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Kandy’s Halloween Spooktacular Returns to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Fall has officially arrived at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay as Kandy’s Spooktacular Celebration makes its festive return on Saturdays and Sundays from September 12 through November 1. Designed as a family-friendly Halloween experience for guests of all ages, this year’s spellbinding event introduces exciting new entertainment, including the debut of a brand-new original character: Mr. Skelly.
Situated along the park’s Festival Walkway near Iron Gwazi, Spooktacular transforms the area into a whimsical, not-so-spooky autumnal wonderland packed with trick-or-treating, interactive science experiments, character meet-and-greets, and dance parties.
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Meet Mr. Skelly: A Bone-a-Fide Musical Mentor
The headliner of this year’s new additions is The Music of Mr. Skelly. Brought to life straight off the pages of one of Kandy’s magical drawings, Mr. Skelly is a violin-playing melody master.
While he excels at teaching guests his love of music and sharing whimsical tunes on his trusty violin, Mr. Skelly isn’t quite as skilled at being scary—proving that Halloween doesn’t need to be frightening to be frightfully fun. Guests can catch Mr. Skelly performing live throughout the event area, offering a playful, melodic spin on seasonal entertainment.
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2026 Spooktacular Event Lineup & Highlights
Running every weekend from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM, Kandy—Busch Gardens’ resident witch-in-training—and her kooky krew are hosting a full schedule of kid-friendly activities:
- Trick-or-Treating: Children can grab a reusable bag and follow the trick-or-treat trail to collect sweet seasonal goodies provided by Goldfish® and YumEarth®.
- Spooktacular Costume Parade: A vibrant runway experience where young guests can show off their Halloween style. Costume or no costume, every child is invited to walk the catwalk and shine.
- Kit & Kat’s Black Cat Dance Party: High-energy spooky beats and playful dance moves led by Kit & Kat, turning the Festival Walkway into an all-ages dance floor.
- Spooky Kooky Science: Join Professor Pufflemintz—Kandy’s eccentric instructor from the Magic Conservatory—for unpredictable, hands-on, and entertaining fall science experiments.
- Storytime with Kandy: Nestled next to Kandy’s pumpkin patch, guests can gather for an interactive reading of the beloved picture book Room on the Broom.
- Festive Fall Photo Spots: Photo-worthy backdrops and pumpkin-filled scenes along the walkway offer picture-perfect moments for family memories.
How to Attend
Kandy’s Spooktacular is included with regular park admission, Annual Passes, and Fun Cards.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is currently offering its best value of the season: guests who purchase a 2027 Busch Gardens Fun Card for $114.99 receive unlimited visits to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Adventure Island water park for all of 2027, plus the remainder of 2026 for free. This limited-time pass grants access to upcoming seasonal highlights, including Spooktacular, Christmas Town, and all 2027 special events.
For schedule details, event maps, and ticket options, visit BuschGardensTampa.com.
