Fall Activities for Kids in South Florida: 2026 Guide

There are no red maples here, but fall still shows up: cooler mornings, outdoor festivals, pumpkin patches in city parks and plenty of gentle Halloween fun from Miami to Palm Beach. Here are the 2026 dates, costs and tips for the grown-up doing the driving.

The best fall activities for kids in South Florida in 2026 include Harvest Festival Weekends at Flamingo Gardens, Zoo Boo at Zoo Miami, the Coral Gables pumpkin patch and Kiddo-Ween festival, Pinecrest’s Track or Treat, Fort Lauderdale’s free LauderBOO and Spookyville in West Palm Beach. Most run on October weekends.

Whether you are a nanny in Pinecrest or Las Olas or a parent in Coral Gables, Boca Raton or Palm Beach, we checked every date, hour and price below on the venue’s own website in late September 2026. Where a detail is not posted, we say so, and age ranges we suggest ourselves are labeled “suggested.” Drive times are no-traffic estimates. Check the site before you go.

Which South Florida fall activities fit your kids?

Activity	Area	Ages	Cost	2026 dates
Harvest Festival Weekends, Flamingo Gardens	Davie (Fort Lauderdale area)	2 or younger free (venue)	$17 ages 3–11; $24 ages 12+	Sat–Sun, Oct 3–25
Zoo Boo, Zoo Miami	South Miami-Dade	Trick-or-treat for 12 & under (venue)	Included with zoo admission	Sat–Sun, Oct 24–25
Pumpkin Patch at Ponce Circle Park & Kiddo-Ween	Coral Gables	Suggested: toddler–school-age	Check site	Sat Oct 17; Sat Oct 24
Miracle Mile trick-or-treat & Gentle Trick-or-Treat	Coral Gables	Suggested: toddler–school-age	Check site	Sat Oct 24; Sat Oct 31
Fall Garden Day, Pinecrest Gardens	Pinecrest	Suggested: all ages	Free for first 250, then $8	Sat, Oct 17
Track or Treat	Pinecrest (Evelyn Greer Park)	Suggested: toddler–school-age	No fee listed	Fri, Oct 23
LauderBOO	Fort Lauderdale (Snyder Park)	Suggested: all ages	Free	Sat, Oct 24
Halloween Fest, Bonnet House	Fort Lauderdale	5 & under free (venue)	Children (6–17) $8	Sat, Oct 31
Halloween by the Sea, Gumbo Limbo	Boca Raton	Children 2–6 (venue)	$10 resident / $13 non-resident	Sun, Oct 18
Boo Days crafts & storytime, Sugar Sand Park	Boca Raton	Ages 5–10; 18 mos–4 yrs (venue)	From $5 resident	Sat Oct 17; Wed Oct 21
Spookyville in Yesteryear Village	West Palm Beach	Under 1 free (venue)	Check site	Fri–Sun, Oct 17–31
Knaus Berry Farm	Redland (Homestead area)	Suggested: all ages	Check site	Tue–Sun once open; check site

Where are the best pumpkin patches and harvest festivals in South Florida?

Harvest Festival Weekends at Flamingo Gardens (Davie)

Kids do: Hayrides, pony rides for small children, farm animal encounters, mini Highland cows, fall photo spots and a costume contest with candy. Each weekend has a theme: Cowboys & Cowgirls (Oct 3–4), Pirates (Oct 10–11), Día de los Muertos (Oct 17–18) and a Halloween Party (Oct 24–25).
Ages: Members and children 2 or younger are free
Cost: $24 for ages 12 and up and $17 for ages 3–11. Weekend activities are free with admission.
2026 dates/hours: Saturdays and Sundays, Oct 3–4, 10–11, 17–18 and 24–25, 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Nanny tip: Plan around the 1 p.m. costume contest and candy giveaway, and pick the theme weekend your kids will love. Hayrides run 10:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (last ride 4:15); pony rides, farm animal encounters and the mini Highland cows run 11 a.m.–3 p.m. It is about 25 minutes from downtown Fort Lauderdale (no-traffic estimate).

Pumpkin Patch at Ponce Circle Park and Kiddo-Ween (Coral Gables)

Kids do: Choose from hundreds of pumpkins and enjoy decorating, face painting, live music and photo spots at the pumpkin patch. At Kiddo-Ween there is trick-or-treating, character appearances, another pumpkin patch and photo opportunities.
Ages: Suggested: toddler to school-age
Cost: The city’s announcement does not list prices; check the site
2026 dates/hours: Pumpkin Patch at Ponce Circle Park: Saturday, Oct 17, 2–6 p.m. Kiddo-Ween Festival at the Coral Gables Museum (285 Aragon Ave.): Saturday, Oct 24, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.

Nanny tip: Kiddo-Ween is the museum’s first year hosting it, so arrive early.

Knaus Berry Farm (Redland)

Kids do: Visit the farm’s famous bakery (think cinnamon rolls and strawberry shakes) and, in season, U-pick
Ages: Suggested: all ages
Cost: Check the site
Season: Not an October trip. Knaus Berry Farm states on its own site that it is open November through mid-April and closed over the summer, and it had not posted a 2026–27 opening date when we checked. Save this one for November.
Hours: Monday–Saturday, 8 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Closed Sundays. Also closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Payment: The farm store is cash only.
Drive time: About 44 minutes from downtown Miami (no-traffic estimate)

Nanny tip: Expect a line, bring cash, and do not plan it for a Sunday. Confirm the farm is open for the season before you drive — it is about 45 minutes from downtown Miami and there is nothing worse than finding the gate shut. U-pick depends on the season.

What Halloween events in South Florida are good for toddlers and preschoolers?

Zoo Boo at Zoo Miami (South Miami-Dade)

Kids do: Trick-or-treat around the zoo
Ages: The trick-or-treat experience is for kids 12 and under
Cost: Included with Zoo Miami admission; check the site for ticket prices
2026 dates/hours: Saturday, Oct 24 and Sunday, Oct 25, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

Nanny tip: Go at 10 a.m. while it is cooler, and pack water and sun hats. It is about 33 minutes from downtown Miami (no-traffic estimate).

Halloween by the Sea at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center (Boca Raton)

Kids do: Preschool games and prizes by the aquariums, crafts for little hands, a Halloween treat and a photo with Luna, the sea turtle mascot
Ages: Children 2–6; children under 2 are free
Cost: $10 per child for residents and $13 for non-residents. Register the children only; parents are free.
2026 date/hours: Sunday, Oct 18. Choose one slot: 4:30–5:30 p.m. or 5:45–6:45 p.m.

Nanny tip: Advance registration is required. Wear family-friendly costumes; no costume weapons or pointy props.

Boo Days at Sugar Sand Park (Boca Raton)

Kids do: Little Boos Storytime for the youngest, and Pumpkin Pals Make & Take, where kids create three Halloween crafts
Ages: Little Boos Storytime is for ages 18 months–4 years. Pumpkin Pals is for ages 5–10.
Cost: Little Boos is $5 for residents and $6.25 for non-residents; Pumpkin Pals is $12 and $15. One adult is free with each paid child, and extra adults are $3 (storytime) or $5 (crafts).
2026 dates/hours: Pumpkin Pals: Saturday, Oct 17, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Little Boos Storytime: Wednesday, Oct 21, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. (pre-register by Oct 17).

Nanny tip: Pumpkin Pals uses paint, so dress kids in clothes that can get messy. Walk-ups are accepted while supplies last.

Track or Treat at Evelyn Greer Park (Pinecrest)

Kids do: Trick-or-treat with local businesses, then enjoy bounce houses, balloon artists, music, photo spots and an outdoor movie at 7 p.m.
Ages: Suggested: toddler to school-age
Cost: No fee is listed; check the site
2026 date/hours: Friday, Oct 23, 5–7 p.m., with the movie starting at 7 p.m.

Nanny tip: Children must be with an adult and bring their own Halloween bag. Overflow parking is at Suniland Park, with a shuttle.

Which free or low-cost fall festivals are in South Florida?

Fall Garden Day at Pinecrest Gardens (Pinecrest)

Kids do: Scavenger hunts, animal encounters, free book giveaways, art making, Learning Garden activities, plus the playground and splash ’n play
Ages: Suggested: all ages (the garden promises activities for all ages)
Cost: Free for the first 250 visitors, then regular $8 admission. Tickets are sold at the door.
2026 date/hours: Saturday, Oct 17. Sensory Hour at 9 a.m.; general admission 10 a.m.–1 p.m.

Nanny tip: Pack swimsuits for the splash pad and arrive before 10 a.m. to be among the free 250.

LauderBOO at Snyder Park (Fort Lauderdale)

Kids do: Trick-or-treat stations with carnival games, arts and crafts, bounce houses, contests and the Native Village animal exhibition
Ages: Suggested: all ages
Cost: Free
2026 date/hours: Saturday, Oct 24, 1–4 p.m.

Nanny tip: The city also lists neighborhood Halloween parties at Bass, Lauderdale Manors, Riverland and Croissant parks, but their dates were still to be announced when we checked.

Miracle Mile Trick-or-Treat and Gentle Trick-or-Treat (Coral Gables)

Kids do: Trick-or-treat at designated Miracle Mile businesses, with face painting, balloon art and a magic show. The Gentle Trick-or-Treat offers trick-or-treating, photos and a storybook walk in a calm setting.
Ages: Suggested: toddler to school-age. The Gentle Trick-or-Treat is designed for families of children who may have sensory needs.
Cost: Check the site
2026 dates/hours: Gentle Trick-or-Treat: Saturday, Oct 24, 1–3 p.m., Ruth Bryan Owen Waterway Park (3940 Granada Blvd.). Miracle Mile: Saturday, Oct 31, 3–6 p.m., with face painting and balloon art at 3:30 p.m. and a magic show at 5 p.m.

Nanny tip: The Coral Gables Trolley runs 10 a.m.–10 p.m. on Halloween, which beats hunting for parking.

Halloween Fest at Bonnet House (Fort Lauderdale)

Kids do: A trick-or-treat trail through the gardens, a photo booth, music, carnival treats and a costume contest
Ages: Children 5 and under are free
Cost: Adults $25; children ages 6–17 $8
2026 date/hours: Saturday, Oct 31, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.

Nanny tip: A calmer daytime alternative to evening trick-or-treating, and a good fit for Las Olas and Victoria Park families.

Spookyville in Yesteryear Village (West Palm Beach)

Kids do: Safe trick-or-treating, a costume parade, live entertainment and, on Oct 17, a light show
Ages: Children under 1 are free
Cost: Check the site. Posted advance discounts ended Sept 30, and a family package (2 adults and 2 children) is listed at $45.
2026 dates/hours: Oct 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 30 and 31. Fridays 5–9 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Gates close 30 minutes before closing.

Nanny tip: Weekend daytime hours (from 11 a.m.) are the gentlest time for little ones; the Oct 17 light shows are at 7, 7:30, 8 and 8:30 p.m.

What free fall activities can nannies do at home?

These simple, free activities build real skills, even without falling leaves:

Leaf rubbings and collages: Peeling crayons over sea grape leaves and palm fronds builds fine motor control.
Nature scavenger hunt: A list of words like crunchy, spiky and smooth builds language as kids describe what they find. Use pictures for toddlers.
Baking together: Measuring and pouring practice early math and following directions. Try our easy pumpkin muffins for kids.
Pumpkin exploration: Scooping, counting and sorting seeds is a great sensory and counting activity. For more ideas, see our fall crafts for nannies, fall nanny craft ideas and fall craft ideas just for nannies.

South Florida Fall Activities — Frequently Asked Questions

Coral Gables hosts a Pumpkin Patch at Ponce Circle Park on Saturday, Oct 17, 2–6 p.m., and Kiddo-Ween at the Coral Gables Museum on Oct 24 includes a pumpkin patch. Flamingo Gardens in Davie runs Harvest Festival Weekends every Saturday and Sunday, Oct 3–25.

Zoo Boo is Saturday, Oct 24 and Sunday, Oct 25, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. It is included with Zoo Miami admission, and the trick-or-treat experience is for kids 12 and under.

Yes. Fort Lauderdale’s LauderBOO (Oct 24, 1–4 p.m.) is free. Pinecrest Gardens’ Fall Garden Day (Oct 17) is free for the first 250 visitors, and Pinecrest’s Track or Treat (Oct 23) lists no fee.

Try Halloween by the Sea at Gumbo Limbo (ages 2–6), Little Boos Storytime at Sugar Sand Park (18 months–4 years), Coral Gables’ Gentle Trick-or-Treat on Oct 24 and daytime Zoo Boo.

Knaus Berry Farm had not posted its 2026 opening date on its website when we checked. When open — November through mid-April, not October — it runs Monday–Saturday, 8 a.m.–5:30 p.m., is closed Sundays, and the farm store is cash only. Check the farm’s site before making the drive to the Redland.

Sunscreen, hats, plenty of water, bug spray, a swimsuit for splash pads, a change of clothes and a Halloween bag. Even in October, plan outdoor events for the cooler morning or late-afternoon hours.

Looking for a nanny, or a nanny role, in South Florida?

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