Lawn chairs and blankets on Latham Plaza. Local businesses handing out candy at 5 p.m. Then Disney's The Haunted Mansion on the screen at the Seawalk Pavilion once the sun is down. That's Halloween in Jacksonville Beach this year, and it happens on Friday, October 30, a day before the date on the calendar.
October 31 is a Saturday in 2026, so the city put its family celebration on Friday night. That makes Friday the big evening of the week. Saturday is lighter, built around a morning market and an adult outing in the afternoon. More than half of the week's city events happen within sight of the ocean at one address.
One Address, Most of the Week
Latham Plaza and the Seawalk Pavilion at 11 1st Street N host four of the seven city events between Saturday, October 24, and Halloween. All seven are listed as free.
| Day | Event | Time | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat., Oct. 24 | Beaches Green Market | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Penman Park, 321 Penman Road |
| Sat., Oct. 24 | Jax Beach Arts Market | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Latham Plaza & Seawalk Pavilion |
| Tue., Oct. 27 | Jax Beach Classic Car Cruise | 4 to 7 p.m. | Seawalk Pavilion & Latham Plaza |
| Fri., Oct. 30 | Trunk-or-Treat | 5 to 7 p.m. | Latham Plaza & Seawalk Pavilion |
| Fri., Oct. 30 | Carver Center Trunk-or-Treat | 6 p.m. start | Carver Center, 777 5th Avenue S |
| Fri., Oct. 30 | Moonlight Movie: The Haunted Mansion (2003) | 7:15 to 8:45 p.m. | Latham Plaza & Seawalk Pavilion |
| Sat., Oct. 31 | Beaches Green Market + free yoga | Yoga 9:30 a.m., market 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Penman Park, 321 Penman Road |
The first plaza weekend is this Saturday, October 24. The Jax Beach Arts Market runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The city's listing describes it as a Saturday event focused only on art, which sets it apart from the food-and-produce mix a few blocks inland. The same morning, the Beaches Green Market sets up at Penman Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., so one Saturday can cover both.
On Tuesday the plaza fills with chrome. The Jax Beach Classic Car Cruise takes over the Seawalk from 4 to 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of every month and features vintage cars. Owners who want to show a car can email the organizer, Barry, at [email protected]. This month's fourth Tuesday is October 27, which puts the cruise three days before the plaza's biggest night of the fall.
Friday, October 30, Hour by Hour
The city describes the evening as one continuous event. Here's the wording from the Trunk-or-Treat listing:
"Start at 5:00 p.m. with Local Business Trunk or Treat, where local businesses hand out candy and treats, then stick around for Moonlight Movies featuring Disney's The Haunted Mansion beginning at 7:15 p.m. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets for a festive night of costumes, candy, and a free movie under the stars."
Laid out as a timeline, the night goes like this:
- 5 p.m. Local Business Trunk-or-Treat opens at Latham Plaza and the Seawalk Pavilion. Admission is free.
- 7 p.m. Trunk-or-treating wraps up. Use the 15-minute gap to claim a spot for chairs and blankets.
- 7:15 p.m. The Moonlight Movie, The Haunted Mansion from 2003, begins.
- 8:45 p.m. The movie lets out.
The city doesn't list an age range, a costume contest or a rain plan for either the trunk-or-treat or the movie. If the forecast looks iffy, call the listed contact at 904-247-6157.
The south-side option at Carver Center
Friday has a second trunk-or-treat on the south end of town. The Carver Center Trunk-or-Treat at 777 5th Avenue S is also free, and the city says the Center will host treats, food, games, bounce houses and more.
Watch the end time. The listing's time field says 6 to 8 p.m., but the description says 6 to 7:30 p.m. Plan around the earlier time, or call Latoya Thomas at 904-270-1614 to confirm.
The overlap makes a south-to-north evening possible. Start at Carver Center at 6, then head toward the Seawalk in time for the 7:15 movie. If the youngest trick-or-treaters are done by 7:30, Carver Center alone may be the whole night.
Saturday the 31st Is the Market Morning and the Adult Afternoon
With families covered on Friday, Halloween itself starts slowly. At Penman Park, the Beaches Green Market adds free yoga from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. ahead of its usual 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. hours. Bring a mat and water. The October 31 market listing mentions local produce, meats, eggs, flowers, coffee, plants, baked goods and other seasonal goods, so costume-party snacks can be picked up that morning.
Later in the day, the oceanfront turns to adults. Visit Jacksonville lists The Halloween Bar Crawl on October 31 starting at 4 p.m. at 111 Beach Boulevard. Costumes are encouraged and admission is listed at $19.79. The listing doesn't name the participating bars, so check the ticket page before you plan your route.
This is how the city's schedule shapes the weekend. With trunk-or-treating and the movie on Friday, a household with kids and a household without them can each get a full Halloween without competing for the same night.
Where to Eat Before the Candy or After the Credits
Friday's schedule leaves two clear windows for dinner, one before 5 p.m. and one after 8:45 p.m.
The newest option near the plaza is Alder & Oak, which the Jax Daily Record reported opened July 15 at 131 First Ave. N., at the corner of Second Street North. It took over the former Jekyll Brewing space and sits next to its sister restaurant, Oaxaca Club. The same report said a friends-and-family event the night before opening drew more than 700 people.
Alder & Oak and its rooftop bar, Zorbas, open at 4 p.m. on Fridays and stay open until 11 p.m. That works on both ends of the evening. An early table at 4 gets you to the trunk-or-treat line by 5, and a late table after 8:45 still leaves more than two hours before closing. On Saturday the restaurant opens at 11 a.m. and runs until 11 p.m., which covers a post-market lunch or a meal before the crawl.
At the foot of Beach Boulevard, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. moved into the former Joe's Crab Shack at 6 Beach Blvd. earlier this year. News4JAX reported Friday and Saturday hours of 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Parking for a Friday on the Plaza
The city's FAQ points visitors to several designated downtown parking areas, including city public lots, and asks drivers to use marked spaces. Questions go to [email protected]. With a trunk-or-treat and a movie back to back on the same plaza, the closer marked spaces may fill early. Arriving a little before 5, or walking or biking from home, takes that out of the equation. Rates and paid-parking hours are posted on the city's paid parking page.
What Comes Next on the Same Plaza
The Seawalk calendar keeps going after Halloween. The city lists Seawalk Sessions featuring Trent Fowler on Wednesday, November 4, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Latham Plaza & Seawalk Pavilion. The Beaches Green Market continues at Penman Park every Saturday in November, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on November 7, 14, 21 and 28. On November 25, Deck the Chairs returns at 75 1st St. N., with lights on nightly from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. through January 1, 2027. Visit Jacksonville lists it as free.
City calendar listings can change, so check the event links above on Friday afternoon before you pack the chairs.
Bella was born and raised in Jacksonville. If you're planning Friday night at the Seawalk with kids, or you have family visiting and want ideas for where to take them that weekend, reach out to Anabella Taazieh. She's happy to share her favorite spots around the Beaches, and when the conversation turns to homes, you can Schedule a Consultation.
