Whether you’re visiting Central Florida or you live here, here’s how to make the most of the season in Seminole County.
Fall in Seminole County may not come with changing leaves or weeks of sweater weather, but that doesn’t mean we don’t know how to celebrate it.
October brings plenty of pumpkin patches, but there are also some less traditional ways to get into the season. Start the morning with a pumpkin-spiced coffee, spend the afternoon outside, find a new fall treat, and end the night listening to ghost stories in historic Downtown Sanford or along the Wekiva River.
So, while the annual trip to the pumpkin patch still deserves a spot on the calendar, there is plenty more to discover beyond it.
Sip and Taste the Season
Even when the Florida forecast still feels more like summer, that first pumpkin drink has a way of making it feel like fall.
CFS Coffee in Oviedo has already brought pumpkin back to the menu with hot and iced pumpkin spice lattes along with an apple cinnamon latte.
Seminole County’s locally owned coffee scene also makes it easy to turn a seasonal drink into an outing. Downtown Sanford is home to Palate Coffee Roasters and Quigley Coffee Company, while NewCity Coffee Co. in Lake Mary is known for creative drinks and seasonal coffee flights.
For something sweet, head to Downtown Sanford, where Hollerbach’s German Restaurant is embracing pumpkin season with a 2026 fall lineup that includes maple pumpkin cookies, gluten-free pumpkin muffins, and an apple-bourbon pumpkin tart. Pumpkin-spice lattes are available at Hollerbach’s German Market, while the restaurant is serving pumpkin bread pudding with salted caramel sauce.
Local coffee and bakery menus can change quickly throughout October, so it’s worth checking your favorite spot to see what new pumpkin, apple, or spooky creation has appeared.
Find Fall on the Farm
You don’t have to leave Seminole County to find a little bit of farm-inspired fall fun.
In Oviedo, the family-owned Lukas Nursery has been part of the local agricultural community for generations. Families can explore the nursery and Butterfly Encounter year-round, but things get a little more festive Oct. 17 and 18 with its Paint a Pumpkin & Pumpkin Patch event. The weekend includes a pumpkin patch, pumpkin painting, food, and family activities from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Costumes are welcome.
For the classic pumpkin-patch experience, Sanlando United Methodist Church in Longwood opens its annual patch Oct. 5 through Halloween. Families can wander through rows of pumpkins and take those annual fall photos before choosing one to bring home.
Oviedo’s Hagerty Farms Pumpkin Patch is another local favorite. Despite the name, this one isn’t actually a working farm — and they’re upfront about it. Instead, families will find pumpkins, games, photo setups, and a Spider Web Maze at Hagerty High School. There is no admission fee to enter the patch.
And for an outdoor experience that looks completely different from a pumpkin patch, Hidden Palms Ranch in Sanford offers guided horseback trail rides through the Lake Jesup Conservation Area. Its limited wild sunflower rides have already sold out for 2026, but regular trail rides return Oct. 20.
Take Fall Outside
October is also a good excuse to rediscover Seminole County’s natural side.
Black Bear Wilderness Area in Sanford winds through wetlands and floodplain forest, with boardwalks offering a look at a much quieter side of Central Florida. Cooler mornings also make it a good time to walk or bike a stretch of the Cross Seminole Trail or Seminole Wekiva Trail.
Then there is Wekiva Island, where fall looks distinctly Floridian.
We’ve visited Wekiva Island before, and it’s an easy one for our family to recommend. The river, towering cypress trees, and Spanish moss already provide the atmosphere, and October adds a little Halloween fun.
Throughout the month, Wekiva Island is hosting spooky-season activities including Ghost Stories of the Wekiva, tarot readings, and after-dark experiences. Families can join the Tooting Otter Trick or Treat on Oct. 24 from 2 – 3 p.m., followed by a kids’ costume parade. On Halloween, costumes even make their way onto the water during a family-friendly costume paddle along the Wekiva River.
Meet the Animals After the Pumpkins
One of the most unique family Halloween experiences this year is happening at the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens in Sanford.
Zoo Boo Bash returns for three weekends — Oct. 17–18, Oct. 24–25, and Halloween — from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Kids can wear their costumes and trick-or-treat their way through the zoo while still seeing the animals. The daytime celebration includes treat stations, fall festival games, a DJ dance party, pumpkin decorating, character meet-and-greets, Halloween decorations, and special animal enrichment.
The characters even change by the weekend. Captain America, Spider-Man, and Black Widow are scheduled for the first weekend; Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff take over Oct. 24–25; and the Sanderson Sisters arrive on Halloween.
It’s an especially fun option for younger kids who want the Halloween experience without anything too scary.
Discover Sanford’s Spookier Side
For those ready for something a little spookier, Downtown Sanford feels completely different after dark.
The Sanford Ghost Tour takes guests on a roughly 90-minute walk through the historic downtown district, sharing stories of local history, ghostly encounters, and the people who once called Sanford home.
We’ve done this one ourselves, and it’s one of the more unique ways to experience a downtown you may think you already know. What makes it fun isn’t a series of jump scares. It’s hearing the stories connected to familiar buildings while walking those same streets after dark.
Pair the tour with dinner downtown and a seasonal dessert or drink, and you’ve got an easy October night out.
A Little Not-So-Scary Fun
For parents of younger kids, there are plenty of ways to celebrate Halloween without the scares.
Oviedo Movie Night & Candy Crawl: Head to Center Lake Park on Friday, Oct. 23 for a free evening with a DJ, candy crawl, costume contest, and outdoor movie.
Wekiva Island Trick-or-Treat: Kids can trick-or-treat around the island Oct. 24, followed by a children’s costume parade.
Oviedo Mall-O-Ween: On Halloween, children 12 and younger can dress up and trick-or-treat through participating stores inside Oviedo Mall.
Halloween at Cranes Roost: Altamonte Springs celebrates Oct. 31 from 5 – 9 p.m. with free trick-or-treating around the lake, costume contests, music, and photo opportunities.
Halloween at the Library: Seminole County children’s librarians are taking storytime outside with Stories & Puppets in the Park at Red Bug Lake Park on Oct. 22, Sanlando Park on Oct. 27, and Greenwood Lakes Park on Oct. 29.
For the littlest ghosts and goblins, the North Branch Library in Sanford will also host a Spooky Stuffed Animal Sleepover Storytime on Oct. 29 from 6 – 7 p.m. for ages 3 to 7.
Make Fall Your Own
Maybe fall here means picking out pumpkins with the kids. Maybe it’s finding a new seasonal coffee, spending the morning outside, or hearing ghost stories while walking through Downtown Sanford after dark.
It doesn’t have to look like fall somewhere else to feel like fall at home. There are plenty of ways to make the season your own right here in Seminole County.
And the pumpkin patch is only the beginning.
About the Author:
Daniella Hume, the owner of Mastropieces Productions, is a versatile creative professional specializing in writing, photography, digital media production, social media management, and video creation. With a deep passion for her community, Daniella’s work aims to inspire and uplift her audience while celebrating the beauty and vibrancy of the people and places around her. Her published work can be found throughout Central Florida and beyond, showcasing her commitment to the Sunshine State and dedication to sharing a positive message.
