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Spooky season is officially upon us!
As summer fades and the Texas weather begins to cool down, it’s time to embrace all things Fall. Whether you’re planning a weekend adventure with the kids or an outing with friends, this Halloween round-up has all the best events, haunted happenings, and festive fun to keep your calendar packed through the season.
Austin
The Austin Zoo will be hosting Boo at the Zoo every Friday and Saturday from 5:45-9 p.m. the entire month of October. Bring the whole family for an evening of Halloween fun! Wear your best costume and enjoy games, activities and rides throughout the zoo. Tickets are $24 each.
Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail
What’s This?! Step into moonlit magic at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center this fall. From Sept. 25 to Nov. 30, the grounds become a glowing gateway into Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. Explore Halloween Town and Christmas Town with over 8,300 sq ft of spectacular light displays, 3D-printed sculptures, and immersive tech that brings Jack, Sally, Oogie Boogie, and more to life. Expect trail-blazing photo ops and unforgettable enchantment at every twist and turn. With Daylight Saving Time coming to an end on Nov. 2, earlier evening entry times will be available, allowing guests to experience the light trail after dark — when the magic truly shines. Tickets and more information are available online.
Dog Pawrty and Costume Contest with Happy Hearts Dog Rescue
Meanwhile Brewing Co., in partnership with Happy Hearts Dog Rescue, is hosting a community dog party on Oct. 29 from 6–10 p.m.. Enjoy a paw-some evening featuring raffle prizes, a movie screening, dog-friendly local vendors, free dog tarot readings, and more! Plus, meet adoptable pups on-site and maybe even find your new best friend.
Join Meanwhile Brewing Co. every Thursday evening through Oct. 30 for their family-friendly Halloween movie series. The pre-show kicks off at 6 p.m. with Arts & Craft pumpkin painting and the movie starting promptly at 7 p.m. — early arrival is highly recommended! Bring your blankets and chairs for a cozy outdoor setup. Adults can sip on specialty Halloween cocktails inside, while kids enjoy popcorn and other tasty treats.
This annual event offers all horror movie fans the opportunity to watch some of their favorite classics like Pet Sematary, Hausu, and An American Werewolf in London to name a few. Lasting through Nov. 9, Panic at the Paramount is a horror takeover featuring special guests, Q&A’s, double features and more.
Pumpkin Patches and Corn Mazes
Gather your crew and kick off your fall festivities with a visit to one of these local farms. Enjoy good old fashioned fun at Sweet Berry Farms in Marble Falls with a pumpkin patch, hayrides, corn mazes and more. Open daily through Nov. 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; closed on Wednesdays.
At Indian Springs, you’ll find exotic animals, a sensory corn pit, local craft vendors, and a festive pumpkin patch. Running through early November, it’s the perfect seasonal outing for families or groups of friends.
Haunted Tours
With spooky season in full swing, Austin is home to some must-see haunted attractions that promise a real fright. One eerie favorite is the annual Murder, Mayhem, and Misadventure Walking Tour hosted by Save Austin Cemeteries at Oakwood Cemetery. This free, family-friendly event takes place on Oct. 25, with 45-minute tours departing every 15–20 minutes starting at 6 p.m. For a more chilling experience, check out Haunted ATX, where tour guides take you to reportedly haunted historic locations around Austin—in a limo hearse, no less. Tours run Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., making it a unique and spine-tingling way to explore the city’s haunted history.
Bastrop
Home to one of the iconic scenes from the 1974 Texas Chainsaw Massacre, this location offers horror fans a chance to visit an actual filming site. Now a popular weekend destination, guests can even stay overnight in one of the rustic on-site cabins.
Located just 30 miles east of Austin, Scream Hollow is a relatively new 20-acre Halloween theme park that offers five different haunted houses, a haunted Halloween hayride, live music, bonfires and more. They’re open Friday through Sunday until Halloween, with extended dates on Halloween weekend.
The Bastrop Opera House will be producing the classic thriller, Dial ‘M’ for Murder, in honor of the spooky season. An ongoing tradition, the show will run from Oct. 17-26 on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $25.
The Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort & Spa
The resort is celebrating the season with a lineup of festive fall events. From s’mores roasts and haunted hayrides to night hikes, scarecrow yoga, Halloween movie nights, and more, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Don’t miss their fun-filled activities for the whole family!
Happening on Halloween Day, Oct. 31, from 6–9 p.m., this free event is the perfect opportunity to dress up in your best costume and spend time with loved ones. It features bounce houses, food trucks, Halloween-themed activities, a costume contest, and trick-or-treating. It’s a festive way to wrap up the spooky season!
Dallas
Monster Splash Bash at JadeWaters
Bring the whole family for a fa-BOO-lous end-of-season celebration at JadeWaters Resort Pool at Hilton Anatole! The Monster Splash Bash kicks off Nov. 1 from 2–6 p.m. Enjoy a fun-filled afternoon with colorful face painting, a bubbly foam party, pumpkin crafts, a live DJ, and themed sweets and drinks. With all-day access to the resort pool, both kids and parents are in for a spook-tacular time you won’t want to miss! Be sure to bring both your swimsuit and costumes.
Located in the Trinity Forest Adventure Park on the outskirts of Dallas, this immersive horror night walk offers a spine-tingling experience without relying on actors or cheap jump scares. Instead, the creative minds at Moment Factory use haunting light displays and eerie soundscapes to heighten the tension, allowing your imagination to fill in the terrifying blanks. Arrive early to enjoy a one-of-a-kind margarita to steady your nerves, or stick around afterward for celebratory drinks once you’ve made it through. Tickets range from $25 on weeknights to $31 on weekends, with a discounted rate of $22.90 for children aged 4 to 10.
Video courtesy Boo! At the Galleria
Located inside Galleria Dallas, Boo! is an immersive haunted hotel experience that blends an eerie atmosphere with a dark, retro-futuristic story of wealth, ambition, and failed experiments. Guests walk through 13 themed rooms, enjoy complimentary studio-quality photos, and piece together clues leading to a “choose your own adventure” ending. Created by Baymo—the team behind SNOWDAY! and Santaland—Boo! marks its debut as a fresh Halloween tradition. Tickets are $15 for kids and $25 for adults (13+), with the exhibit running all October.
Celebrating 15 years of showcasing the best farm-fresh food and flowing drinks in North Texas, the annual Chefs for Farmers Food and Wine Festival returns to Dallas on November 1 and 2. The two-day event continues the tradition of bringing together chefs from restaurants across Big D and beyond, including the renowned Hutchins Barbeque, Nobu Dallas, Crown Block, Pappas Bros. Steakhouse, and more, for an epic celebration of local farms in the metroplex. Learn how this highly anticipated event came about from TLM’s interview with the festival’s founder, Iris Midler. Buy your tickets here.
Fort Worth
On Oct. 25, the fourth annual celebration of horsepower and high style rolls into North Texas, uniting car enthusiasts for a turbocharged day of roaring engines, live music, and a Halloween twist. Founded by Cody Walker, this year’s event amps up the adrenaline with a “Trunk or Treat” experience that lets attendees deck out their rides and hand out candy while drift cars tear up the track nearby. From custom builds to street beasts, Fuel Fest is where chrome meets costumes in a full-throttle fusion of speed, style, and spooky fun. Tickets start at $52.80 for adults. Children 12 and under get in free. Grab your tickets here.
Toro Toro By Chef Richard Sandoval
Inside the Worthington Renaissance Fort Worth Hotel, famed Chef Richard Sandoval conjures the spirit of Día de Los Muertos in a month-long seasonal menu. Between Oct. 1 and Nov. 3, Toro Toro invites guests on a 3-course culinary experience for $98, exploring haunting delicacies that include a Calabaza en Tacha with pumpkin natilla brulé, piloncillo pepita compote, and cinnamon ice cream, or hair-raising spirts like the Moon’s Embrace, with bourbon, Abasolo, cacao liqueur, cocoa, café de olla, and orange bitters.
San Antonio
Known for having the largest Day of the Dead Celebration in the country, San Antonio brings you the seventh annual Day of the Dead River Parade. Happening on Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. at the San Antonio River Walk, it’s a great way to spend time with your loved ones and enjoy a day of family, life and heritage.
Calaverita Run 5K and Family Walk
Celebrate Día de los Muertos with a meaningful community run on Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. Participants can honor loved ones by adding their names or photos to race bibs or the community altar. After the run, enjoy live music, face painting, local vendors, and more. Don’t forget to register and be part of this special evening of remembrance and celebration.
Rio de la Vida—Tradition Trail Tour
Celebrate the rich history and vibrant traditions of Día de los Muertos with a special guided boat tour along the San Antonio River with GO Rio and Visit San Antonio. Cruise through downtown as you learn about the cultural significance of this beloved holiday and the stories behind the colorful alebrijes art installations along the River Walk. This seasonal event runs through Nov. 5, every Tuesday and Sunday at 7:30 p.m.. Departure will take place at the Briscoe Western Art Museum.
Celebrations at The Moon’s Daughters
Join The Moon’s Daughters for a continuation of the festivities following the Day of the Dead Parade downtown on Oct. 24. Enjoy live music, festive cocktails, and locally inspired food and drink specials at the Dia de los Muertos After Party. The celebration begins at 9:30 p.m., and please note that starting at 9 p.m., the event will be 21+ only.
The fun continues Oct. 31 at The Moon’s Daughters annual Halloween event, the Dead Celebrities Halloween Party! This year, step into the spotlight for a night with Hollywood’s most iconic stars—past and present. Come dressed as your favorite legend and enjoy an unforgettable evening with friends. The night will feature live music, signature cocktails, and an electric atmosphere that promises endless fun. The celebration kicks off at 9:30 p.m.
Signia by Hilton La Cantera Resort & Spa
This fall, guests visiting Signia by Hilton La Cantera Resort & Spa are invited to experience a stunning walkthrough of the property celebrating the art and heritage of Día de Los Muertos. Starting Oct. 10, the resort’s Plaza San Saba transforms into a lively outdoor gallery showcasing the Monumental Botanical Fridas, an impressive collection of Frida Kahlo-inspired sculptures created by renowned Mexican architect and artist Paul Zarkin. Each larger-than-life figure, crafted from fiberglass, resin, and acrylic paint, hauntingly adorns the grounds at La Cantera, infusing the already elegant landscape with vibrant colors and eclectic textures.
Be sure to visit the honorary ofrenda curated by Gabriela Gamez, which features the Day of the Dead on My Mind painting by artist Kathy Sosa. This painting depicts a female figure wearing a traditional, heavily hand-embroidered Mexican huipil, evoking strength through a history of resilience.
In an epic celebration of remembrance and revelry, Hotel Contessa hosts the most spirited tribute to heritage and community. From Friday, Oct. 24 to Sunday, Oct. 31, 2025, the historic hotel celebrates the Mexican tradition with an immersive and vibrant week-long event along San Antonio’s iconic River Walk. Guests can enjoy front-row seats to the Día de Los Muertos River Parade and participate in creative workshops for all ages. The event also features a special seasonal edition of the monthly art fair and a VIP Terrace Celebration, which offers rooftop views, cocktails, live entertainment, and a chance to win a future stay. Then, the weeklong celebration ends with a shriek at the Spooky Spa Halloween Party on October 31, complete with themed spa demos, cocktails, and a costume contest.
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Cover Photo Mark Duffel on Unsplash
Kayla Jones is an inspiring writer with a love for fashion, culture, and storytelling. She enjoys highlighting creativity and community through her work.
