Spookyville brings Halloween to Yesteryear Village

Families enjoy trick-or-treating, costume contests and Halloween festivities at Spookyville, the annual family-friendly celebration at Yesteryear Village at the South Florida Fairgrounds. [Photos by the South Florida Fair]

Halloween is a different kind of experience when it unfolds among a schoolhouse, a blacksmith shop and a general store from the early 1900s. Spookyville, the family-focused Halloween event at the South Florida Fairgrounds’ Yesteryear Village, returns this month with seven days of trick-or-treating, costume contests, a petting zoo and live entertainment at one of Palm Beach County’s more unusual cultural attractions.

The remaining events run on Oct. 23, 24, 25, 30 and 31. It’s 5 to 9 p.m. on Fridays and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

DJ Mark returns every day to keep the music going, and a balloon twister will be on hand daily, offering children free balloon shapes of their choice.

Costume parades are on Sundays, and food trucks and vendors round out the offerings.

Yesteryear Village is a living history park spread across roughly 10 acres on the northeastern side of the South Florida Fairgrounds. It showcases buildings and artifacts from 1895 to 1945, including a school, a farm, a blacksmith shop, a general store and several houses, many of them original structures moved to the fairgrounds and restored. The village is also home to the Sally Bennett Big Band Hall of Fame Museum, billed as the only big band museum in the United States. Among its better-known buildings is the Riddle House, an Edwardian home that was dismantled and relocated to the village in 1995.

During the weeks surrounding Spookyville, the village operates exclusively for special events, and general admission to the living history park is not available. Entry during that period is limited to guests with a valid event ticket.

Admission is $10 for adults and $15 for children, with tickets available online and at the gate. A $45 family package includes admission for two adults and two children. Babies under 1 are admitted free.

Spookyville takes place inside Yesteryear Village at the South Florida Fairgrounds, 9067 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach. Access is through Gate 3 from Sansbury's Way.

Tickets and details are available at SpookyvilleYYV.com.