It’s Feeling Like Fall in Fort Myers

Even when the weather forecast says “warm and sunny,” Fort Myers is bursting with fall fever. By October, the signs are everywhere: Earlier sunsets are even more vibrant thanks to lower humidity, breweries unveil their seasonal beer releases just in time for Oktoberfest, and local farms roll out their kid-friendly hayrides and pumpkin patches. And let’s not forget all the Halloween events, activities and attractions that complete your season of fall family fun.

Experience autumn in all of its beauty at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates Fall Festival. Spend the day on the scenic grounds, get a rare chance to climb the historic Banyan Tree and pick your favorite pumpkin.

The weekend Fall Fest is always a thrill at Farmer Mike’s U Pick’s Bonita Springs location. Find your way around the kid-friendly maze with a different theme every year, and stroll the fields to pick your own sunflowers and pumpkins. On select weekend dates throughout October, a haunted maze opens up with spooky twists and creepy jump scares.

Enter the whimsical world of Scarecrows in the Park at Lakes Park. Through October, a trail of decorated scarecrows winds through the Children’s Garden — some scary, some silly, others downright strange. VIP judges and members of the public get to vote on their favorites.  

Gator Mike’s Family Fun Park in Cape Coral amps up its scary factor. Take a terrifying hike in the woods, encounter scary creatures roaming all across the park and step into the haunted house if you dare.

Do you dare to take a ghost tour through Southwest Florida’s most haunted places? Every weekend starting in October, Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium will terrify even the bravest of the bunch with its Haunted Walk, featuring creepy characters along the way. On a 90-minute True Tours haunted history walk, follow your guide as you duck into alleys and step into local landmarks where there have been sightings of ghostly figures. Or talk about a local haunt! The Fort Myers Beach Haunted Pub Crawl is an annual tradition that brings together barhopping, eerie storytelling and great conversation in one fun adventure.

The countdown is on for Cape Coral Oktoberfest. For 40 years, the German-American Social Club has hosted two weekends of fun festivities with live music, authentic treats and plenty of flowing beer.

Spice up the month with a toast! Local microbreweries are all about seasonal flavors. Look for a full fall lineup in time for Oktoberfest from Fort Myers Brewing Company, with a spectrum of choices from cranberry infused to rich chocolate profiles. Crazy Dingo Brewing Co.’s Farmtoberfest takes place every Saturday in October featuring German cuisine along with a variety of farm-fresh, wet-hopped beer. Oktoberfest at Millennial Brewing Company is a weekend blowout with German pilsners, pumpkin-flavored lagers and ciders, plus the brewery’s full menu of IPAs and more.

Look ahead to next month’s events, including the return of the American Sand Sculpting Championship on Fort Myers Beach in November. Want more ideas? Check out events that are worth traveling to Fort Myers for, no matter what time of year.