Hunting for Halloween events? Here are our best bets

READ: Luis Fonsi was going to perform at the new House of Horror music festival. Now it’s canceled.

Meet some creepy new friends at the parking lot of Miami International Mall, which is transformed into a horror fest with attractions including 1455 Asylum, Gates of Phobia, Hellzapoppin, the Freak Emporium and the Carnival with amusement rides and games. There’s also the Phantasma Music Festival with Luis Fonsi and DJs Afrojack, Dillon Francis and Flosstradamus and groups Cheat Codes and Crankdat, which has since been canceled.

Crystal Peattie, a dancer and Coconut Grove resident who graduated from New World School of the Arts, and several other local dancers perform around the Barnacle Historic State Park depicting fictional characters from Coconut Grove trying to escape their tragic final days.

On Halloween night DJ and producer Borgore mans the decks and hosts the Freak Show. Also performing on the weekend is DJ Chizzle.

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Party at the elegant Mediterranean-inspired iconic Gables hotel. There will be costume contests at which participants can win for spookiest, most creative and best couple. Indulge in a buffet dinner and open bar and enjoy live music. Must be over 21 to attend.

For the Season 2 premiere of Netflix’s “Stranger Things,” Purdy Lounge is crafting a specialty Stranger Things cocktail using coffee from Wynwood’s Brothers & Brawlers. There’s also a costume contest with prizes for Best “Stranger Things” costume and Best Overall Costume.

This year’s Little Lighthouse Foundation fundraiser is themed Nightmare on the Beach: Dark CarnEvil and includes top-shelf cocktails and food from various catering companies as well as live entertainment.

The LGBTQ SAVE Fundraiser is hosted by Royal Caribbean Cruises with music by Ralph Rosario and DJs Alex Ramos, Yazz Burrell and Bill James.  Tiffany T. Fantasia hosts the party with performances by Athena Dion, Tlo Ivy and others.

The Trunk or Treat event includes a couple of decorated trucks where kids will go to grab candy and then when the sun goes down they’ll watch the animated film “Paranorman.” Refreshments will be for sale.

The City of North Miami had to move its Halloween party to a new location, but it still includes a costume parade. Participants get a treat bag, and there are bounce houses, games, a dance contest with prizes, a hay maze and spooky storytellers.

Rockwell has four nights of freaky fun, with contortionists and kooky characters. Come in your Halloween regalia to each party, but the big costume contest is Monday night. On Nov. 1, Rockwell’s “Kiss Me I’m Latin” Wednesday night party will transform into a Dia De Los Muertos celebration to close out the Halloween festivities with a truly deadly fête.

Spooky family fun event with a kids costume parade, haunted house, scary movies, giveaways and trick or treating. Costume parade participants must register at information tent.

It’s five days of Halloween revelry with a 1970s theme at one of Miami Beach’s best known hot spots. New local faves Patrick & the Swayzees perform on Friday. Saturday Night Fever is Saturday’s theme with DJ Mister Grey playing the Bee Gees and Kool & The Gang. On Sunday DJ BrookeG spins followed by Motown Mondays with DJ YNot spinning a Halloween edition. On Halloween The Ordinary Boys perform and spooky surprises await.

This Mexican taqueria is always ready for Day of the Dead and before that, they’re hosting a Halloween Party with costume contest where winners receive a bottle of Golden Tequila for first place, Silver Tequila for second and a $100 gift card for third. A DJ spins throughout the night, specialty $12 “Dark Cocktails” are poured and a fun photo booth captures all the fun.

Party at Wynwood’s newest brewery and sample the newest seasonal beer, come dressed up for the costume contest, dance to live music by Miami’s own Locos por Juana and DJ Iron Lion. Food available at the Baja Bao food truck.

Join PAMM for a not-so-spooky day of family activities with a free performance of “Peter and the Wolf” by South Florida Symphony and Halloween-themed art-making activities. Come in costume for trick-or-treating and free museum admission (no masks).

Celebrate Halloween with a different theme every night including Monster Mash, Pumpkin Patch, Totally 80s and Howling Happy Hour. There will be giveaways, costume contests, candy for the kids and drink specials.

This year’s theme is “Mystery, Myth and Fantasy,” with Roxy Vargas, host of NBC6’s “In The Mix,” as emcee. For 31 years, Halloween revelers have been partying at one of Miami’s most beloved waterfront attractions. DJ A-Train mans the decks and local groups Patrick & The Swayzees, The State Of and Tamboka perform. Costume contest will crown winners for best male, female and group costume.

Get down with all the classiest vamps at Forte dei Marmi’s Dracula Mambo, featuring a vinyl set by DJ Le Spam, silent horror films, and free dinner for the best patrons wearing the best Dracula costumes.

This family-friendly event is tailored for kids 12 and under. Youngsters will trick or treat throughout the Zoo, enjoy performances, enter costume contests and watch as wild animals tear into their own Halloween treats.

Miami Seaquarium hosts a day time bash with ghoulish treats and ghostly fun. Expect a pumpkin patch, inflatables, Flipper’s Dance Party, rides and trick-or-treating.

The Greater Miami Youth Symphony and the Alhambra Orchestra come together for a free Halloween concert with music from The Phantom of the Opera, Pirates of the Caribbean plus eerie music by Verdi and Mussorgsky.

Downtown Miami’s main drag of East Flagler St. gets transformed into a Halloween-themed area with plenty of areas inspired by the Netflix hit “Stranger Things.” Kids can enjoy face painting, arts and crafts, bounce houses, magic shows and a costume contest at the Stranger Things Family Fun Zone. There’s also The Haunted Market and Pup-up Dog Park. As night falls, you can party in The Upside Down with specialty cocktails at the Hex Your Ex Bar where DJ Laz plays host, they’ll screen “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”and have a dance performance and costume contest.

​Xtreme Action Park’s regular Sunday night skate goes retro for a special Halloween party where skaters are encouraged to dress in their best ’70s and ’80s costumes. ​Skate to music by The Beach 102.7’s DJ Holiday who spins all night and enjoy $5 drink specials at the Rink Side Bar.

Four-legged companions takes over Pinecrest Gardens at the Paws-4-You event with tricks and treats, a costume contest, Doggie Fun Zone Agility Course, pumpkin patch and kids’ zone.

Hang out at Wynwood’s big block party with other costumed revelers while you dance to live music, nosh on food truck goodies from more than 20 trucks, shop at an Artisan Market, enter the costume contest and sip on specialty cocktails. RSVP early for a free cocktail.

No formal event here – it’s just a great place to people-watch because the outlandish costumes and Halloween atmosphere are not to be missed.

There are several activities going on including DJs set up at our different stages along the street as well as 10 outdoor pop-up bars and in-store trick or treating and specials at select stores.

Kids trick or treat along Miracle Mile making more than 50 stops to fill up their treat bags along with a storytime at Books & Books, kiddie costume contest at Actors’ Playhouse and Doggie Costume Contest at Coral Gables Museum.

Kids can run around on trick or treat street, filling their sacks with candy, play carnival games and walk through a spooky haunted house. There will be refreshments for sale.

Trick or treat in air-conditioned comfort at plenty of mall-wide stores that display the pumpkin sign in their window.

Halloween event at the park with costume contests, bounce houses, arts and crafts, music, haunted ghost tours and plenty of candy.

The Coral Gables Youth Center gets transformed into a spooky haunted house, and it’s scary enough that kids under five aren’t allowed.

Halloween gets a Japanese theme at this party held in Zuma in downtown Miami. Inspired by Japanese Kabuki Theatre, the party features geisha go-go dancers, Japanese robots performing to live music. Veuve Cliquot will freely flow during the party.

Sponsored by Made in Russia and Veuve Clicquot, this haunting celebration will feature stilt monsters, lots of bubbly and a costume contest.

Miami Beach hot spot Wall’s annual Halloween fete returns for the ninth year.

Enjoy a night of free entertainment, a live DJ, dancing, games, a costume contest at Barker Animation Art Gallery, a magic show and trick or treating for the entire family.

This Halloween, Jezebel Bar + Kitchen will celebrate its very first Halloween, with trick or treats, spooktacularly delicious cocktails including their “Bloody Rita” garnished with an eyeball. Dance to music by DJ Garcia into the wee hours. Tables will be available for bottle service.

Canines are the center of attention for this event with a dog costume contest, trick for treat contest, a photo booth, free doggie meals and treats and pumpkin painting for kids. They’ll also be accepting dog food, toys, beds and cages for the local shelter.