Looking for things to do with kids and teens in Southwest Florida this week? The week of October 24-30 is the last big stretch of Halloween season: Boo at the Zoo closes out its run at the Naples Zoo, Marco Island's Spooktacular brings games and a pumpkin patch to Mackle Park, the Everblades play at Hertz Arena on Saturday night, W.O.N.D.E.R. runs at Naples Botanical Garden, the libraries hold their regular storytimes, and Collier County wraps the week with Boo-Tacular at North Collier Regional Park on Friday. Here are seven picks for the week, each with the age range, date, time, cost, and the official page so you can confirm before you go.
Key Takeaways
- Boo at the Zoo runs its final weekend Saturday through Monday, October 24-26 at the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, with event activities from 9 AM to 2 PM and trick-or-treating for kids 12 and under included with admission.
- Marco Island's Halloween Spooktacular is free on Saturday, October 24 from 4 to 6 PM at Mackle Park: games, crafts, inflatables, a critter show, a pumpkin patch, and a costume contest.
- The Florida Everblades host the Atlanta Gladiators Saturday, October 24 at 7 PM at Hertz Arena in Estero, a good one for school-age kids and teens.
- Free storytimes this week: Toddler Storytime at the Naples Headquarters library Tuesday and Wednesday, and Family Storytime at the Bonita Springs Public Library Thursday.
- Boo-Tacular wraps the week Friday, October 30 at North Collier Regional Park: a haunted trail, trick-or-treat lane, bounce houses, and games for $5 per person, free for kids 3 and under.
The Week's Picks
Boo at the Zoo at the Naples Zoo
The zoo's family Halloween event returns for its final weekend of the season. Kids can trick-or-treat along the garden paths, meet costumed characters, and catch the regular keeper talks and animal presentations while they are there. Event activities run in the morning and early afternoon, so bring sunscreen and water. The zoo sits on Goodlette-Frank Road near the Gordon River, a few minutes from downtown; our Naples area guide covers the surrounding neighborhoods.
Ages: All ages; trick-or-treating geared to kids 12 and under
Dates: Saturday through Monday, October 24-26 (final weekend)
Time: 9 AM to 2 PM for event activities; the zoo is open until 4:30 PM
Cost: Included with admission: $26.95 adults 13-64, $17.95 ages 3-12, free 2 and under
Official page: napleszoo.org/boo
Halloween Spooktacular at Mackle Park on Marco Island
The City of Marco Island fills Frank E. Mackle Park with its annual family Halloween afternoon: games, crafts, inflatables, a critter show, a pumpkin patch, and a costume contest, with music and treats along the way. It is free and open to everyone, residents and visitors alike. Mackle Park sits on Andalusia Terrace near the center of the island; our Marco Island area guide covers the neighborhoods around it.
Ages: All ages; costume contest for kids 10 and under
Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 4 to 6 PM
Cost: Free; food available for purchase
Official page: cityofmarcoisland.com/events/
Ghosts and Ghouls Candy Crawl at Gulf Coast Town Center
Gulf Coast Town Center in San Carlos Park hosts its free family Halloween party on Saturday evening. Kids trick-or-treat at the shops and restaurants along the palm-lined courtyard during the candy crawl, then the costume contest takes the stage. It is an easy evening plan in the Fort Myers area, and the open-air center is stroller friendly. Our Fort Myers area guide covers the communities around it.
Ages: All ages
Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 5 to 8 PM (candy crawl 5 to 7 PM, costume contest 7 to 8 PM)
Cost: Free
Official page: gulfcoasttowncenter.com
Florida Everblades vs. Atlanta Gladiators at Hertz Arena
The Everblades host the Atlanta Gladiators on Saturday night on Sweets in the Suites night, with a themed giveaway tied to the promotion. Hockey is a fun first live-sport experience for school-age kids: fast, loud, and family friendly, with the action close to the ice. Hertz Arena sits just off Corkscrew Road in Estero near Miromar Outlets; our Estero area guide covers the surrounding communities.
Ages: All ages; a good fit for school-age kids and teens
Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 7 PM puck drop
Cost: Tickets from $30 to $70 face via Ticketmaster; resale listings start lower
Official page: floridaeverblades.com
W.O.N.D.E.R. at Naples Botanical Garden
W.O.N.D.E.R. is the garden's drop-in family program where kids walk, observe, draw, and explore together through educator-led activities in the Wonder Circle on the Hoffmann Lawn. It runs four days this week and pairs well with a morning stroll through the rest of the garden, which is dressing up for the season. Admission covers the program, and activity booklets are available in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole at the visitor center. Our Naples area guide introduces the neighborhoods around it.
Ages: All ages; families with children
Dates: Saturday and Sunday, October 24-25; Monday, October 26; Friday, October 30
Time: 10 AM to noon
Cost: Included with garden admission: $27 adults, $12 ages 4-17, free ages 3 and under
Official page: naplesgarden.org/series/w-o-n-d-e-r/
Library storytimes in Naples and Bonita Springs
The libraries keep their regular children's storytimes going through the holiday week. The Collier County system runs Toddler Storytime twice weekly at the Headquarters Regional branch on Orange Blossom Drive in Naples, with songs, stories, and fingerplays for the youngest readers. Further north, the Bonita Springs Public Library on Reynolds Street holds Family Storytime every Thursday. Both are free and open to everyone; storytime start times can shift, so the library calendars are the best place to confirm the week's schedule. Our Bonita Springs area guide and Naples area guide cover the neighborhoods around each branch.
Ages: Toddler Storytime: birth to 3½ with a caregiver; Family Storytime: birth to 5 with a caregiver
Dates: Tuesday and Wednesday, October 27-28 (Naples); Thursday, October 29 (Bonita Springs)
Time: 10 to 10:30 AM in Naples; 10:30 to 11:30 AM in Bonita Springs
Cost: Free
Official pages: library.collier.gov/Events-directory and leelibrary.librarymarket.com
Boo-Tacular at North Collier Regional Park
Collier County Parks and Recreation crowns the week with Boo-Tacular on Friday night: a haunted trail, a trick-or-treat lane, bounce houses, carnival games, food, and a DJ across the park in North Naples. It is $5 per person with kids 3 and under free, so it works as an affordable way to close out the month. North Collier Regional Park sits on Livingston Road just south of Immokalee Road; our Naples area guide covers the communities around it.
Ages: All ages; kids 3 and under free
Date: Friday, October 30
Time: The 2026 listing does not publish a time; the 2025 edition ran 6 to 9 PM, so confirm on the county page before you go
Cost: $5 per person; free for kids 3 and under
Official page: collierparks.com/Events-Directory
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Boo at the Zoo happening this week?
Yes. Boo at the Zoo runs its final weekend Saturday through Monday, October 24-26, with event activities from 9 AM to 2 PM at the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens. The zoo itself stays open until 4:30 PM.
Are the library storytimes free?
Yes. Both storytimes listed here are free and open to everyone. Check the library calendars for any registration notes or schedule changes before you go.
What is there to do with teens this week?
The Florida Everblades host the Atlanta Gladiators Saturday, October 24 at 7 PM at Hertz Arena, and Boo-Tacular closes out the week Friday night at North Collier Regional Park. Happy Haunts at Riverside Park in Bonita Springs runs every evening through October 31, and the Collier County library calendar also lists teen and tween programs through the month.
Do I need tickets ahead of time for these events?
Boo at the Zoo is included with regular zoo admission and tickets can be bought online or at the door. Everblades tickets sell out close to game nights, so buying in advance is the safer move. Boo-Tacular is pay at the park at $5 per person with kids 3 and under free, and W.O.N.D.E.R. is a drop-in program included with garden admission.
Two dates to save for right after this week: the Edison and Ford Winter Estates hosts its free Fall Festival on Halloween, Saturday, October 31 from 9 AM to 4 PM in Fort Myers, with a pumpkin patch, face painting, food trucks, and family activities, with per-activity fees for some stations. And the City of Naples holds its free 5th Avenue Halloween Spooktacular at Cambier Park the same afternoon, October 31 from 3 to 5 PM, with live music, games, and a costume contest. Both are on the official calendars.
For the free highlights of the same weekend, including the Stone Crab Festival at Tin City and Halloween Train Crafts at the Naples Depot Museum, see this week's free things guide, and for planning the October 30 to November 1 weekend, the weekend guide. Past editions of this kids and teens list live in the Family Activities 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. These are public events open to all residents and visitors, and everyone is welcome. 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.