Summerween in Florida: Start Your Summer with Horror. End It with Horror.
🧟‍♂️For those who know Halloween isn’t just a day—it’s a mindset. “Summerween” in Florida, which begins shortly after Halfway to Halloween (early May), is where horror takes over the season.
💀Summerween starts with Tampa Bay Screams (May 8–9) in Tampa, followed by Spooky Empire’s summer event (May 29–31) in Orlando. From there, the summer becomes the buildup—time to plan, create, and bring your Halloween ideas to life before it all leads to Florida’s Official Halloween Prequel, Sunshine City Scare in St. Petersburg.
🧛 Start your summer with horror. Get ready for the official Halloween prequel to prepare for the best holiday of the year. That’s Summerween in Florida. 👻Learn more about each event below.
Tampa Bay Screams- May 8-9, Tampa
Tampa Bay Screams celebrates its 10th anniversary! This long-running cult horror convention brings together fans of grindhouse, drive-in, and classic midnight movies for a weekend of horror, sci-fi, and underground cinema culture. From meeting cult film celebrities and indie horror film directors to exploring the Dealer’s Dungeon packed with horror collectibles, art, and décor and watching the cosplay contest, Tampa Bay Screams scratches your horror itch early in the summer.
Spooky Empire- May 29-31
Spooky Empire is one of the premier horror conventions in the nation, with an enormous event in October and a smaller but nonetheless a remarkably horrific experience. Known for its nice crowd, celebrity guest lineup, and nonstop horror energy, Spooky Empire’s summer event brings together fans of all things dark and twisted for a weekend that feels like Halloween in summer. This event is where the horror community shows up in full force.
Sunshine City Scare- August 15-16, St. Petersburg
Sunshine City Scare is Florida’s Official Halloween Prequel- your Halloween starts here! The event’s Halloween Hub features costume inspiration panels where pro crafters help you take your Halloween costume to the next level, the Evil Ted Halloween Prop How-To Panel where you build alongside the legend, and spooky shopping with everything from home décor to merch like pins, buttons, and stickers. They have everything you want to get your Halloween started!
Checkout Our Con Calendar
Keep track of all fan conventions in Florida with our Con Calendar!
