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Halloween Spirit to Spread over North Pinellas

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By Mark  Schantz | The Suncoast News

Published: October 20, 2007

DUNEDIN, Fla. - DUNEDIN, Fla. - Later this month, the Halloween spirit will ooze around North Pinellas, from Dunedin to Tarpon Springs and from Palm Harbor to Oldsmar and into Safety Harbor .

Dunedin has kicked off Halloween early, bedecking downtown Main Street light posts with spooky characters.

This year, the Dunedin Historical Society and Museum is adding an intellectual flair to the holiday of horror. The museum on Main Street is conjuring up the sights and sounds of a vintage Halloween throughout the month.

At sunset on Friday, Oct. 26, the voice of Bela Lugosi should be heard echoing through the mysterious caverns of downtown.

The city will show Lugosi in his most famous role, in the 1931 film classic "Dracula," as part of its outdoor films in Pioneer Park series.

The park is on Main Street at Douglas Avenue.

On Saturday, Oct. 27, 5:30 - 10 p.m., Dunedin brings all the most popular Halloween characters to Highlander Park for its popular Halloween Happening.

The event features a spooky hayride and haunted house, carnival games, pumpkin carving, Boo Zoo, Halloween crafts and costume contest for 16 different age groups, from children to teenagers.

Employees of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Florida Park Service at Honeymoon Island State Park get into the spirit on Honeymoon Island with its Halloween in the Park-Rest in Pieces X on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 26 and 27, 6 - 10 p.m. both days.

This event in the state park at the western end of Dunedin Causeway will feature a trail through the park with real wild animals, scary owls, actual spider webs and man-made spooky creatures.

A less-frightening version of the trail will be available for younger children and the faint of heart.

Spooky storytelling will be provided by librarians from the Dunedin and Palm Harbor Public Libraries.

Admission is a donation of $10 per car and includes 10 game tickets. Attendees are advised to bring flashlights because there are few lights on Honeymoon Island and many creatures of which to beware.

Old Palm Harbor Main Street historical district will be the scene of a more elegant Halloween cerebration for adults, Friday, Oct. 26, 7 -11 p.m., with its costumed-themed Hocus Pocus Ball at Harbor Hall, 1190 Georgia Ave.

Music, food, a cash bar and entertainment will be provided. Prizes will be awarded for best costume.

Space is limited, so anyone wanting tickets to attend the ball – $25 a person or $20 each for groups of three or more – should call Harbor Hall at 727-787-4700.

For younger revelers, the Palm Harbor Library Youth Advisory Board provides Scary Circus, Saturday, Oct. 27, 6:30 p.m., at the Palm Harbor Activity Center on 16th Street, off Nebraska Avenue.

Adults must have a youngster age 8 to 18 with them to be admitted This event is not for young children who frighten easily.

A haunted hayride and haunted trail will also be available.

The Tarpon Springs Recreation Department will continue its tradition of transforming the Tarpon Springs Community Center, on Walton Avenue, into a haunted house Friday and Saturday, Oct. 25 and 26, 7 - 9 p.m. each day.

Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children. The haunted house is not suitable for children younger than 8 or skittish adults. Admission is $3 a person

At the top of Tampa Bay, Oldsmar plans its Halloween Carnival, costume contest and haunted trail in R.E. Olds Park, Friday, Oct. 26, 6 - 9 p.m.

Safety Harbor kicks off the events tonight, Saturday, Oct. 20, with its annual Harborween. This event promises a trick- or-treat town, inflatables, haunted hike, movie in the park, and black-light carnival at Safety Harbor City Park, 940 Seventh St. S.

On the actual day of Halloween, Oct. 31, many merchants along Safety Harbor's Main Street welcome little costumed revelers for trick or treat, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.

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