October in Boca Raton: Howl-O-Ween and Pumpkin Palooza Oct. 24, Halloween programs to Oct. 30, then Red, White & Boca Nov. 11 and the tree lighting Nov. 21.
Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. Events come from the City of Boca Raton calendar and the organizers’ own pages. This page is rebuilt at the start of each month and covers the six weeks ahead; confirm times with the organizer before you go.
October in Boca Raton is Halloween month at City Hall: the Recreation Services Department’s Boo-ca Boo Days fill the libraries, parks and nature centers with programs, and dogs get their own party, Howl-O-Ween, on Oct. 24. November opens with Veterans Day at Mizner Park and builds to the Holiday Tree Lighting and the Wine & Food Festival on the same night, Nov. 21.
Updated Oct. 19: past events dropped; the city’s Nov. 14 e-waste and shred day and the Nov. 26 Turkey Trot added.
Plan ahead
- City recreation programs and registration: Boo-ca Boo Days list; City Hall, 561-393-7700
- City offices close Wednesday, Nov. 11, and Thursday and Friday, Nov. 26-27
- This weekend: our things to do this weekend page; theater and galleries are on our arts and exhibitions page
Halloween: Boo-ca Boo Days
From the city’s Halloween season announcement. Prices are resident/nonresident. Events through Oct. 18 have passed.
| When | What | Where | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, Oct. 21, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Little Boos Storytime, 18 months to 4 years; preregistration closed Oct. 17 | Sugar Sand Park Community Center | $5/$6.25 |
| Wednesday, Oct. 21, 1 to 2:30 p.m. | The History Behind: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, adults | Spanish River Library | Free |
| Sunday, Oct. 25, noon to 2 p.m. | Monster Mash: face painting, deck games, pumpkin dive | The Swim Center | Free |
| Friday, Oct. 30, 4:30 or 6 p.m. | Creepy Crawlies at the Chickee Lab, ages 5-12 | Children’s Science Explorium | $10/$12.50 |
| Friday, Oct. 30, 6 p.m. | Spooky Tennis costumed round robin, ages 7-12 | Racquet Center | $30/$37.50 |
| Friday, Oct. 30, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. | Outdoor movie: “Hocus Pocus” (1993) | Spanish River Library patio | Free |
| Friday, Oct. 30, 7 to 8:30 p.m. | Night Explorers nocturnal hike, ages 7 and up | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center | $12/$15 |
Boca Center’s Pumpkin Palooza is 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, with a pumpkin patch and kids’ decorating station, fall crafts, cookie decorating and a sunflower truck (Boca Center). The city sets no trick-or-treat hours; Halloween is Saturday, Oct. 31. More on our Halloween events and trick-or-treat hours pages.
Howl-O-Ween, Saturday, Oct. 24
A free morning for dogs and their people, 9 a.m. to noon at Countess de Hoernle Park, according to the city’s Howl-O-Ween page. No RSVP. The schedule: the Muttville Comix Dog Show at 9:30 a.m., the Howl-O-Weener dog race at 10:30 a.m. and the costume contest at 11:30 a.m. Dogs must stay on a leash.
Civic and community
- Community Accessibility Program opening, Friday, Oct. 23, 6 to 8 p.m., Patch Reef Park, 2000 Yamato Road. Free. The city’s new space for inclusive and adaptive recreation for children and families of all abilities opens with a ribbon cutting and activity demonstrations (city calendar).
- Night Market, Thursday, Nov. 5, 6 to 9 p.m., Sanborn Square, 72 N. Federal Highway. Food vendors, local makers, music and art; free rides on BocaConnect through the Circuit app (city calendar).
- e-Waste and Shred Event, Saturday, Nov. 14, 9 a.m. to noon, 6500 Building, 6500 Congress Ave. Free, drive-thru, for City of Boca Raton residents. TVs, computers, phones, small appliances, batteries and ink cartridges are taken, but not CRT screens, large appliances or household hazardous waste. Shredding is limited to five banker’s boxes per household (city calendar).
November ahead
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, Nov. 7, from 5 p.m. (VIP from 4 p.m.) | Tequila Fest, 21 and up, passes from $99, no tickets sold at the gate (event site) | Mizner Park Amphitheater |
| Wednesday, Nov. 11, 4 to 7 p.m. | Red, White & Boca: the city’s free Veterans Day celebration and car show | Mizner Park Amphitheater |
| Friday, Nov. 20, 5:30 to 8 p.m. | Holiday Kickoff with Santa’s arrival and a tree lighting (Boca Center) | Boca Center |
| Saturday, Nov. 21, 6 to 10 p.m. | Holiday Tree Lighting, free; tree lit at 7:30 p.m. | Mizner Park Amphitheater |
| Saturday, Nov. 21, 7 to 10 p.m. | Boca Raton Wine & Food Festival, 21 and up, from $65 | Sanborn Square Park |
| Thursday, Nov. 26, 7:30 a.m. | Levis JCC Turkey Trot 5K, with a youth 1-mile run at 8:30 a.m.; $40 for adults through Nov. 15 (race page); more on our Thanksgiving page | South County Regional Park |
Nature and science, every week
The city’s calendar lists regular programs:
- Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, 1801 N. Ocean Blvd.: free Nature Connections talks at 11:30 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays; Island Treks boardwalk walks Tuesdays at 10 a.m.; After Hours Tours at 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20 ($10/$13). The center is closed Thanksgiving Day.
- Children’s Science Explorium, Sugar Sand Park, 300 S. Military Trail: Friday Night at the Museum on Nov. 13, 6 to 9:30 p.m.; Eyes to the Skies, a free telescope night, 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19, and 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16, weather permitting; Great Escape Days for ages 6 to 12 on the school holidays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 11 and Nov. 24.
Markets
- Boca Green Market: Sundays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sept. 27 to May 2, at the 5th Ave Shops, 1954 NE Fifth Ave. Free admission. bocagreenmarket.com
- Boca Farmers Market: Sundays year-round, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Boca Raton Innovation Campus, 4950 Communication Ave., Parking Lot H. bocafarmersmarket.com
- Friday Artisan Market: Fridays, 5 to 10 p.m., Boca Center courtyard (Boca Center).
More in our farmers markets guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to do in Boca Raton in October 2026? Boo-ca Boo Days Halloween programs run through Oct. 30, with Howl-O-Ween for dogs on Oct. 24 and two Sunday markets.
When is Howl-O-Ween? Saturday, Oct. 24, 9 a.m. to noon at Countess de Hoernle Park. Free, no RSVP.
When is the next Night Market? Thursday, Nov. 5, 6 to 9 p.m. in Sanborn Square, then Thursday, Dec. 10.
What is on in November? Tequila Fest on Nov. 7, Red, White & Boca on Nov. 11, the e-waste and shred day on Nov. 14, the tree lighting and Wine & Food Festival on Nov. 21 and the Turkey Trot on Nov. 26.
Are there farmers markets on Sundays? Yes: the Boca Green Market at the 5th Ave Shops and the Boca Farmers Market at the Boca Raton Innovation Campus, both 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Related: things to do this weekend, arts and exhibitions this month, fall festivals and pumpkin patches, Thanksgiving and parks and trails.
Coming up: the Boca Raton Bowl (Friday, Dec. 18) and Festival of the Arts BOCA (March 5-14, 2027; tickets on sale Nov. 1).
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