An eerie black and white photo of the Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine, Florida

Halloween things to do in St. Augustine

Celebrate Halloween with pumpkin patches, ghost tours, or costume balls—oh my!

Lions and tigers and bears? Maybe. Pirates and ghosts and alligators? Definitely. During spooky season, St. Augustine celebrates Halloween much as the rest of the country does, plus in ways found only in the Ancient City.  This city is steeped in history and (as many believe) inhabited by ghosts of prior residents, so of course we celebrate all things spooky.

Beginning early in the month, pumpkin patches offer pumpkins of every size and shape — suitable for an autumn tableau, carving, or pie. From late September into early November, there are night boat tours, a crop maze, ghost tours and paranormal investigations, at least one trunk & treat, and two adult costume parties — a Masquerade Ball and the Headless Bangers Costume Ball.

Does the season provoke more apparitions? We think so -- be sure to book your ghost tours in advance, so you can get in on the spooky.

The Haunting Season in the Ancient City

Fall in St. Augustine: come for the ghosts and stay for all the things.

"All the things" can include attractions, restaurants, and museums — and yes, some, if not most, of all of these are haunted. There's always a lot to do in the Ancient City, with or without ghosts. 

During the season leading up to the Day of the Dead, there are more pirates, more ghost hunters, and more costumed creatures roaming historic downtown — the resident ghosts blend right in to the madness and mayhem.

An eerie black and white photo of the Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine, Florida

Updated October 2nd, 2024

For Halloween, check out these popular ghost tours and haunted sites.

Ripley's Believe It Or Not! Museum during Nights of Lights in St. Augustine.

Updated September 18th, 2024

Learn about the mysterious and captivating history of the Ripley's Believe It Or Not! Museum. ...

'Tis the Season for Ghost Tours

Shhh. It's always the haunting season in the Ancient City.

In addition to being the oldest European city in the country, St. Augustine might claim to be the most haunted — at least when measured by ghosts per square foot.

This tiny town offers ghost tours by foot, trolley, and electric cart. Visitors can tour the Lighthouse by the Dark of Night, attend a paranormal investigation at Ximenez-Fatio House and Museum, or tour behind the scenes at Ripley's Believe It Or Not! Museum. For a full list of ways to experience the undead, go here and be prepared for an active ghost hunting season!

Ghosts & Gravestones Tour

Experience the darker side of St. Augustine's history via a nighttime trolley.

Join a spooky adventure and see the Ancient City's darker side on the Ghosts & Gravestones Frightseeing Tour.

Ripley's Haunted Castle Tour

Tour the most haunted property on the Southeastern Seaboard.

Who was Mr. X? What did he do? Who is brave enough to find out? Castle Warden, a four-story Moorish castle was built as a private home in 1887. In 1941 it was purchased by hotelier Norton Baskin and his wife, author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, who turned it into an upscale hotel.

Ghost City Tours

Walking ghost tours based on true stories from the town's history.

Visitors explore America's oldest city — and one of America's most haunted cities — with Ghost City Tours, which visits many haunted locations in St. Augustine. Learn about the town's haunted past with guides that bring the haunted history to life.

The Odd Macabre

Ghost hunts, scavenger hunts, and WhichCraft - oh my.

The Odd Macabre invites guests to become part of the investigation as they learn about the haunted places in historic St. Augustine. The signature offering, A Night Among Ghosts, has been featured on the Travel Channel and is a fully investigative experience combining a captivating mix of deep-rooted, researched histories and haunted locations.

Ghost Tours of St. Augustine

Historically accurate ghost tours, based on more than 30 years of research.

For more than 30 years, the city's first ghost tour, Ghost Tours of St. Augustine, has researched St. Augustine's history and hauntings to offer authentic ghost tours dedicated to historic integrity and accuracy.

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Dark of the Moon Ghost Tour

Armed only with glowsticks, guides tell tales of history and ghosts.

After dark, on select days, the St. Augustine Lighthouse opens for a special history and ghost tour featuring true stories about the people who lived, visited, and worked at the lighthouse. The tales also include information about those who died on the grounds and the ghostly encounters that continue to happen.

GhoSt Augustine

Introducing guests to St. Augustine's spookier haunts for more than 20 years.

GhoSt Augustine invites you to tour the darker side of St. Augustine's history. Founded in 2001 as the Ancient City's first paranormal store to sell professional ghost-hunting equipment, GhoSt Augustine offers believers and skeptics alike the chance to embark on a ghostly adventure via one of their guided tours.

Wait! There's More!

In St. Augustine, Halloween offers a side of beach and then some.

Locals say that the best time to visit St. Augustine is the six weeks from October 1 through November 15. The weather is cooler but not too cool, and the water is still warm. Seasonal fun means days at the beach, followed by a haunted tour (or two) at night.

In short, the fall season means that everything you love about St. Augustine, such as live music, art exhibits, great restaurants, and the 42 miles of beaches, has the added glow of the orange light from a Halloween lantern or an undead resident joining your adventures!