Families in Miami Beach have a packed calendar of free events in October, with outdoor movies, live music, salsa dancing, pumpkin decorating and Halloween activities scheduled across the city.

Here are some of the month's highlights, organized by date.

Oct. 7: SoundScape movies begin with 'Selena'

When: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7
Where: SoundScape Park, 500 17th St.
Cost: Free

The SoundScape Cinema Series opens its 17th season with "Selena," projected on the 7,000-square-foot wall outside the Frank Gehry-designed New World Center.

Free movies continue every Wednesday in October with "The Goonies" on Oct. 14, "Casper" on Oct. 21 and "The Addams Family" on Oct. 28.

Screenings take place rain or shine and do not require tickets, according to Secret Miami.

Oct. 10: Live En La Playa brings Latin music to Lummus Park

When: 6-11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10
Where: Lummus Park, Sixth Street and Ocean Drive
Cost: Free with RSVP

Live En La Playa returns for its second year as part of the city's Miami Beach OnStage! series and Hispanic Heritage Month celebration.

Latin-funk group Spam Allstars and Afro-Caribbean jazz group Tony & The Kings will perform. An outdoor record fair will feature vinyl from across Latin America, while Cut and Destroy will lead heritage-inspired art and pin-making workshops.

Admission is free with an RSVP through posh.vip.

The City of Miami Beach promoted the event as a free celebration of music, culture and community in South Beach.

Oct. 11: Salsa Fest offers dancing for all ages

When: 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11
Where: Miami Beach Bandshell, 7275 Collins Ave.
Cost: Free

Singer Melina Almodóvar hosts the Miami Beach Salsa Fest, featuring live music, a seniors salsa dance contest and free salsa lessons for all ages, according to the city's Hispanic Heritage Month announcement.

"We're proud to honor this heritage with free events that bring neighbors together and highlight the vibrancy, creativity and contributions of Hispanic Americans who make Miami Beach an even better place to live," Mayor Steven Meiner said when the city announced its Hispanic Heritage Month lineup in September.

Oct. 16, 23 and 30: Halloween movies go poolside

When: 8 p.m. Fridays
Where: Solei Beach Club at Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel, 1717 Collins Ave.

Solei Beach Club's Movies Under the Stars series offers three Halloween favorites by the pool this month, Modern Luxury reported.

The schedule is:

  • Oct. 16: "Ghostbusters"
  • Oct. 23: "Beetlejuice"
  • Oct. 30: "Hocus Pocus"

Oct. 24: Kids can decorate free pumpkins on Lincoln Road

When: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24
Where: Euclid Folly, 660 Lincoln Road
Cost: Free

The Lincoln Road BID hosts a free Pumpkin Decorating Workshop, with mini pumpkins available for the first 300 children.

Kids can decorate their pumpkins and take them home. Free face painting will also be available, according to the event listing.

Botanical Garden adds crafts, fairies and ghost stories

The Miami Beach Botanical Garden also plans two free seasonal programs in October.

"Boo-tanical Garden: A Gnome & Fairy Garden Adventure" features seasonal crafts and a visit with local artist Christina Pettersson.

"Folklore & Foliage" features ghost stories from author Thomas Smith and a shadow puppet performance by Pettersson.

Dates and additional details are available at mbgarden.org.

October events at a glance

Oct. 7: "Selena," 8 p.m., SoundScape Park
Oct. 10: Live En La Playa, 6-11 p.m., Lummus Park
Oct. 11: Miami Beach Salsa Fest, 5 p.m., Miami Beach Bandshell
Oct. 14: "The Goonies," 8 p.m., SoundScape Park
Oct. 16: "Ghostbusters," 8 p.m., Solei Beach Club
Oct. 21: "Casper," 8 p.m., SoundScape Park
Oct. 23: "Beetlejuice," 8 p.m., Solei Beach Club
Oct. 24: Pumpkin Decorating Workshop, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Lincoln Road
Oct. 28: "The Addams Family," 8 p.m., SoundScape Park
Oct. 30: "Hocus Pocus," 8 p.m., Solei Beach Club