Halloween is celebrated throughout the world and Sanibel shares in that culture. It is typical for Halloween activities to include trick-or-treating, costume parties and contests and more candy than you can eat. Sanibel has all these activities and offers all the fun you want and still be safe.
The city suggests that trick-or-treating be between 5 PM and 8:30 PM. They have also loaded all the police cars with candy for any small wanderers who come their way. When October 31st rolls around many of the restaurants and retail stores have a stash of candy to offer as treats so they can avoid the tricks.
Some of the more popular spots during Halloween are:
- The Sanibel Community House on Periwinkle Way has the annual Candy and Costume Fall Family Festival from 5 PM to 7 PM. There is trick or treating, many games, a hay ride and a dining area that offers $2 meals. The entrance fee is one bag of trick-or-treat candy per person.
- Jerry’s Food Store on Periwinkle Way has free trick or treating in the store all day. Just dress up and go on in.
- The Sanibel School has a haunted house and other festivities starting at 2 PM.
- The Sanibel Fish House on Periwinkle Way has live music, karaoke, and a costume contest with a $100 prize to the winner. This is for adults. It starts at 9 PM and goes to 1 AM.
- Tween Waters Inn on Captiva Drive and is for adults. There is a costume contest with a $1,000 prize for the winner. It is held outdoors in a tent with live music, dancing and karaoke. It runs from 8 PM til 2 AM. There is a $15 admission fee.
Some off-island but close by festivities are in Fort Myers and Cape Coral.
- The Fall and Halloween Festival is in Lakes Park on Gladiolus Drive in South Fort Myers. It has hayrides, a bounce house, face painting and lots of games. It runs daily thru October 31st from 6 PM to 9:30 PM on weekdays and 10 AM to 9:30 on weekends. There is a parking fee of $1 per hour or $5 per day.
- The Harney Point Kids Fest in Jaycee’s Park in Cape Coral has live entertainment, pony rides, book-bag give-aways. It runs from 10 AM to 4 PM on October 29th and the kids will love it. And it’s free, although you can donate one canned food per person for the benefit of the Cape Coral Caring Center.
This is a smattering of some of the Halloween fun you can have on or off the islands to give your vacation that special feeling. And don’t forget to talk to David Schuldenfrei about finding that special vacation property that puts you close to all the fun things to do on this wonderful island.