit the House of Horror page.

ZooBoo at Zoo Miami

Halloween’s wild side comes out every year at Zoo Miami.  Halloween family fun is what South Florida’s most famous zoo is about on Halloween.  Aside from witnessing nature’s most astonishing creatures, kids can enjoy Halloween related activities including trick-or-treating, costume contests much more.  It is basically a zoo themed Halloween party with music and fun games.  All ages are welcomed which makes it ideal for the whole family! Find out more at the zoo. 

Don’t Like Any of These Events?

Well, we tried.  We looked all over Miami for staple events that offer a solid experience and filtered out the passersby.  But if none of our suggestions appeal to you, you can always try the following.

Good Old Fashioned Trick-or-Treating

There is no hassle here.  No need to wait in traffic, pay for expensive event tickets, spend money on activities, etc.  Explore the neighborhoods that you know so well and mingle with your neighbors.  Trick-or-treating was all there was at one point before Miami became the center of attractions in South Florida.

Take a Trip to Orlando

Don’t you worry, Miami won’t feel betrayed.  Orlando is Miami’s sister city when it comes to tourism and attractions.  There are obvious places to attend that host Halloween events that are out of this world.  

Disney World: The family friendly experience will be at Disney’s Magic Kingdom You will get the full Disney experience with an over-the-top Halloween theme that only Disney can deliver.  Just be sure to learn Mickey's Halloween Party Costume Rules. 

Universal Studios: If you don’t have impressionable kids, Halloween Horror Nights is probably the best place for you.  It’s all about terrifying staff in costumes and bone chilling haunted houses filled with gruesome characters that will jump out at you to get your heart thumping.  This experience is not for the weak of heart but it is definitely one of the best Halloween events in the world!  By the way, guests are not allowed to wear costumes.

Looking Right for the Event

Halloween is the type of celebration that absolutely requires a special look.  Obviously we mean costumes.  Whether you are into the classic Halloween gore or the lighthearted themes like princesses and fantasy, you will need to find a source for all.  Wonder Costumes is Miami’s largest, most assorted costume shop that stocks Halloween costumes of all themes, qualities and price points for adults and children in all sizes.  In short: We are the one stop shop for the whole family.  If you are attending any of the events mentioned in this blog and need the right costumes for the occasion, contact us!  We are open year round to help you plan for an unforgettable Halloween.  Call us at 305-253-5380 or e-mail info@wondercostumes.com.