Dare to explore a haunted lagoon in Key Largo or a spooky forest in Islamorada? The Upper Keys in October has some horrifyingly awesome events in store. Ahead of the year’s most frighteningly fun weekends, Keys Weekly offers this roundup of options in town, most of which are suitable for costume aficionados young and old.
‘THE ADDAMS FAMILY’
The Key Players’ production “The Addams Family” will take the stage Thursday, Oct. 24 to Sunday, Oct. 27 and Nov. 1-3 at Coral Shores High School. Set for 7 p.m. “The Addams Family” musical centers on a ghoulish American family with an affinity for all things gruesome and morbid. The plot revolves around Wednesday Addams, who falls in love with a normal young man named Lucas from a conventional family. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for kids. Tickets can also be purchased in advance for $15 at Key Largo Chocolates at MM 105, Shear Paradise at Cedar Towers Plaza and PostNet Store at MM 88. More information is at TheKeyPlayers.org.
OWL-O-WEEN
The Florida Keys Wild Bird Center presents its sixth annual Owl-O-Ween on Friday, Oct., 25 . Held at the Laura Quinn Wild Bird Sanctuary at 93600 Overseas Highway in Tavernier, the evening welcomes families and kids for some trick-or-treating, festival games, arts and crafts, food, drinks and more. The event runs from 4 to 8 p.m. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated.
MARINELAB’S HAUNTED LAGOON
Snorkelers beware: Monsters may be lurking in the depths at the Key Largo Undersea Park. MarineLab’s annual Haunted Lagoon returns on Saturday, Oct. 26 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the undersea park, located at 51 Shoreland Dr. (at the end of Transylvania Avenue). With free admission, attendees can enjoy spooky science, ghoulish games and terrifying treats for the whole family. In the water, MarineLab’s staff will guide snorkelers through the lagoon’s invaders in zombie mermaids and pirates. Those who don’t wish to snorkel can experience the Haunted Tunnel and land activities for kids of all ages. More information is at MarineLab’s Haunted Lagoon on Facebook.
ISLAMORADA’S TRUNK OR TREAT
Vehicle trunks decorated in various themes will invade Islamorada’s Founders Park for the sixth annual Trunk or Treat, set for Saturday, Oct. 26 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. In a fun, safe environment for the family, kids in costumes can enjoy the evening collecting candy from volunteers who decorated their vehicles for the spooktacular event. A costume contest will dole out prizes for best superhero, scariest costume, best group, best fairy tale and most creative. In addition to the treats, a haunted forest hay ride will take riders through all things spooky from 6 to 9 p.m. Kids can also enjoy an inflatable course and bounce house, shaved ice, donuts, pizza and other treats, a DJ dance party, face painting and pumpkin decorating.
I.CARE UNDERWATER CRITTER COSTUME PARTY
I.CARE’s fourth annual Underwater Critter Costume Party returns to Florida Keys Brewing Co. on Saturday, Oct. 26 at 6 p.m. The evening will bring games, good brews and raffle prizes. The winner of the costume contest will win a seven-day stay at Ocean Souldiers Eco Camp on an island in Fiji. All proceeds support I.CARE’s mission to restore the reefs in the Florida Keys.
