Last Chance for HorsePower for Kids Fall Festival: Halloween Weekend Finale Runs Oct. 31-Nov. 1 |
The final fundraiser weekend brings pony rides, farm animals, pumpkins, family activities and BalloonTwisterAndMagic.com to the northwest Tampa sanctuary |
HorsePower for Kids is closing out its 2026 Fall Festival Fundraiser with one final weekend that lands right on Halloween and the first day of November.
HorsePower for Kids & Animal Sanctuary will host the festival finale on Saturday, October 31, and Sunday, November 1, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 8005 Race Track Road in northwest Tampa.
Festival admission is listed at $15 per person, babies 12 months and younger are free, and parking is listed at $1.
The admission price includes many of the activities that have made the October fundraiser popular with families: pony rides for children within the posted weight limit, a petting zoo, train rides, a bounce house, playgrounds, farm animals and games.
Pumpkins and food vendors are available for an additional charge.
Because this is the final weekend, it is the last chance this season to experience the fundraiser before the regular October festival schedule ends.
The Halloween timing gives Saturday an extra fall atmosphere even though the heart of the event remains the farm, animals and family activities rather than a haunted attraction.
Sunday, November 1, offers one more daytime option for families who may already have Halloween-night plans on Saturday.
The event also supports a year-round mission.
HorsePower for Kids is a 501(c)(3) outdoor animal sanctuary and family farm near Oldsmar and Westchase.
The organization says public visits help support the lifelong care of the animals that call the sanctuary home, while giving children opportunities to learn about and interact with animals in a farm setting.
That means the festival serves two purposes at once: it gives families a full afternoon of activities while helping the nonprofit continue its work after the pumpkins and fall decorations are gone.
BalloonTwisterAndMagic.com will be at HorsePower for Kids on both October 31 and November 1, bringing balloon twisting and magic back for the final fundraiser weekend.
For families with younger children, that adds another entertainment stop between pony rides, train rides and visits with the farm animals.
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 Illustrative child-and-pony scene — Photo by Anastasia Shuraeva on Pexels |
Visitors should complete the required release form before arriving when possible.
HorsePower for Kids requires release information for visitors and recommends having the confirmation ready at check-in.
Current festival information indicates that guests pay admission upon arrival rather than purchasing advance tickets.
Outside food and drinks are not allowed, and outside pets are not permitted.
The farm is an outdoor venue, so checking the forecast and dressing for the weather is a good idea before heading out.
Families who want the most time for activities should consider arriving earlier in the day rather than waiting until the final couple of hours.
The 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule gives visitors six hours of flexibility on both days, and the Race Track Road location is convenient to Tampa, Oldsmar, Westchase and northern Pinellas County.
For anyone who has been meaning to visit the fundraiser but has not made it yet, this is the weekend to put it on the calendar.
After November 1, the 2026 Fall Festival Fundraiser is finished, making the Halloween weekend finale the last opportunity to combine the sanctuary, farm activities and seasonal fun in one visit.
Official information: HorsePower for Kids and the HorsePower for Kids events page. |
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25 Comments
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Kind of wish it ran longer into November. We always seem to miss these by a week!
Glad they’re clear about helping with lifelong care for animals. Feels good to support that when we go.
Balloon twisting is always a hit but those lines get long. Bring snacks for the wait!
The Halloween date is perfect timing for folks looking to dodge the evening madness. Daytime is way less hectic.
Does anyone know if you need cash for the vendors? Or do most places take card? Just want to be prepared.
We went last year & the volunteers were super friendly. Even the parking attendant handed out candy to the kids!
Farm animals are my 4-year-old’s favorite, but he’s terrified of magicians. Guess we’ll skip that part!
Always enjoy festivals with that simple fall feel rather than scary stuff for little ones. Great alternative for younger families.
Would be nice if older kids could get something extra besides the pony ride limit. Maybe add a scavenger hunt or something?
I bet parking will fill up fast. Get there early if you want to find a spot!
Supporting local nonprofits is important. The dual purpose of fun for families and care for rescued animals is awesome.
Do they let you feed the animals? My kids bring little cups of treats everywhere, lol.
Loved seeing BalloonTwisterAndMagic added for the kids. Magic always saves us when our toddler melts down.
Animal sanctuary right in Tampa, how did I not know about this? Looks like a fun, different way to spend Halloween weekend.
Is there anywhere shady to sit? October sun can be rough, especially for the grandparents.
Might try Sunday since we do trick-or-treating on Saturday. Hoping it won’t be as busy!
Appreciate the info about separate charges for food and pumpkins. Nothing worse than surprise fees!
Bounce house and a train ride? I know what my twins are doing all afternoon!
$1 parking is almost unheard of around here. Always hate getting hit with $10 to park at places like zoo or fair.
Wish it was haunted for Halloween! Guess it’s more about the animals and learning, which is still sweet for families.
Love that the admission fee helps take care of the animals year-round. Wish more places did stuff like this.
We went a couple years ago and my daughter still talks about the pony ride! Glad to see the fundraiser is back.
It’s cool they let babies under a year in for free. Not every spot does that. Might be crowded since it’s the last weekend though.
Fifteen bucks seems totally fair for all the activities. We might try to go Saturday so the kids can wear their costumes too.
Never heard of this place before. My son is obsessed with animals, so he’ll love the petting zoo part. The fact that it helps the sanctuary is a plus.