Putting The Treat In Trick Or Treat - A Different Take on Halloween And Dia De Los Muertos In South Florida

Whether you're looking for a family-friendly outing, a spooky dinner or simply a seasonal treat, there are plenty of ways to celebrate.

Broward County

Bakey has brought its “Love, Always” philosophy to South Florida, and who doesn’t love Halloween. They have recently opened their first Hallandale Beach location and is celebrating Halloween throughout the month with a selection of seasonal pastries and specialty coffee drinks.

Among the fall favorites are Apple Babka, made with yeasted buttery dough filled with almond marzipan, raisins and caramelized apple, and Pumpkin Babka, available by the slice or as a loaf. The bakery's coffee program features beans sourced from Umbria, Italy, which are roasted off-site and freshly ground in-house.

Seasonal coffee selections include the Honey Bliss Latte, an iced latte infused with apple and honey and topped with brown sugar and a honey drizzle. The Sweet Rise combines espresso, cinnamon syrup and cold milk with a choice of cookie butter or hazelnut cold foam and chocolate shavings. Pretty in Matcha features homemade mixed-berry jam, iced matcha and a creamy matcha topping.

Bakey is located at 668 West Hallandale Beach Boulevard, Hallandale Beach, Florida 33009. It is open Sunday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Complimentary parking is available in the shopping plaza.

Miami-Dade County

In Miami-Dade County, the Halloween season is taking on a distinctly South Florida character, with celebrations ranging from a decorated poolside cabana to family fun at a water park and traditional Dia de los Muertos-inspired dining.

At InterContinental Miami in Downtown Miami, guests can enjoy the Harvest Hideaway Cabana, a seasonal experience designed to bring the feeling of fall to a sunny poolside setting.

The luxury cabana is decorated with pumpkins, foliage and autumn colors and accommodates up to six guests. It includes oversized loungers, a stocked mini-fridge and a dedicated poolside server. Each guest also receives a DirtyBrew, a Belvedere Vodka Pumpkin Spice Espresso Martini.

The Harvest Hideaway Cabana is available for booking through the hotel's daylife program. InterContinental Miami is located at 100 Chopin Plaza, Downtown Miami, Florida 33131.

Sufrat Mediterranean Grill is also joining the Halloween festivities with The Evil Eye, a $15 pomegranate rose cosmopolitan served with a “bleeding” sugar rim and a lychee eyeball garnish.

The cocktail can be paired with Sufrat's Mediterranean specialties, including falafel, chargrilled octopus, lamb chops and customizable mixed grill platters. The restaurant has three South Florida locations, including its Broward County location at Pines City Center, 10430 Pines Boulevard, Pembroke Pines, Florida 33026.

For information and reservations, visit Sufrat Mediterranean Grill online or follow @sufratgrill on Instagram.

Families looking for a more active Halloween experience can head to Tidal Cove at JW Marriott Turnberry Resort & Spa. The water park will celebrate Tidalween on October 31st and November 1st with a superhero-themed weekend featuring character meet-and-greets, challenges and interactive activities.

Children can receive a Radioactive Spider Ring upon arrival, while those dressed as their favorite superhero can earn an additional ring. Activities include photos in Superman's Phone Booth, Spidey's Obstacle Course, a hidden-villain search, Superman's “X-ray vision” challenge, a Hulk-themed mission and superhero face painting.

The festivities will also include Trick or a Trick, Wonder Woman Power Popcorn and other activities. Guests can purchase Supercharged Kryptonite Ice Cream and a superhero-inspired drink during the weekend.

The superhero activities are included with waterpark admission, while selected food and beverage offerings are available for an additional charge.

Tidal Cove, located at 19999 West Country Club Drive, Aventura, Florida 33180 features seven slides from a 60-foot tower, a FlowRider Triple surf simulation pool, a lazy river and a 4,000-square-foot children's play area. The park also offers a VIP Oasis pool and dining at Surf House and Freestyle restaurants. Tidal Cove is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Celebrating Dia de los Muertos

Halloween is not the only tradition being celebrated this season. At Toro Toro, the Pan-Latin steakhouse inside the InterContinental Miami, internationally renowned chef Richard Sandoval is bringing back his month-long Dia de los Muertos culinary celebration.

The celebration began October 6th and continues through November 3rd. This year's theme, “El Sol,” honors those who came before through the warmth, light and memories they leave behind.

Toro Toro's special menu includes the Luz de Mar Tiradito, featuring salmon, seabass, saffron aguachile, mango relish, salsa macha, crispy sweet potato and marigold. The restaurant is also offering three specially created cocktails, including SOL and DDLM Sangria.

Toro Toro is located at 100 Chopin Plaza inside the InterContinental Miami.

Meanwhile, Solei Beach Club at the Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel in Miami Beach is offering several Halloween-themed experiences throughout October.

The Murder Mystery Dinner Series begins October 10th with “Murder at the School of Sorcery,” followed by “The Witches' Pact” on October 17th and “A Killer Evening: Sip, Dine & Solve the Crime” on October 24th.

Each evening includes an interactive mystery, a three-course dinner prepared by Executive Chef Gaston Javier Sanchez and themed craft cocktails. Tickets are $193.75 per person.

For those seeking a less mysterious evening, Solei Beach Club will present Movies Under the Stars: Halloween Edition on October 16th, October 23rd and October 30th. The poolside movie series will feature “Ghostbusters,” “Beetlejuice” and “Hocus Pocus,” beginning at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $10 and include popcorn. Guests are encouraged to bring a beach chair or blanket.

Solei Beach Club is located at 1717 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida 33139 at the Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel in Miami Beach.

With Halloween and Dia de los Muertos celebrations taking many different forms across South Florida, residents and visitors have plenty of opportunities to enjoy the season. From pumpkin-inspired pastries and spooky cocktails to family activities, poolside movies and traditional Mexican-inspired culinary experiences, this year's festivities offer something for just about every age and interest. In true South Florida fashion, celebrating fall doesn't require cold weather—it can be enjoyed beneath the sunshine, beside the water and with plenty of local flavor.