Halloween in Houston

Family Friendly Thrills and Chills

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

Boo on the Boardwalk 
Oct. 6-31, 2017
For the entire month of October, families can enjoy an array of Halloween themed activities at Boo on the Boardwalk in Kemah. Brave souls who dare, may want to take a stroll to the dark side at the Dungeon of Doom Haunted House. For the little ones, the Little Boo Haunted Fun House offers tons of spooky fun. Other attractions include pumpkin decorating, live entertainment, and costume contests.

Halloween Monster Mayhem
Oct. 10-31, 2017
For three weeks in October, the Children's Museum of Houston unleashes monstrous mayhem as it transforms into the Monsters' Museum of Houston. We dare you to witness how monsters have rummaged, scoured, combed, and turned the Museum upside down to make room for their monster lairs. Don’t miss the grand finale Monster Mash Bash, which includes a Thriller Dance Party for the kiddos.

Symphonic Spooktacular
Oct. 15, 2017
Let the Houston Symphony’s orchestra of witches and goblins treat you to a repertoire of creepy classics at Miller Outdoor Theater. But don’t let them scare you; the event is family friendly. Daddies, mummies and their little ghosts and goblins are invited to dress up in their favorite Halloween costume for an enchanted musical evening.

Zoo Boo 
Oct. 13-29, 2017
Dress up in your spookiest costume and get ready to trick-or-treat, learn about bats, paint pumpkins, and play carnival games during Zoo Boo -- the Houston Zoo’s annual Halloween event. Open for three weekends in October, Zoo Boo is one of Houston’s best Halloween celebrations. Don’t miss this year’s new Halloween Zoovie Nights on October 13 and 21 for fun activities and spooky films after dark. 

ArBOOretum
Oct. 21, 2017
Head out to the Houston Arboretum for their annual Halloween event. Walk a forest trail with scattered trick-or-treat locations, activities and opportunities to learn about wildlife. Activities include hay rides, a petting zoo, pony rides, a cake walk, carnival games, face painting and pumpkin decorating.

Pumpkin Patch Fall Festival
Oct. 21-22, 2017
This two-day fall festival returns to a transformed Russ Pitman Park at the Nature Discovery Center in Bellaire. Go with your family and pick out the perfect pumpkin, ride a horse-drawn wagon, visit local vendors, play on bounce houses and climbing walls, and get some good grub. Admission is free.

Scream on the Green
Oct. 27, 2017
Discovery Green hosts Scream on the Green from 6-10 p.m. Dress up and take part in Houston's citywide costume contest. Plus, enjoy live music, face painting, dancing, and a showing of this year's feature film: Hotel Transylvania 2.

Tricks & Treats Among the Trees
Oct. 28, 2017
Kids and the young at heart are invited to a free trick-or-treat nature trail at Jesse H. Jones Park. Costumed trick-or-treaters are welcome to enjoy fun Halloween crafts, games, hayrides, a critter storybook trail, and more. Proceeds from carnival-inspired games benefit Jones Park.

Halloween Car Show
Oct. 28, 2017 
Come out and see more than 100 cars from classic to contemporary, from motorized to hoof, while supporting local charities. Enjoy the fall festival atmosphere at the National Museum of Funeral History from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 28. Activities include face painting and arts and crafts for the kids, great food, a live DJ, silent auction and more.

Dia de los Muertos at Lawndale Art Center
Oct. 27- Nov. 2, 2017
For its 30th Annual Día de los Muertos, Lawndale Art Center brings together artists, musicians, poets, dancers, and more for a celebration of the art, music and folklife of Mexico. Other activities include a film screening, Family Day Fiesta, and a musical and literary ofrenda.

Saengerfest Mini Monster Bash
Oct. 28, 2017
Halloween fun awaits you at the 7th annual Saengerfest Mini Monster Bash at Saengerfest Park in Galveston. This free, spooktacular festival on Saturday, October 28 from 1 to 4 p.m. features games and prizes, trick-or-treating at participating downtown businesses, face painting, and a costume contest for children.

Moody Gardens Ghostly Gardens
Oct. 29, 2017
Drive out to Moody Garden's Halloween celebration for some free fun! Trick-or-treat throughout the complex, make creepy crafts, get your face painted and participate in a costume contest. Families with a member dressed in Halloween costume get discounted admission to Moody Gardens attractions.

Traders Village Boo Bash
Oct. 29, 2017
Throw on your best Halloween costume and get ready to do the Monster Mash as Traders Village, Houston’s largest flea market. The free, spooky Boo Bash for kids features live musical entertainment, activities, and monster-sized trick-or-treating.

MECA Día De Los Muertos Festival
Oct. 28-29, 2017
This public celebration of Latin American folk art traditions commemorating family and ancestry at MECA will delight you with its community ofrenda exhibition, food, dance and music. Performers include Solero Flamenco, MECA’s Ballet Folklórico, Bayou City Swing, and more. Admission is free.

Day of the Dead/Día de los Muertos Celebration
Nov. 1- 4, 2017
Visit the National Museum of Funeral History to learn more about the Latin customs surrounding the Day of the Dead. Explore altars by local artists and enjoy kid-friendly activities. 

PUMPKIN PATCHES & COSTUMES

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, hay rides and other activities. Searching for the perfect costume? Be sure and stop by Frankel's Costume Co.-- a Houston staple for Halloween fashion.

Scare Tactics

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

Houston Scream Fest
Thursdays through Sundays in October, and Oct. 30 and 31
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.

ScreamWorld
Sep. 29-Nov. 4, 2017
Named the best haunted house in Houston by the Houston Chronicle and the Houston Press, Screamworld contains five terrifying attractions: The Maze of Maniacs, the Haunted Hotel, the Edge of Darkness, Jake's Slaughterhouse, and the Zombie Graveyard. Screamworld is open Thursday to Sundays in October. Only go if you dare.

Haunted Trails
Oct. 6-31, 2017
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 every weekend in October.

Houston Terror Dome
Thursdays and Weekends, Sep. 30 - Oct. 31, 2017
In its opening year, The Houston Chronicle billed the Terror Dome 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.

Nightmare on the Bayou
Weekends, Sept. 29-Nov. 4, 2017
Located directly beside Houston's oldest graveyard, Nightmare on the Bayou is the only attraction that is haunted by real ghosts. Aside from possible ghost sightings, the merciless actors torment visitors from beginning to end, while the rooms, monsters, and mayhem will have you running for the exit.

Phobia
Weekends, Sept. 30-Oct. 31, 2017
With six 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.

7th Annual Haunted House at NMFH
Oct. 1-Nov. 4, 2017
The National Museum of Funeral History's 7th  Annual Haunted House will get you into the Halloween spirit all month long. Explore different scenes designed to young and old ones goose bumps taking a light-hearted view of a usually very serious subject. The house is rated PG-13 and is recommended for children ages 12 and up.