Fall Date Ideas in JAX

With fall in the air and the endless number of autumnal activities around the region, there is no better time to plan a date night! Whether you’re looking for a fun fall festival or wanting something a little more scary, Northeast Florida has got you covered.

To save you the trouble of planning, Find Your JAX curated a list of fall date ideas in the area that both you and your BOO will enjoy:

Fall Festivals

Pumpkins, Halloween treats and games – fall festivals are a date idea that will surely become a tradition for you and your partner! Check out a few happening in the region:

Clay County’s largest and oldest festival is back for another year from October 19th-20th. Not only will this festival offer a wide variety of food (such as Aunt Greg’s Southern Eats and Island Girl Seafood), but there will also be live music and 200+ vendors.

Every Saturday and Sunday in October, you can visit Geiger Pioneer Farm for a fun-filled day full of fall activities. This 20-acre farm has a pumpkin patch, food trucks and even a mini crop maze.  Also, if you and your partner are into antiques, they will also be showcasing antique farm equipment from more than 150 years ago.

Photo Credits: Orange Park Fall Festival

Stay at a Haunted Hotel

Still looking for that spooky factor, but wanting to keep it more low-key? Book a weekend stay at one of these haunted hotels:

This beautiful 1925 beach hotel is rumored to be home to a ghost that loves to prank the guests. The ghost roaming the halls is supposedly the spirit of Fatty Arbuckle, a former comedian, and he likes to trip the guests on the main staircase at the hotel.

FYJ Tip: make sure to hold on to the railing when getting close to the seventh step!

This 1888 hotel is in the heart of the nation’s oldest city, so no wonder there are rumors of paranormal guests booking a stay here! Rumor has it  that the fourth floor is the most haunted, but there have been many reports of suspicious activity all over the hotel. If you stay here, you might hear the sounds of children running down the hallway or even catch a glimpse of some guests from the 1920’s.

Photo Credits: Casa Marina Hotel

Ghost Tours

If you and your partner love all things paranormal, a ghost tour would be right up your alley! You can find tours in multiple counties around in the region, but here are some extra creepy ones:

Wander along the streets of Fernandina Beach while getting to hear all about the ghostly stories that will leave you spooked. These tales and legends are not only interesting for paranormal fanatics, but also for those who love learning about a city’s history.

If staying overnight at a haunted hotel in the nation’s oldest city isn’t enough, jump on the Ghosts and Gravestones trolley bus for a tour of multiple paranormal spots around St. Augustine. From passing by the Tolomato cemetery to entering the Old Jail, who knows what (or who!) you might see.

Photo Credits: Ghost and Gravestones

Halloween Pub Crawl

A night out on the town just got a little bit more eerie! Put on your best couple’s costume and check out these Halloween pub crawls:

This Halloween bar crawl will ensure that you have a fun-filled night while visiting the best beach bars. Your ticket to this event includes a couple of drinks, food specials, entry to the after party and so much more. Keep an eye out for the professional photographer at the event to get a new couple’s photo!

If you are looking for something more laid-back, this St. Augustine pub tour takes you to some of the most haunted pubs in the city while getting to hear all about their ghostly tales. Your ticket includes a pint of beer and an EMF meter to use on your tour.

Photo Credits: Halloween Bar Crawl

Scary Shows

Instead of a horror movie night in, treat you and your partner to a night out on the town with one of these frightening shows:

Alhambra Theatre & Dining is always a good spot for theatre loving couples, but during the fall, this theatre will become a little bit more frightening. On select nights in October, they will be showing Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show Live. This show is the perfect mix of love, horror and comedy!

On October 15th, the Florida Ballet will be performing the 1879 sensation Dracula. Follow along as this performance will showcase a love story with an eerie twist.

Photo Credits: Alhambra Theatre & Dining

 

There are so many more activities in JAX that you can do to celebrate the “stick season” with your partner! Check out our Get in the Fall Mood in JAX blog for even more ideas.

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