Orlando is a great place to visit, no matter what time of year! That said, many regular visitors believe that the autumn months are one of the best times to visit the region. Not only do you avoid the significant holiday crowds, but the weather remains warm, and there’s less chance of sudden rain compared to the summer.

If you’re planning to visit Orlando this autumn, you’ll be pleased to hear there is a wide range of things to do here during your stay! From big frights to culinary delights, take a look at the biggest events taking place over the next few months.

Halloween Fun at Orlando’s Theme Parks

For many in the UK, Halloween is simply a one-day event in October. However, in Orlando, it is one of the highlights of autumn! Many of Orlando’s biggest attractions get into the spirit of this spooky holiday throughout October, offering thrills for all ages.

One of the most prominent Halloween events in Orlando takes place at Universal Studios. Halloween Horror Nights runs on select nights from early September until November and is billed as “the world’s premier Halloween event”! With ten haunted houses to discover, along with scare zones and live entertainment, this is a great event for older guests.

The nature of Universal Orlando’s Halloween event means that it’s not recommended for children under the age of 13. However, Walt Disney World offers its own celebrations that are perfect for the young ones! Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party runs on selected nights from August until November and is a fantastic themed evening. Characters in Halloween attire, parades and lights decorate the park, while kids can also enjoy trick-or-treating and experiencing their favourite rides in the dark!

Another popular Halloween event is the Howl-O-Scream celebrations in Busch Gardens, a theme park located in nearby Tampa. This adult-targeted celebration is marking its 20th year with darker and scarier frights than ever before. Unlike other Halloween celebrations, this Busch Gardens event is only for the bravest of souls!

Almost all of Orlando’s theme parks are having some form of Halloween event during October. SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular runs on weekends and involves plenty of colourful costumed animals and characters for young children to meet, while Brick or Treat at LEGOLAND Florida is a similar event, also taking place on weekends in October. New for 2019, Gatorland hosts their ‘Gators, Ghosts and Goblins’ event on select days at the end of October, complete with themed zones and a small food and beer festival.

New Rides at Orlando Theme Parks

Halloween isn’t the only exciting thing happening in Orlando’s theme parks this autumn. If you’re visiting for the first time this year, you’ll have plenty of new rides to discover when you arrive!

In June, Universal Orlando unveiled a new ride within their Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is an exciting new roller coaster that has you riding through forests with the Harry Potter character. Located in Hogsmeade, it has quickly become one of the most popular rides in Orlando, so make sure to use the park’s Virtual Line system to avoid disappointment!

Meanwhile, at Walt Disney World, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is the latest addition to Hollywood Studios. Opened in August this year, it allows guests to dive into the famous film saga, with authentic experiences to discover! Aquatica water park also has a new thrill ride where guests slide up and down a giant curved wall in a two-person ring, and is already proving popular with guests!

Other Events at Orlando’s Theme Parks this Autumn

Throughout autumn, there is a range of other unique events happening at Orlando’s theme parks for you to enjoy. Epcot at Walt Disney World hosts its Food and Wine Festival from the end of August until 23rd November. During this time, the multicultural park becomes a real treat for the tastebuds with an exotic range of dishes to try. Cap off your day here at the Eat to the Beat series, featuring a variety of live performances.

If you’re a lover of food and drink, you might also want to head over to SeaWorld’s Craft Beer Festival, which runs from 7th September to 27th October. Complete with over 100 craft beers and dozens of unique meal pairings, it is a culinary delight, especially for those planning to visit the park already.

Depending on what time you visit, you may come across some Christmas-themed events during your stay! While you may not be prepared for the celebrations just yet, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Walt Disney World starts from 8th November! Similar to their Halloween celebrations, the park comes alive with themed characters, parades and events, including appearances by Santa Claus himself! Universal Studios’ Christmas celebrations also begin in November, starting from 16th.

Art and Culture Events in Orlando This Autumn

Away from the theme parks, there are plenty of other events to discover during autumn in the Orlando area. Whether it’s entertainment, culture or something totally unique, the region is full of unforgettable experiences.

Autumn is a popular time in America when it comes to films, and there are a handful of movie celebrations taking place this year. One of the biggest is the Orlando Film Festival, taking place in the middle of October at the Cobb Plaza Cinema Café. Perfect for film buffs, it’s a celebration of some of the biggest independent films out right now and includes Q&As and film parties. If you’re looking for something a little more low-key, then Leu Gardens regularly hosts outdoor cinema nights on their beautiful grounds.

One of the most significant art events this autumn is IMMERSE, taking place in Downtown Orlando over Friday 18th and Saturday 19th October. An experience like no other, the area gets overrun by hundreds of immersive art exhibits and breathtaking performances. This event is ticketed, but if you’re looking for an unforgettable experience and are in Orlando during this time, we would definitely recommend visiting!

The Orlando Beer Festival takes place on Saturday 16th November and is just one of the many events highlighting independent crafters from the local area. There is excellent food and drink available here all day, although note that this particular festival is for ages 21 and over only. The Fall Fiesta in the Park takes place near Lake Eola from 2nd to 3rd November and highlights local artists – around 250,000 people make the trip to this free-entry event in the park!

Festival Calle Orange is an event taking place on 27th October, dedicated to highlighting the artistic talents of the region’s Hispanic community. Also during October, Orlando’s Pride Festival takes place over the weekend of 11th, filling Downtown Orlando with colour.

Orlando will be as exciting and vibrant as ever this autumn, and we can’t wait to see you here! If you’re still unsure about the best time to visit or places to stay, why not get in contact with us? We offer a range of stunning holiday villas in the Orlando area, including our villas near Disney World that are perfect for your stay!