One day? A season? How about all year! Have a ghoulish good time at spooktacular locations throughout Orlando where Halloween never ends (Cocktails & Screams pictured).
Halloween may only haunt us once per year, but you can uncover plenty of frightful fun in Orlando all year long if you know where to dig. “We bring the spooky to life,” says James Morrone, co-owner of Bar None Creations and popular downtown Orlando bars like Cocktails & Screams. “If you are a horror or Halloween fan there is something for everyone.” From bewitching bars and theme park attractions to bone-chilling boutiques, here are some of the best places to get a spooky serotonin boost in Orlando. Read on if you dare.
Discover: Spooktacular Halloween Fun in Orlando
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Cocktails & Screams
Horror comes to life at Cocktails & Screams, the only Halloween-themed bar in Orlando. “We aren’t just a bar; we are an experience,” says Morrone, whose fabrication company, Bar None Creations built almost everything that makes this local haunt so unique. Sidle up to the skull-encrusted bar to order craft cocktails inspired by your favorite fandoms, then vamp it up in themed nooks inspired by horror icons like The Addams Family, Stranger Things, and Haunted Mansion. “There is also a speakeasy located in the back, which is more on the creepy side,” says Morrone, referring to The Craft, an exclusive, reservations-only bar with a themed bartender and a vintage voodoo vibe.
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Cocktails & Screams also hosts killer events and live entertainment throughout the year, including themed nights, costume parties, and entrancing acts that will set your spooky little heart aflutter. “We have live entertainment on Fridays and Saturdays, karaoke on Wednesdays, and Sunday Horror Movie Brunch,” says Morrone — and there’s even more wicked fun on the horizon. “We are adding a few new elements, such as an expansion of the speakeasy with new interactive elements. A new Wednesday Addams area, the Vampire Crypt, and the Tarot Caravan, as well as a new menu. We are also looking at a permanent house band This Halloween season [that] should be spectacular.”
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Gideon’s Bakehouse
Shop sinfully delicious treats in an antique Victorian setting at Gideon’s Bakehouse, which has two Orlando locations to satisfy your darkest culinary desires. From towering cakes and nearly half-pound cookies to curious commodities and otherworldly cold brew (available only at Disney Springs®), this is one stop you won’t want to miss. Stop by the original walk-up inside East End Market, part of the Audubon Park Garden District, or visit the much larger flagship store at Disney Springs for the full immersive experience — trust us, it’s worth the wait.
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Prometheus Esoterica
Witness the bizarre at Prometheus Esoterica, a Winter Park oddities shop brimming with strange and unusual finds. Whether you’re there to fill out your apothecary, browse morbid antiquities, or soak up the good vibes, this spooky shop is always worth a stop. They also have a small coffee counter featuring brews from locally owned Coffee Shop of Horrors, and host eerily fun events throughout the year.
Discover: Winter Park Shopping
Atomic Horror
If you’re a die-hard horror fan, explore terrifying treasures and fun photo ops at Atomic Horror, a new spooky boutique just outside The Milk District. You’ll find everything from original art and tiki mugs to candles inspired by your favorite masters of the macabre. Look out for the horde of creepy creatures as you browse, and snap a picture with them if you dare.
American Ghost Adventures Tours
For ghostly fun right here in Orlando, embark on a guided tour of what may be some of Orlando’s most haunted locations. American Ghost Adventures Tours has several fun options worth exploring, from paranormal pub tours to full-on investigative tours of downtown Orlando. History buffs can even discover a new take on Orlando’s past, starting at Orange County Regional History Center and Heritage Square Park in the heart of the City District.
Discover: Orlando Museums
Spook Hill
Head to Lake Wales to discover the legend of Spook Hill, a roadside attraction popularized in the 1950s for its eerie, gravity-defying properties. Put your car in neutral and try not to panic as your car slowly rolls backwards and uphill. Is it, as the legend goes, a Native American chief avenging his death, or simply a perplexing optical illusion? There’s only one way to find out.
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Medieval Torture Museum
Finally, you can get a glimpse of real horror at the Medieval Torture Museum, the largest interactive historical museum in the United States. It’s located two hours north of our main tourism districts in St. Augustine, and is home to over 100 unique devices and implements from the darkest parts of human history.
Year-Round Halloween in the Tourism Districts
Universal Orlando Resort
Halloween Horror Nights may only last a couple months, but at Universal Orlando Resort, spooky season is forever. “Horror films are in Universal’s DNA,” a representative from Universal Orlando Resort shared. “From the 1931 film Dracula to the Creature From The Black Lagoon in 1954, classic and iconic Universal Monster films shaped and influenced the genre fans know, love and fear today. So, it’s no wonder that Universal Orlando Resort relishes and celebrates its scary reputation, whether it be through seasonal events like Halloween Horror Nights or more permanent shows like The Horror Makeup Show in Universal Studios Florida. We love keeping the spirit of Halloween year-round for fans to enjoy.”
Save on discount tickets: Universal Orlando Resort
All Hallows Eve Boutique at Universal Islands of Adventure
Start at the All Hallows Eve Boutique in Universal Islands of Adventure, a unique shopping experience with year-round Halloween vibes. The theme changes often to match the season, from the frost-laden Krampus holiday boutique to the eerie bayou glow of the All Hallows Voodoo Boutique during Mardi Gras. Load up on ghoulishly fun goods featuring the Universal Monsters, along with seasonal merchandise for events like Mardi Gras and Halloween Horror Nights.
Universal Orlando’s Horror Makeup Show
Horror fans can also get their fix at Universal Orlando’s Horror Makeup Show, an outrageous live show at Universal Studios Florida that explores the fascinating world of movie makeup and special effects. “Featuring movie clips, props, and interactive demonstrations, this experience offers fascinatingly funny insight into the moviemaking process,” says Universal Orlando’s representative. “Before the show, [you] can also check out the lobby’s collection of authentic props, make-up effects, and more from classic and modern legendary Universal Studios horror movies.”
Red Coconut Club at Universal CityWalk
“Start with a lavish ultra-lounge,” says our Universal Orlando representative. “Add a pinch of tiki chic, and you've got two levels of music and glamour swirling up a lush moonlit mood at Universal CityWalk’s Red Coconut Club.”
Like the All Hallows Eve Boutique, this sophisticated hangout gets fun, often spooky seasonal treatments throughout the year. Past overlays have included the Green & Red Coconut Club for Universal Holidays, the Cursed Coconut Club for Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval, and the Dead Coconut Club — complete with eyeball-laden cocktails and more tempestuous tipples — for Halloween Horror Nights. Stop by Universal CityWalk to see what’s on deck during your next visit.
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Hollywood Drive-In Golf at Universal CityWalk
If you’re looking for family-friendly frights, take your junior scream squad to Hollywood Drive-In Golf at Universal CityWalk and battle your way through two 18-hole mini-golf courses inspired by vintage sci-fi and horror flicks. Universal Orlando challenges you to “choose between The Haunting of Ghostly Greens and Invaders from Planet Putt or play all 36 holes for a daring ‘double feature.’ Highlights of The Haunting of Ghostly Greens include plenty of graveyards and a spooky mansion finale.” Whatever fate you choose, you’re in for a spooky good time.
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WALT DISNEY WORLD® Resort
Haunted Mansion®
Journey through the supernatural realm at the Haunted Mansion®, an eerie estate inside Magic Kingdom® Park. At last check, it’s home to 999 happy haunts, perfect if you’re looking for some ghoulish fun to tide you over until next Halloween. Just try to keep your wits about you as you glide through the home’s ghostly chambers and descend into a shadowy graveyard. Look out for The Hatbox Ghost, a terrifyingly fun figure materializing at Walt Disney World® Resort in 2023. Things get even more spirited during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, where you might see and even converse with ghostly residents out for a stroll.
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The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™
Travel back to another time … another place … another dimension at The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™ inside Disney’s Hollywood Studios®. This relic of Hollywood’s Golden Age has a preternatural past, which you’ll discover for yourself on a heart-dropping, scream-worthy journey into The Twilight Zone®.
Mortem Manor at Old Town Kissimmee
For spooks and shrieks galore, head to Mortem Manor, the only year-round haunted house in Orlando. Carved into the landscape of the Old Town Entertainment District, this Victorian-themed haunt features live actors, animatronics and state-of-the-art special effects for a bone-chilling good time. It was even named one of the Scariest Haunted Houses in America by Travel Channel. If you make it out alive, stop by the Post Mortem Horror Boo-tique for spellbinding apparel, props, collectibles and accessories.
Vault 5421
Tucked away inside comics and collectibles store Gods and Monsters on International Drive is a post-apocalyptic speakeasy called Vault 5421. Inspired by the terrifying worlds of Fallout, Mad Max, Bioshock, and similar games, this amazing space features handmade props and special effects created by some of Central Florida’s top production designers. Sip on a rotating selection of themed drinks, bottles, and shots, catch a horrifying flick, and try your hand at free retro gaming.
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Map of Spooky Places in Orlando
Use this interactive map to track down the spooky Orlando locations featured in this blog.
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