Pumpkins will take over Ponce Circle Park, jack-o’-lanterns will float in a swimming pool, and the War Memorial Youth Center’s basketball gym will become a haunted house as Coral Gables prepares for two weeks of Halloween celebrations.
The calendar also includes a quieter trick-or-treating experience for children with sensory needs, a cemetery bike tour, costume parties and a Halloween-night crawl through downtown restaurants and bars.
The city’s Halloween in the Gables calendar, released Sept. 28, brings together events organized by the Community Recreation Department and community partners, including the Coral Gables Museum, Actors’ Playhouse, Gables Cinema, Books & Books and the Consulate General of Mexico.
Some events are free, others require paid admission, and several have limited capacity. The busiest period falls on Saturday, Oct. 31, when Miracle Mile and Ponce Circle Park will host overlapping celebrations.
Here’s what residents need to know.
Halloween events at a glance
| Event | Date and time | Location | Admission or registration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pumpkin Patch | Oct. 17, 2–6 p.m. | Ponce Circle Park | $15 resident presale package; limited admission at the door |
| Pinewood Cemetery bike tour | Oct. 18, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. | Starts at Coral Gables Museum | $10 general; $5 eligible discounted admission |
| AAC Spooktacular | Oct. 23, 1–4 p.m. | 2 Andalusia Ave. | Limited tickets; contact center |
| Gentle Trick-or-Treat | Oct. 24, 1–3 p.m. | Ruth Bryan Owen Waterway Park | Free; registration required |
| Pumpkin Float | Oct. 24, 6–8 p.m. | Coral Gables Country Club | Paid ticket; limited family spaces |
| Nightmare on 405 | Oct. 30, 6:30–9:30 p.m. | War Memorial Youth Center | $6.50 per ticket |
| Trick-or-Treat on the Mile | Oct. 31, 3–6 p.m. | Miracle Mile | Free; RSVP encouraged |
| Día de los Muertos | Oct. 31, 4–9 p.m. | Ponce Circle Park | Check event details |
| Drink-or-Treat | Oct. 31, 6–10 p.m. | Downtown restaurants and bars | No admission ticket; purchases extra |
Pumpkin patch opens festivities Oct. 17
The Coral Gables Pumpkin Patch opens the season Saturday, Oct. 17, from 2 to 6 p.m. at Ponce Circle Park, 2810 Ponce de Leon Blvd.
Hundreds of pumpkins will fill the park, accompanied by live music, pumpkin decorating, face painting, a mini harvest market, food and drinks for purchase, and fall-themed photo areas.
Coral Gables residents can purchase a $15 presale package that includes one pumpkin and admission for up to four guests, while supplies last.
A limited number of general admission tickets will be available at the event on a first-come, first-served basis. The city does not specify their price in its online announcement.
Questions may be sent to specialevents@coralgables.com.
The following morning, Sunday, Oct. 18, Bike Walk Coral Gables will lead a costumed tour of Pinewood Cemetery, described by organizers as the oldest cemetery south of the Miami River.
The tour begins at 10 a.m. at the Coral Gables Museum and concludes around 1 p.m. Participants must bring their own bicycles. General admission is $10, with $5 admission for qualifying museum and Bike Walk members, city employees and children under 12.
A gentler Halloween experience and floating pumpkins
The Adult Activity Center hosts its Spooktacular Halloween Bash on Friday, Oct. 23, from 1 to 4 p.m. at 2 Andalusia Ave.
The celebration includes refreshments, music and costumes. Space is limited, with no more than two tickets available per person. The city directs residents to call 305-461-6765 or email AACinfo@coralgables.com for information.
Saturday, Oct. 24, brings two contrasting family activities.
For children who may find traditional Halloween celebrations overwhelming, Gentle Trick-or-Treat offers a quieter experience from 1 to 3 p.m. at Ruth Bryan Owen Waterway Park, 3940 Granada Blvd.
Activities include a storybook walk, photo station, safe maze, and art and sensory stations. Organizers promise nothing scary, no expectation that children speak, act or dress in a particular way, a quiet area and a limited crowd size. Adults may not wear masks.
Participation is free, but advance registration is required. Families should reserve one ticket per vehicle. Contact PlayForAll@coralgables.com or 305-441-5650.
That evening, the Pumpkin Float at the Country Club runs from 6 to 8 p.m.
Families will carve pumpkins, enjoy snacks and watch their illuminated jack-o’-lanterns float around the swimming pool. Prizes will recognize the scariest, most creative and cutest creations.
One paid ticket covers a family of up to four and includes a pumpkin-carving kit, entry in the contest, trick-or-treat stations and refreshments. Costumes are encouraged.
Space is limited, tickets are nonrefundable, and families will not receive their pumpkins back. Tickets are available through the city’s online recreation registration system.
A haunted gym takes over the Youth Center
The Halloween scares intensify Friday, Oct. 30, when the War Memorial Youth Center at 405 University Drive becomes the setting for Nightmare on 405.
From 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., visitors can walk through haunted-house attractions constructed inside the basketball gym.
Tickets cost $6.50 each, are valid for a single entry and are nonrefundable. The city warns that the experience is unsuitable for children younger than 5. No one will be admitted after 9:30 p.m.
For information, call 305-460-5600.
Also that Friday, Glow in the Dark Zombie Golf begins at 7 p.m. at Granada Golf Course, 2001 Granada Blvd., benefiting the Coral Gables Woman’s Club’s philanthropic programs.
Halloween day fills Miracle Mile with costumes and candy
On Saturday, Oct. 31, the focus shifts downtown.
Trick-or-Treat on the Mile runs from 3 to 6 p.m., with participating Miracle Mile businesses handing out candy to costumed children.
Face painting and balloon art begin at 3:30 p.m., followed by a magic show at 5 p.m. The event is free, although the city encourages families to RSVP to help estimate attendance.
Nearby, Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, 280 Miracle Mile, has a full schedule.
The Wizard of Oz begins at 2 p.m., followed by a Spooktacular performance by the Actors’ Playhouse Musical Miracles at 3:45 p.m. and a children’s costume parade at 4:30 p.m. An evening performance of Jekyll & Hyde is scheduled for 8 p.m.
Individual theater performances may require separate admission.
The Coral Gables Museum, 285 Aragon Ave., also plans a Halloween dog costume contest. The city’s general announcement lists a 2 p.m. start, although its detailed Trick-or-Treat page says the time and further information are still being finalized.
Día de los Muertos brings Mexican traditions to Ponce Circle Park
Alongside Halloween festivities, the Consulate General of Mexico and the city will present a Día de los Muertos celebration on Oct. 31, from 4 to 9 p.m., at Ponce Circle Park.
The observance, distinct from Halloween, honors deceased loved ones through Mexican cultural and spiritual traditions.
The event will feature traditional performances, music, dance and food. Organizers describe it as an opportunity to share and preserve Mexico’s Indigenous and pre-Hispanic cultural heritage.
The Gazette reported Oct. 8 that organizers removed a planned little-person wrestling performance from the festival after members of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board objected. The broader celebration remains scheduled.
Drink-or-Treat takes over downtown after 6 p.m.
For adults 21 and older, the city has organized Drink-or-Treat, a self-guided crawl beginning at 6 p.m. Halloween night.
Participating restaurants and bars along Miracle Mile, Giralda Plaza and surrounding downtown streets will offer themed cocktails, food and happy-hour specials.
Admission is not ticketed, although guests pay for their purchases and are encouraged to RSVP.
Participants can collect a punch-map card at their first stop and earn a limited-edition souvenir glass by purchasing drinks at three participating locations. Glasses are available first come, first served at designated restaurants.
Books & Books, 265 Aragon Ave., adds a Y2K-themed Halloween party beginning at 6 p.m., with costumes and music.
For residents planning to move among downtown attractions, the Coral Gables Trolley will operate from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Oct. 31, with Freebee rides also available. Parking information is available through the city’s Parking and Mobility Services.
Other Halloween activities around the city
Several community partners have additional activities on the calendar.
The Coral Gables Museum’s inaugural Kiddo-Ween Festival runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 24, with trick-or-treating, character appearances, a pumpkin patch and photo opportunities.
Gables Cinema, 260 Aragon Ave., will screen Wicked at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 27.
On Oct. 28, the University of Miami’s Greek Life organizations will host Greeks, Ghouls, and Goblins, a family-oriented event with costumes, games, food and trick-or-treating, from 5 to 7 p.m. at 5200 University Drive.
With activities spread across two weeks, families can choose anything from a relaxed afternoon decorating pumpkins to Halloween-night candy collecting, while older residents and adults have their own celebrations.
For events requiring tickets or advance registration, the safest course is to reserve early and check the individual event page before leaving home. Capacity, schedules and participating venues may change as Halloween approaches.
Author: Coral Gables Gazette News Staff
Originally established in 1996 and relaunched as a digital publication in February 2025, the Coral Gables Gazette is an independent local news organization dedicated to factual, objective and accountable community journalism. Our newsroom reports on the people, policies, institutions and events shaping Coral Gables, Florida, providing residents with timely, informative coverage of the issues affecting their community. Our reporting includes City Hall, local government, municipal elections, public spending, real estate development, business, education, arts and culture, and neighborhood affairs throughout the City Beautiful. We follow City Commission decisions, examine public records and report on the businesses, organizations and individuals contributing to Coral Gables. We believe informed residents are essential to a healthy, engaged community. Stories published under the Coral Gables Gazette News Staff byline are prepared or compiled by the publication's editorial team. We strive for accuracy, fairness, transparency and clear distinctions between news reporting, opinion and advertising. Readers are encouraged to submit news tips, corrections, editorial inquiries and story suggestions through our Contact page and learn more about our standards through our Editorial Policy.
