Halloween in Austin!
Taken from “Free Fun in Austin”, here is a list of Halloween and Fall festivities for kids and families!
Boo at the Zoo
October 16-17, 23-24, 30 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. Tickets are $12.50.
Pioneer Farms Haunted Halloween
October 16, 17, 23, & 24 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. This year’s theme will be “Grimm’s Ghostly Tales,” featuring three separate spooky trails 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. Palm readers and fortune tellers will be on site all nights to give visitors a peek into their past or future. Admission is $12 a person, a real 1800s bargain for this spooky family fun event, Austin’s legendary Halloween experience for all ages.
Pumpkin Carving
October 24 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. | The George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center, 1165 Angelina St, Austin
The George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural and Genealogy Center invites you to join in a FREE and Funtastic Family Function- Pumpkin Carving on the Dock. Activities will include: Face Painting, Costumes, Food, Music, Games, Prizes, and Pumpkin Painting. Reserve a Pumpkin by Wednesday, October 21st by calling (512) 974-4926.
Hairy Man Spookyfest (Round Rock)
October 24 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Cat Hollow Park, 8600 O’Connor Dr, Round Rock
Check out the 21st Annual Hairy Man Spookyfest Festival! Admission for the festival is FREE, however there is a suggested donation of two non-perishable food Items or $2 per person that will go to the local Round Rock Serving Center Food Bank. This family centered event raises money for many local non-profit organizations in Williamson County. Food, Arts & Crafts fair, children’s activities, special performances, and live music provide a fun-filled day for all. The new Spookyfest additions to the event include: Halloween costume contest, trick or treating, scavenger hunt throughout the park, pumpkin decorating, train rides, Halloween themed crafts, Scary Snacks station, and more!
Halloween at the Y (Round Rock)
October 24 from 2-9 p.m. | Dell Diamond, 3400 East Palm Valley Boulevard, Round Rock
Activities include: Tubs of Fun, Mindwinder, Super Slide, Generator X, Train rides, Dragon Tale, Petting Zoo, Swing Ride, Dora the Explorer Moonwalk, Endzone Obstacle Course, Superman Obstacle Course, Backyard Slide, Quad Bungee Jump, Spinner Tea Cup, Blue’s Clues Moonwalk, Skater Super Slide, Apple Spin Ride, Pumpkin Spin Ride, Whacky Shack, Whally the Whale Slide…and more! In addition, there will be carnival games with free candy, costume contests for all ages, civil service men and women, the Army National Guard, and more than 20 local vendors. Plenty of carnival food will be featured including: funnel cakes, cotton candy, popcorn, frito-pie, turkey legs, sausage wraps, pizza, hot dogs, chips, drinks and more. Gate sales: $7 per person.
Fall Festival and Movie in the Park: Monsters Inc.
October 24 from 4-10:30 p.m. | Harper Park, 11008-11098 Lake Creek Pkwy, Austin
Head out for an evening of fun at Harper Park for the Anderson Mill Limited District (AMLD) Fall Festival, craft and activity fair. Bring your whole family to lie out on blankets under the night sky for the movie Monsters, Inc. at the end of the night. Those in their Halloween costumes can stop by the AMLD Info booth to pick up a raffle ticket to win awesome prizes. FREE!
Boo-da Halloween (Buda)
October 24 from 5-7 p.m. | Downtown Buda Greenbelt, Houston St, Buda
Safe trick-or-treating along Main Street. Candy, treats, games, crafts, storytelling, and more! FREE!
Halloween Spooktacular at the Y
October 24 from 5–8 p.m. | 5807 McNeil Dr, Austin
Northwest YMCA’s safe and family-friendly Halloween Spooktacular event will feature a haunted candy trail, spooky family games, bounce house, face painting, and more. FREE! Guests are asked to please bring 3 canned goods for the Food Pantry Drive.
Special Needs Trunk-or-Treat (Round Rock)
October 24 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.
Farmer Fred’s Harvest Fall Carnival (San Marcos)
October 24 from 6-9 p.m. | San Marcos City Park, 170 Charles Austin Drive, San Marcos
All ages welcome. FREE! Enjoy free carnival games with prizes and candy. Don’t miss the costume contest. Concessions and other attractions will be available for a nominal fee.
Dittmar’s Halloween Spooktacular and Movie in the Park: Casper
October 24 at 6:30 p.m. | Dittmar Recreation Center, 1009 W Dittmar Rd, Austin
Carnival, Haunted House, and an outdoor screening of Casper. FREE!
Last Straw Fest Pumpkin Carving
October 25 from 12-4 p.m. | UMLAUF, 605 Robert E. Lee Road, Austin
The UMLAUF Sculpture Garden & Museum will host pumpkin carving, FREE with RSVP, as part of the Last Straw Fest. Celebrating its 11th year, the UMLAUF Pumpkin Carving Competition is an afternoon for families to sculpt their holiday pumpkins and participate in the prizes. Overseen by “Professor Pumpkin” from the Texas Society of Sculptors, this event features community judges who will choose the most amusing, spooky, artistic and lovable creations. Non-perishable items will be accepted in lieu of admission. This event benefits the Capital Area Food Bank along with pumpkins generously donated by Whole Foods Market. FREE (please bring non-perishable food item for donation).
Day of the Living Dead Benefiting the Round Rock Area Serving Center (Round Rock)
October 25 at 12 p.m. | Austin Sports Arena, 3918 Gattis School Rd, Round Rock
Join the Rockin’ City Rollergirls as they skate in support of the Round Rock Area Serving Center! They will be hosting two co-ed skater mash-ups – one for juniors and one for adults. Admission is $10 at the door plus a non-perishable donation for RRASC. Children 12 and under are FREE. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. and the first whistle is at noon. They will be having a contest awarding whomever brings the most non-perishable goods! Seating is limited, so get to the arena early! Bring a lawn chair to sit rink-side in the “CRASH ZONE.” Concessions will be available at the ASA Snack Bar and the Upper Deck Sports Bar.
Halloween Art
October 25 from 1-4 p.m. | The Contemporary Austin Art School, 3809 W 35th St, Austin
Create Picasso-esque witches, monster pop-up cards, and skeleton sculptures in this imaginative one-day class. Inspired by the Halloween season, we will work together to create take-home holiday decor. All supplies provided. Registration for one class (tuition, supplies and fees) cover enrollment for one adult and one child pair. Dress for mess. Please register in advance. Tuition: $49.00 Supply/Model Fee: $15.00.
Austin Symphony Halloween Children’s Concert 2015
October 25 at 3 p.m. | Dell Hall at the Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Dr., Austin
It’s creepy, crawly and so much fun it’s spooky! Your little ghost or goblin will help haunt Long Center’s Dell Hall for 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! $8-12 for tickets.
Halloween Festival and Movie in the Park: Disney’s Halloweentown (Georgetown)
October 29 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. | San Gabriel Park (Community Center), 445 E Morrow St, Georgetown
Hayrides, carnival, Trick-or-Treat Village, costume contest, and a FREE showing of Disney’s Halloweentown (PG) at 6:45 p.m. at the gazebo. FREE to enter festival. Tickets required for hayrides and games.
Movie in the Park: Beetlejuice
October 29 from 8-10 p.m. | Republic Square Park, 422 Guadalupe, Austin
Kick off your Halloween weekend with this spooky, off-beat classic – costumes welcome! The fall season of Movies in the Park series continues with this celebration of the Ghost with the Most himself – BEETLEJUICE! Join the fun at Republic Square Park just before sunset for a FREE screening of this film.
Fall Fun Fest (Round Rock)
October 30 from 9–11:30 a.m. | Old Settlers Park, 3300 Palm Valley Blvd, Round Rock
Eeek! Spat! Slime! It will be a ROARing great time! Join Round Rock Parks and Recreation for a Monsters and Mayhem Fall Fun Festival. Calling all of little preschool monsters to jump in and join in on the fun! The Monster Mash themed festival will be filled with lots of monstrousactivities for all little ghouls and goblins. Lots of Frankenstein fun including carnival games, hayrides, cookies and punch, storytime and much more! FREE! Guests are encouraged to bring a canned item for the Round Rock Serving Center.
Monster Concert & Carnival
October 30 from 4:30-8:30 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. 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.
Boo Bash (Georgetown)
October 30 from 5-8 p.m. | The Georgetown Square, 103 West 7th Street, Georgetown
Come down to the Georgetown Square in costume, young and old and enjoy trick or treating as the merchants stay open and enjoy the season of witches, goblins, and all those creative creatures out enjoying the evening. FREE!
Creative Action Kid’s Ball Featuring White Ghost Shivers
October 30 from 5-8 p.m. | Central Market North, 4001 N. Lamar Blvd, Austin
You’re invited to this FREE interactive event with treats, kid and family-friendly activities, dancing, and celebrating kindness, strengths, treasures, and creativity! Build your own costume or wear your own and add to the fun! Design your own treat bag and show off your costume creations in a costume march. Dance and groove along to Austin’s favorite genre-mashers, White Ghost Shivers.
Spooktacular at the Bullock Museum
October 30 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. This year’s program will introduce children and their families to Texas “creepy crawlies,” plus kids can get hands-on with spooky science from Girlstart. FREE!
Halloween Party on the Plaza
October 30 from 6-8 p.m. | The Domain, 3225 Amy Donovan Plaza, Austin
Join The Domain for a Halloween Party on the Plaza! Enjoy a live performance by Superband, a kids costume parade, face painting, balloon twisting, a pumpkin patch photo opportunity, crafts, games and giveaways. Halloween Party on the Plaza will be located in Domain II, between Dillard’s and Dick’s Sporting Goods. Costumes encouraged. Masks permitted on children ages 12 & under. No toy weapons, please. FREE!
Thinkery Halloween Hootenanny
October 30 from 6:30-8:30 | 1830 Simond Ave, Austin
Enjoy a night of playful exploration with thematic activities at the Thinkery’s exclusive family after-hours event! Each evening includes access to Thinkery’s exhibits and a cash bar with snacks, kid-friendly drinks, beer and wine. $11-15; kids under 2 are free.
Sinister Circus Halloween Carnival
October 30 from 6:30–8:30 p.m. | Northwest Recreation Center, 2913 Northland Dr, Austin
Come one, come all, step right up to the main event of the year under the Northwest Big Top! You’ll find everything you need to have a haunting good time: bounce house, popcorn, carnival games, candy, prizes, a sinister circus trick-or-treat trail, and even more Halloween fun! FREE to enter festival, plus first 10 tickets and endless trips through the Trick-or-Treat Trail are FREE! Additional tickets for only 25¢.
Spooky Skedaddle
October 31 from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Texas School for the Deaf, 1102 S Congress Ave, Austin
This year, TSDF is partnering with Heal Kenya / Dell Children’s Medical Global Outreach–Kenya Program in order to present a larger, more fun-filled, family friendly event that will help to broaden awareness of both organizations throughout the Austin community! All proceeds go to benefit Texas School for the Deaf Foundation and Dell Children’s Medical Global Outreach Kenya Program. In addition to the Heal Yeah 5K and 1K Fun Run, the Spooky Skedaddle Halloween Festival will include the following activities: carnival games, costume parade, inflatable obstacle course, bounce house, Dell Children’s Star Flight Helicopter (11 a.m. to 12 p.m.), mini-horses, photo booth, cake walk, food trailers (including Hot Dog King, Savory Grilled Cheese and Crazy Crepes), and music provided by a DJ. FREE to enter festival. $1 per ticket for the games. $3 to run in the 1K Halloween Costume Fun Run. Heal Yeah 5K: $40. Fee includes a T-shirt. Discounts available for groups.
Halloween ComicFest (Cedar Park)
October 31 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | 1540 Cypress Creek Rd, Ste 108, Cedar Park
It’s a day full of FREE comics, “The Greatest Halloween Costume Contest Ever,” candy, guest artists and more for comic and Halloween fans to experience together. During Halloween ComicFest, 21 full-sized and mini comics will be available for anyone who wants to participate. FREE!
Hero-Sized Halloween
October 31 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | APL North Village Branch, 2505 Steck Ave., Austin
Come on out for some daytime Halloween fun at the North Village Branch of the Austin Public Library. Costumes encouraged! Crafts, stories, games, and movies. FREE!
Cedar Park Library Foundation’s Fable Fest (Cedar Park)
October 31 at 11 a.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!
Trunk or Treat (Pflugerville)
October 31 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Pflugerville Animal Shelter, 1600 Waterbrook Drive, Pflugerville
Happy Howloween! Come get some yummy candy while meeting some ADORABLE pfurry pfriends at the Pflugerville Animal Shelter. PLUS an all ages costume contest with prizes! Come and adopt a pet! FREE!
Whovian Halloween (Round Rock)
October 31 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Round Rock Public Library, 216 E Main Street, Round Rock
Join a Halloween celebration of all things Doctor Who at this come-and-go family event. Enjoy Whovian themed food, games, trivia, and a craft. Dress in Doctor Who costumes! Activities will be between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. From 1 to 2 p.m., the Library will have two special guests: the eleventh doctor and his companion Amy (costume characters from Princess and Co). You will be able to meet them, take photos, and play games based on the show with them. After the event, stick around for Hometown Halloween, a fun downtown celebration! FREE!
Halloween Storytime: Trick-or-Treat for Books!
October 31 at 11:30 a.m. | Book People, 603 N. Lamar Blvd Austin
Gather at BookPeople this Halloween for a storytime filled with new books! Storytime will be in the amphitheater featuring 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 the 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! Can’t make the storytime and parade? They’ll be handing out books to trick-or-treaters all day! Kids can stop by any time on October 31st for a special Halloween treat (while supplies last)! FREE!
Special Upcycle This! Halloween Party and Contest
October 31 from 1-3 p.m. | Recycled Reads Bookstore, 5335 Burnet Rd., Austin
You made your own Halloween costume out of reused materials, now join the costume party and contest!
Hometown Halloween (Round Rock)
October 31 from 2-5 p.m. | Downtown Round Rock, Main Street
Downtown Round Rock knows how to put on an event, and Halloween is no exception! The Hometown Halloween celebration is a great way to connect with your community and have fun with your family in a scare-free environment. Enjoy trick-or-treating at restaurants and retailers along Main Street, listen to FREE live music (Hey Lollies 2-3 p.m. and Urban Achievers 3-5 p.m.) at Prete Main Street Plaza (221 E Main St), and catch a Hay Ride to Trinity Senior Center (1000 Main Street) for more trick-or-treating! Hay Ride starts at 2 p.m. at City Hall (221 East Main Street).
Costume party with Jason Segel
October 31 at 3 p.m. | Book People, 603 N. Lamar Blvd, Austin
Kids, put on your Halloween best and head to BookPeople for a very special costume party with Jason Segel, actor and author of Nightmares! The Sleepwalker Tonic. This is the sequel to Segel’s hilarious, bestselling middle grade novel, Nightmares. Inspired by his own childhood experience with nightmares, Segel tells the story of young Charlie Laird, who lives in a purple mansion with a portal to the Netherworld and has a very active dream life. The speaking portion of this event is FREE and open to the public. Tickets are required for the signing and only available with the purchase of a copy of Nightmares! The Sleepwalker Tonic from BookPeople.
Halloween Trick-or-Treat Event (Bee Cave)
October 31 from 4-9 p.m. | 12700 Hill Country Blvd., Bee Cave
This special Halloween event features free face painting, free kids entertainment, free music, and of course trick or treating! The fun starts at 4 p.m. in the outdoor Amphitheater with kids entertainment by Joe McDermott, then trick or treating follows from 4-6 p.m. Make the rounds at over 100 stores and restaurants at the Hill Country Galleria to trick or treat! Be sure to wear your costume! Then, end the day with a live music performance by Chubby Knuckle Choir! FREE!
Harvest Festival (Pflugerville)
October 31 from 4-6 p.m. | First Baptist Church, 801 W Pecan St, Pflugerville
Join this pfamily pfriendly celebration that will include games and a trunk-or-treat. FREE!
Treats on East Street (Hutto)
October 31 5:30-8 p.m. | Downtown Hutto
Treats on East Street is a celebration for children ages 12 & under that allows kids to participate in a fun and safe environment on Halloween! Find games, activities, and a costume contest and of course, treats. FREE!
Shoreline Church Trunk or Treat
October 31 from 6-8 p.m. | 15201 Burnet Rd., Austin (the trunk or treat will be found on the Shoreline Drive side of the parking lot)
Food trucks, games, free candy, and more! FREE admission.
Trunk or Treat
October 31 from 6-9 p.m. | Wells Branch, (KF park parking lot) 2106 Klattenhoff Dr., Austin
Bring your trick-or-treat route by the Community Center parking lot off Klattenhoff Dr. for Trunk-or-Treat. Trunk-or-Treat is a great centralized and safe location for you and your kids to trick-or-treat on Halloween night. You will be able get candy, play games, get your picture taken in a photo booth and more all for FREE on Halloween night.
Fall Festival and Trunk or Treat
October 31 from 6–8 p.m. | Trinity Abundant Life Church, 412 Cumberland Rd, Austin
There will be a bounce house, face painting, games, prizes, music. Plus, FREE hot dogs, snow cones, popcorn, Frito pies, and cotton candy. FREE but guests are asked to please bring a canned food donation to help supply the church’s food pantry.
Shenandoah Baptist Fall Festival (Cedar Park)
October 31 from 6:30–8:30 p.m. | Shenandoah Baptist Church, 3003 Blue Ridge Dr, Cedar Park
Family friendly festival as an alternative to Halloween. Enjoy carnival games, a hay ride, a petting zoo, bounce houses, laser tag, a cake walk, face painting, free food, and lots of candy. FREE!
For more Austin-area events and information, visit www.freefuninaustin.com
Have a safe and fun weekend!
-Team CTG