West Bradenton families can start planning their Halloween costumes now: the annual Goblin Gathering returns to G.T. Bray Park on Friday, October 16, running from 4 to 7 p.m., with costume contests offering prizes across multiple age divisions. The free community event, presented by Prime Time Event Rentals, will also include hay rides, a petting zoo, inflatables, spooky photo opportunities, and treats from local businesses and organizations.
According to a post from Manatee County Government, the event's costume contest is a highlight this year, with different age groups competing for prizes. Details on the contest structure come from past years' event listings: per Bradenton Gulf Islands, participants have registered on-stage after 4 p.m. with judging beginning at 6 p.m., competing in divisions for children under 1 year, 2 to 4 years, 5 to 8 years, 9 and older, and families, with three winners chosen per group. Admission to the Goblin Gathering and trick-or-treating at exhibitor booths have historically been free to the public, the same listing notes.
Think your costume deserves a prize? This is your chance to prove it!
— Manatee County Government (@ManateeGov) September 3, 2026
G.T. Bray Park’s Annual Goblin Gathering, presented by Prime Time Event Rentals, is back on Friday, October 16, from 4–7 p.m., and today we’re putting the spotlight on our Costume Contests!
With different age… pic.twitter.com/uYWMFnKkJH
Getting to G.T. Bray Park and Parking Logistics
The event takes place at G.T. Bray Park, located at 5502 33rd Avenue Drive West in Bradenton. Given the sprawling scale of the venue, logistics matter: past event guidance from the same listing indicates visitors can access the park via 59th Street West or 51st Street West, with event parking designated near the Recreation Center off 33rd Avenue Drive West. No event parking has been permitted in the 51st Street Park section, according to that guidance.
Spanning 140 acres, G.T. Bray Park serves as the central hub of Manatee County's recreational system, featuring an aquatics center, amphitheater, sports courts, a dog park, and a skate park, per the Manatee County Government. Hoodline previously covered the park's AquaFit fitness classes at the same aquatics center that will host this fall's festivities.
A Multi-Decade Tradition With Shifting Fees
The Goblin Gathering has deep roots in the community. The 2025 edition marked the 23rd annual iteration of the event organized by Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources, according to Escape to Sarasota, making this year's gathering the 24th installment of a tradition stretching back more than two decades.
While general admission has generally been free, the fee structure for interactive attractions has varied over the years. In past iterations such as 2017 and 2023, Manatee County offered free general entry while selling $5 activity wristbands for children to access bounce houses, wagon rides, and face painting, according to reporting from Patch. Local businesses and civic organizations participate as booth exhibitors distributing candy and treats, a role that requires registration through the county's official Event Vendor Application process.
Local Oversight and Regional Competition
Large public gatherings in county parks like this one operate under Manatee County Ordinance No. 23-121, which empowers county officials to require security plans, traffic controls, and liability insurance from event organizers. That regulatory framework underpins the safety planning behind an event that draws crowds across the park's expansive grounds.
West Bradenton's Goblin Gathering isn't the only game in town this fall. In East Manatee County, Lakewood Ranch hosts BooFest on Main Street every October as a major alternative free family Halloween festival featuring dance performances, trick-or-treating, and costume parades, according to Your Observer. The Goblin Gathering also sits within a busy regional autumn calendar spanning Manatee and Sarasota counties, which includes the 34th Annual Hunsader Farms Pumpkin Festival and collegiate trick-or-treat nights at State College of Florida Bradenton, per the same Escape to Sarasota listing.
