Halloween Happenings Guide for Greater Brandon – Oct. 28-31

Goblins and ghouls big and small will find plenty to do this weekend in the greater Brandon area. Don’t forget to bring your camera along. Send in your Halloween pictures and you could win big in our

FRIDAY, OCT. 28

Costume Crusade for Spinal Muscular Atrophy at The Village Early Learning Center / Oct. 28 / 10 a.m. / The Village Early Learning Center, formerly Tutor Time Learning Center of Brandon, is holding its 11th Annual Costume Crusade to raise money and awareness of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA).  Funds raised go to FSMA  (Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy) for research and support. / Call: 813-651-0779

Parents Night Out / Oct. 28 / 6-10 p.m. / , 405 Beverly Blvd., Brandon / Parents you can enjoy a night out while your children join us for a costume party, with a scavanger hunt, trick or treating, movie, swimming, and more. Pizza and snacks will be included. / Free / Call: 813-689-0908

Harvest Festival / Oct. 28 / 6 p.m. / Grace Baptist Temple, 2909 John Moore Road, Brandon / The Harvest Festival is hosted by Temple Christian Academy. Support Temple Christian Academy and bring all of your friends and family. Events include: moonwalk, pony rides, chili-cookoff, Temple Christian Academy Choir, Pie the Principal, face painting and raffles. / Call: 813-689-7190

Annual Community Fall Festival / Oct. 28 / 6-8 p.m. / , 851 West Lumsden Road, Brandon / Family fun evening with pumpkin patch photos, trick or treat, haunted house, scavenger hunt, bounce house and hot dogs.

Beyond Belief Halloween Magic Show! / Oct. 28-29 / 8:30 p.m. Family Show, 10:30 p.m. Adult Show and Party, Oct. 29 / , 506 5th St. Valrico  / Halloween Magic Show featuring Mr. Bones, Sterling Steal, The Moxie Twins and Vic Vega, and special guest Sian Wilson. There will be a costume contest and Locks of Love with celebrity hair stylist. Half of the proceeds benefit the Village Players. Cost: $6. Call: 813-545-3212

Boneyard Halloween Haunt / Oct.28-29 / 7 p.m. / 11163 Summer Star Drive, Riverview / South Fork and this haunted backyard is strictly for the enjoyment of the trick or treaters. Parents should accompany children under 13. / Free / Call: 813-334-5364

Haunted Trail / Every weekend in October, 7-8 p.m., 10 p.m.-Midnight / 5320 West U.S. Highway 92 Plant City / Adults, $5 Children age 6-12, $2 Children under 6 free.

Unity in the Community Haunted House / Oct. 28, 31 / Child-friendly fun tour 5:30-6:30 p.m. Regular haunted house hours: 7-10 p.m. / House is on County Road 39, just north of Knights Griffin Road, Plant City. / Two-and-a-half-acre haunted experience, with 10 haunted rooms in the house. / Price: $8 adults, $5 ages 10 and younger. / Call 813-752-2727

SATURDAY, OCT. 29

Alafia Elementary Fall Festival / Oct. 29 / 10 a.m. / , 3535 Culbreath Road, Valrico / There will be games, bouncy houses, a cake walk, book fair and food. No entry fee. Armbands and tickets will be sold at the event ($10 for armbands and $10 for 20 tickets). / Free / Call: 813-335-7706

/ Oct. 29 / 5 p.m. / The Village Learning Center 3741 Canoga Park Drive, Brandon / Kiss are invited to dress up in their costumes and come parade through the halls at The Village for Trick or Treating. The Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts will be selling refreshments too. / Call: 813-643-7247

Oktoberfest / Oct. 29 / 10 a.m.-4 p.m. / Immanuel Lutheran Church, 2913 John Moore Road, Brandon / Games, food, and prizes. Tickets are 50 cents each. Call: 813-689-1787

Halloween Dog Costume Contest / Oct. 29 / 4 p.m. / Mango Dog Park, 11717 Clay Pit Road, Seffner / Dress up your dog in their best outfit and come on out for some Halloween fun and treats. Special treat bags will be given to all dogs in costume. The pee-wee contest begins at 4 p.m., small dog contest at 4:30 p.m., and big dog contest begins at 5:15 p.m. Ribbons will be given for the best costumes in cutest, funniest, most original and scariest categories. / Free / Call: 813-635-3500.

R&R Ranch Festival / Oct. 29 / 10 a.m.-3 p.m. / R&R Ranch, 9805 Bryant Road, Lithia / There will be pony rides, spooky hayrides, petting zoo, pumpkin decorationg, face painting, games and concessions. Cost: $10 per child, adults are free.

Cork Knights of Scream 3 / Oct. 29-31 / 7-11 p.m. / Dinosaur World, Interstate 4, Exit 17, Plant City / Cork Knights Volunteer Fire Department and Creepwork Studios have created five attractions in Dinosaur world: skeleton garden, swamp bridge, lost mines, tar pit, zombie island, black woods and kiddie zone. Fundraiser for fire department. / Price: $10 advance, $13 at gate adults; $6 advance, $9 at gate for ages 3-10. Call: 813-717-9865

Willy Wonka's 40th Anniversary Party / Oct. 29 / 12:30-3 p.m. / Leena's Chocolates, 1048 Bloomingdale Ave., Valrico / Each child that comes in costume will have the opportunity to draw a ticket from a chocolate box. All children will get an original Wonka candy and a small chocolate pop and three lucky winners will draw golden tickets entitling him or her to create their very own one-pound chocolate bar behind the factory gates. They will be assisted by a staff of Oompa Loompas.

Sumatra Bistro Celebrates Halloween / Oct. 29 / 11 a.m.-2 p.m. / Sumatra Bistro Cafe & Bakery, 1602 Oakfield Drive, Brandon / Children will enjoy bobbing for apples, a coloring contest, Halloween word scrambles, word searches and a costume contest. Children under the age of 12 wearing costumes will eat for free from the kids' menu with the purchase of any adult entree. That evening, adults are invited to join the celebration with a Murder at the Bistro Ball Murder Mystery Dinner. Wine, appetizers and dinner will be available for $29.95. / Call: 813-655-6200

SUNDAY, OCT. 30

14th Annual Halloween Horribles Parade at Center Place / Oct. 30 / 3 p.m. / , 619 Vonderburg Drive, Brandon / Costumed Munchkins through the age of 10 (accompanied by an adult) are invited to take part in a Halloween Parade and will enjoy lots of Treat Stations hosted by Civic Clubs and Local Businesses along the route. / Call: 813-685-8888

Free Fall Festival / Oct. 30 / 5-8 p.m. / , 121 N. Knights Ave., Brandon / A wholesome Halloween alternative with "trunk-or-treating," bouncy houses, music games and crafts. Free candy and hotdogs! Family friendly costumes only. Nothing scary, or offensive please. / Call: 813-689-4161

Trunk or Treat / Oct. 30 / 5:30-7 p.m. / , 3315 Bryan Road, Brandon / There will be car to car trunk-or-treating, bouncy houses, games, live music, food and movie outside: “It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown.” Kids can dress up in non-scary costumes, and bring a big treat bag. Adults are encouraged to decorate their trunks! Prizes given for the most original trunk decor. / Call: 813-689-6849

MONDAY, OCT. 31

Trunk or Treat at Brandon Mall / Oct. 31 / 5-7 p.m. / , 459 Brandon Town Center Drive / Kids ages 12 and under are invited to Trick-or-Treat at participating retailers. No toy weapons or masks please. / Call: 813-689-6849

Halloween '11 Artshow McCabe Theatre Valrico / Oct. 31 / 7 p.m. / Valrico Village Players at The James McCabe Theater, 506 5th St.

Check this listing from TampaBay.com for a listing of Halloween events in the Bay area.