What can you do for fun this week in Orlando without spending a lot of money? Here are our top picks for free and cheap things to do in Orlando this weekend, Oct. 17 – 20.
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You might also be interested in:
Free & cheap Halloween events in Orlando
Best pumpkin patches & mazes in Orlando
Places to trick or treat in Orlando
Diavolo performances at Immerse 2019 this weekend.
FREE & CHEAP THINGS TO DO IN ORLANDO
Note: Sometimes, things change after we post an event. It’s always a good idea to check directly with venues and event organizers to confirm before you go.
Sunset at the Zoo
Thursday, October 17, 5:30pm-7pm
Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens
$5 admission for adults 21+ to enjoy the zoo after hours, live music, and refreshments for purchase.
Neighborhood Music Jam
Thursday, October 17, 6pm-9pm
Winter Park Community Center
FREE outdoor concert.
Beer and Artisanal Cheese Pairing
Thursday, October 17 at 7pm
Orlando Brewing Co.
Tickets $20: 4 5oz beer samples paired with 4 artisanal cheese options.
Dia De Los Muertos & Monster Party
Thursday, October 17, 7pm-11pm
CityArts Orlando
$5 suggested donation. Day of the Dead and Halloween inspired art on display. Street party, food, drinks, spooky vendors and more.
5th Annual Crooked Can Oktoberfest
October 18 – October 20
Crooked Can Brewery, downtown Winter Garden
FREE admission. Three days of polka music, authentic food, art, beer garden and more.
Pumpkins, Sunset, Zoo, & Brew
Friday, October 18, 3pm-7pm
Santa’s Farm, Eustis
FREE admission to view the sunset over the farm. Visit the animals, grab snacks and drinks and pick out a pumpkin.
You might also want to check out: free & cheap Halloween events in Orlando
Haunted Tours
Friday, October 18, 6:30pm-9:30pm
Maitland Art Center
Tickets in advance: $10 members ($15 at door), $15 general ($20 at door). Tour one of Central Florida’s most haunted spots.
Immerse 2019
October 18 & October 19
Downtown Orlando
General admission $10, kids 12 and under free. Experience 1,000 artists express themselves through dance, theater, acrobats, murals and more. General Admission gets you access to reserved standing areas at each of the stages, including performances by Blue Man Group, Diavolo, Orlando Ballet, and more.
Bear Creek Fall Festival
Friday, October 18, 7pm-10pm
Bear Creek Recreation Center, Orlando
$6 per child, adults FREE. Haunted Houses, face painting, food trucks and more.
Evening Exchange at East End Market
Friday, October 18, 6pm-10pm
East End Market, Orlando
FREE community event with interactive workshops, culinary demonstrations, food specials and more.
UCF Homecoming Firework Festival
Friday, October 18, 7pm-9pm
UCF Memory Mall, Orlando
FREE event with food trucks, performances, festival booths, and fireworks.
Yoga Under The Stars
Friday, October 18, 7pm-8pm
Orlando Brewing Co.
$12 includes an hour of yoga and 16oz beer.
Movie in the Park
Featuring: Monster’s Inc
Friday, October 18, 7pm-9pm
Center Lake Park, Oviedo
FREE family-friendly movie under the stars with food available for purchase.
CommunityFest 2019
October 18 – October 20
Saint Mary Magdalen, Altamonte Springs
FREE admission. Rides, kid zone, games, International Food Court, face painting, live entertainment and more.
Boxi Park’s Halloween Monster Mash
Friday, October 18, 4pm-11pm
Boxi Park, Lake Nona Town Center
FREE admission. Halloween activities, concert, food and DJ.
Truck or Treat
Saturday, October 19, 3:30pm-6:30pm
Reiter Park, Longwood
FREE trick-or-treating event featuring first responder’s trucks, face painting, hayrides and more.
Winter Springs Festival of the Arts: ARToberFEST
October 19 & October 20, 10am-5pm
Winter Springs Town Center
FREE admission and free parking. Award-winning art, German food, entertainment and kids’ crafts.
Sanford Food Truck Fiesta
Saturday, October 19, 5pm-9pm
Historic Downtown Sanford
FREE admission. Food trucks, music, kid zone and more.
Zoo Boo Bash
Saturday, October 19, 9am-3pm
Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Garden, Sanford
Adults $19.50, kids (3-12) $13.75. Passholders $5 per person. Skeleton story time, bounce house, costume contest, bubbles and more.
Gatorland’s Gators, Ghost, and Goblins
Frank & Stein’s Ooky Kooky OctoberFest
October 19 & October 20, 10am-5pm
½ off Florida Resident admission: adults $14.99, kids (3-12) $9.99.
Brand NEW Halloween event at Gatorland this year! Explore spooky themed areas throughout the park, complete with ghoulish actors and selfie zones, fun shows, a variety of specialty vendors, entertainment and German food and beer for purchase.
2019 Free Halloween Event
Saturday, October 19, 12pm-5pm
Bass Pro Shop, Orlando
FREE event with Halloween photos, crafts, ring toss and entertainment.
Winter Park Pumpkin Party
Saturday, October 19, 10am – 12pm
Ward Park, Winter Park
FREE pumpkin painting party. The city will supply everything you need to decorate a ceramic pumpkin to take home.
Jazz’n Blues Concert
Saturday, October 19, 7pm-10pm
Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando
Advance admission $16 (at gate $20), members $10.55. Stroll from band to band throughout the garden. Pack a picnic, dinner and snacks.
Big Bounce America 2019 Orlando
October 19 & October 20 at 9am
Osceola Heritage Park, Kissimmee
Tickets start at $17.
It’s Just Yoga Health & Fitness Festival
Sunday, October 20, 10am-5pm
Cranes Roost/Uptown, Altamonte Springs
FREE to learn about yoga and new trends in health, wellness and more.
Tripping the Live Fantastic: Tribute to Paul McCartney
Sunday, October 20 at 3pm
Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center, Sanford
Tickets starting at $23.
Gospel Fest 2019
Sunday, October 20, 3pm-8:30pm
Lake Eola Park, Downtown Orlando
FREE event with music, dance performances, kid zone and food for purchase.
Kids Halloween Party
Featuring: Casper
Sunday, October 20, 11am-2:15pm
Enzian Theater, Maitland
Movie and party package $20 per child (under 12). $25 for adults includes, movie, spooky buffet lunch, games and more.
The Animatronicans Double Feature
Sunday, October 20, 2pm-4:30pm
Sun Trust Auditorium Orlando Museum of Art
General admission tickets $20. Enjoy a comedic, animatronic film. Suggested rating 18+.
How I Became a Pirate
Sunday, October 20 at 2pm
Orlando Repertory Theatre, Loch Haven Park
Tickets start at $15 for How I Became a Pirate musical.
Downtown Avalon Park Food Truck Night
Sunday, October 20, 5pm-9pm
Avalon Park
FREE event featuring food trucks and music.
Photo courtesy of Santa’s Farm
PUMPKIN PATCHES & MAZES NOW OPEN
Santa’s Farm A Lot of Pumpkins Fall Festival 2019
Now – October 27
Travel through Lake County farm country to visit Santa’s Farm in Eustis. The pumpkin destination features tons of family-friendly activities including a patch, hayrides, photo ops and an animal petting zoo with goats, pigs, chickens, rabbits and more.
- General admission tickets can range from $3-$6 depending on the day.
- For an extra charge, you can add on additional activities like horse rides, a zip line, mazes, duck races and a pillow bounce area.
Southern Hill Farms: Fall Festival
Weekends and Wednesdays in October
16651 Schofield Rd, Clermont, FL 34714
407-986-5806
For a genuine Florida farm experience, travel off the beaten path, down a long clay road and through rolling hills to reach Southern Hill in Clermont. It’s definitely worth the drive!
The family-owned and operated farm opens its doors for harvests and festivals throughout the year. The Fall Festival is one of our favorites! Enjoy fresh apple cider donuts, food trucks, craft beer, live music, u-pick sunflowers and zinnias, activities for the kids and adults, pumpkins for sale, and more.
- Cost is $20 per vehicle (must be purchased in advance) and $10 on Wednesdays which is totally worth it considering what you get once you arrive. This event is very popular! Buy your vehicle ticket as soon as you can.
- The farm is only accepting payment in advance this year. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable to another date and time. Your vehicle admission pass is your only entrance fee.
- Additional items can be purchased on the farm including tickets and wristbands to Kids Zone, food and beverages.
Club Lake Plantation: Fall Festival
Now – October 27, 10am – 6pm (closed on Mondays)
3403 Rock Springs Road Apopka, Florida 32712
Pumpkin patch, playground zone, hayrides, corn maze and tons of fun activities for the kids.
- FREE for entry into the country store and pumpkin patch.
- Cost to enter the area with activities: weekdays $7.95, weekends $14.95.
Lake Catherine Farms: Fall Maze & Pumpkin Patch
Weekends
5849 Lake Catherine Road, Groveland, Florida 34736
352-551-4110
FREE entry, parking, hayrides, tractor train rides, yard games, live music and visits to the pumpkin patch. There will also be food trucks, a food liquor bar and s’mores packages in the evening. Check out their Facebook page for more the details.
- Scavenger Hunt Maze that’s appropriate for families: $7 for adults and $5 for kids (3 and under free).
- Haunted Halloween Maze for the more adventurous crowd. During the evening, the maze transforms into a haunted trail $10 each (not appropriate for children under 8).
- Dark Forest Trail of Terror where the creatures of the forest come to life. Opens Oct. 4, Friday and Saturday nights (sells out every night, so get tickets early).
- Buy tickets in advance to save $2 on admission.
NEW! Showcase of Citrus Pumpkin Patch
Now – Nov. 21, 8am – 7pm
5010 US-27, Clermont, FL 34714
(352) 394-4377
FREE admission and parking. Check out their first annual pumpkin patch! Featuring pick your own pumpkins, petting zoo, photo opportunities, country store, monster truck rides, free wine and beer tasting and festive activities.
MORE THINGS DO IN ORLANDO
Loretta Gatson says
Wrong week. We will be there August 25th -August 31, 2019.
Laura says
Hi Loretta! We create a list of free and cheap things to do for every weekend in Orlando. It is posted every Wednesday. We hope you check back for the events happening during your visit. – Laura