Family events in Okaloosa County, FL

Children ages 3–6 can enjoy a weekly storytime filled with stories, smiles, and opportunities to use their imagination.

Celebrate the end of pumpkin season at The Thicket with Halloween fun, sweet treats, and fall charm. Costumes are encouraged for all ages, and Kaainoa’s Hawaiian Grill will offer food. The celebration also hints at more to come at The Thicket.

Fall Fest 2026 takes place at Lil’ Commando Park on Hurlburt Field in Fort Walton Beach. Presented by Hurlburt Field and Eglin Federal Credit Union, this free community celebration features Halloween fun for all ages with Trunk or Treat, voting for the best decorated vehicle, and plenty of sweets. Participants can enter a decorated vehicle at no cost, with limited spaces available. The Haunted Trail welcomes brave guests or volunteers who want to perform as part of the spooky cast. Enjoy carnival games, food booths, contests with prizes, and more. Volunteers are needed for the Haunted Trail and other roles. Costumes are encouraged, and the festival continues a major fall tradition at Hurlburt Field. A rain out alternative is planned.

Families can enjoy the seventh annual trick or treat night at Camp Timpoochee in Niceville, featuring safe cabin-to-cabin candy stops, costumes, and family-friendly fun. Admission is free, with donations appreciated. Organizers ask attendees to mark Going to help estimate turnout and make sure the candy supply lasts. The event will include announcements of 2027 summer camp dates and a drawing for a free registration for a week of day camp. Raffle entries are a suggested donation of $5 for one or $20 for five. The Timpoochee table will share details on year-round programs, upcoming summer dates, and scholarship information. The OneBlood Big Red Bus will be onsite for those who wish to donate blood, a process that can take as little as 8 to 10 minutes. Donors receive a $20 eGift card and a OneBlood Halloween T-shirt, and adults can donate while kids try the monster maze. Parking is limited, so carpooling is encouraged. Please leave pets at home. Activities take place entirely outdoors on uneven ground and paths. Local groups and businesses handing out treats include BayArea Awards & Engraving, Inc., Emerald Coast Science Center, Hurricane Lanes, Niceville Masonic Lodge, North Bay Fire Department, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, PNB Community Bank, and Smileology. Sponsorship opportunities are available to host a decorated cabin or tent and share candy with the community, and all sponsors are entered into a decorations contest with a prize for the winner. All proceeds support programmatic and facility development at 4-H Camp Timpoochee.

Riverside Elementary students and their families can enjoy an evening of music, dancing, and a costume competition. School-appropriate costumes are welcome, but props are not allowed. Admission is free, and donations for the playground fundraiser will be accepted. Pizza combos, snacks, drinks, candy, tattoos, and other extras will be available for purchase. Please bring cash or check for purchases and the tattoo station. Parents must stay with their students throughout the dance.

Centered on culture, community, and impact, the Emerald Coast Hispanic Heritage Festival celebrates the traditions and contributions of Hispanic cultures through music, dance, food, art, and meaningful connections. This family-friendly experience invites residents and visitors to enjoy an immersive day featuring live performances, regional cuisine, artisan vendors, interactive exhibits, and engaging activities for all ages. Every element is crafted to highlight the diversity that enriches the community while creating opportunities to learn, connect, and be inspired. The festival also offers ways for businesses, organizations, artisans, food vendors, nonprofits, performers, and community partners to take part by showcasing products or services, sharing their missions, or supporting cultural programming through sponsorship. These partnerships help preserve traditions, uplift local artists and entrepreneurs, broaden educational opportunities, and keep the event welcoming and accessible for everyone. Guests can look forward to vibrant entertainment, authentic flavors, cultural exploration, shopping, family fun, and lasting memories. Whether honoring personal roots or discovering something new, there is something for everyone, with a focus on shared humanity, creativity, and a positive impact that extends beyond the festival.

https://emeraldcoastchurch.churchcenter.com/registrations/signups/3876879

Packed with ghoulish goody bags and candy, this spooky gathering features eerie touches at every turn. Expect evil spiders, wandering ghosts, and menacing zombies for a fun dose of fright alongside the sweets.

A weekly free bookstore from Gulf Coast Media where every book is free. Attendees can bring gently used books to exchange or simply choose a few new reads to take home. It is open to everyone and offers a chance to clear shelves, discover new stories, and connect with fellow readers in the community. In addition to books, there are $1 DVDs and CDs, plus video games, VHS, and gifts. Please limit selections to 10 books or fewer per household per visit.

A play-based group therapy session for children ages 9 to 15 months, with one parent or guardian. The hour-long session focuses on speech, language, and feeding. The cost is $40 per child, and insurance is not accepted.

A play-based speech and language therapy group for children ages 2.5 to 3.5. Activities target age-appropriate speech sound development, following directions, turn-taking, naming and identifying nouns, adjectives, and verbs, songs and rhymes, and early literacy skills. Feeding and oral motor support may also be addressed if needed. The listed special rate is $40 per child.