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“By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes, Houston,” I write in my creep-creep-creepiest cackling witches voice (Humor me, readers).
All Hallows Eve approaches and the spookiest weekend of the year is nigh. ‘Tis time to maketh thy plans.
This is the weekend for candied apples, ghost stories and trick-or-treating. Among this weekend’s events are community carnivals, costume contests, a trunk-or-treat car show, Halloween parties, and ghost tours.
Scroll below for 26 spirited ways to celebrate Halloween in and around Houston this weekend.
📸 And don’t forget to post photos of your Halloween fun to Click2Pins. We love sharing them on air and online!
Boos and booze: Houston fright night fun for grown-ups 🍸
Oct. 27 — Punch Party at Rienzi, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston: “Get in the “spirit” of Halloween at Rienzi’s Punch Party. Indulge in English punch, and discover the collection of works from the 17th and 18th centuries at the MFAH house museum for European decorative arts. Explore beyond the galleries, and enjoy music at Rienzi’s pool garden and on the terrace. "
Oct. 28 — Mixers & Elixirs: Spirits & Skeletons, The Houston Museum of Natural Science: The Houston Museum of Natural Science invites ghosts and ghouls, monsters and mummies, witches and werewolves to celebrate the creep-creep-creepiest holiday at the museum after hours from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m on Saturday, Oct. 28. Browse spellbinding exhibits, shake your stuff with a stegosaurus, and enjoy live music by Danny Ray and The Atlantic Street Band. An array of food and drink vendors will be on site so you can graze to your heart’s content.
Oct. 28 — Sip & Stroll at Bayou Bend, Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens: “Embrace the spirit of Halloween as you discover magic and mystery in early America. Sip and stroll your way through the gardens of Bayou Bend. Enjoy live music, reading tea leaves, storytelling, magic performances, and hands-on craft-making. Experience a spirited audio tour about the historic mansion that induces chills and thrills.”
Oct. 28 — Boos on the Bayou Cruise, Moody Gardens: “Join us for a Halloween Costume Cruise, and this one is for adults 21+. Come out dressed to impressed for this haunting two-hour evening cruise aboard the Colonel Paddlewheel Boat. The evening is sure to be filled with frights, light hors d’oeuvres, spooky treats, music, dancing, and an enchanted view. Prizes will be awarded to selected costume contest winners!”
Oct. 28 — Halloween Ball, POST Houston: “Like a Halloween Party from your favorite 90′s movie, the Houston Halloween Ball is the city’s most wicked Costume Party event! Featuring a night of great music, live performances, polaroids, themed cocktails, and spooky fun. Enjoy Live Entertainment by DJ and Producer Alex Lauter, special performances by Aerial Acrobats as they spin above the crowd, and at midnight, a black flame candle shall be lit to summon The Sanderson Sisters. Halloween Costumes are highly encouraged. All attendees will be able to text in their vote for the top 10 costumes of the evening, and one attendee will be crowned Houston Halloween Ball’s 2023 Costume Contest Winner.”
Oct. 28 — The Thriller Resurrection: A Halloween Bash, Moran Hotel City Centre: You can expect to dance until you drop to live music by Level One Band and the wicked beats of DJ EDJ. That’s not all, show off your creativity and join our ‘Thriller’ themed costume contest for the chance to win some Spooktacular prizes, including the first place prize of a one night stay here at The Moran Hotel. Don’t hold back, dress to impress and scare your way to victory! There will be a bewitching selection of specialty cocktails to keep your spirits high through out the night! We will be partnering with Tito’s Vodka to make this Halloween is one you won’t forget. The first 50 guests to arrive will receive a swag bag from Tito’s.”
Frightfully fun family-friendly Halloween happenings 🎃
Oct. 27 — Family Movie Night: “Monster House,” Levy Park: “Get ready for a hair-raising experience this Halloween! Family Movie Night presented by Texas Children’s begins at 7:30 pm with a free screening of Monster House. Wear your costume if you dare...”
Oct. 27 — Scream on the Green, Discovery Green: “Houston’s citywide Halloween celebration features a costume contest with prizes in eight different categories, a dance party with DJ Mohawk Steve, roaming performances by Cirque Olympus and a screening of ‘Hocus Pocus.’”
Oct. 28 — Halloween Classic Car Show, The National Museum of Funeral History: “Dress up the whole family in costume, bring your trick-r-treat bag and come trunk-r-treat amongst classic cars that are all dressed up for your view pleasure. $10.00 per person or $15.00 per couple or family.”
Oct. 28 — Halloween in the Park, George Ranch Historical Park: “Join us for our annual Trick-or-treat in the Historic Park! Travel back in time and learn how people celebrated All Hallows Eve as you trick or treat from historic house to house. Wear your best costumes for this Spooktacular Event and visit the Pumpkin Round-up in the Ranch House yard for fall family photos! General Admission required.”
Oct. 28 — Deer Park Halloween Carnival, Jimmy Burke Center: “There will be a lot to do for all ages. We can’t wait to see what you come up with for our Mad Scientist theme! There will be carnival rides, Pumpkin Town games, a costume contest, and other attractions (including a rock wall and Giant Pin Press). Don’t forget to get your picture done with our professional photographer!”
Oct. 28 — Miss Ivy’s Spooktacular Halloween Party, Fort Bend Museum: “Join us for spooky games, mysterious tricks and sweet treats at this fun family event at the Fort Bend Museum! Trick-or-treat inside the 1883 Moore Mansion and enter to win the costume contest!”
Oct. 28 — Halloween Spooktacular, Houston Symphony: “Put on your favorite costume and trick-or-treat yourself to a morning of all-ages musical fun! Jones Hall will transform into a ghostly sight as an orchestra full of costumed musicians performs spooktacular tunes from Harry Potter, Wednesday, Coco, Beauty and the Beast, and more. Lobby activities include trick-or-treating and an Instrument Petting Zoo, where kids can try instruments from the orchestra!”
Oct. 28 — Monster Bash, Children’s Museum of Houston: “Dance to some fangtastic music by a live DJ, play some Halloween games, and catch a thrilling, chilling performance by dancing zombies.”
Oct. 28 — 2023 Howl-O-Ween Festival, Northshore Park: “Join us Saturday, October 28, 2023, as Operation Pets Alive transforms Northshore Park into a PAWS-itively awesome HOWL-O-WEEN fall festival! This Halloween-themed extravaganza promises a day of eerie excitement, heartwarming adoptions and a variety of activities for all ages.”
Oct. 29 — Halloween Town, Constellation Field: “Join us for an afternoon of spooky fun for the entire family including costume contests, candy, inflatables, games, live music, a pumpkin giveaway for the first 300 kids, special character appearances, a movie on the videoboard and so much more!”
Oct. 29 — Trick or Treat Trail, Rob Fleming Recreation Center: “While at the event, children have the opportunity to trick or treat from booth to booth and fill their bags with goodies from local vendors. The FREE event also includes strolling entertainment, carnival games, costume contests, photo areas, food trucks and more!”
Oct. 29 — Halloween Market, Karback Brewing Co.: “Local vendors, food trucks, costume contest (for humans AND dogs!!!) and of course, cold beer! Family friendly and free!”
Through Oct. 29 — BOOriffic Nights at Dewberry Farm, Dewberry Farms: “When the sun sets at Dewberry Farm, get ready for the nighttime fun to begin! Fall Festival takes a spookier turn during the evening hours as light from hundreds of glowing jack-o-lanterns starts to burn, and Haunted Hollow’s Trail of Terror comes alive! Enjoy all of the daytime attractions, PLUS: Throw axes with Jason at Camp Crystal Lake, see life-sized lanterns of your favorite heroes of horror, take photos in a replica set from ‘Stranger Things,’ and much more!”
Through Oct. 29 — Galaxy Frights, Space Center Houston: “Every year in October, Space Center Houston transforms into a launchpad for space-themed Halloween fun. Transport the whole family to explore the wonders of space–with a spooky twist! Show off their Halloween costumes, enjoy special activities and more.”
Oct. 30 — 11th-annual Halloween Trick-or-Treat, City Centre: “Your favorite little ghouls and boys are invited to the family-friendly destination for a fun and safe Halloween evening featuring a district-wide trick-or-treat. Trick-or-Treating will take place from 5 p.m.- 7 p.m., followed by music and performances by the Real Witch Wives of Houston at 7 and 7:30 pm. Participating merchants will be identified with balloons, including lululemon, The Moran, Seasons 52, Bowl & Barrel, Lily Rain, RA Sushi, Tecovas and more. Don’t forget to bring your own bucket or bag to take part in this festive event!”
Through Oct. 31 — Zoo Boo 2023, Houston Zoo: “Celebrate fall festivities at the zoo during Zoo Boo...Costumes are encouraged, and guests will have plenty of favorites to experience, including visiting our Carved Pumpkins sponsored by Frost Bank, Giant Pumpkin, and inflatable pumpkins. Don’t miss our Pumpkin Lantern Tunnel between the lions and tiger exhibits, our spooktacular Scary-Go-Round, photo-ops all over the zoo, and much more!”
Through Oct. 31 — Boo on the Boardwalk, Kemah Boardwalk: “Our FREE spooktacular event includes creepy crafts, trick or treating, costume contests, special performances and more ghoulish fun on Freaky Fridays, Spooky Saturdays & Scary Sundays.”
Ghastly ghost tours 👻
Through Oct. 28 — Galveston Ghost Stories, 1838 Menard House: “Historic Galveston Island is no stranger to strange stories and occurrences. The oldest home on the island, the 1838 Menard House, serves as your host for a tour and talk of some of the island’s most haunted history. Complementary beer and wine.”
Through Oct. 30 — Spirits of the Bayou Boat Tour, Allen’s Landing: “Join this ghostly history cruise and get in the Halloween spirit this October. Tour guide Andrew Groocock will share some of the haunted tales and legends of Buffalo Bayou. Hear some of the lesser-known stories – both documented and anecdotal – of ghosts, lost souls, and spirits of the bayou. This boat tour is an hour and a half long.”
Through Oct. 31 — Haunted Harbor Tour, Galveston Historic Seaport: “Galveston Bay’s historic waters are tied directly to the beginnings of the island. On this special 90-minute tour, onboard Galveston Historical Foundation’s SEAGULL II, guests will hear the haunted history of Galveston’s harborside.”
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