Guide to Halloween 2017

Boo on the Boardwalk, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in October, offers Halloween fun for the family, including ghost tours, costume contests, Halloween movies, live music and more. 

Halloween is one of my favorite fake times of the year. It’s so fun to dress up, and who doesn’t like candy?! Halloween is also a great time for parties and festivities. There is plenty going on in Houston on and leading up to Halloween, so take your kids or release your inner kid and enjoy some of the awesome events lined up in our city this month. Featured below are a variety of Halloween and fall-related activities happening all around Houston.

Oct. 6-7/Every weekend in October: Nightmare on the Bayou Haunted House @ I-10 and Studemont 

Voted the #1 Haunted House in the U.S. by American Haunts in 2017, Nightmare on the Bayou is back this Halloween. Open from 7-11 p.m. every Friday and Saturday in October (and Thursdays starting on the 19th), Nightmare on the Bayou is open to all ages, but beware! It is known to be pretty scary.

Oct. 6-29: Galveston Graveyard Tour @ Galveston Historic Tour

Just a short drive away from Houston is one of the most notoriously haunted cities in the country! Yes, Galveston! All throughout October, Galveston Historic Tours will be leading walking tours throughout Galveston’s oldest cemeteries. If you’re interested in learning about the history of the people buried in these cemeteries (including Menard, Williams and Childress relatives) or if you want to be spooked, this is a great event for all ages.

Oct. 6-31: Boo on the Boardwalk @ Kemah Boardwalk 

Starting on the 6th, Kemah Boardwalk will have fun events every day leading up to Halloween, including costume contests, magic shows, kids activities, live music from the Boogie Man Band, Halloween movies, candy, a kid-friendly haunted house and more.

Oct. 7-28: Halloween Movie Nights @ Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier

From 8-10 p.m., every Saturday in October, Pleasure Pier will be showing a free Halloween movie. On the 7th: Monster House; on the 14th: The Haunted Mansion; on the 21st: Hotel Transylvania; on the 28th: Hocus Pocus.

The Children's Museum of Houston hosts three weeks of spooky, festive activities during October, including trick-or-treating, slime-filled fun, a Halloween party and more. 

Oct. 10-31: Target Halloween Monster Mayhem @ the Children’s Museum of Houston

Every day starting on the 10th, join the Children’s Museum from 4-6 p.m. on weekdays, 4-8 p.m. on Thursdays, and all day on weekends for trick or treating, candy, and family fun at the museum. Thursdays are free for families, and there will be a free magic show on Oct. 19 and 21.

Oct. 13, 21: Halloween Zoovie Nights @ the Houston Zoo

On Friday the 13th and Saturday the 21st, join the Houston Zoo for a free showing of Hocus Pocus (the movie on the 21st is TBD). Dress in your Halloween gear!

Oct. 13-29: Zoo Boo 2017 @ the Houston Zoo

On Fridays from 9 am-1 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 9 am-4 p.m., starting on the 13th, is the annual Zoo Boo! Kids are encouraged to come in their Halloween costumes, and there will be candy! Halloween activities will be all around the Zoo.

Oct. 13: Houston Symphony Presents Hocus Pocus @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

The Houston Symphony will be performing Halloween-themed music starting at 7:30 p.m., and costumes are encouraged.

Oct. 14: WUES 2017 Boo Bash Carnival and Bazaar @ West University Elementary School

WUES is hosting a carnival and bazaar from 10 am-2 p.m., with vendors selling jewelry, gifts, etc. There will be free games, crafts, prizes, and other family-friendly activities.  

Oct. 14: Boo To Flu Halloween Fair @ The Center for Children and Women- Southwest

Join The Center for Children and Women- Southwest for their 5th Annual Boo To Flu Halloween Fair, happening from 10 am-12 p.m. Bring your Texas Children’s Health Plan ID card for free flu shots. Parents can get a shot for a discounted price of $25. Costumes encouraged, and candy and trick or treating can be expected! This may not be the most fun event for children, but the flu is no joke!

Oct. 17: Hoptoberfest @ the Rice Farmers Market

The Rice Farmers Market operates at Rice in the stadium parking lot every Tuesday from 3:30-6:30 p.m., but this week, there will be a DJ, free food, and free beer from Saint Arnold and Buffalo Bayou Brewing Companies. There will also be boba tea from Rice student-run business East-West Tea and wine from Salento Bistro.

Oct. 20: Full Moon Fest @ Colonial Park Pool

Starting at 5:30 p.m., the City of West University Place Parks and Recreation Department is hosting their annual Full Moon Fest, featuring a surprise guest, pumpkin decoration, face painting, and a costume contest. Despicable Me will be shown at 7 p.m.

Oct. 21: ArBOOretum @ Houston Arboretum and Nature Center

This annual ArBOOretum fall festival features a Trick-or-Treat Trail, train rides, a petting zoo, pony rides, pumpkin decorating and more fall, family-frieendly activities. 

Oct. 21: Condit Fall Carnival @ Condit Elementary School

The PTO at Condit Elementary School will be putting on a Fall Carnival for community members for free from 1-4 p.m.

Oct. 21: Houston Halloween Fest Bar Crawl @ the Heights

The Houston Wave is busing around Houstonians for this bar crawl. The bar crawl starts at 6 p.m. at Eight Row Flint, and the last bus will run at 11 p.m. From then, the bus will continue to Heights Bier Garden, Southern Goods, Johnny’s Gold Brick and D&T Drive Inn.

Oct. 21: 7th Annual Houston Halloween Festival @ 19th Street at Yale

This event runs from 5-10 p.m., and is hosted by the Houston Zombie Walk. The festival will include live music, food trucks, beer gardens, costume contests, and a Kids Zone filled with a pumpkin patch, magicians and jugglers, crafts, face painting, candy, and the Children’s Museum Slime Factory. Tickets are $10 and the money goes towards The Houston Zombie Walk’s Too Ghoul For School scholarship fund. Children under 11 get in free.

Oct. 21: Carter's Pet Depot's Howl-oween Barktoberfest 

Carter's Pet Depot is hosting their Halloween Barktoberfest on Sat., Oct. 21, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. This community event will raise rescue/adoption awareness and provide information about natural food and treats along with helping families get in the Halloween spirit. Dress up with your furry friend as there will be a costume contest every hour. Look forward to live music, cold brews, giveaways, cornhole, free photos printed immediately, and more. 

Come for the dogs in costume and stay for the free stuff! Free stuff includes dog training lessons, dog treats, coupons for dog-related stores and raffle prizes. Contests will be held for best dog costume and treat eating. The event runs from 12-2 p.m., and tickets are $12. FYI: the event is 21+, and all dogs must be on a leash.

Oct. 21-22: Harriet’s Halloween Candy @ St. Luke’s UMC 

At 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Tapestry Players will be putting on a play based on Nancy Carlson’s popular children’s book, Harriet’s Halloween Candy at the Rotunda Theater. Tickets are $5, and siblings 2 and under get in free.

Oct. 21-22: Pumpkin Patch Fall Festival @ Nature Discovery Center

Nature Discovery Center's annual fall festival will include festival games, crafts, gift vendors, food trucks, wagon rides, a moon bounce, an obstacle course, rock wall, and piles and piles of pumpkins.

Oct. 22: Annual Dog Costume Contest with Saint Arnold, Brash and HCAS @ Axelrad

Enjoy a fun and adorable day of pups in costume, beer, live music and more. 

Oct. 24: Harry Potter Trivia Night @ Houston Flying Saucer

From 7:30 p.m.-1 a.m, Houston Flying Saucer is hosting two rounds of Harry Potter trivia (7:30 and 9:30 p.m.) to get everyone in the ~spooky~ Halloween spirit. Costumes are encouraged and will be extra credit for trivia.

Oct. 26: ROCO Connections: “Musical Trick-or-Treat” @ The Heritage Society

Join the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra for a concert full of surprises! Audiences will travel in groups of four to historic homes to hear a short piece by a musician at each house. Tickets start at $50 and the event starts at 6 p.m.  

Oct. 26: The Great Pumpkin Hunt @ Bellaire Town Square Event Lawn

The Great Pumpkin Hunt returns this year, with two age groups (0-4 and 5-10) welcome to participate. The Great Pumpkin has a grand prize, but no matter who wins, there will be tons of free candy. Afterward, the movie Beauty and the Beast will be shown. Event starts at 4:30 p.m.

Oct. 27: Houston Symphony Presents Psycho @ Jones Hall

The Houston Symphony will be performing music from Psycho and simultaneously screening the original movie for the audience, starting at 7:30 p.m.  

Oct. 27: Scream on the Green @ Discovery Green

Starting at 7 p.m., watch a free screening of Hotel Transylvania 2 (PG) at Discovery Green. Free games and candy will start at 6 p.m., with a costume contest at 7. The movie will start at 7:30.  

Oct. 27: Houston’s Largest Halloween Party Presented by Fanatical Change Foundation @ BBVA Compass Stadium 

This party, called “Carnival Freak Show,” happening from 7 p.m.-2 am, will feature live DJs, music, drinks, photobooths, and auctions. Fanatical Change Foundation works to raise money for families in need, but also works to make the process of donating between donor and recipient transparent, making sure that the families actually see the money being given.

The West U Halloween Dash includes a fun 5K Race and 1 mile Kids Fun Run taking place on the tree-lined streets of West U, followed by a costume contest and awards ceremony. 

 

Oct. 28: West U Halloween Dash and Kids Fun Run @ West U Community Building

Starting at 8 a.m., a 5K race will take place in West U, followed by a Kids Fun Run at 8:45 a.m. A costume contest will take place at 9:15 a.m. Proceeds benefit the West University Place Parks and Recreation Department.

Oct. 28: The Vampires & Vixens Ball Presented By Leather & Laces @ Spring Street Studios

The Vampire & Vixens Ball is a 21+ event featuring a live DJ, food and cocktails, a costume contest, and “scare technology.” Part of the ticket proceeds will benefit Easter Seals Greater Houston.

Oct. 28: Food Truck Fright Night Fundraiser @ Xavier Academy

A professionally staged haunted house welcomes all brave souls from 7-10 p.m.! This event will have food trucks and live music, and ticket proceeds benefit the Friends of Xavier Scholarship Fund.

Oct. 28: Sensory-Friendly Trunk-or-Treat @ The Westview School

From 10 a.m.to 12 p.m., there will be a bounce house, games, food trucks, a holiday market, and candy, all for free at The Westview School.

Oct. 28: Slime-Off @ the Children’s Museum of Houston

The Children’s Museum will be hosting free slime workshops! Register online at the Children’s Museum website.

Oct. 28: Halloween Interactive Murder Dinner Show @ Houston —The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Show (400 Dallas St) 

From 6-9 p.m., join in on America’s largest interactive comedy murder mystery dinner show. Eat delicious food as you try to determine “who done it.”

Oct. 28: Spirits & Skeletons Party @ the Houston Museum of Natural Science

Join HMNS from 8 p.m.-12 a.m.at their annual Halloween party. Costumes are encouraged, and there will be live music. There will be food trucks and drinks (this event is 21+).

Oct. 28: 2nd Annual Midtown Halloween Pub Crawl 

From 3 p.m.-12 am, go hop around Midtown bars in costume to celebrate Halloween. There will be costume contests and $3 beer/drinks. You’ll get a free cup and koozie with your ticket.

Oct. 28: 11th Annual Montrose Crawl @ Montrose

Get your costume and get ready for a night of fun around Montrose at the annual bar crawl, including 12 bars and restaurants between Dunlavy and Montrose. 

Oct. 28-29: Something Wicked Festival 2017 @ Sam Houston Race Park 

Something Wicked, EDM’s Houston Halloween party, is back and even better than last year, featuring acts like Marshmello and Tiesto. Costumes are encouraged!

Oct. 30: Harry Potter Halloween Feast @ the Houston Food Bank

From 5:30-9 p.m. the night before Halloween, join the Houston Food Bank and the Houston Harry Potter Meet-up club in volunteering at the HFB, followed by a party. There will be trivia, food and a costume contest. The event is open for everyone 6 years and up. Suggested donation is $5 or 5 canned items. Wear closed-toe shoes, and sign up to volunteer ahead of time here. 

Oct. 31: Movies at Miller - John Carpenter’s Halloween (1978) @ Miller Outdoor Theatre

Miller Outdoor Theatre is hosting a free screening of the classic John Carpenter film Halloween. The movie is rated R. The event is non-ticketed, and will happen rain or shine.

On Halloween night, CITYCENTRE offers a district-wide trick-or-treat experience followed by a monster mash under the stars as a DJ spins tunes in the plaza. 

 

Oct. 31: Halloween Trick-or-Treat @ CityCentre

On Halloween from 5-7 p.m., CityCentre shops will be hosting trick-or-treating, followed by a party with a DJ till 8 p.m. Candy will be provided by participating stores marked with orange and black balloons, including Sweet Paris, Charming Charlie, Hemline, BRIO, Mango, J. Crew, and more. Candy provided by HEB, and the event is sponsored by Texas Children’s Hospital- West Campus.

Oct. 31: Westbury Baptist Church Fall Carnival @ Westbury Baptist Church

This carnival event includes a cake walk, face painting, bounce houses and food, and will take place from 6-8 p.m.

Oct. 31: Halloween Monster Mash Bash @ the Children’s Museum of Houston

The Children’s Museum will be open until 8 p.m. on Halloween for a kids party filled with fun music and trick-or-treating starting at noon. Costumes encouraged, and slime will be provided.

See our event calendar for all upcoming events. Know of other fun Halloween events? Comment below.