October 3 - Warlock House Enchantment Opens Gates for First-Ever Family Spookfest

WESLEY CHAPEL / PASCO COUNTY, FL — One of Wesley Chapel's strangest and most beloved backyards is opening its gates to the public for the first time in decades. The Warlock House Enchantment, the sprawling property artist Lewis VanDercar spent most of his life turning into a maze of sculpture, statuary and offbeat architecture, will host its first-ever Warlock Family Spookfest on Saturday, Oct. 3, from 2 to 6 p.m.

A Halloween Tradition Reborn

VanDercar was once known locally as the "Warlock of Wesley Chapel," and Halloween was part of family life at the property throughout the 1970s, complete with costumes, tricks, treats and playful surprises. Now his family is reopening that tradition to a new generation. It's the first time VanDercar's family has brought the Halloween tradition back to the public since it began, giving local parents a genuinely new, affordable option for fall plans that didn't exist last year.

What to Expect

Warlock Family Spookfest is built to be whimsical and family-friendly rather than scary. Families will explore magical villages, meet playful characters, and enjoy games, crafts, live entertainment, food and vendors, along with a chance to take in the property's art and local history.

Kids carry a "Warlock Apprentice Passport" and collect stamps at themed stops covering pirates, mermaids, herbology, bubbles, carnival games, broom decorating and storytelling, earning a special prize once they complete the full circuit.

Beyond Spookfest: Statuary Tours All October

For those who want a closer look at VanDercar's artwork and the property's history, the family is also running statuary tours on Tuesdays and Fridays throughout October, with time slots at 7 and 10 p.m. — a separate, quieter experience from the daytime Spookfest crowd.

Why It Matters for Wesley Chapel

For a lot of longtime Pasco County residents, the Warlock House is a name they've heard for years without ever getting a look past the gates. This Spookfest finally opens that door, and gives local families a distinctive, one-of-a-kind Halloween option instead of the usual haunted house or trunk-or-treat circuit.

📍 The Warlock House Enchantment — 25950 Queen Sago Place, Wesley Chapel, FL

📅 Saturday, October 3, 2026, 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Statuary tours: Tuesdays & Fridays in October, 7 PM & 10 PM

🌐 thewarlockhouse.com | Admission: $15 adults, $10 children 10+, free under 10