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File photo – Families arrive at Trunk or Treat in Palatka in 2022.
Below is an updated list of fall activities taking place from today until next weekend:
Today
INTERLACHEN
HAUNTED NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM presented by the Interlachen Historical Society and St. Augustine’s Double Trouble Theater group. Highlights include haunted and spooky legends of North Florida presented by Dianne Jacoby, Amber Atteberry, Susan Deming, Vicki Dennis and Mark Jacoby. Portraying locals like Henry Flagler’s wife, Mad Ida Alice Flagler, Amber the ghost bride, Missy Dean as a notorious VooDoo queen with her favorite hag, the presence of General Jorge Biassou from Haiti, a famous ghostly nun who visits innocent nurses and others. The event starts at 6 p.m. Saturday at Interlachen Hall and Museum, 215 Atlantic Ave. The cost is $15 online or $20 at the door. Costumes are encouraged. For details, call Pat High at 386-916-0134 or visit facebook.com/InterlachenHistoricalSociety. Tickets can be purchased online at historical-society-of-interlachen.square.site.
FLORAHOME
LIVING HOPE'S HARVEST HOEDOWN fall festival will be 5-9 p.m. Saturday at 1109 State Road 100 in Florahome. The event is free for everyone and will include a two-story rock wall, Dino spin, kiddie train, blacklight maze, obstacle course, joust, carnival games, live entertainment, candy, prizes and more.
CRESCENT CITY
CRESCENT CITY SECOND ANNUAL FALL FESTIVAL, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at 301 Central Ave. Highlights include local arts, crafts, woodwork, knife sharpening, family photo ops, food trucks, reptile encounters where you can your photo taken with a baby alligator, live music and karaoke with Steven Middlebrook, a mini pumpkin patch and more. Admission is free. Presented by the Crescent City Downtown Partnership and Florida Main Street. For details, call Christina at 386-867-7391.
SAN MATEO
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF SAN MATEO FALL FESTIVAL will be from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at the church, 160 E. State Road 100.
Highlights include carnival games, hayride, cake walk, a pinata, slide, candy and prizes along with hot dogs, popcorn, snow cones and boiled peanuts.This is an event for the whole community and everyone is invited for fun and fellowship.
FRANCIS
FRANCIS BAPTIST CHURCH’S ANNUAL FALL FEST is 4-7 p.m. Saturday at 155 County Road 309C. Admission is free. Highlights include games, a hayride, trunk or treat, hot dogs, candy and a chili cook-off. This year, there will even be a pumpkin patch so everyone can go home and carve a pumpkin with the family. Families of all ages are welcome and costumes are welcome.
PALATKA
FALL FESTIVAL FUN FOR THE FAMILY will be 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday at the Palatka Riverfront, 100 Memorial Parkway in Palatka. Highlights include food trucks, a princess and superhero meet and greet. The festival is sponsored by the Police Athletic League, the Lee Conlee House, domestic violence center, Take Stock in Children, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and the Palatka Police Department. The public is invited.
The event is in observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Domestic Violence Awareness Month. There will be a Pink Walk to kick off the festival starting at 8:30 a.m. In its 11th year, the walk’s theme is “Together We fight! #PalatkaStrong.” T-shirts are available for $20 each while they last. A portion of all proceeds will be donated to the Putnam First Cancer Foundation. For details, call Vonshell Offord at 386-916-6505 or email shell.survivor2012@gmail.com.
HALLOWEEN COSTUME GIVEAWAY, 100 Memorial Parkway near the riverfront clocktower in Palatka. Costumes are free and come in a variety of sizes for boys and girls while they last. The event coordinator is Johnathan Garcia and will be from 10 a.m.-noon Saturday.
HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR, 6-9 p.m. Saturday at the Ravine Gardens State Park, 1600 Twigg St. in Palatka. The Palatka Garden Club’s Spooky Cabin where candy will be handed out inside the park will also be open to guests.
The cost is $5 per person, cash only. Highlights include a haunted house, food trucks, trick or treat and games.
PAK’S KARATE’S HALLOWEEN TRUNK OR TREAT will be 6-9 p.m. Saturday at 161 Carter Road in Palatka. Highlights include candy, food trucks, bounce houses and more. The event is for the whole family and is free. For details, call or text 386-546-1456 or visit www.palatkaafterschoolprogram.com.
POMONA PARK
MONSTER MASH HALLOWEEN DANCE, 7-10 p.m. Saturday at the Pomona Park Community Center, 200 E. Main St. Live music with Vince Tranchina and Friends. The cost is $2 at the door with ages 4 and younger admitted free. Highlights include a costume contest and food concession. Sponsored by the Pomona Park Beautification Committee.
MELROSE
MELROSE’S THIRD ANNUAL WITCHES PADDLE FOR A PURPOSE, 4-6 p.m. Saturday. Paddlers are invited to bring kayaks and floats and paddle around Melrose Bay. The event is an annual fundraiser for local businesses and organizations. To register is advance, the cost is $20 or $25 the day of the event at the boat ramp. The after party will be at Melrose Center from 6-10 p.m. with dinner, live music, costume contests, a witches dance, drawings and more. T-shirts will be available at the Melrose Center, 307 State Road 26 in Melrose or by calling 352-475-1326.
SATSUMA
THE STAND’S THIRD ANNUAL TRUNK OR TREAT will be 5-7 p.m. Saturday at 1036 S. U.S. 17 in Satsuma. Area businesses are invited to decorate their vehicle trunks and pass out candy to kids. Everyone is invited. Free candy will be given out while supplies last.
SUNDAY
PALATKA
HILLCREST BAPTIST CHURCH FALL FESTIVAL, 6-7:30 p.m. Sunday at the church, 2009 President St. in Palatka. Highlights include children’s games and more. Admission is free. The public is invited.
ST. JAMES INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH FALL FESTIVAL, 4-7 p.m. Sunday at 400 Reid St. in Palatka. This is a free, family event and costumes are encouraged. Other highlights include a bounce house, games, face painting, costumes, trick or treat and more. The public is invited.
TABLE AND TREAT at Coventry Oaks, 10 Springside Shortcut Road in Palatka, will be 4-6 p.m. Sunday. The event is free and open to the public and will include trick or treating for kids. The community is also invited to participate in the chili cook off, which will be judged by Cash for Construction donations placed in cans beside the chili they like best. Proceeds will benefit Trinity Baptist Church in Palatka’s building fund. The winner will receive the coveted traveling Chili Dipper award trophy.
TUESDAY
PUTNAM COUNTY
TRICK OR TREAT FOR PUTNAM COUNTY will be 6-8 p.m. Tuesday.
PALATKA
BOO ON THE AVENUE TRICK OR TREAT will be 3-5 p.m. Tuesday
in downtown Palatka. The event is sponsored by Develop Palatka Inc. and Downtown Palatka Experiences with local shops handing out candy to kids in costumes ages up to sixth grade. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH TRUNK OR TREAT, 3005 S. Palm Ave. in Palatka. Hours are 6-8 p.m. Tuesday. Costumes are welcome. Guests are also invited to vote for their favorite decorated trunk to be the Trophy Trunk winner. Admission is free and open to the public.
CRESCENT CITY
PUTNAM COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE TRUNK OR TREAT will be 6-8 p.m. Tuesday in front of the old Miller Middle School in downtown Crescent City.
CRESCENT CITY BOO CREW, 3-5 p.m. Tuesday. Wear a costume and kick off Halloween with the Boo Crew. Join the Mayor and residents for festive fun as they ride around town in decorated golf carts and bicycles to get in the spirit before trunk-or-treat starting on the Eastside of Central Avenue in downtown.
Trunk-or-treat will be from 6-8 p.m. at the Sheriff’s Office at the old Miller Middle School, downtown Crescent City. Gather children and join the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office for Halloween fun. Admission is free. For details, call 386-326-7246.
HOLLISTER
DUNHAM WOODS BAPTIST CHURCH, 151 Hoover Road in Hollister will hold its Trunk or Treat 6-8 p.m. Tuesday.
POMONA PARK
POMONA PARK’S HAVING A CANDY DROP, 4:30-6 p.m. Tuesday at Mayor’s Park, 107 Worcester Road in Pomona Park. The event times are 5 p.m. for ages 205, 5:15 p.m. for ages 6-9, 5:30 p.m. for ages 10-13 and 5:45 p.m. for ages 14 and older. Admission is free. The public is invited. Anyone who wants to be a truck or treat vehicle handing out candy, should stop by town hall at 1775 S. U.S.17 in Pomona Park. For details, call 386-649-4902.
INTERLACHEN
JOYFEST 2023, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday at Bethel Church, 119 N. County Road 315 in Interlachen. Games and hayrides will close at 8:15 p.m. Not pets or adult masks.
Highlights include free games, hayride, candy and giveaways, lots of fun, music and more. Family-friendly fun for the whole community. Turkey legs, hotdogs and drinks will be sold for a minimal charge. For details, call 386-684-6178 or visit www.bethelcares.com.
PALATKA
PALATKA POLICE DEPARTMENT’S 8TH ANNUAL TRUCK OR TREAT, 5-8 p.m. at the Palatka riverfront or until the candy runs out. The event will be fun for all ages and will offer lots of candy. Participants are invited to wear their best Halloween costume. This will be a safe trick-or-treating experience for children provided by local business owners and emergency personnel. The public is invited.
NOV. 3-4
PALATKA
ST. JAMES INDEPENDENT METHODIST’S 44TH ANNUAL BAZAAR, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Nov. 3 and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Nov. 4, 400 Reid St. in Palatka. Highlights include crafts, bakery table, baby table and a country store. St. James famous chicken dinner will be available 5-7 p.m. Nov. 3 for $10 a plate. Tickets are available by calling 386-328-1461. A soup and sandwich lunch will be available both days from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. All proceeds will benefit the missions outreach of the Methodist women. For details, call 386-328-1461. The public is invited.
NOV. 4
INTERLACHEN
INTERLACHEN FALL FESTIVAL, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 4 at the Caboose, 312 Atlantic Ave. Highlights include food, sack races, a car show, pie baking contest, hayride, pumpkin bowling, music, a bike race and rock climbing. Entertainment will be by the duo Branch and Dean. Branch is a Nashville country recording artist from Macclenny and a Florida native. He is co-owner of SSM Nashville Records. The duo are National Celebrity Ambassadors for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The public is invited.
CRESCENT CITY
DIAS DE LAS MUERTOS SECOND ANNUAL DAY OF THE DEAD FESTIVAL, 4-8 p.m. Nov. 4 at Eva Lyon Park, 100 S. Summit in Crescent City. Admission is free. The event will include authentic Mexican cuisine, vendors, live music, decorations, dancing, costumes and lots of fun. Altar and costume contests will take place with cash prizes. To register as a participant, vendor or general information call Christina at 386-867-7391. This event is presented by the Crescent City Downtown Partnership, a non-profit organization dedicated to revitalizing Downtown Crescent City, a Florida Main Street Community.
PALATKA
PALATKA ART LEAGUE’S 28TH ANNUAL GALA DAY FESTIVITIES, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 4 at the historic Tilghman House, 324 River St. in Palatka. Highlights include eight rooms filled with unique handcrafted items available for sale. Guests are invited to play Spin-It-To-Win-It with all $50 or more purchases on Gala Day and every Wednesday during the Holiday House. Mel’s Meat Wagon BBQ will be onsite during the gala with a choice of pulled pork or chicken leg quarters served with home-style potato salad and Cowboy baked beans. The cost is $13 a plate. Holiday House will be open Nov. 4 through Dec. 23, except Thanksgiving Day. Hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays.
EAST PALATKA
THE TEN-24 PITMASTER CLASSIC BBQ COMPETITION will be Nov. 3-4 at the Putnam County Fairgrounds, 118 Fairgrounds Road.
The Florida Barbecue Association-sanctioned event will benefit the Ten-24 Foundation, a nonprofit organization focusing on providing a support network for all Putnam County law enforcement agencies, their employees and families.
Area cooks are invited to take part in the barbecue competition, the Anything Butt Contest and the People’s Choice BBQ Contest featuring local first responders.
The Beer Garden will be open to ages 21 and older. Other highlights include food and craft vendors, Kids Zone, including Touch a Truck and live music from local artists.
For details, visit www.ten24pitmaster.com or contact Ashlie Jones at 386-329-0814 or email ten24pitmaster@gmail.com.