We’re putting a spell on you and rounding up a list of all the bewitching Halloween events happening around Austin. They’re all kid-friendly and most are FREE (it’s what we do best), but we’re also including some other spooktacular events with admission fees. Don’t forget to prep for these monster celebrations by checking the event’s website or calling before you head out in case of any changes or cancellations.
Movies in the Park – Death Becomes Her
October 19 at 7:15 p.m. | Pan Am Park, 2100 East 3rd St., Austin
Check out the spooky classic starring Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn, and Bruce Willis at Pan Am Park. Bring your blanket or lawn chairs (and don’t forget a picnic!) for a fun and relaxing evening under the beautiful Austin night sky for FREE!
Pioneer Farms Haunted Halloween
October 20-21, & 27-28 from 7-10 p.m. | 10621 Pioneer Farms Dr, Austin
Creepy scarecrows, ghost stories, and all things scary will be featured at the Halloween festival. Attendees have three separate spooky trails to choose from each night — one for young children (amusing, rated G), another for those who want spooky surprises (rated PG), and a scary, scary trail for the adventurous (frights galore, rated PG-13). Spook lights, ghoulish stories, pumpkins, food, drinks and souvenirs promise to add to the fun. Admission is $15 a person, a real 1800s bargain for this spooky family fun event, Austin’s legendary Halloween experience for all ages. Go here for tickets (to avoid long lines at the gate) and more info.
Boo at the Zoo
October 20-21, 27-28 from 6:30-9 p.m. | 10808 Rawhide Trl, Austin
Wear a costume, ride the haunted train, explore the haunted house, and see the animals by the glow of your flashlight. The zoo will be illuminated and decorated. Please get tickets in advance by visiting the gift shop or calling (512) 288-1490. Tickets are $17.50.
Monster Concert & Carnival
October 21 from 3:30-8:30 p.m. | Austin High School, 1715 W Cesar Chavez St, Austin
Monster Concert has been a tradition at Austin High School since 1987. The cornerstone of this event is a concert that features orchestras from Vertical Team elementary and middle schools, as well as the various orchestras at Austin High School. Also performing this year are orchestras from Crockett High School. In addition to concert performances in the AHS Performing Arts Center (PAC), the Monster Concert features a carnival with a variety of games, delicious food, and haunted house. All proceeds from the Monster Concert and Carnival support the Orchestra program at Austin High School. Admission is FREE! Tickets required for the Carnival.
Decorate a pumpkin at Kaleidoscope Toys (Round Rock)
October 21 at 10, 10:45 and 11:30 a.m. | 110 North IH 35, #375, Round Rock
There will be mini pumpkins for you to decorate with all kinds of craft items! Advance sign up required. Register online, sign up in store or call (512) 388-5048. Admission is FREE!
Dogtoberfest
October 21 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | The Domain, 3225 Amy Donovan Plaza, Austin
Dogtoberfest is an Austin-based, non-profit organization, created for the purpose of instilling awareness about dog rescue, as well as raising much needed funds for local dog rescue organizations. Lots of fun dog-themed activities, including a Canine Costume Contest! Prizes will be awarded for individual categories. A $5 donation to Dogtoberfest is suggested to register. Categories are: Best Ensemble, Best Duo (1 human +1 dog), Fantasy & Superheroes, Sports Stars, and Best in Show (overall winner from one of the 4 winners in each category). Registration for the event starts at 10 a.m. on the day of the event. Entries for each category are first-come, first-serve and limited spaces do fill up quickly. It’s recommended that you arrive early to register yourself and your pet for this event.
Hairy Man Spookyfest (Round Rock)
October 21 from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. | Cat Hollow Park, 8600 O’Conner Dr., Round Rock
Head out to the 23rd annual Hairy Man Festival for a fun filled day of food, arts and crafts fair, children’s activities, special performances, and live music. Plus, a costume contest, trick or treating in the park scavenger hunt, pumpkin decorating, train rides, scary snacks, and a haunted house. There will be several local non-profit organizations raising money for a good cause by providing snacks. The event is FREE but organizers suggest a donation of two non-perishable food items or $2 per person for the Round Rock Serving Center.
Halloween at the Y (Cedar Park)
October 21 from 3-8 p.m. | Twin Lakes Family YMCA, 204 East Little Elm Trail, Round Rock
Activities include: vendor trick or treating, games, bounce houses, kids activities, costume fashion show, family talent show, and a selfie photo booth. All for FREE! Concessions are also available at an additional cost.
Special Needs Trunk or Treat (Round Rock)
October 21 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Seton Medical Center Williamson, 201 Seton Parkway, Round Rock (in the parking lot)
Join Round Rock Parks and Recreation Department and Williamson Pediatric Rehab for this FREE family centered trick-or-treating event that encourages active participation for children with various disabilities or limitations. Trick-or-Treat from car to car, trunk to trunk. Costumes encouraged. Bring your trick or treat bags.
Trunk-or-Treat to benefit Blue Santa (Round Rock)
October 21 from 4-7 p.m. | Texas State University Parking Lot, 1555 University Blvd., Round Rock
FREE for all ages, this event features a bounce house, carnival games, concessions, raffles, fall crafts, music, and more!
Last Straw Fest
October 23 from 12-4 p.m. | UMLAUF, 605 Robert E. Lee Road, Austin
Get ready for UMLAUF’S annual event of the season: The Last Straw Fest! The UMLAUF Sculpture Garden & Museum is hosting the premier FREE Fall festival, right in the heart of Austin. The event will feature pumpkin carving, fall activities, games, food trucks, crafts, yoga, and more. Austin Animal Center is partnering with the UMLAUF and will be at the event from Noon – 4 p.m. with kittens to adopt.
Halloween Spelltacular Movie in the Park – Hocus Pocus
October 26 from 5:30 – 9:30 p.m. | Palm Park, 711 East 3rd St., Austin
Get your cauldrons ready for a special showing of Hocus Pocus complete with costume contest and witching-hour activities including a dance party, broom race, photo booth, and food truck courtyard. The whole party is BYOB, so feel free to bring anything in your cauldron that you’d like to enjoy! Tickets are $5-20 and benefit the Austin Parks Foundation.
Halloween Boo Bash
October 27 at 5:30 p.m. | 3208 Red River, Austin
The Austin YMCA offers a safe and family-friendly Halloween Boo Bash that features arts and crafts, games, music, and treats. Dress in costume and have some fun at this FREE event.
Spooktacular Halloween at the Northwest Family YMCA
October 27 at 4 p.m. | 5807 McNeil Dr, Austin
Northwest YMCA’s safe and family-friendly Halloween Spooktacular event will feature themed games, prizes, bounce house, balloon artists, Trunk or Treat & Not-So-Haunted-Candy Trail. FREE! Guests are asked to please bring three canned goods for the Hill Country Ministries Food Pantry.
Spooktacular at the Bullock Museum
October 27 from 5-8 p.m. | Bullock Museum, 1800 Congress Ave., Austin
Explore the Bullock after hours at this family-friendly Halloween extravaganza, featuring performances, games, interactive activities, art, and more. Morph into your favorite video game character and join the gaming fun with activities and demonstrations inspired by the exhibit Pong to Pokémon: The Evolution of Electronic Gaming. Plus, explore the Museum’s exhibits after hours at this FREE event. Spooktacular is presented in partnership with Girlstart, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing girls’ interest and engagement in science, technology, engineering, and math through innovative, nationally-recognized informal STEM education programs.
Halloween Hootenanny
October 27 from 6-9 p.m. | 1830 Simond Ave, Austin
Celebrate Halloween, Thinkery-style. Dress in your Halloween best and learn to make your own spooky sounds, become a gross-ologist, and face your fear of freaky foods. Activities for kids and adults make this fall celebration enchantingly fun for all. Complete all activity stations and receive a special prize!. $11-13; kids under 2 are free.
Cedar Park Library Foundation’s Fable Fest (Cedar Park)
October 28 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. | Elizabeth Milburn Park, 1901 Sun Chase Blvd, Cedar Park
Attractions and entertainment at this year’s Fable Fest include: The Kings Carnival where kids of all ages can play games, arts and crafts, enjoy inflatables, a petting zoo and pony rides (requires tickets which can be purchased at event); The Cobblestone Market, which provides the opportunity to shop with a variety of Arts and Craft vendors and other area merchants; The Pig’s Pub, where you can eat your fill; and The Royal Academy, which is home to demonstrations of Jousting, Archery, Fencing and other Kingdom sports. Admission is FREE!
Farmer Fred’s Harvest Fall Carnival (San Marcos)
October 28 from 6-9 p.m. | San Marcos Plaza Park, 201 N CM Allen Pkwy., San Marcos
All ages welcome. FREE! Enjoy free carnival games with prizes and candy. Don’t miss the costume contest. Concessions, train, and hay rides will be available for a nominal fee.
Halloween at the Y (Round Rock)
October 28 from 2-9 p.m. | Dell Diamond, 3400 East Palm Valley Boulevard, Round Rock
Take your Halloween celebration beyond ordinary at the Annual YMCA of Greater Williamson County at the DELL Diamond in Round Rock. This festival is one of the largest Halloween events throughout Central Texas! Activities include: carnival games, inflatables, rides, climbing walls, FREE candy, costume contest, and concessions. $9 per person. Click here for more info on the costume contests.
Family Pumpkin Carving
October 28 from 10-11 a.m. | Dottie Jordan Recreation Center, 2803 Loyola Ln., Austin
Join Dottie Jordan Recreation for family pumpkin carving! Admission is just $1 for the entire family.
Annual Pumpkin Carving on Carver Dock
October 28 from 11 a.m. | George Washington Carver Museum, 1165 Angelina St. North Parking Lot Dock, Austin
Head on over to Carver Dock for their annual pumpkin carving. This FREE event includes face painting, music, games, and more! A limited number of pumpkins are FREE, based on household size. RSVP for event by calling (512) 974-4926.
Trunk-Or-Treat (Pflugerville)
October 28 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | Pflugerville Animal Shelter, 1600 Waterbrook Dr., Pflugerville
The Pflugerville Animal Shelter is hosting a Trunk or Treat event to highlight animal adoptions and encourage residents to visit and adopt from the shelter. Various vendors will be setup with giveaways including candy and treats. Children are encouraged to come trick-or-treat in this safe environment. Tour the shelter while you are there, as it’s a final chance to take advantage of the $20 adoptions going on through the month of October.
Movies In The Park – Monsters, Inc.
October 28 from Sunset – 10 p.m. | Dottie Jordan Recreation Center, 2803 Loyola Ln., Austin
Take the family out to a FREE movie in the park at Dottie Jordan as they present Monsters, Inc.
Trick or Treat Costume Contest (Round Rock)
October 28 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | 110 North IH 35, #375, Round Rock
Trick or Treat at Kaleidoscope Toys, show off your costume, and enter their kids’ costume contest! Event is FREE and everybody gets a participation prize and staff will pick four Most Awesome Costume winners.
Austin Symphony Halloween Children’s Concert
October 29 at 1 and 4 p.m. | AISD Performing Arts Center, 1925 E. 51st St., Austin
It’s creepy, crawly, and so much fun it’s spooky! Your little ghost or goblin will love the Austin Symphony’s annual Halloween Children’s Concert. This exciting concert features frightfully fun symphonic music that is stimulating for young eyes and ears (ages 2–10). The entire family is invited to dress up in their favorite costume and enjoy “boo-tiful” music with their Austin Symphony Orchestra! $14-19 for tickets with FREE parking in the new garage.
Boo Bash (Georgetown)
October 29 at Noon – 4 p.m. | The Georgetown Square, 103 West 7th St., Georgetown
Both children and adults are invited to come on down to the Georgetown Square in costume and enjoy trunk or treating around the square. Merchants are open to enjoy the season of witches, goblins, and all those creative creatures out enjoying the afternoon.
The Pumpkin Express (Cedar Park)
October 29 at 10 a.m. | 401 E Whitestone Blvd C-100, Cedar Park
The Pumpkin Express takes you to the sleepy town of Bertram where you will step off for 30 minutes to pick a pumpkin from the Depot Pumpkin Patch. Kids of all ages will enjoy a chat with Farmer Brown, take a tour of our historic 1912 train depot, and sip apple cider. So pack a lunch and jump on board! All cars are pulled by a 1960 Alco diesel locomotive. Parties of two may be seated at shared tables. This ride is 3.5 hours round trip with a 30 minute layover. Departs 10 a.m., returns 1 p.m. Tickets here.
Mission: Possible! Trunk or Treat
October 29 from 5-7 p.m. | 1190 Chicon St, Austin
Mission: Possible! Austin invites you to join the annual fall festival and trunk or treat! The University of Texas Christian Sorority Sigma Phi Lambda along with Eastside Community Church is partnering up to reach the eastside community.
Steiner Ranch Trunk or Treat
October 31 from 4-6 p.m. | Steiner Ranch Town Square Community Center, Austin
Residents, clubs, organizations and groups are all welcome to join in on the fun. Please sign up per vehicle that you will have in the parking lot on Sunday, October 29th, 2017. The “Trunk or Treating” will begin at 4 p.m.
Howl-O-Scream
October 31 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Various
The City of Austin hosts a Howl-O-Scream Halloween event at five district sites: Gus Garcia Recreation Center, Turner-Roberts Recreation Center, Givens Recreation Center, Dove Springs Recreation Center, and Dittmar Recreation Center. All ages are welcome to enjoy treats, carnival games, and a haunted house. $3.00 gets you unlimited fun and a snack or, you can receive 10 tickets or FREE.
Trunk-Or-Treat (Leander)
October 31 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. | T.B.D.
The Leander Police Department’s Trunk-or-Treat event is a community project where the police department and the community partner to provide a safe, fun, family friendly alternative to door to door trick-or-treating. Attendees are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate to Blue Santa. This event includes different car clubs in the area (generally including classic cars, modified cars, or rare cars) that decorate their cars, dress up in costumes, and hand out candy to children. There will also be police cars, fire engines, and other emergency services vehicles for the children to look through, some small games for the kids, costume competitions, awards and raffles for the car participants. Location TBD. Click here for updates.
Halloween Trick or Treat for Books!
October 31 at 10:30 a.m. | Book People, 603 N. Lamar Blvd Austin
Gather at BookPeople this Halloween for a storytime starring our favorite group of preposterous puppeteers! Storytime will feature stories full of monsters, ghosts, and witches (but none of them will be too scary). Then, after storytime, join the costume parade around the store, which will start on our second floor and end at the front of the store where you’ll get your treat – a free book to bring home! This Halloween Party is perfect for witches and wizards ages 7 and under. Come have a Spook-tacular Halloween at BookPeople! FREE!
Fall Fun Fest (Round Rock)
October 31 from 9–11:30 a.m. | Old Settlers Park, 3300 East Palm Valley Blvd., Round Rock
Don’t puzzle and puzzle till your puzzler is sore; just come to Fall Fun Festival – it won’t be a bore! You’ll want to come, yes indeed! You’ll want to come, that’s guaranteed! This event is the best of the best; it’s an event that tops all the rest! One can, two cans, three cans more; donate them to help stock the local food pantry store. Grab a goodie bag; yes you will; then play fun carnival games up on the hill! Hop on a hayride, swoosh down a slide, munch on a cookie, get a new book-ie! Come one, come all! Let’s have a ball; lots of fun for tall and small! Event is FREE but guests are encouraged to bring a canned item for the Round Rock Serving Center.
Treats on East Street (Hutto)
October 31 5:30-8 p.m. | Downtown Hutto
Booths will offer activities to children of all ages, local churches and businesses will have a Trunk-or-Treat Alley for everyone to stock up on candy for the evening. Hosted by the City of Hutto Parks & Recreation Department. FREE!
Featured photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons, Creative Commons licensed.
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