Are you looking for the best things to do in September in Florida?
I have just what you are looking for!
School may be back in session and work schedules are in full swing, but that doesn’t mean the fun has to clock out.
I’m here to help you break up the daily grind and add a little excitement to your life!
There are seafood feasts, frothy beer festivals, ocean celebrations to ghoulish Halloween events taking over Florida in September.
So, let’s fall right into the top Florida events in September that you simply can’t miss!
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Key Takeaways
- Celebrate the season at the Fall Festival at Great Scott Farms in Mount Dora
- Enjoy the ocean inspired two-day free Florida Fin Fest in Jacksonville Beach
- Raise your glasses at Emerald Coast Beer Festival in Pensacola
- Kick off spooky season early at Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios in Orlando
Keep reading for a full guide to the best things to do in Florida in September.
1. Emerald Coast Beer Festival in Pensacola
With over 50 craft breweries pouring the best brews from across the region, the taps are open, and beer lovers are coming together for one brew-tiful night at the Emerald Coast Beer Festival.
There will be live music, good eats, and a whole lot of hoppiness in Pensacola’s Historic Seville Quarter.
Every ticket holder gets a souvenir festival beer tasting glass along with free admission to the post-concert event in Seville Quarter’s Seville Plaza to keep the festivities flowing.
Event Details:
- Date: September 5th, 2025
- Time: VIP Admission has early access at 5:00 p.m., and General Admission begins at 5:30 p.m.
- Cost: $35 in advance online, and VIP tickets in advance online are $80
- Location: Seville Quarter at 130 E Government St., Pensacola, Florida
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2. Florida Fin Fest in Jacksonville Beach
This two-day free festival in Florida is making waves with everything ocean-inspired, splashed with education and music.
A hands-on Educational Village with exhibits, underwater Virtual Reality experiences, touch tanks, and a mobile planetarium keeps Florida Fin Fest interesting and fun.
This September event in Florida is one of my annual favorites!
It has food trucks, a festival village full of sustainable brands and a lineup of incredible music all against the backdrop of Florida’s beautiful coast.
There is also an official Florida Fin Fest app where you can see the full artist lineup with performance times, check out schedules, interactive maps, updates, and find out about food vendors.
There are lots of great places to stay in Jacksonville Beach, but one I love for its coastal vibes is Margaritaville Beach Hotel Jacksonville.
Event Details:
- Date: September 12th and September 13th, 2025
- Time: Friday, September 12th, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., and Saturday, September 13th, 2025, at 12:00 pm to 10:00 p.m.
- Cost: FREE with VIP and Premium VIP upgrade options available
- Location: Seawalk Pavilion and Latham Plaza in Jacksonville Beach, Florida
3. Bugs & BBQ in Perry
Don’t let the name fool you, this September event in Florida is not about creepy crawlers!
This one is for Volkswagen Bug enthusiasts with classic and vintage rides to custom creations, all out on display to enjoy, and so many photo ops to take advantage of.
But it’s not just about the cars!
There will be live music and a Kids Fun Zone all weekend long, food trucks, mouthwatering barbecue and grilling, and plenty of good vibes at Smokin’ In the Pines Bug & BBQ Festival.
Event Details:
- Date: September 27, 2025
- Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with judging happening at noon
- Cost: Free
- Location: Forest Capital State Park at 203 Forest Park Drive Perry, Florida
4. Oktoberfest in Orlando
Swap your pumpkin spice for a frosty stein and schnitzel your way on over to Oktoberfest in Orlando.
It is a night of German-themed fun with a good old-fashioned stein-hoisting competition, live polka music, artisan market and specialty brews crafted just for this Florida fall event.
And don’t forget your stretchy pants because you’ll need room for the full menu of traditional German cuisine, pretzels and other festive comfort foods filling your belly all night long.
Event Details:
- Date: September 27, 2025
- Time: 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Cost: Free
- Location: Lake Nona Town Center 6941 Lake Nona Blvd, Orlando, Florida
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5. Seafood Festival in Pensacola
Pack your picnic blankets and bring your lawn chair (just leave the cooler and pets at home) because Pensacola is reeling in one tasty weekend this September in Florida!
The Pensacola Seafood Festival is a weekend in Florida packed with a full lineup of live music and endless seafood from low-country boils to alligator, conch fritters, jambalaya, and more.
But don’t worry, there is plenty for landlubbers too, like crunchy pork rinds and turkey legs, to funnel cakes and kettle corn.
Plus, some of Pensacola’s best chefs are sharing their secrets in the outdoor demo kitchen, you can kick back at Bloody Mary Happy Hours, or make it family-friendly at the Kids’ Zone.
Event Details:
- Date: September 26th, September 27th and September 28th, 2025
- Time: Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Cost: FREE
- Location: Seville Square at 311 East Government Street, Pensacola, Florida
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6. Halloween Horror Nights in Orlando
Each year, Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida concocts terrorizing, hair-raising experiences that never fail to push you to insanity.
You could even say it is one of the premier haunted experiences in all of Florida.
This year, the horror screams off on August 29th through November 2nd, 2025, at Universal Studios Florida.
It is over 2 whole months of a bloody good time!
There are 10 haunted houses, 4 sinister scare zones, spooky themed treats, live entertainment, and shows to summon the Halloween season.
Event Details:
- Date: August 29th through November 2nd of 2025
- Time: Starting at 6:30 p.m. until close
- Cost: Starting from $89.99
- Location: Universal Studios Florida
7. Animal Tour at Kindred Spirits Sanctuary in Citra
With over 200 sanctuary residents spread across 73 peaceful acres in Citra, Florida, Kindrid Spirits Sanctuary is a must-visit for anyone who loves animals!
Public tours are starting again this September in Florida on the first and third Saturday of every month at 10 a.m., lasting about two hours.
During the tour, you can stroll through the sanctuary, connect with the animals, and get to know their spunky personalities.
These friendly farm animals love getting attention and will often come running over to greet you, (even in wheels to help them get around).
You may even get a kiss from one of the cows or find yourself giving a belly rub to one of the pigs.
I absolutely love this place and what they do in their mission rescuing abused, abandoned, and special needs farmed animals from all over the country, giving them a safe and loving home.
Event Details:
- Date: First and third Saturday of every month from September to May
- Time: 10 a.m.
- Cost: Suggested donation of $15 per person
- Location: 1411 E Hwy 329, Citra, Florida
8. I Like It HOT Festival in Largo
We all know Florida is hot, but the I Like It Hot Festival takes it to the next scorching level with the largest collaboration of hot sauces and tacos in all of Florida.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of this September Florida food festival, so you know this year they will be turning up the heat. You can expect to see contests like the Extreme Lolli Lick-A-Thon of the hottest lollypop in the world, and the infamous League Of Fire pepper eating contest.
For those who aren’t looking to breathe fire, don’t worry, there is a lot for you, too!
Hundreds of mild to spicy samples, food trucks, shop for sauces, salsas, and seasonings, specialty exhibitors to check out, and so much more.
Event Details:
- Date: September 13th and 14th, 2025
- Time: Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Cost: Admission and parking are free
- Location: Largo Event Center at 6340 126th Avenue, Largo, Florida
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9. EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival in Orlando
It is one of the most wonderful times of the year at Walt Disney World Resort’s EPCOT!
When more than 30 global marketplaces make up the annual EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival.
It is a food lover’s dream where you get to feast on sample size seasonal dishes for the country represented eating your way around the world.
Then there is the Epcot Eat to the Beat Concert, an annual concert series featuring popular bands from the 1980s, 1990s, and the 2000s.
The scavenger hunt is super unique to this Epcot festival and an absolute must, along with a banging fireworks show as the night comes to an end.
I love this September event in Florida because there is so much to do and I absolutely love trying new dishes and exploring new cultural cuisines and practices.
Don’t forget that Festival Passports are free and available all over Epcot.
Event Details:
- Date: August 28th through November 22nd, 2025
- Time: Epcot opens daily at 9 a.m however, the food booths (also known as the Outdoor Kitchens) open at 11 a.m.
- Cost: A one-dayREGULAR season Epcot ticket starts at $109* (prices do fluctuate based on the season).
- Location: Walt Disney World Resort’s EPCOT
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10. Fall Festival at Great Scott Farms in Mount Dora
Under the Sea is the theme for this year’s Fall Festival at Great Scott Farms in Mount Dora.
I love this Florida fall festival because it is a gourd of a good time with activities for the whole family to enjoy, such as the:
- Giant 6-acre corn maze
- One-acre mini corn maze
- Bubble barn and corn pit
- Giant castle playground, zipline and super slide
- Tasty food and drinks
- Pumpkin patch
- Humongous jumping pillow
- Hayrides and farm tours
- Labyrinth and even night mazes
- Vintage trucks, tractors and more!
I love that for us big kids there is a local country market to shop at, a café and even beer and wine.
Event Details:
- Date: September 27th to November 16th, 2025
- Time: Saturdays & Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with Night Mazes on select nights
- Cost: Starting at $16 online, children 2 and under free
- Location: 26216 County Road 448A, Mount Dora, Florida
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Wrapping Up the Best Things to Do in September in Florida
I think Florida in September is a beautiful time to go out and explore!
Crowds are lighter, fall vibes are taking root and spooky season is creeping its way around the corner.
Don’t let the month slip away Florida Hipsters, make this fall in Florida one to remember!
What’s your favorite things to do in Florida for the month of September? Let us know in the comments section below.
About the Author
Sarah Jordan is a solo traveler enthusiast, professional travel writer, and proud mama to her rescue dog Coconut.
With a love for destinations across the globe, she made Epcot her first theme park and still treasures her EPCOT World Showcase passport to this day.
After finally following her inner wanderlust, she discovered the freedom and empowerment that solo travel brings.
Until next time, Happy Florida Travels!
