Fun Fall Travel Treats

October 2025

By Janet K. Keeler, Visit Florida

Fall is a special time in Florida. Halloween is a biggie, and in Florida, it’s much more than just one night of trick-or-treating. Professional and collegiate football games are also huge, but those who enjoy this season cannot live by haunted houses and touchdowns alone. The calendar is crowded with many other things to do in the Sunshine State.

Food & Wine Shine

The big daddy of them all might just be the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, which ends on November 22 after a 75-day run. Disney World’s EPCOT transforms into a showcase of food and wine with tastings, seminars, celebrity sightings, and a wide-ranging schedule of musical acts. But there are plenty of other events to tickle the fancy of a curious traveler.

City Walls as Canvas

St. Petersburg continues to grow its reputation as an arts city with the annual Shine Mural Festival, held every October and now in its 11th year. Walls through the city’s vibrant downtown and adjacent areas become blank canvases for local, national and international muralists, while visitors watch the works take shape. Walking and tram tours run to the various work sites, and the city’s lively night scene becomes even livelier with other events celebrating the festival.

Time to Veg Out

The Central Florida Veg Fest, set for October 25 in Orlando, touts itself as one of the biggest and best in the country, drawing hundreds of food and product vendors and presenters from around the world. Attend a seminar, take a yoga class, and sample creative and delicious vegetarian and vegan dishes. Also, bring your dog — there’s an animal haven where your four-legged companions can get a drink.

Hot Rod Heaven at the Beach

Get ready for a blast from the past as polished chrome and engine roars of yesteryear take over Panama City Beach for Emerald Coast Cruizin’, November 6 through November 8. The four-day car-lovers‘ extravaganza features 125 auto vendors, a swap meet, and the car corral. The big attractions, though, are the thousands of hot rods, custom cars, and vintage trucks to ogle, not to mention music, carnival food, and activities for the kids.

More Than Football

Fall in Gainesville is synonymous with Gator football, but that’s not the only game in town. The Downtown Festival & Art Show, set for November 15 through November 16, provides some diversion in its 44th year with about 240 artists showing their works along the streets of the historic city center. The Gators will be on the road the weekend of the festival, giving art lovers plenty of places to park, plus hotels to stay in. The artwork spans all mediums, from painting to jewelry to ceramics. There will be music and food, too.