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Gatorland gets spookier: Halloween with ‘Swamp Ghost’ haunt, creepy capybara

Gatorland gets spookier: Halloween with ‘Swamp Ghost’ haunt, creepy capybara

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Aliens, big ol’ bugs and a creepy capybara have joined the lineup of Gators, Ghosts and Goblins, the Halloween proceedings that start Saturday at Gatorland.

It’s the seventh year for the family-friendly spookiness event, which has become increasingly elaborate. Character interactions are flanked with effects created with 3D printing and 3D bit mapping, pretty modern stuff for an old-school Florida attraction.

“You’re definitely going to notice some more animations going on,” Brandon Fisher, director of media relations, said during a preview of the event.

“New this year, we have big, giant bugs overtaking Gatorland,” he said, standing near an elaborate webbed stage and dangling (artificial) arachnids, which all play into a storyline involving competing exterminators, including Bubba’s Bug-B-Gone.

Skunk Ape emerges from the swamp at Gatorland’s 7th Annual... Skunk Ape emerges from the swamp at Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins event during a preview, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. The family-friendly, fun-and-frights event runs from Oct. 11 to Oct. 26 and features spooky scenes, chilling characters, a haunted theater, children’s Halloween activities and animal meet-n-greets. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Cyrus the Gravedigger from Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins surprises guests during a recent preview. The family-friendly, fun-and-frights event runs Oct. 11-Oct. 26 and features spooky scenes, chilling characters, a haunted theater, children’s Halloween activities and animal meet-and-greets. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Cyrus the Gravedigger causes pause during a preview of Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins, . The family-friendly, fun-and-frights event runs features spooky scenes, chilling characters, a haunted theater, children’s Halloween activities and animal meet-n-greets. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Guests are surprised by ghouls during a tour of an... Guests are surprised by ghouls during a tour of an abandoned movie theater at Gatorland’s Gators, Ghosts and Goblins preview event. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Guests are surprised by a ghoul during a tour of... Guests are surprised by a ghoul during a tour of an abandoned movie theater at Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins preview event Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. The family-friendly, fun-and-frights celebration runs from Oct. 11 to Oct. 26 and features spooky scenes, chilling characters, a haunted theater, children’s Halloween activities and animal meet-n-greets. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Guests are surprised by ghouls and gators during a tour... Guests are surprised by ghouls and gators during a tour of an abandoned movie theater at Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins preview event Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. The family-friendly, fun-and-frights celebration runs from Oct. 11 to Oct. 26 and features spooky scenes, chilling characters, a haunted theater, children’s Halloween activities and animal meet-n-greets. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Cyrus the Gravedigger unveils scary characters during a tour of... Cyrus the Gravedigger unveils scary characters during a tour of an abandoned movie theater at Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins event during a preview, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. The family-friendly, fun-and-frights celebration runs from Oct. 11 to Oct. 26 and features spooky scenes, chilling characters, a haunted theater, children’s Halloween activities and animal meet-n-greets. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) A costumed trainer feeds pumpkins to the alligators at Gatorland’s... A costumed trainer feeds pumpkins to the alligators at Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins during a preview, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. The family-friendly, fun-and-frights event runs from Oct. 11 to Oct. 26 and features spooky scenes, chilling characters, a haunted theater, children’s Halloween activities and animal meet-n-greets. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) A scary pirate growls at a guests at Gatorland’s 7th... A scary pirate growls at a guests at Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins during a preview, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. The family-friendly, fun-and-frights event runs from Oct. 11 to Oct. 26 and features spooky scenes, chilling characters, a haunted theater, children’s Halloween activities and animal meet-n-greets. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) An alien invader surprises guests at Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators,... An alien invader surprises guests at Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins during a preview, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. The family-friendly, fun-and-frights event runs from Oct. 11 to Oct. 26 and features spooky scenes, chilling characters, a haunted theater, children’s Halloween activities and animal meet-n-greets. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Guests are surprised by ghouls during a tour of an... Guests are surprised by ghouls during a tour of an abandoned movie theater at Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins preview event Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. The family-friendly, fun-and-frights celebration runs from Oct. 11 to Oct. 26 and features spooky scenes, chilling characters, a haunted theater, children’s Halloween activities and animal meet-n-greets. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Guests are surprised by ghouls during a tour of an... Guests are surprised by ghouls during a tour of an abandoned movie theater at Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins preview event Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. The family-friendly, fun-and-frights celebration runs from Oct. 11 to Oct. 26 and features spooky scenes, chilling characters, a haunted theater, children’s Halloween activities and animal meet-n-greets. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) A pirate zombie steers the ship at Gatorland’s 7th Annual... A pirate zombie steers the ship at Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins during a preview, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. The family-friendly, fun-and-frights event runs from Oct. 11 to Oct. 26 and features spooky scenes, chilling characters, a haunted theater, children’s Halloween activities and animal meet-n-greets. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Creepy exterminators run through the park at Gatorland’s Gators, Ghosts... Creepy exterminators run through the park at Gatorland’s Gators, Ghosts and Goblins event. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Cyrus the Gravedigger unveils Frankenstein during a tour of an... Cyrus the Gravedigger unveils Frankenstein during a tour of an abandoned movie theater at Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins event during a preview, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. The family-friendly, fun-and-frights celebration runs from Oct. 11 to Oct. 26 and features spooky scenes, chilling characters, a haunted theater, children’s Halloween activities and animal meet-n-greets. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) A scene from the tour of an abandoned movie theater... A scene from the tour of an abandoned movie theater at Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins event during a preview, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. The family-friendly, fun-and-frights celebration runs from Oct. 11 to Oct. 26 and features spooky scenes, chilling characters, a haunted theater, children’s Halloween activities and animal meet-n-greets. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Guests are welcomed during a tour of an abandoned movie... Guests are welcomed during a tour of an abandoned movie theater at Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins event during a preview, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. The family-friendly, fun-and-frights celebration runs from Oct. 11 to Oct. 26 and features spooky scenes, chilling characters, a haunted theater, children’s Halloween activities and animal meet-n-greets. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Alien invaders surprise guests at Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts... Alien invaders surprise guests at Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins during a preview, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. The family-friendly, fun-and-frights event runs from Oct. 11 to Oct. 26 and features spooky scenes, chilling characters, a haunted theater, children’s Halloween activities and animal meet-n-greets. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) A movie poster welcomes guests at an abandoned movie theater... A movie poster welcomes guests at an abandoned movie theater at Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins event during a preview, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. The family-friendly, fun-and-frights event runs from Oct. 11 to Oct. 26 and features spooky scenes, chilling characters, a haunted theater, children’s Halloween activities and animal meet-n-greets. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Guests are surprised by ghouls during a tour of an... Guests are surprised by ghouls during a tour of an abandoned movie theater at Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins preview event Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. The family-friendly, fun-and-frights celebration runs from Oct. 11 to Oct. 26 and features spooky scenes, chilling characters, a haunted theater, children’s Halloween activities and animal meet-n-greets. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Alien invaders surprise guests at Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts... Alien invaders surprise guests at Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins during a preview, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. The family-friendly, fun-and-frights event runs from Oct. 11 to Oct. 26 and features spooky scenes, chilling characters, a haunted theater, children’s Halloween activities and animal meet-n-greets. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Scenes from Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins preview... Scenes from Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins preview event, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. The family-friendly, fun-and-frights event runs from Oct. 11 to Oct. 26 and features spooky scenes, chilling characters, a haunted theater, children’s Halloween activities and animal meet-n-greets. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Guests are welcomed to an abandoned movie theater at Gatorland’s... Guests are welcomed to an abandoned movie theater at Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins event during a preview, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. The family-friendly, fun-and-frights celebration runs from Oct. 11 to Oct. 26 and features spooky scenes, chilling characters, a haunted theater, children’s Halloween activities and animal meet-n-greets. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) A new costumed capybara character greets young guests at Gatorland.... A new costumed capybara character greets young guests at Gatorland. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Park CEO Mark McHugh keeps on eye on his ghouls... Park CEO Mark McHugh keeps on eye on his ghouls during a tour of an abandoned movie theater at Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins preview event Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. The family-friendly, fun-and-frights celebration runs from Oct. 11 to Oct. 26 and features spooky scenes, chilling characters, a haunted theater, children’s Halloween activities and animal meet-n-greets. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

1 of 24 Skunk Ape emerges from the swamp at Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins event during a preview, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. The family-friendly, fun-and-frights event runs from Oct. 11 to Oct. 26 and features spooky scenes, chilling characters, a haunted theater, children’s Halloween activities and animal meet-n-greets. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

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Meanwhile, Gatorland’s Skunk Ape character — introduced in the early COVID-19 pandemic era as the Social Distancing Skunk Ape — has encountered aliens that have crash-landed in the cryptid petting zoo area. read more

Average long-term US mortgage rate eases to 6.3%, back to its lowest level in about a year

Average long-term US mortgage rate eases to 6.3%, back to its lowest level in about a year

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By ALEX VEIGA, AP Business Writer

The average rate on a 30-year U.S. mortgage edged lower this week, returning to its lowest level in about a year.

The average long-term mortgage rate slipped to 6.3% from 6.34% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.32%.

The modest drop brings the average rate back to where it was two weeks ago, after a string of declines brought down home loan borrowing costs to their lowest level since early October 2024.

Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also eased this week. The average rate dropped to 5.53% from 5.55% last week. A year ago, it was 5.41%, Freddie Mac said.

“Despite the decline, rates continue to hover within a narrow band they’ve maintained since mid-September, as markets remain in a holding pattern amid fiscal and monetary uncertainty, including the ongoing government shutdown,” said Anthony Smith, senior economist at Realtor.com.

Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, from the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy decisions to bond market investors’ expectations for the economy and inflation. They generally follow the trajectory of the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans. read more

Wall Street’s feverish rally takes a break as US stocks and gold pull back from their records

Wall Street’s feverish rally takes a break as US stocks and gold pull back from their records

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By STAN CHOE, AP Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street took a pause on Thursday as U.S. stocks and even the price of gold pulled back from record highs following torrid runs.

The S&P 500 slipped 0.3% from its latest all-time high for just its second loss in the last 10 days. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 243 points, or 0.5%, and the Nasdaq composite edged down by 0.1%.

Gold also fell following its stellar rally this year, losing 2.4% to drop back below $4,000 per ounce, while Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market. They’re taking a moment following big runs driven in large part by expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates to support the economy.

Financial markets have been climbing so relentlessly, including a 35% leap for the S&P 500 from a low in April, that worries are rising that prices may have shot too high and become too expensive. Concerns are particularly strong about the frenzy lifting stocks related to artificial-intelligence technology. read more

SpaceX targets nighttime launch of competitor Amazon’s satellites

SpaceX targets nighttime launch of competitor Amazon’s satellites

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SpaceX is set to finish up its third of three contracted launches of competitor Amazon’s Project Kuiper satellites on Thursday night.

A Falcon 9 on the KF-3 mission to launch 24 more of Amazon’s broadband internet satellites is set to lift off from Kennedy Space Center Launch Pad 39-A targeting 9:34 p.m. during a launch window that runs from 9:24 p.m.- 11:58 p.m.

The first-stage booster is flying for the second time and will aim for a recovery landing on the droneship Just Read the Instructions stationed in the Atlantic.

It would mark the 85th orbital launch from all providers on the Space Coast in 2025 with all but five coming from SpaceX.

Including this mission, six of those have been for Amazon with three on SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets and three on United Launch Alliance Atlas V rockets.

With this batch, Amazon’s satellite total will climb to 153. That’s out of a planned 3,236 total needed to be in orbit by July 2029, half of which are supposed to be launched by July 2026, according to a license issued by the Federal Communications Commission. read more

Universal holidays: Parade, Hogwarts show, Grinchmas, Who-ville Tree Lot

Universal holidays: Parade, Hogwarts show, Grinchmas, Who-ville Tree Lot

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Universal Orlando has unwrapped its holiday programming, which includes returning theme park favorites and expands into new Epic Universe territory.

Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s will return to the streets of Universal Studios Florida with big balloons, themed floats, plus characters from “Shrek,” “Despicable Me” and “Madagascar.” Santa Claus brings up the rear and triggers the lighting of an 80-foot Christmas tree. The parade and other holiday programming begin their daily routine on Nov. 21, the day after Thanksgiving.

Islands of Adventure will bring “The Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular” back on stage. In addition, visitors can interact with the Grinch and assorted Whos in the Seuss Landing section of the park. That also will be home to a new Who-ville Tree Lot, featuring “a collection of whimsical trees themed to various Dr. Seuss characters,” Universal says.

“The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle,” a projection show on Hogwarts Castle, will return to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at IOA. Seasonal decor will be added to Orlando’s other two Wizarding Worlds, Diagon Alley at Universal Studios and Ministry of Magic at Epic Universe. (It’s also warm butterbeer season.) read more