Looking for free things to do in Southwest Florida this weekend? Halloween is a week away, and the region is already in the spirit: a free waterfront festival in Naples, a nightly Halloween stroll in Bonita Springs, a family Spooktacular on Marco Island, a candy crawl in south Fort Myers, and free train-themed crafts at a Naples museum. Here are five verified free picks for October 24-25, each with its date, time, location, and official source.
Key Takeaways
- The Naples Stone Crab Festival at Tin City has free admission Saturday, October 24, from 10 AM to 9:30 PM, and Sunday, October 25, from 10 AM to 5 PM, with live music, vendors, and food stands.
- Bonita Springs' Happy Haunts Immersive Halloween Stroll runs nightly October 22 through 31, 7 to 10 PM, at Riverside Park in downtown Bonita Springs, free and open to everyone.
- The Marco Island Halloween Spooktacular at Frank E. Mackle Park runs Saturday from 4 to 6 PM, with games, crafts, a critter show, and a costume contest for kids 10 and younger.
- Ghosts and Ghouls Candy Crawl at Gulf Coast Town Center runs Saturday from 5 to 8 PM, with the candy crawl from 5 to 7 and a costume contest from 7 to 8 in the courtyard.
- Halloween Train Crafts at the Naples Depot Museum run Saturday from 10 AM to 2 PM and are free; the optional train ride at the adjacent museum needs a separate paid ticket.
Saturday, October 24
Naples: Stone Crab Festival at Tin City
The headline free event of the weekend is the Naples Stone Crab Festival, an outdoor festival at Tin City on Fifth Avenue South in Old Naples, where the stone crab season is the excuse for live music, vendors, and food truck and beverage stands along the waterfront. It runs Saturday, October 24, from 10 AM to 9:30 PM, and Sunday, October 25, from 10 AM to 5 PM, and admission is free. The City of Naples Stone Crab Festival page has the full plan. Tin City sits on the bayfront edge of Old Naples, a neighborhood covered in our Naples area guide.
Naples: Halloween Train Crafts at the Depot Museum
For a free morning plan with kids, the Collier County Museums host Halloween Train Crafts at the Naples Depot Museum on Saturday, October 24, from 10 AM to 2 PM at 1051 Fifth Avenue South. It is a family-friendly spooky craft session with free admission; the optional Halloween train ride next door at the Naples Train Museum requires a separate paid ticket. Dates and hours are on the Collier County Museums special events calendar. The depot is right in the heart of downtown Naples, a short walk from the shops on Fifth Avenue South, all covered in our Naples area guide.
Marco Island: Halloween Spooktacular at Mackle Park
The City of Marco Island hosts its annual Halloween Spooktacular on Saturday, October 24, from 4 to 6 PM at Frank E. Mackle Park on Andalusia Terrace. It is a free, family-friendly afternoon with games, crafts, inflatables, a critter show, a pumpkin patch, and a costume contest for kids 10 and younger, with music and food available for purchase. The City of Marco Island events calendar lists the details. Mackle Park is near the center of the island, and our Marco Island area guide covers the neighborhoods around it.
South Fort Myers: Ghosts and Ghouls at Gulf Coast Town Center
In the Fort Myers area, Gulf Coast Town Center in San Carlos Park hosts its free Ghosts and Ghouls Candy Crawl and Costume Contest on Saturday, October 24. The candy crawl runs 5 to 7 PM through the palm-lined courtyard, and the costume contest follows 7 to 8 PM, all at 9903 Gulf Coast Main Street. It is a family-friendly Halloween party open to all ages, with the stores handing out treats along the way. The Gulf Coast Town Center event page has the schedule. The center sits near the Lee County side of the region, covered in our Fort Myers area guide.
Every Night, October 22 through 31
Bonita Springs: Happy Haunts at Riverside Park
The City of Bonita Springs' free Happy Haunts Immersive Halloween Stroll lights up Riverside Park in downtown Bonita Springs every night from Thursday, October 22, through Saturday, October 31, from 7 to 10 PM. The park at 10450 Reynolds Street is dressed with decorations, video projections, photo spots, and spooky music and lighting, and it is free to walk through on both Saturday and Sunday of this weekend. The City of Bonita Springs special events page has the details. Downtown Bonita Springs is covered in our Bonita Springs area guide.
Sunday, October 25
Naples: final day of the Stone Crab Festival
Sunday is the last day of the Naples Stone Crab Festival at Tin City, running 10 AM to 5 PM with the same free admission, live music, vendors, and food stands. It is an easy way to spend a relaxed afternoon by the water, and if you are exploring with a move in mind it is also a good day to drive through Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero, Fort Myers, or the communities on Marco Island to get a feel for day-to-day life; our relocation guide walks through what to expect.
A note on the rest of the weekend
These five picks are the free highlights. The full weekend picture, including paid events like Boo at the Zoo at the Naples Zoo and the Naples International Film Festival, is in the weekend guide for October 23-25. One area is quiet this week: Estero's free Spooktacular at Estero Park already ran on October 17, and no other free Estero event was confirmed for this weekend, so it is not on the list. Past editions of both the weekend guide and this free list live in the Weekend Guide archive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these events really free?
Yes. Each of the five picks is free to attend. The Stone Crab Festival has free admission, Happy Haunts at Riverside Park is free every night, the Marco Island Spooktacular and the Ghosts and Ghouls Candy Crawl charge no admission, and the Halloween Train Crafts are free. Food, drinks, crafts to take home, and the optional train ride are extra if you choose to buy.
What is the best free event for families this weekend?
The Marco Island Halloween Spooktacular on Saturday, 4 to 6 PM, is built for kids with games, crafts, a critter show, and a costume contest for ages 10 and younger. The Ghosts and Ghouls Candy Crawl at Gulf Coast Town Center, 5 to 8 PM, and the Halloween Train Crafts at the Naples Depot Museum, 10 AM to 2 PM, are both family favorites too.
Are these events open to everyone?
Yes. These are public events hosted by city and county parks departments, community venues, and open-air shopping centers, and they are open to all residents and visitors of any background, age, or walk of life. Each official page includes accessibility and parking notes, and it is worth checking those before you head out.
Is there anything free in Estero this weekend?
Not this week. Estero's free Spooktacular at Estero Park already took place on October 17, and no other free Estero event was confirmed for October 24-25, so Estero is not on this list. The weekend guide for October 23-25 has the full regional picture.
Where can I find the full weekend guide?
The complete weekend guide for October 23-25, including paid events like Boo at the Zoo and the Naples International Film Festival, is here, and past editions are in the Weekend Guide archive.
A note from the author: I'm Catalina Quintero, a bilingual REALTOR with The Miranda Group at Premiere Plus Realty, Co., serving Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero, Fort Myers, and Marco Island. Every week I put this guide together from dated, published event listings, so things can shift and it always pays to confirm the official pages before you head out. If you're exploring Southwest Florida with a move in mind, email or text me any time.
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Contact Catalina Quintero at (239) 206-6909 or visit catalinaquintero.com/contact/ to schedule a consultation.