Is Halloween more about candy corn and Snickers bars or sheer terror for you? Either way, you’ll find a Halloween event with the appropriate level of spookiness in the Jacksonville area this year. There’s a hair-raising haunted attraction in Arlington, loads of live seasonal performances and a few fun parties on the slate, so dig out your favorite Bart Simpson costume and start celebrating.
On stage and/or screen
‘The Mystery of Edwin Drood’
Oct. 9-Nov. 16 at Alhambra Theatre & Dining. $45-$84.
Who killed Drood? No one’s really sure, since author Charles Dickens passed away before he could finish the book. Maybe they’ll let you decide. Info: alhambrajax.com
‘The Rocky Horror Show’
Oct. 10-18 at Amelia Musical Playhouse, Fernandina Beach. $31.
Eddie, Rocky and the gang welcome you to the mansion. Info: ameliamusicalplayhouse.com
‘Dracula’
Oct. 10-24 at Amelia Community Theatre, Fernandina Beach. $25.
Good battles evil with a murderous, bloodsucking fiend on the loose in London. Info: ameliacommunitytheatre.org
‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, at the Moran Theater. $52-$209.50.
Barry Bostwick, who played Brad Majors in the 1975 cult classic, will be on hand for a screening of the film. They’re showing the original unedited version of the film, with a live shadow cast. Audience members will be given a bag of props; no outside props are permitted. Info: fscjartistseries.org
Vampire Circus
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, at the Florida Theatre. $49-$74.
If the acrobats, jugglers, contortionists, gymnasts, dancers and clowns onstage appear to be doing things no human could possibly do, just remember – they’re vampires. Info: floridatheatre.com
‘Twilight’ in concert
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, at the Moran Theater. $41.50-$93.50.
Team Edward? Team Jacob? Doesn’t matter; come watch the 2008 film while a 12-piece band performs the music. Info: fscjartistseries.org
‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’
7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, at Artist Square. Free.
Tim Burton’s stop-motion film is really more of a Halloween story than a Christmas story, so it’s perfect to show in the space under the Fuller Warren Bridge off Riverside Avenue. Info: dtjax.com
‘Little Shop of Horrors’
Oct. 17-Nov. 1 at Spotlight Events Center, Fleming Island. $25-$85.
House plants can get out of control sometimes, but when they start eating people, that’s a real problem. Info: spotlighteventscenter.com
Grave Robber
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18 at Hard Love. $18.23.
The headlining band is called Grave Robber, so why not throw a Halloween show and invite fans to come in costume? Jacksonville’s Kreepy Tikis and A1A-Holes open. Info: blacksunshinebooking.com
‘The Rocky Horror Show’
Oct. 23-Nov. 1 at Alhambra Theatre & Dining. $59.
On show nights, they’ll change over the stage from “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” and invite in a whole new crowd for 11:15 p.m. live performances of “Rocky Horror.” Info: alhambrajax.com
Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics
6:30 and 8:45 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at Hicks Auditorium in the Jacksonville Main Library. $44.50-$72.
A string quartet plays music from “Fantasia,” “Thriller,” “Stranger Things,” “Ghostbusters” and others while surrounded by thousands of lit candles. Info: feverup.com
Bewitched Broadway
7:30 p.m. Oct. 24-25 at Jacoby Symphony Hall. $57-$92.
Assistant Conductor Na’Zir McFadden leads the Jacksonville Symphony and guest singers through tunes from “Wicked,” “Phantom of the Opera,” “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and other haunting hits. Info: jaxsymphony.org
‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’
8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Florida Theatre. $29.50.
Hot patootie! Karrissa Wade leads the festivities, Julia Gulia provides the pre-movie music and you provide the fun. Bring your own props, but no food please. Info: floridatheatre.com
The Florida Ballet ‘Dracula’
7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29, at the Florida Theatre. $51-$92.
The Florida Ballet returns with Roberto Forleo’s adaptation of the tragic Count’s tale. Info: floridaballet.org
‘The Addams Family’
7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, at the Thrasher-Horne Center. $47-$123.
Your new girlfriend, Wednesday, seems nice. Surely, you have nothing to worry about meeting her family for the first time. Info: thcenter.org
Seriously scary
13th Floor Jacksonville
Sept. 13-Nov. 8 at 13th Floor Jacksonville
If an abandoned asylum sounds like a perfectly good place to go for a stroll in Halloween season to you, this is your place. This year, they also have Horror High, where unspeakable things have happened, and Rise of the Kraken, where you’re trapped on a ship with a tentacled thing. Throw a few axes, hunt down zombies or play mini escape games while you’re there. Info: 13thfloorjacksonville.com
Haunt Nights
Oct. 4-Nov. 1 at Adventure Landing. $24.99.
The Jax Beach waterpark turns scary after dark with two haunted mazes, The Sideshow in 3-D and The Brig. Info: hauntnightsjax.com
EstuScary Haunted Trail
7 p.m. Oct. 24-25 at South Beach Hammock Trail, Ponte Vedra Beach. $20.
Haunted trail hosted by Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve. Info: visitstaugustine.com
Not very scary
Sykes Family Farm
Oct. 4-Nov. 3 at Sykes Family Farm, Elkton. $19.
Nine-acre corn maze, plus hayrides, cow milking, duck races and live music. Info: sycofarms.com
Tales from the Clink
5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, at the Historic Triangle, Green Cove Springs. Free.
The historic haunted jail is the setting for spooky tales from Clay County’s past. Info: exploreclay.com
Beaches Oktoberfest
Oct. 10-11 at Seawalk Pavilion. Free.
It’s billed as Florida’s largest Oktoberfest celebration. This year, they’ve got tons of beer and German food, polka bands, bratwurst-eating contests and live music from We the Kings and Futurebirds. Info: beachesoktoberfest.com
Spooktacular
Oct. 4-31 at the Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens
The zoo reopens from 5:30-9:30 p.m., where the familiar walkways are transformed. Some of it is mildly spooky, but there shouldn’t be anything that freaks out the little ones too much. Info: jacksonvillezoo.org
Orange Park Fall Festival
Oct. 18-19 at Orange Park Town Hall. Free.
It’s the 43rd year for the fest, which features live entertainment, food trucks, artists and a kids’ zone. Info: opfallfestival.com
Creatures of the Night
Oct. 24-26 at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm. $16-$20.
Nothing to be scared of at this family-friendly event — as long as you don’t wander off the paths. Bring your own bag for trick-or-treating. Info: alligatorfarm.com
Halloween Invasion Music & Art Festival
4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Glass Factory and Myrtle Avenue Brewing. $41-$97.
Live music from Little Stranger, Jarv, Damn Skippy and others, costume contest and “massive art installations.” Info: eventbrite.com
Murray Hill-oween
5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, in Murray Hill
Block party and Halloween parade in one of Jacksonville’s funkiest neighborhoods. Info: murrayhilljax.com
Headless Bangers Ball
8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at the World Golf Village Renaissance St. Augustine Resort. $40-$42.
Live music, psychics, tarot card readers and cash prizes for the best costumes. Info: visitstaugustine.com
Trunk or Treat
5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, at Latham Plaza, Jacksonville Beach
Do all of your trick-or-treating in one place, then sit back and watch a free screening of “Beetlejuice.” Info: jacksonvillebeach.org
Eternal Halloween
6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, at Kona Skatepark. $10.
Movies, costume contests and live music from Dead Man de los Santos, Digdog, Herd the Cat, Mudtown and Appalachian Death Trap. Info: konaskatepark.com
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: ‘Rocky Horror,’ haunted houses and corn mazes: Your guide to Halloween fun in Jacksonville
Reporting by Tom Szaroleta, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
