’Tis the season for pumpkins on doorsteps and candy corn in grocery aisles! As the spookiest month approaches, New Smyrna Beach has packed its October calendar full of fun events that the whole family will love. Don’t be fooled- even though NSB celebrates fall festivities, the skies are still sunny and the ocean is still warm… it is Florida after all! Enjoy the best of both worlds, and pack your swimsuit and Halloween costume when you book your beach vacation this October.
Join the Festivities!
Whether you’re planning a beach stay with your best friends, family, or fur babies, the New Smyrna Beach area has a fall event that appeals to everyone. Dry off from the ocean and join the streets filled with pirates, zombies, and ballerinas alike on Flagler Ave and Canal Street. As Florida Halloweens are notoriously warm, you can comfortably enjoy the outdoor live music and witches brew in flip flops. When the day is over raid the kids’ candy baskets from the comfort of your oceanfront balcony. Need some help planning a spook-tacular New Smyrna Beach getaway for the family and Fido this October? Take a peek below at the NSB events running throughout this festive month.
Pooch-Friendly
Your dog deserves some vacation fun too! Book a pet-friendly vacation rental and bring Fido along so he can enjoy sandy paws, a salty breeze through his fur, and some canine Halloween festivities. On October 5th, deck your pup out in a festive costume for Canal Street’s Blocktoberfest! For ten dollars you can register your fur baby to star in the 10am pooch parade and let them charm the crowd with their adorable face and bumblebee ensemble. Stick around after the parade to hear the costume winners announced; Fido has a good chance of winning a prize! Afterwards, sip craft beers at the Beer Garden and taste delish food from the various street vendors as your pup snacks on the kibble that’s provided for those in the parade. Between walks on the beach and fun doggy events, your furry friend won’t be able to stop wagging its tail all day long.
Kid-Friendly
There’s nothing like the beach AND a festival full of candy to get your child jumping in excitement for family vacation. Both New Smyrna Beach and nearby Port Orange are hosting family friendly Halloween events on October 31. Starting at 4pm, New Smyrna’s Canal Street will be filled with spooky floats, cars, and parade-goers as the town pulls out all the stops to celebrate the scariest day of the year. Encourage your kids to get creative with their Halloween ensembles as there will be a costume contest with prizes awarded to those in 1st-4th in each age category. When the festivities come to a close on Canal Street, you need only drive a short distance to catch Port Orange’s 5th Annual Halloween Fest. From trunk-or-treat to a haunted house to even a petting zoo, your kids will be dizzy with delight from the fun activities and the candy-induced sugar high. When they finally crash at the end of the night, carry them to bed in your cozy New Smyrna vacation rental home– make sure to swipe a little candy from the buckets before you head to bed yourself!
Adult Favorites
If your vacation plans don’t include either dogs or kids, the New Smyrna Beach area offers autumn events that specifically appeal to the older crowd. In the nearby town of Port Orange, art-lovers and shoppers alike will flock to the Fall Vendor and Craft Street Fair to view the display of handmade treasures and unique eye candy. Starting at 10am on October 12, local businesses, vendors, crafters, artists, food trucks, and more will be lining the streets creating the charming local feel that everyone seeks especially in the fall. If you’re going to binge on Snickers and Nerds, you might as well plan to get a calorie-burning run in before you do! Starting at 8am at Clancy’s Cantina on Flagler, join the other exercise junkies for the Great Candy Race on October 12. Depending on your comfortability and aerobic level, you can choose between the Quarter Marathon or 5k run.
With bathing suits by day and costumes by night, there’s no better place than the New Smyrna Beach area to spend your fall-cation! Book your beach vacation rental today and get ready for some spooky fun in the sun.