"Fall" in Tampa is a state of mind. It might be 88 degrees at the corn maze. Nobody cares. Tampa families show up in flannel anyway, and the kids have a great time.
What we do have is a solid stretch of fall festivals from late September to mid-November. Some are free street fairs in the city, and some are full farm days with corn mazes, hayrides, and a giant jumping pillow. This guide covers both, with 2026 dates. If you're mostly after a pumpkin, jump to our Tampa pumpkin patch guide instead. That one is organized around where to pick one up.
A quick note on dates: we checked these against organizer pages and local event calendars in late September 2026. Small community events change more often than farms, so confirm before you go.
Free fall festivals in Tampa
These are the easy ones. No tickets, no long drive, and you can leave when someone melts down.
Heights Fall Fest at Armature Works
- When: Sat., Oct. 10 (noon to 5 p.m.) and Sun., Oct. 11 (noon to 4 p.m.), 2026
- Where: 1910 N. Ola Ave., Tampa Heights
- Cost: Free
This is the 9th year. The full 2026 lineup wasn't posted when we checked, but it's a free, family-friendly festival with the food hall right there when everyone gets hungry. It's an easy one to pair with the playground and splash pad at nearby Water Works Park.
Carrollwood Fall Fest
- When: Sat., Oct. 17, 2026, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Where: Carrollwood Cultural Center, 4537 Lowell Rd., Tampa
- Cost: Free
A true neighborhood festival, put on by the Carrollwood Village HOAs. It's small enough that you can let older kids wander a little.
Temple Terrace Fall Festival
- When: Sat., Oct. 24, 2026, 6 to 9 p.m.
- Where: Temple Terrace Family Recreation Complex, 6610 Whiteway Dr.
- Cost: Free
An evening option, which is nice when afternoons are still hot.
North Tampa, Lutz and Wesley Chapel
- Candy Crawl at The Shops at Wiregrass: Sat., Oct. 10, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free, with free treat bags for the first 500 kids and pumpkins to decorate.
- Lutz Whistle Stop Depot Fall Festival: Sat., Oct. 10, 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free. Vintage games and model trains, which is catnip for some kids.
- Starkey Ranch District Park Fall Fun Fest (Odessa): Sat., Oct. 17, 1 to 4 p.m. $5.
- Wesley Chapel Fall Carnival & Festival: Oct. 22 to 25. Four days; check the organizer's page for hours and any ride pricing.
Plenty of churches around Lutz, Land O' Lakes, and Brandon run free fall festivals in October too. They tend to have bounce houses, candy, and very short lines.
Fall festivals in St. Pete and Clearwater
- Fall Y'all at Coachman Park (Clearwater): Sat., Oct. 3, 2026, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free.
- St. Pete Pier Fall Festival: Oct. 10 and 11, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Free. The only beachfront fall festival around, with the Spa Beach playground a short walk away.
- Florida Botanical Gardens Pumpkin Fest (Largo): Sat., Oct. 24, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free. Pumpkin carving and kids' activities from the Children's Garden educators.
- Our Lady of Lourdes Fall Festival (Dunedin): Oct. 15 to 18, in its 54th year. Free admission and parking.
- Sacred Heart Fall Festival (Pinellas Park): Oct. 14 to 18. Free admission.
Corn mazes near Tampa
There aren't any corn mazes inside Tampa city limits. The closest are in Plant City, and the bigger farm festivals are 45 minutes to an hour north in Hernando and Pasco counties or east in Polk. For kids under 5, a small maze plus a jumping pillow is plenty. For 8-and-ups, the bigger mazes are worth the drive.
| Farm | Town | Drive from downtown Tampa | 2026 season | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fox Squirrel Corn Maze | Plant City | ~35 min | Weekends Sept. 26 to Oct. 25, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. | $15; 3 and under free |
| Keel Farms Harvest Days | Plant City | ~30 min | October weekends, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Free entry, $10 parking, $5 hayride wristband |
| Harvest Holler | Polk City | ~50 min | Sept. 18 to Nov. 15, Fri. to Sun. | $17 adults, $14 kids 2-12, under 2 free |
| Sweetfields Farm | Masaryktown | ~50 min | Sept. 26 to Nov. 8 | About $12 online, $14 at the gate |
| HarvestMoon Fun Farm | Masaryktown | ~50 min | Sept. 26 to Nov. 8 | $16.95 ages 3+ |
| Dade City Farms | Dade City | ~50 min | Weekends Sept. 26 to Nov. 1, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. | $12 ages 12+, $9 ages 3-12 |
| DK Farms and Gardens | Largo | ~35 min | Weekends Oct. 3 to Nov. 1 | From $16 |
Drive times are rough and assume no I-4 disaster. Plan on more on Saturdays.
Fox Squirrel Corn Maze (Plant City)
This is the first corn maze in Hillsborough County and now in its 15th season. It's a straightforward, well-run maze on a working family farm, not a theme-park production. The gate closes at 5 p.m., and everyone needs to be out by 6.
They take cash and cards, including tap to pay, but there's no ATM on site. The farm lists 6151 Varn Rd., Plant City, on its social pages; check the website before you go, since the maze location has moved over the years.
Keel Farms Harvest Days (Plant City)
The best budget option on the list. Admission is free, parking is $10 per car, and a $5 wristband covers hayrides all day. There's a small corn maze, pumpkin painting, and a pumpkin pie eating contest. The farm is also a winery and cidery, so the grown-ups aren't suffering either. It's dog-friendly, too.
Where: 5202 Thonotosassa Rd., Plant City
Harvest Holler (Polk City)
A working family farm with a proper corn maze plus a long list of included extras: slides, a jumping pad, farm animals, and hayrides. One ticket covers everything all day, which makes the price easier to swallow. Open Fridays from 4 p.m. and weekend afternoons into the evening. It's closer to Lakeland than to Tampa, so it's a good pick if you're on the east side of the county.
Where: 950 Tavares Rd., Polk City
Sweetfields Farm (Masaryktown)
Sweetfields is an organic vegetable farm that opens for a fall festival every year, now in its 19th season. The corn maze, U-pick pumpkins, and farm animals are the draw. Weekend tickets can sell out, and the farm recommends buying online ahead of time.
Where: 17250 Benes Roush Rd., Masaryktown (Brooksville mailing address)
HarvestMoon Fun Farm and Dade City Farms
Two more full-day farm festivals north of Tampa. HarvestMoon is also in Masaryktown, so compare it with Sweetfields before you pick. Dade City Farms has lower kid pricing ($9 for ages 3 to 12), which adds up fast with three kids.
Bigger fall events
Hillsborough County Fair (Dover)
- When: Nov. 5 to 15, 2026
- Where: Hillsborough County Fairgrounds, 215 Sydney Washer Rd., Dover
- What it is: Rides, livestock shows, 4-H exhibits, and fair food. Smaller and more local than the Florida State Fair in February, which some parents prefer with little kids.
Weeknights open around 5 p.m. and weekends open earlier. Check the fair's site for ride wristband pricing.
Hunsader Farms Pumpkin Festival (Bradenton)
A big, long-running pumpkin festival (the 35th this year) with a festival atmosphere, food, and live entertainment.
- When: Oct. 10, 11, 17, 18, 24 and 25, 2026, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Cost: $15 ages 10+, $5 ages 5-9, under 5 free
- Where: 5500 County Road 675, Bradenton, about an hour south of Tampa
Pioneer Florida Museum Scarecrow Festival (Dade City)
Sat., Oct. 10, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., $5 to $12. Old Florida buildings and a scarecrow contest. Good for kids who like history, and it pairs well with a Dade City farm the same day.
Florida Railroad Museum Pumpkin Patch Express (Parrish)
Oct. 17-18 and 24-25. A train ride out to the museum's own pumpkin patch. Train-crazy preschoolers will talk about it for weeks. Book ahead.
Tips for fall festivals with kids in Florida
- Go early. Most farms open at 10 a.m. By 1 p.m. in early October, it's hot and the lines are long.
- Wear closed-toe shoes. Corn mazes are sandy, muddy after rain, and this is Florida, so watch for fire ant mounds.
- Bring cash anyway. Many farms take cards now, but food vendors and pumpkin stands don't always.
- Check the weather page, not just the forecast. Farms close for lightning and sometimes for the day after heavy rain. Their Facebook or Instagram page usually has the call first.
- Know what happens after dark. Some farms add a haunted attraction in the evening on the same property. Daytime is family time; after dark can be a very different event. Our Tampa Halloween events guide sorts out which haunts are OK for kids.
For more ideas through the season, see our Tampa weekend events roundup, and if you're heading to Plant City for a corn maze, our Plant City family guide has lunch stops on the way home.
