The week of October 22, 2026
Good morning, neighbors. Halloween is next Saturday, which makes this the week to pick a pumpkin, find a trunk-or-treat and figure out where the kids are burning off the candy. Here's the local rundown, plus a new bakery headed our way and a shiny new store opening at the Plaza today. Plus, another big store opening coming soon.
But first, Today is the big day!!
NOW OPEN
Nordstrom Rack at the Plaza at Citrus Park. The early access filled up fast, but its still worth checking out.
ON THE WAY
State Flour Bakery is coming to Lutz.
The South Tampa bakery, known for sourdough, croissants and kouign-amann, is moving into the former Black Sheep American Pub space at 18450 U.S. 41 in Lutz. The owners got the keys in September and plan to open in January, with a bigger kitchen, a full bar, more seating, weekend brunch first and soup, salad and sandwiches on their own bread to follow. Holiday preorders for November and December pickup will be at the South Tampa shop. Details
Silver Ring Cafe is back, in Carrollwood.
Silver Ring Cafe has reopened at 1727 W. Fletcher Avenue in Carrollwood, giving longtime fans another chance to enjoy a Tampa food tradition.
Owner Nelson Valdes, a West Tampa native who has spent much of his life running the family-favorite business, officially reopened the restaurant on October 3. At 67, Valdes says retirement just wasn't for him.
The restaurant has a long history in Tampa. Silver Ring originally opened in Ybor City in 1947 and eventually grew to as many as six locations throughout the Tampa Bay area. Most locations closed by 2008. Now, he's bringing Silver Ring back to Carrollwood in a former Pizza location, serving the same Cuban sandwiches and hand-rolled devil crabs that made the name famous, along with a few new menu items.
For Valdes, this isn't just another restaurant opening. It's a chance to keep a piece of Tampa's food history alive.
THIS JUST IN!!
Hobby Lobby is coming. It’s officially taking the American Signatures spot by Target in Carrollwood.
Pumpkins, Festivals and Trunk-or-Treats
Pumpkin patches and farm fun, close to home
Raprager Family Farm, Odessa (16907 Boy Scout Rd.) This is the one we go to each year. The farm's fall season runs September through November. Its listed hours are Friday 11 a.m.–11 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.–11 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m.–9 p.m., though most activities wrap at 9 p.m. Included with a ticket: petting zoo, hayrides, bounce pillow, corn pit, hay chute slide, a maze and mechanical bull. Axe throwing, pony rides and gem mining cost extra. Live scare actors only come out after 6 p.m. Tickets are sold online and are final and nonrefundable (weather closures are honored through year-end). Call 813-606-4242 or check rff.aluvii.com for this weekend's hours and ticket price.
HorsePower for Kids Fall Festival, Racetrack Rd. near Westchase (8005 Racetrack Rd.) A working animal sanctuary with a petting area, pony rides ($5 a ticket), a corn pit, a maze and a western town. Admission is $14 a person (kids 12 months and under free).
Watermelon Swim pumpkin patch, Lutz (19509 N. Dale Mabry Hwy.) The swim school turns its lot into a free pumpkin patch every October, with pumpkin sales going toward its scholarship program for children with disabilities. The patch is listed as open Oct. 4–31.
Worth the drive this weekend
Armature Works Fall Fest (Tampa Heights): Sat., Oct. 24, noon–5 p.m. and Sun., Oct. 25, noon–4 p.m. Free entry. Fall market, live music, petting zoo, pony and camel rides; bounce zone is a $20 per-child pass; leashed dogs welcome. Pumpkin patch is free all month.
Keel Farms Harvest Days (Plant City): Saturdays and Sundays in October, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Free entry, $10 parking. Corn maze, hayrides and pumpkin painting.
Night out: Busch Gardens' Howl-O-Scream and ZooTampa's Creatures of the Night both run select nights through Oct. 31.
Free trunk-or-treats and Halloween events
Hillsborough County Parks & Rec has eight free trunk-or-treats between Oct. 22 and Oct. 30. The one in our corner:
Fri., Oct. 30, Keystone Park & Recreation Center, Odessa: 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 30, Halloween Skate Jam, Carrollwood Village Skate Park: registration 5:30 p.m., event 6–7:30 p.m. Best-trick and costume contests, plus food, drinks and prizes. Free, no minimum age, bring a board and a costume. (Correction to last week's issue: the county lists the coffin race at the Providence skate park on Oct. 31, not Carrollwood.
LETS GO RAYS!!
Around the Area This Week
Thu., Oct. 22
Nordstrom Rack opens at the Plaza at Citrus Park.
Fri., Oct. 23
Booktober mystery party, 6–7:30 p.m., Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center, Odessa.
Lightning at Colorado, 9 p.m. ET.
Sat., Oct. 24
Haunted Harvest Market, Odessa, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Land O' Lakes Library book sale, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. (cash only). Continues Sunday 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Lightning at Utah, 9 p.m. ET.
Sun., Oct. 25
Bucs at Panthers, 1 p.m. Tampa Bay is coming off a 26–19 loss to the Steelers.
One-woman Mary Shelley performance, 2–3 p.m., Starkey Ranch Library, Odessa. 🟡
Thu., Oct. 29
Lightning vs. Winnipeg, 7 p.m., Benchmark International Arena.
Fri., Oct. 30
Keystone Trunk or Treat, 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Halloween Skate Jam, Carrollwood Village Skate Park, 6–7:30 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 31 (Halloween)
Lightning at Nashville, 2 p.m. ET.
Trick-or-treating is on your street, and probably at your neighbor's.
Save the date, Sun., Nov. 8:
Fall festival, 8 a.m.–2 p.m., Christ Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 19501 Holly Lane, Lutz.
Plant sale, 9 a.m.–1 p.m., Keystone United Methodist Church, 16301 Race Track Rd., Odessa.
Selfie Challenge: Nordstrom Rack Grand Opening!
Nordstrom Rack is open. Heading over? Snap a selfie out front or inside and share it in the comments or tag us. We’ll feature our favorites in next week’s Citrus Park & Carrollwood Weekly. 😄
Tag @Nordstrom Rack and @CitrusParkCarrollwoodWeekly or visit us on Facebook.
(By sharing, you’re OK with us featuring your photo. Please only post pictures of kids with a parent’s okay.)
Pick a pumpkin, find a trunk-or-treat and share the good ones with us. Send us your best pumpkin-patch or costume photo (with permission, especially if there are kids in it) and we may feature it next week. Know about a new business or something fun happening in the neighborhood? Just reply to this email. I read every one.
See you next Thursday, — Citrus Park & Carrollwood Weekly
