Ghosts and ghouls, clowns and creatures, and pirates and princesses will all emerge this weekend at various Halloween events around West Palm Beach. If you and your closest gremlins plan to indulge in chocolate candy or spin in nighttime revelry, check out these six Halloween happenings in the Palm Beach area:


BOO AT THE ZOO
: The Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society presents a family-friendly event at the zoo during the day and during the evening from October 18th until October 27th. In addition to visiting and viewing all the animals, Boo at the Zoo features special activities such as a haystack hunt, pumpkin patch, trick-or-treat stations, children’s costume contests, live shows, character visits, music, dancing, and more.

This year, all the candy distributed comes from manufacturers who are associated with the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) as the cultivation of palm oil in Southeast Asia is detrimental to the critically endangered Malayan Tigers.

Daytime admission cost is $25 for adults and $19 for children ages 3-12. After 5 p.m., the price for both adults and children is only $10.


FRIGHT NIGHTS 
-- Held at the South Florida Fairgrounds in West Palm Beach, Fright Nights are a popular event for teenagers and college students. Flesh-eating zombies and creepy clowns chase patrons through four different haunted houses: The Cuckoo’s Nest 3, El Orfanato, Sunny Shores Hotel, and Dead Time Stories.

Additionally, twisted souls will accompany guests on haunted hayrides and through spooky graveyards, abandoned hotels, zombie runs, and corn mazes. Fright Nights also features live music, food trucks, and carnival rides. Admission is $30 and includes 30 fright tickets for the haunted houses and midway rides. RIP Tickets, which include photo opportunities with actors, are an additional $5.

The event is held each Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from October 11th through November 2nd.


MOONFEST
-- For those of legal libation age, Moonfest is the must attend event for those who want to see and be seen. Historic and haunted Clematis Street is the backdrop for this adult-only Halloween party. Nearly 70,000 costume-laden roisterers will fill the downtown street and eat, dance, and drink the night away.

Spanning four blocks, Moonfest West Palm Beach features live music, a haunted house, a maze of terror, a VIP cemetery, art vendors, and food trucks. The freaky festivities begins at 8 p.m. on Saturday, October 26th and ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, October 27th. Advanced ticket cost is $15 for general admission and $75 for VIP passes. Revelers may purchase tickets the day of the event, but the cost is slightly more at $20 for general admission and $100 for VIP passes. This year, proceeds benefit Parent 2 Parent, an organization that provides support and resources for parents of children with special needs.


BATTY MANOR HAUNTED HOUSE
: The grand court at the Gardens Mall in Palm Beach Gardens will showcase an ornate not-so-scary haunted house for little shoppers to enjoy as they stroll through the mall. Guests are encouraged to don their halloween costumes as they visit Batty Manor and meet its resident goblins, Boogah and Hoogah.

Children will enjoy an interactive photo booth, arts and crafts, songs and dances, retail pop-ups, and, of course, candy. The manor opens daily at 1 p.m. beginning October 19th and ending October 31st. This is a free event.



HARVEST FESTIVAL & SCARECROW CONTEST
: Celebrating its 10th year, the Palm Beach Historical Society’s Annual Harvest Festival and Scarecrow Contest is sure to entertain and educate guests of all ages. Held at the Richard and Pat Johnson Palm Beach County History Museum, the festival features historical teachings about the importance of agricultural in our region and showcases creative scarecrows custom made by local students, scout troops, and community groups.

Children and adults alike will enjoy the live music, arts and crafts, and more. The event takes place from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m on Saturday, October 26th. Admission is $10 per person; children three and under are free.


DIA DE LOS MUERTOS:
Should you miss Halloween altogether, you can still conjure spirits the following weekend on Saturday, November 2nd at the Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration. Perhaps the most unique annual event, Dia De Los Muertos is intended to be celebratory, not creepy. To honor the deceased, cheerful mourners present food offerings and decorate alters with colorful flowers.

A traditional Mexican holiday, the event features folk dances, processions, art and craft exhibits, food stations, and childrens’ activities. After receiving a project grant from the State of Florida Cultural Affairs Division, LULA Lake Worth Arts is pleased to showcase this event without an admission charge.

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