This inaugural "eek-o-friendly" event offers a pumpkin patch cake walk, a "best green costume" contest, bobbing for organic apples, making a Halloween goodie bag from recycled magazines, and a sweet-n-scary selection of healthy treats. Visit greenhalloween.org for more info. Fri., Oct. 23, 3:30-6:30 p.m., Hyde Park Village, Tampa.

Zombie Weekend A cadre of creepy films await on Friday, including Night of the Living Dead, Shaun of the Dead (pictured), and a special zombi-fied version of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Saturday features more family-friendly (but still freaky) flicks like Ghostbusters, Gremlins, House on Haunted Hill and The Tingler -- which, thanks to the shocking power of the theater's Percepto system, will actually make you tingle! Visit beachtheatre.com for full schedule. Oct. 23-24, Beach Theatre, St. Pete Beach, $5 Friday; free family movies Saturday.

Horror Fest The Sunscreen Film Festival presents a cadre of chilling cinema – and then fills you in on how to get onscreen yourself. At the Horror Fest workshops, acting coach Mark Durso explains his Uta Hagen technique; Twilight casting director Lana Veenker (whose advice you may or may not heed, depending on your opinion of her vapid vampires) explores "How to Break into the Film Biz without Living in Hollywood" and "Auditioning for Film and TV”; and special effects make-up artist John Rusnak leads a horror make-up workshop. Spooky special movie screenings include indie or limited release flicks like Trick 'r Treat (starring True Blood’s Anna Paquin, appropriately enough), Deadfall Trail, Sauna and Evil Things. A haunted Halloween party follows Saturday’s films. Oct. 23-25, Mark Durso and Lana Veenker Workshops 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat.-Sun., The Studio@620, 620 First Ave. S., St. Petersburg; Horror Fest Screenings, 7 and 9 p.m. Fri. –Sat., John Rusnak Workshop, Noon, Sat., Muvico Baywalk 20, 151 Second Ave. N., St. Petersburg; $8 per movie; $25 four-movie pass and make-up workshop; $125 full access pass, visit sunscreenfilmfestival.com for detailed schedule. – Franki Weddington

Hit the break for more events, and check back as we add to the list of spooky spectacles.

Halloween Cupcake Party Children's book author of Danny the Dragon, Tina Turbin, hosts this not-so-spooky themed, gluten-free cupcake party, where parents are kids can bake and decorate sweet (and spooky!) treats together. The event will be filmed for distribution to raise funds and awareness for the Celiac Disease Center in the Medical Department of Columbia University. Contact Rosie Newman at roseann.newman@gmail.com for location and event details, and learn more about the author at tinaturbin.com. Sat., Oct. 24, 2-4 p.m.

Halloween Spooktacular As a kid, Halloween was my favorite time of year -- better even than birthdays and Christmas. What other day can you gorge yourself on candy with reckless abandon? The lucky kids of Largo get an extra trick-or-treat night this year that offers a designated candy-lined path, a play area for little ones and a teen zone with dancing and music. Visit largoevents.com for more info. Sat., Oct. 24, 4-10 p.m. , Largo Central Park, Largo.

Thrill the World St. Pete joins Michael Jackson fans across the world in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for Largest Simultaneous Dance -- in this case, the famed zombie-rific Thriller dance (pictured). The Pier hosts Thrill the World, with music, food, activities and a pre-dance lesson for anyone who needs to learn the monster moves. Then, MJ achieves what no world leader ever has: a world united … by dancing cadavers, expect everyone from the local Blockbuster guy to the Prez to pay tribute to the one-gloved man. Come in your most dashing undead duds, and on-site make-up artists add scabs and scars to make sure that you thrill and terrify like the real thing. Sat., Oct. 24, 6:30 p.m. sign-in, 8:30 p.m. dance, The Pier, 800 Second Ave. N.E., St. Petersburg, free admission; $5 zombie make-up, thrillstpete.com. – Franki Weddington

Spooktacular Art More than 100 artists contributed creepy creations to set the spooky mood for this art party that offers psychic readings, a costume contest and treats (and maybe a few tricks). Visit tampaartistemporium.com for more info. Sat., Oct. 24, 6-9 p.m., Tampa Artist Emporium, Tampa.

Ghosts and Gargoyles Halloween activities, scavenger hunt and a ghost tour, oh my! There are also Halloween-themed movies on the big screen, free popcorn and creepy crafts. Visit tampatheatre.com for more info. Sun., Oct. 25, 2 p.m., Tampa Theatre, Tampa, $5, $2 kids 12 and younger.

Gothic Graveyard Walk Meet new friends both alive and dead at this thrilling tour by historian and actor Maureen Patrick, whose "often shocking, frequently hilarious" hour-long tour introduces you to pirates, slaves, Indian fighters, 13 city mayors, veterans of seven wars, and victims of five yellow fever epidemics. Just a heads up: they're looking a little worse for the wear. Patrick sets the mood with 19th century mourning attire in her role as Miss Prudence Fipwhistle as she navigates the cemetery's rows of winding brick pathways, moss-draped oak trees and "tombstone epitaphs that range from the genteel to the ridiculous." Visit tampahistoricalsociety.org for more info. Sun., Oct. 25, 3 p.m., Oaklawn Cemetery, Tampa, $5.

Murder by Indecision What an awful way to go ... as "Agatha Crispy" contemplates her latest murder-mystery plot, characters come to life onstage as she writes and rewrites the outcome. In a real twist on the "whodunnit," the culprit changes with each scene! Visit dunedinshowcasetheater.org for more info. Oct. 22-25, 6 p.m. dinner theater performance Thurs., 7:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 2 p.m. matinees Sat.-Sun., Dunedin Community Center, Dunedin, $10; $20 Thurs., Oct. 22 dinner theater performance.

11:11, Let There Be Light, Art, Sound This sneak peek of the exhibit (which officially opens Nov. 11) includes live music, artworks from local artists, a drum atrium and a costume contest on Halloween night. Visit studio620.org for more info. Oct. 27-31, noon-4 p.m. Tues.-Sat., reception 7 p.m. Sat., The Studio@620, St. Petersburg, free.

Every single year, I promise that I'll never go back to this horror fest. Every year, I break my resolution, only to be scared out of my wits by zombies, vampires, mass murderers, creepy clowns, and, new this year, the deranged models of the House of Vayne, werewolves, banshees and El Carnaval del Muerto (pictured). What is it about gut-wrenching, sweat-inducing, tremor-fraught terror that keeps bringing me back? Visit howloscream.com for more info. Oct. 1-31, 7:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Thurs., 7:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Fri.-Sat., Busch Gardens, Tampa, $69.95.

Ghost Tour St. Pete Are the creaky floorboards and moaning pipes in your historic home caused by something paranormal, perhaps? Find out on this ookie-spookie exploration of St. Pete. Hear ghost stories and visit the city's most haunted homes at this tour, which meets at the Full Monty Cafe every night at 8 p.m. from Oct. 1-Nov. 2. Full Monty Cafe, St. Petersburg, $15, $8 ages 4-12, ghosttour.com.

Haunted Asylum Have the mess scared out of you for a good cause. Proceeds from this creep-tacular horror house of terrifying sights benefit Hopeful Tomorrow, which aids the at-risk youth of Clearwater and St. Pete. Visit ahopefultomorrow.org for more info. Oct. 15-31, 7-10 p.m. Thurs.-Sat., Haunted Asylum, 8992 Seminole Blvd., Seminole, $5.

Shop of Horrors Surprises lurk around Haunted Trail, where ghoulies and ghosties hide out at each bend! Kiddies are invited to enjoy the trail before 7 p.m., when it turns menacingly more macabre. Visit johnspassfestivals.com for more info. Oct. 23-Nov. 1, 7-9 p.m. Fri., Oct. 23; 2-5 and 6-9 p.m. Sat.-Sun, Oct. 24-25; 6-8 p.m. Mon.-Thurs., Oct. 26-29; 6-10 p.m. Fri.-Sat., Oct. 30-31; 6-9 p.m. Sun., Nov. 1, John's Pass Village and Boardwalk, Madeira Beach, $7 adults, $3 kids.

Woman in Black If you scare easily or shudder at the thought of ghosts and dark, scary rooms, perhaps you should sit this one out. The classic ghost tale, Woman in Black, is closely based on English author Susan Mills’ novel, and the stage performance – adapted by Stephen Mallatratt – is said to chill, thrill and terrify audiences. It follows Mrs. Drablow, who lives and dies alone in a desolate house in a dreary part of England. Depressing, right? After Drablow dies, a young lad from London is sent to attend her funeral and sort out her papers. As you may have guessed, the unlucky chap gets caught up in the dark, tragic secrets that remain in the now empty, dismal house ... or is it empty? For those of you who want an extra dose of spook in your experience, there’s a special late night showing on Halloween. Lead actors gracing the stage are Christopher Rutherford, who recently directed Jails, Hospitals and Hip-Hop, and Shining City’s Glenn Gover. Oct. 15-Nov. 8, 7 p.m. Thurs., 8 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 3 and 7 p.m. Sun., with special performances at 6 and 10 p.m. on Sat., Oct. 31, Gorilla Theatre, 4419 N. Hubert Ave. #D, Tampa, $20-$25, $10 students 30 minutes prior to curtain, 813-879-2914, gorillatheatre.com. – Lily Reisman

Night of the Living Dead Stage treatments have graced the most unlikely of films -- Legally Blonde, When Harry Met Sally, The Wedding Singer -- so George Romero's cult classic zombie flick had no chance of escape, and neither do you. Seven people trapped in an isolated warehouse must fend off a mob of flesh-eating zombies -- and as the night wears on, they're forced to fight off each other, as well. Visit jobsitetheater.org for more info. (Pictured: Matt Lunsford and Jason-Evans. Photo by Dave Pritchard.) Oct. 22-Nov. 15, 8 p.m. Thurs.-Sat., 4 p.m. Sun., Shimberg Playhouse, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Tampa, $24.50.

Rocky Horror Picture Show The cast of the Cheap Little Punks perform the cult classic while the movie version plays on screen. Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a bisexual, transsexual scientist from Transylvania, invites Brad Majors (an asshole) and Janet Weiss (a slut) into his creepy castle when their car breaks down. Chaos and myriad musical numbers ensue when Frank-N-Furter reveals his creation: Rocky, an Adonis who only wants to learn about how his life began. Visit tampapitchershow.com for more info. Show runs at 11:30 p.m. on the first and third Friday of each month, Tampa Pitcher Show, Tampa, $7.