Halloween in Houston

Not only does Houston have haunted houses, there are also drive-in movies, pop-up markets and more!

Pumpkin Planters
October 21, 2023 | 1-2:30 p.m.
Houston Arboretum & Nature Center

Create a beautiful fall planter for your patio or yard! They'll provide all the supplies you need to prepare a festive container garden, including an artificial pumpkin container, three plants, soil, and decorations.

Haunted Hues
September 14 - October 31, 2023
The Color Factory

From September 22nd through Halloween, Color Factory is welcoming ghosts and goblins of all ages to experience HAUNTED HUES! HAUNTED HUES is a limited-time BOO-tacular event. Experience the happily haunted transformation of Color Factory’s interactive installations and immersive rooms with ghoulishly delightful new sweets to nibble, Instagram-worthy photo opportunities, pumpkin decorating and a yummy partnership with Juiceland. HAUNTED HUES will be all treats—no tricks—this Halloween season.

Feges BBQ Spring Branch Halloween Festival
October 28, 2023 | 3-6 p.m.

Celebrate a family-friendly Halloween at Feges BBQ Spring Branch! Kids of all ages can enjoy Cupcake’s Haunted House, an oversized bounce house, a pumpkin decorating station, Dragon’s Nest play area, and Hocus Pocus (PG) will be playing on all the screens.

Halloween costumes are encouraged. Contest Categories: Best costume under 12 years old, Best family costume, Best costume 12 and up, and Best Feges BBQ staff costume. More details here.

Howl-O-Ween Dog Parade and Costume Contest 
October 29, 2023 | 4-6 p.m.
The annual Howl-O-Ween Dog Parade and Costume Contest presented by H-E-B is back October 29th from 4-6pm at Levy Park! The event will kick off with a pup parade around the park followed by a costume contest where contestants will strut the “runway” for the chance to win pup-tastic prizes. Kids will also have an opportunity to walk the catwalk. 

The costume contest has three new categories to pick from: 

• Spooky Season (anything fall or Halloween related)
• From the Screen (any character or theme from TV or movies)
• Best Ensemble (must include three or more people and/or dogs in coordinating costumes)

The Thriller Resurrection
October 28, 2023 | 7 p.m.  

The Moran CITYCENTRE is hosting a frighteningly fun Halloween Bash on Saturday, October 28^th. “The Thriller Resurrection” will begin in Fireside at 7 p.m. with live music by Level One Band. Show off your creativity and join the “Thriller” themed costume contest for a chance to win exclusive prizes, including a one-night stay at The Moran CITYCENTRE! As the night creeps on, dance until you drop to the beats of DJ EDJ.

The Moran CITYCENTRE is partnering with Tito’s Vodka to make this Halloween the fright of your life! Upon arrival, the first 50 guests will receive a Tito’s Vodka swag bag and be treated to a bewitching selection of specialty cocktails to keep spirits high throughout the night. Costumes are encouraged but not required. Tickets are available for $25 here.

Not a fan of the ghosts and the ghouls? Check out Houston's family-friendly attractions and events.

Zoo Boo
September 29 - October 31, 2023
Houston Zoo

The Houston Zoo invites all little ghouls and goblins to celebrate fall festivities during its month-long Zoo Boo presented LyondellBasell. From Oct. 1 – 31 guests can wear their best costumes for Houston’s favorite merry-not-scary Halloween event.  

This year’s Zoo Boo features a few new experiences updated for the current times. Guests will visit the Giant Pumpkin presented by LyondellBasell, Spooky Train sponsored by Texas Children’s Hospital, and the Carved Pumpkins sponsored by Frost Bank.

NEW THIS YEAR:

• Jack-o’-lantern Tree sponsored by Proud Source Water
• Animal-themed Peek-a-Boo Pumpkins and Happy Harvest photo op sponsored by Texas Children’s Hospital

Boo on the Boardwalk
Weekends in October, 2023
Kemah Boardwalk

Freaky Fridays, Scary Saturdays, and Spooky Sundays can only mean one thing... Boo on the Boardwalk is back and as hauntingly fun as ever. Every weekend is packed with activities, live music, and trick-or-treating at Boardwalk stores.

Looking for an adrenaline rush or just want to get into the “spirit” of the season, check out these haunted houses.

Houston Scream Fest
Weekends in October, and Nov. 2023
The Houston Scream Fest is more than a haunted house; it’s a month-long festival. Shoot at walking-dead zombies with paintball markers, try to escape the asylum, scream your way through the castle of doom, and more. Also, enjoy live music and freak show performances. View the 2023 calendar here.

Haunted Trails
October 8, 15, 22, 29, 21, 2023
Walk the trails of Houston’s most thrilling outdoor attraction. Haunted Trails features detailed sets, zombies, clowns, and other creeps, body parts, creepy crawlers, and more. Find out what lurks beyond the trees on select weekdays, every weekend in October, plus Halloween night.

Houston Terror Dome
Weekends Sept. 22 - October 21, 2023
In its opening year, The Houston Chronicle billed the Terror Dome as the “Scariest Haunted House In Houston.” Get ready to scream your way out – if you make it that far. With new effects, rooms, and actors this year, Terror Dome is intense enough to satisfy the most demanding scaremonger. View the 2023 calendar here.

Phobia
Weekends in September, October and November, 2023
With eight haunts, Phobia can scare just about anyone. Features include the Mind Control haunt, Simon Fowler Woods, ClaustroPhobia, Darke Institute, and Dawn of the Machine. The remodeled park boasts 30 acres of scare space. View the 2023 calendar here.

Explore all the excellent places around Houston to find a pumpkin to carve.

Picking the perfect pumpkin can be quite a task. Luckily, Houston is packed with patches all over the city. Try Old Time Christmas Tree Farm, Dewberry Farm, Blessington Farms, or Oil Ranch for prime pumpkin picking, hayrides, and other activities. Searching for the perfect costume? Be sure and stop by Frankel's Costume Co.-- a Houston staple for Halloween fashion.

Discover the Halloween-themed events hosted by local eateries.

Witchy Brunch at Brennan's of Houston | October 28, 2023

The bewitching season is nearly upon us, which means Brennan's invites spell-casting patrons to grab their broomsticks, don their best witchy attire and gather their covens around the cauldron for a fun brunch, Saturday, Oct. 28, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Reservations recommended: 713.522.9711. 

1Three-Year Anniversary Halloween Parties at Pier 6 | October 28-29, 2023

Pier 6 will celebrate its third year in operation with another epic, weekend-long Halloween bash. This year, the parties fall on Saturday, Oct. 28, and Sunday, Oct. 29. Get into the spirit with spooky decor, food and drink specials, candy for kiddos, plenty of live entertainment, decked-out staff and prizes for Best Dressed. Reservations recommended. 

Dine in Costume at Phat Eatery, Get Free Roti Canai | October 31, 2023

Wear your costume to Phat Eatery for pre- or post-trick-or-treating fuel, and receive a free order of flaky, buttery roti canai with any food purchase. One complimentary roti order per table with costumes. Valid on Halloween only

Howl-oween Dog Costume Contest | October 21, 2023

Heights Beer Garden will host a Howl-oween Dog Costume Contest + Adoption Event, Saturday October 21st from 2pm-6pm. Entry fee is $20 and three winners will be awarded at 5pm, with all proceeds supporting HTX Dog Rescue (www.htxdogrescue.org). Enjoy raffle prizes, full menu and bar, rescue merchandise and adoptable dogs. 

Halloween Costume Contest | October 27, 2023

Big Casino will host a Halloween Costume Contest Friday October 27th with a $200 Gift Card for the Costume Winner. Contact Big Casino for information on VIP Areas and Bottle Service for the evening. 

FestiFall | October 29, 2023

Wooster’s Garden will host “FestiFall” from 4-10 p.m. featuring a Costume contest, Food Trucks, Shopping Pop Ups, Raffle Prizes, Games, DJ and live music. 

Cyclone Anaya’s Halloween | October 31, 2023

On October 31st, kids (12 and under) dressed in their Halloween costume can eat free at all Cyclone Anaya's locations. Adults in Costume get a free small queso (1 per table with purchase of entree). 

Wild Montrose Halloween Party | October 31, 2023

Wild Montrose will be hosting a Halloween Party Tuesday, October 31^st from 5 p.m. - 12 a.m. featuring a DJ, $12 Dollar Halloween Themed Cocktails, $5 SPOOKY shots, a costume runway party at 10 p.m. and special eats Japanese BBQ! Yakitori (Skewers) 3 ways, Chicken, Beef and Pumpkin and Graveyard Patch dessert.